Effect of Different Mixture Ratios on Silage Quality in Silage Corn and Cowpea

In forage crop mixtures, the proportions of legumes and grasses should be adjusted very well. This study was conducted in Sakarya province, where pure corn (C), pure cowpea (Cp), and mixtures of 75% corn + 25% cowpea, 50% corn + 50% cowpea, and 25% corn + 75% cowpea were planted. The effect of the different mixture proportions on hay yield was then analyzed. In addition, silage was made from the obtained mixtures and the effect of the applied mixture proportions on the silage quality was determined. The field trials of the research were carried out in the trial areas of Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture. Silage was made in 2 kilogram containers from each plot and at the end of the ripening period; silage dry matter ratio (%), silage pH, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) (%), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) (%), Crude Protein (CP) (%), Dry Matter Intake (DMI) (%), Digestible Dry Matter (DDM) (%) and Relative Feed Values (RFV) observations were taken as silage quality criteria. Flieg score calculation was made with physical and sensory analyzes used to determine silage quality. In the study, the highest ADF, NDF, CP, DMI, DDM and RFV were 50%C+50%Cp (%25.69) and 25%Cp+75%C (%25.71), 50%C+50%Cp (%36.75), 100%Cp (%13.59), 100%C (%0.48), 100%C (%2.79), 100%C (%0.32), 75%Cp+25%C (%0.36), respectively. According to the results of physical and sensory analyzes of the obtained silages, it was determined that all silages were very good. According to Flieg scoring, 100%C silage and 75%Cp+25%C mixtures silage were determined as good. As a result of the study, it was found that producers who wish to plant a mixture of legume and grass forage plants can obtain high-quality forage by using a 75% Cp and 25% C mixture.