FORAGE YIELD AND COMPOSITION OF BLACK OATS IN MONOCULTURE AND IN ASSOCIATION WITH HAIRY VETCH

Abstract

Forage yield and chemical composition of cereals associated with Veza spp. in most investigations they have been evaluated in reproductive stages with a single harvest when the quality of the forage is deteriorated due to maturity. The objective of this study was to evaluate in the vegetative stage, the forage yield and composition of black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb) and its association with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), at different canopy and residual forage heights (CH-RFH). In block design, 18 treatments were evaluated in divided plots, with monoculture and association in large plots. In small plots, nine CH-RFH combinations were evaluated in cm (40-8, 40-14, 40-20, 50-8, 50-14, 50-20, 60-8, 60-14 and 60-20). Forage yield was 17% higher (p = 0.05) in monoculture than in association (6743 vs. 5754 kg DM ha^-1), and higher (p <0.05) in 50-8, 60-8 and 60-14 of AD-AFR in the second year, with an average of 8555 kg DM ha^-1. In monoculture and association in 40-14 and 40-20 more cuts were made (three to four), and in 60-8, 60-14 and 60-20 fewer cuts (one to two). The crude protein content was 19% higher (p <0.05) in monoculture than in association (19.2 and 16.2%), and the highest contents (p <0.05) were obtained in 40-8, 40-14 and 40-20 (average 20.5%), and the lowest was recorded at 60-8 (13.2%). The forage with the lowest neutral detergent fiber (p <0.05) was harvested in 40-8, 40-14 and 50-14 (average 43.4%), and in 60-20 the highest was obtained (49.3%). Forage yield was higher in the black oats monoculture and provided more crude protein than its association with vetch. In addition, with the increase in CH, forage yield increased, but its quality decreased.