Effects of Some Weed Control Methods on Hay Yield, BotanicalComposition and Forage Quality of a Rangeland in the Mediterranean

This research was conducted to determine the effective control methods for the weeds of pastures formed throughthe destruction of maqui vegetations in the Çukurova region. The experiment was conducted on the rangeland in the Resul Village of Toroslar District of Mersin during the years of 2006-2009. The experiment was designed according to the randomized complete block design with three replications. In the research, six different weed control methods such as cutting, fertilization, application of 2.4-D, Picloram+2.4-D, Paraquat or Glyphosate were studied. Results of the research showed that application of fertilizer increased dry matter yield and digestible dry matter yield of pasture. The highest dry matter yield and digestible dry matter was obtained from fertilizer treatments. Dry matter yields in all treatments were greater as compared to the control. Picloram+2.4-D+fertilization treatment increased ratio of grasses in botanical composition while ratio of legumes decreased compared with the other treatments. Paraquat+fertilization treatment increased ratio of other families. Picloram+2.4-D+fertilization treatment increased NDF% content of the hay. From the results of the research, it was concluded that the weeds, generally from the families with broad leaves, on the pastures formed through degeneration of maqui vegetation in the Çukurova Region can be effectively controlled by the application of herbicide Picloram+2,4-D , and hay yield and quality of those pastures could be increased by thefertilization together with weed control.