COMPARISON OF SOME ALFALFA GENOTYPES (Medicago sativa L.) IN TERMS OF STRAW YIELD AND STRAW QUALITY

Abstract

This research was carried out to compare some alfalfa cultivars and populations in terms of straw yield and straw quality (crude protein, ADF, NDF, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake and relative feed value) in the Bingol ecological conditions. The field experiment was carried out three replications according to the random blocks trial pattern. Eight genotypes, four of which are registered cultivars and four are populations, were used in the study. There were statistically significant differences between the genotypes in terms of all features studied (p <0.01). The plant height of the genotypes 58.8-86.7 cm, straw yield 293-860 kg/da, crude protein ratio 8.7-13.9%, ADF ratio 30.6-41.8%, NDF ratio 39.6-54.3%, digestible dry matter ratio 56.4-65.1%, dry matter intake 2.21-3.03% and relative feed value varied between 97-152. In the study, it was determined that registered alfalfa cultivars give better results than populations in terms of straw yield and quality. Among the populations, it has been determined that the population obtained from the village of Üçdere stands out in terms of yield, and the population obtained from the district of Varto stands out in terms of quality. It was determined that these populations gave close values to the registered cultivars.