EVALUATION OF MACROELEMENT CONTENTS IN HAY AND STRAW FROM CEREAL SPECIES AND VARIETIES

For cost-effective animal production, feed must be of high quality and low cost.This study analyzed the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents of hay and straw from various cereal species and varieties, comparing these properties across them.One of the factors affecting feed quality is the amount of nutrients in the feed.Therefore this study was conducted to examine the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents of hay and straw of cereal species and varieties and to compare these properties between cereal species and varieties.The study included three bread wheat, three durum wheat, three triticale, and four barley varieties, representing four cereal species and 13 varieties.The dry grasses of these species and varieties were collected at the spike stage, and the straws were collected when the seeds reached physical maturity.Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to determine the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg contents in the hay and straw.It was observed that these properties showed statistically significant differences at species and variety levels and between years.The results showed that first-year varieties had higher N, P, and K contents but lower Ca and Mg contents in both hay and straw.Regarding N content, both hay (except barley) and straw were deficient, whereas P content was sufficient in both.Regarding K content, cereal dry grasses were found to be adequate, whereas straws were found to be deficient (except barley).In terms of Ca content, the dry grasses of the cereals were at an adequate level and the straws were deficient only for triticale.In terms of Mg content, the dry grasses were at an adequate level and the straws were deficient.