Silage yield and quality of different grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genotypes

This study aimed to determine the silage yield and quality of different 12 grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genotypes (Gap Mavisi, İptaş, Karadağ, 1603, 2006, 2401, 4301, 4403, 5001, 6408, 6410, and S3). The trial was established in Bilecik’s ecological conditions in 2022 and 2023. It was carried out according to the randomized block design with four replications, and the plants were harvested at the full flowering stage. The harvested plants were chopped to 2 cm in size and ensiled in vacuum bags and left to ferment at 25 ± 2 °C for 45 days. The silage yield, pH, dry matter ratio, Flieg score, lactic acid (LA), acetic acid (AA), citric acid (CA), propionic acid (PA), succinic acid (SA), crude protein ratio (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), condensed tannin (CT), total flavonoid (TF), total phenolic (TP), radical scavenger activity (DPPH), total alkaloid (TA), and N-oxalyl-L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP) contents were determined. The silage yields of the genotypes ranged from 9.01 to 13.64 t ha–1. The highest Flieg score was determined in the 5001 population with 85.88. The CP, ADF, and NDF ratios of silages varied between 19.35% and 23.06%, 29.19% and 32.28%, and 36.72% and 43.81%. The highest LA was determined in the 5001 populations with 2.63%. The nutrient contents of all silages were at a level to meet the needs of the animals. The lowest ODAP content was determined in the 5001 (0.95 mg g–1) and 6408 (0.90 mg g–1) populations. As a result, the 5001 population exhibited superior performance to the other genotypes in terms of silage quality. This shows that the population in question is promising for the region and is also important in future breeding studies in terms of being evaluated as a material.