The use of the annual legumes (vetches)in mixtures with cereals for forage as winter crops is a rational way of using the land surface and to improve the seedbed for the spring cash crop. This forage cropping system is encouraged by the agricultural policies from the E.U. because it contributes to the preservation and improvement of soil fertility. The goal of this work is to assess some forage features of several mixture variants of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) and cereals with different participation rates of the legume and cereals. The cereals used in this research were four genotypes of wheat (Alex, Ciprian, Crişana and line 6111), two oat genotypes (Sorin and line 2515), one barley variety (Ametist) and one Triticosecale variety (Haiduc). The researches were developed at the Station of Agricultural Research and Development from Lovrin (Timiș County, Romania) on a chernozem soil. The considered participation rates of the hairy vetch – cereals seed mixtures were 2:1 and 1:2, there being used 16 mixture variants. The forage features analysed were fresh fodder yield, dry matter yield, dry matter content, crude protein yield and crude protein content. The forage obtained in the case of early harvesting of hairy vetch mixtures with triticale have the best results as fresh fodder yield. Grater yields of the hairy vetch mixtures with other cereals can be obtained also by later harvesting compared with triticale mixture, respectively (1-2 weeks). Winter crop forage mixtures of hairy vetch with cereals are a great option for livestock feeding with fresh fodder early in spring. The proportion of vetch and cereal in mixture had a great influence on the dry matter yield and crude protein yield and this can be managed by the farmer according with the nutritional needs of his livestock. The use of annual legumes - cereals mixtures as winter crop has numerous benefits from productive and ecological points of view because they act as a cover crop and after harvesting of the fresh fodder the remains are improving the growing condition for the following crop by increasing of soil N content, organic matter content in soil, porosity, percolation etc.).

annual legumes-cereals mixtures, forage, hairy vetch, cereals, participation rate.

field crops and pastures

Presentation: poster