Abstract
Determination of Yield and Quality Characteristics of Some Warm Season Perennial Grasses Under Cukurova Ecological Conditions
This research was conducted to determine the hay yield and hay quality potentials of some warm season perennial grass species such as dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana L.), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), blue couch grass (Digitaria didactyla Willd), digit grass (Digitaria milanjiana (Rendle) Stapf) and Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) under irrigated conditions of Cukurova during the years of 2011 and 2012. In the study, green herbage yield, dry matter yield, crude protein ratio, crude protein yield, ADF and NDF ratios, digestible dry matter ratio and digestible dry matter yield were determined. The experimental design was completely randomized block design with three replications.
According to the results, The highest green herbage yield (6768.7 kg/da) was obtained from Guinea grass. The highest yields of dry matter yield, crude protein and digestible dry matter (1430.7 kg/da, 153.5 kg/da and 871.2 kg/da respectively) were obtained from the Rhodes grass. The highest crude protein ratio (11.4 %) was obtained from the dallis grass. The highest ADF (39.7 %) and NDF (68.3 %) ratios were obtained from the Guinea grass.
From the results of the study, it was concluded that Guinea grass and digit grass did not show good adaptation to the Cukurova conditions due to low temperatures during the winter season. Bermuda grass, Rhodes grass, blue couch grass and dallis grass could be used to establish pasture under irrigated conditions of Çukurova. To use them for this purpose, the researches on their proper sowing time, fertilization ratio, proper mixture partner and grazing performance must be conducted.
Keywords
Warm season perennial grasses, yield, quality
