EFFECT OF VARIETY AND SEED PROPORTIONS ON YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF OATS-VETCHMIXTURESGROWN ON ACIDIC SOILS ATASSOSA,BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ REGION EFFECT OF VARIETY AND SEED PROPORTIONS ON YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF OATS-VETCHMIXTURESGROWN ON ACIDIC SOILS ATASSOSA,BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ REGION EFFECT OF VARIETY AND SEED PROPORTIONS ON YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF OATS-VETCHMIXTURESGROWN ON ACIDIC SOILS ATASSOSA,BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ REGIO

Abstract

The study was conducted during the main cropping season of 2019/2020 at Assosa in Benishangul-Gumuz regional state. The aim of the study was to evaluate herbage dry matter yield, nutritional quality and biological compatibility of oats-vetch mixtures. The treatments included two oat varieties (SRCP X 80 Ab 2291 and SRCP X 80 Ab 2806), two vetch species (Vicia sativa“ICARDA61509” and Vicia dasycarpa “Lana”) and four levels of seed proportions (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) of the recommended seeding rates of the two forages. Randomized complete block design was used with factorial arrangement and 3 replications. The results revealed that seedling count at emergence, stand count at tillering, plant height, leaf to stem ratio of oat and vetch were significantly (P<0.05) differed among oat varieties, vetch species and seed proportions. The interaction effect of oat by vetch, oat by seed proportions, vetch by seed proportions and oat by vetch by seed proportions had significant (P<0.05) effect on plot cover and vigor score percentage, dry matter yield (DMY) tha-1,and the quality parameters such as, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent Lignin (ADL), In-vitro Dry matter Digestibility (IVDMD) and crude protein yield (CPY) tha-1. The mixtures of 75% SRCP X 80 Ab 2806 + 25% Vicia sativa “ICARDA-61509”(12.35) gave in the higher DMY (tha-1). On the other hand Vicia dasycarpa sown in pure stands had lower DMY compared to oats vetch mixtures (7.45). In terms of quality, increasing the seed proportions of both vetch species in the mixture resulted in higher CP%, CPY (tha-1) and IVDMD% and lower NDF%, ADF% and ADL% contents. Relative yield total of oats-vetch mixtures at 25% SRCP X 80 Ab 2291 + 75% Vicia dasycarpa “Lana” (1.35), 25% SRCP X 80 Ab 2806 + 75% Vicia dasycarpa “Lana” (1.32), 75% SRCP X 80 Ab 2806 + 25% Vicia sativa“ICARDA-61509” (1.20) and 75% SRCP X 80 Ab 2291 + 25% Vicia dasycarpa “Lana” (1.12) were better compared to the other mixtures and pure stands. Generally, mixing of oat varieties with vetch species at different seed proportions of 75% oats: 25% vetch and 25% oats: 75% vetch produced better dry matter yield, nutritional quality and compatibility in the study area. However, the experiment should be conducted for more years at different locations to recommend the best oats-vetch mixtures for Assosa area of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State.