EFFECT OF HARVEST STAGE AND ENSILING PERIOD ON SILAGE QUALITY OF GRASS PEA (LATHYRUS SATIVUS L.)

Abstract

The aim of current study was to determine the effect of different harvest stages and ensiling periods on silage quality of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) grown in the experimental field of Agricultural Application and Research Centre of Bozok University during 2016-2017 vegetation periods. The plants were harvested at the flowering and seed filling stage, chopped and ensiled in 2 kg special jars. Then, they were stored at 25 2 C under laboratory condition for 15, 30 and 45 days. Physical properties such as colour, structure, odour are observed, and chemical contents are determined as follows: dry matter ratio, crude protein ratio, crude ash ratio, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sulphur (S), boron (B), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo) and ODAP. All silage samples determined in the study were in quality class of silage. The highest lactic acid was determined as 4.05%, while the lowest was 0.85%. Acetic and butyric acid ranged between 0.93-1.82% and 0.10-0.40%, respectively. The highest ODAP content was determined as 2.48 mg/g, while the lowest was 0.66 mg/g. Generally, mineral nutrients were high and within the livestock requirement limits. As a result, harvesting at the flowering stage and ensiling for 45 days was found out to be the best treatment for the successful grass pea silage.