Effects of Fall Dormancy and Cutting Times on Alfalfa’s Forage Yield and Quality Components Under Central Anatolian Conditions

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of phenological stages (five diffrent cutting time) on values of forage yield and quality of Alfalfa. Bilensoy, Kayseri, Gözlü and Plato cultivars were used as dormant and Elci, Mırna, MA-414 and Posovina cultivars were used as non-dormant cultivars. All samples were collected from the Research Field of Ankara University in Ankara and were analyzed in laboratory after being dried and grained. The results showed that forage quality indices values including hay yield, green herbage yield, crude protein (CP)
and crude cellulose were significantly different at a level of P< 0.01, among the varieties used and their different cutting times. Plato variety had highest green herbage yield with 777.5kg/da in 2007and crude cellulose rate with33.29%. Maximum crude protein rate was observed from Kayseri with 21.44% and maximum hay yield was observed from MA-414 with 181.5 kg/da in 2008. In the sense of growth stage, vegetative growth stage was found the best forage quality.