Quality characteristics of forage in the sowing year of a standard perennial pasture established with annual ryegrass, barley, and berseem clover as companion crops

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different seed sowing rates (25%, 50%, 75%, 100% of the recommended pure stand of the species) and harvesting stages (early harvest, late harvest) of annual ryegrass, barley, and berseem clover used as companion crops on the forage quality in the sowing year of standard perennial pasture mixture [alfalfa (15%) + white clover (15%) + perennial ryegrass (20%) + orchard grass (20%) + tall fescue (30%)]. The experiments (Experiment I:2019, Experiment II:2020) were conducted in randomised complete blocks with a split-plot arrangement in three replications. The treatments with berseem clover as a companion crop had higher herbage quality than the treatments with barley and annual ryegrass as companion crops and gave forage quality equivalent to the control treatment without companion crop. Although a significant decrease was observed in the forage quality of the mixture with the advancement of the harvesting stage of the companion crop, the sowing ratio of the companion crop did not significantly affect the forage quality of the mixture. It was concluded that berseem clover can be used as companion crop in the establishment of the pasture under conditions of the Mediterranean climate in terms of forage quality and that the harvesting stage should not be delayed.