DETERMINATION OF ENSILAGE PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF Lotus corniculatus AND Hordeum vulgare MIXTURES

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In this research, ensilage properties of different levels of Lotus corniculatus – barley roughage mixtures were compared. Lotus corniculatus / barley mixture levels were as follows; 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30%. Silage materials were placed in approximately 2 L plastic bottles by pressing until airlessnes condition were obtained, and covered strictly with the lid. After 60 days of ensilage period, physical properties of silages were determined by considering colour, structure, odour and pH values. According to analysis of variance, there were no statistically significant differences between groups for organic matter (OM) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) contents; however, differences were found to be significant for dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude fiber (CF), crude protein (CP), pH values and Fleig point (FP) values. Average values ranged from lowest to highest for DM, CA, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, pH and FP as 28.08 – 32.60, 9.22 – 9.57, 79.13 – 81.33, 10.08 – 12.20, 1.98 – 2.60, 32.61 – 36.57, 30.50, 34.43– 43.37, 4.76 – 5.11 and 56.62 – 79.94 %, respectively. In order to get optimum silage quality, the rate of Bird’s-foot trefoil should be less than 50% in mixture. Higher than this ratio of leguminea plant may cause low quality silage.

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Bird’s , foot trefoil , barley , ensilage.

Anadolu Journal Of Agricultural Sciences

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Anadolu Journal Of Agricultural Sciences