Influence of mixture rates on forage yield and quality of intercropped legume-grass as a winter intermediate crop under Mediterranean irrigated conditions

Aim of study: To assess the impact of different mixture ratios of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) on forage yield and quality. Area of study: Mediterranean climate, under irrigated conditions (Adana, Türkiye). Material and methods: Field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons. The mixture ratios tested were: 1. 100% berseem clover (bc) + 0% annual ryegrass (ar), 2. 80% bc+20% ar, 3. 60% bc+40% ar, 4. 40% bc+60% ar, 5. 20% bc+80% ar, 6. 0% bc+100% ar. Main results: Climatic differences between years significantly affected forage yield and quality. Mixtures of berseem clover and annual ryegrass gave higher forage yields than their pure sowings. As the proportion of berseem clover seed in the mixture increased, the forage quality (as indicated by crude protein, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, and relative feed value) increased and pure sowing of berseem clover gave higher quality forage. Research highlights: Considering the findings obtained, it was concluded that 40% bc + 60% ar mixture can be recommended to growers as a winter intermediate crop under similar ecological conditions where the Mediterranean climate is dominant.