Legume-cereal forage mixtures for silage 1. Effect of pea variety, maturity and sowing density of mixture on dry matter yield and silage chemical composition

Abstract

The effect of variety, maturity and sowing density of pea in mixtures with spring wheat and Italian ryegrass grown for silage on dry matter yield, level of nutrients in green forage and chemical composition and quality of silage was studied. The average dry matter yield of the forage mixtures for the factors and vegetative seasons studied was 7.4 t ha" 1 . The participation of pea plants in mixtures before ensiling was from 31 to 45% and that of spring wheat and Italian ryegrass from 39 to 46% and from 13 to 23%, respectively. The dry matter in green forage from the mixtures averaged 250 g kg" 1 and in silage 224 g kg" 1 . Rumen degradability of dry matter of the of silage during 2 to 48 h incubation ranged from 52 to 81 %. No significant effect of pea variety and mixture sowing density on yield, dry matter and nutrients contents in green fodder and chemical composition of the silage (P ^ 0.05) was found. A significant effect of pea maturity and year of growth of the forages on content of nutrients in the green forage and chemical composition of the silage was found (P^O.01).

Legume-cereal forage mixtures for silage 2. Nutritive value of silage for dairy cows

“…Analysis of the silages were carried out as described in the first part of this study (Urbanski and Brzoska, 1996a). Content of nutrients in the silages, refusals and faeces was determined by conventional methods (AOAC, 1990) with the use of equipment manufactured by Buchi and Tecator.…”

“…It has been shown that variety of pea and mixture sowing density do not significantly affect the nutritive value of the forage as well as its chemical composition and rumen degradability (Urbanski and Brzoska, 1996a). Moreover, no significant effect of variety on nutritive value of forage from pure cultures of pea grown for silage in the soil and climatic conditions of Scotland was found (Potts, 1980(Potts, , 1982.…”

“…Moreover, no significant effect of variety on nutritive value of forage from pure cultures of pea grown for silage in the soil and climatic conditions of Scotland was found (Potts, 1980(Potts, , 1982. Dry matter yield and nutritive value of the mixtures and of pure cultures of pea depend above all on maturity and growth season, determined by amount and distribution of rainfall and temperature of the air (Potts, 1982;Aman P., Graham H., 1987;Urbanski and Brzoska, 1996a). In considering the possibility of growing mixtures of pea and spring cereals for silage, we have undertaken studies to evaluate the chemical composition and nutritive value of silages made from mixtures cut at three stages of pea maturity and to evaluate the productivity of cows receiving diets with these silages.…”