EFFECT OF HARVEST TIME ON HERBAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF ANNUAL GRASS CULTIVARS

This study was carried out to determine the effects of harvest time on herbage yield and quality of different annual grass cultivars harvested in different periods. A total of 10 different annual grass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cultivars supplied from an agricultural company were used as the plant material of the field experiments. Experiments were carried out in randomized blocks – split plots design with 3 replications. Annual grass cultivars were harvested in booting, flowering and milky stage. Green and dry herbage yields, crude protein, crude ash, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) characteristics were investigated. Harvest periods had a significant (P≤0.01) effect on all parameters. ADF-NDF ratios, green and dry herbage yields increased, and crude protein and crude ash ratios decreased with the progress of harvest time. The highest crude protein yield was obtained from the plants harvested in flowering stage. Based on present findings obtained under Central Anatolian conditions, Baqueona, Baqueona, Medaocus cultivars are recommended in terms of herbage and protein yields.