Yield and Quality Effects of Co-cultivating Barley and Triticale with Legumes in Hydroponic Fodder Production

Background: The rising demand for sustainable farming practices, especially in regions with constrained land and water resources, has led to the spread of hydroponic systems for green fodder production. Cereals are commonly used in these systems due to their high adaptability, biomass production and ability to meet livestock energy requirements. However, integrating legumes into these cereal-based systems offers potential nutritional benefits, such as increased protein content and improved feed digestibility, which are essential for optimizing livestock productivity. Methods: This study evaluated the effects of co-cultivating barley and triticale with various legumes (common vetch, forage pea, soybean and sunn hemp) on the yield and quality in hydroponic fodder production. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications, involving mixture ratios of 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% legumes. Some parameters were evaluated: vegetation height, forage yield, dry matter, crude protein, crude ash, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, metabolizable energy, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake, relative feed quality and some mineral contents (Ca, Mg, K, P). Data were analyzed using ANOVA to determine significant effects of treatments. Result: The inclusion of legumes, particularly at 5% and 10% mixture ratios, significantly improved forage yield and key quality traits, such as crude protein content, digestible dry matter, metabolizable energy and relative feed value. Mixtures containing 10% legumes consistently performed best, balancing yield and quality traits. Both barley- and triticale-based mixtures containing 10% soybean and forage pea demonstrated the most promising results, offering high yields and a favorable nutrient composition. Legume supplementation also increased mineral content while reducing neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, thereby improving overall digestibility. Additionally, triticale was also found to be a suitable substitute for barley in hydroponic systems. These findings suggest that the co-cultivation barley and triticale with legumes can enhance the nutritional composition and productivity of hydroponic fodder, providing a sustainable solution for livestock feed production.