In this study, the effect of P. arvense-H. vulgare mixture and V. pannonica grown in the fallow year on silage yield and quality of subsequent cereals were investigated in the arid condition of Eskişehir, Turkey. The fresh weight of P. arvense-H. vulgare mixture with 2750 kg/da was found two-fold high than V. pannonica. P. arvense-H. vulgare mixture significantly increased the fresh and dry hay weights of cereals except for H. vulgare cv. İnce. In addition, the highest grain yield was obtained by growing Triticosecale cv. Karma in P. arvense-H. vulgare mixture plots. Due to the high pH and low dry matter content of triticale samples, the Fleig scores were very low, which is a quality indicator in silage. ADF and NDF ratios were the highest in A. sativa cv. Checato as a negative quality factor. Top-dressing of nitrogen had a positive effect on the crude protein ratio. It was concluded that production of quality roughage can be sustainably increased by growing P. arvense-H. vulgare mixture in barren areas in the fallow year and followed by sowed cvs. Karma, Müfitbey, and Checato in the cereal growing season.

This study aimed to determine whether there were the differences for germination performance and seed vigor among the seed colors (Brown, green and army green) in forage pea cultivars (Özkaynak, Töre and Taşkent) after harvest. Second day germination percentage, final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), shoot length (SL), root length (RL), seedling fresh (SFW) and dry weight (SDW) were measured. The seed vigor tests, electrical conductivity (EC) and accelerated ageing (AA) conducted at 42°C for 48 h were used for distinguishing the vigor of seed colors in forage pea cultivars. The results showed that the final germination percentage was not significantly changed with seed color and cultivar while 2 nd day germination was recorded in cv. Töre and army green seeds. Army green colored seeds germinated faster than brown ones. Among three genotypes, cv. Töre had the highest final germination percentage, shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weights, and the earlier time to germination. There were significant differences among seed colors and army green and green seeds produced more vigorous seedling than brown seeds. The EC and AA tests confirmed that vigorous germination and seedling growth were obtained from green colored seeds in forage pea. Lower EC values and higher germination performance in AA test were recorded in army green and green seeds. It was concluded that the forage pea seeds after harvest should be sorted for seed color and removing of brown seeds may be beneficial for improving seeds quality for their high seed vigor and seedling growth ability.