Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Bozok University, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Department of Field Crops, Yozgat, 66100, Turkey. b
2
Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Samsun, 55130, Turkey.
3
Bozok University, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Department of Field Crops, Yozgat, 66100, Turkey.
Abstract
Oat (Avena sativa L.) traditionally has been a major crop for feed and forage in Turkey. The
objective of this research was to study hay yield and quality of oat genotypes harvested at the
late milk stage. One hundred oat varieties of worldwide origin were compared in field
experiments in Samsun (northern Turkey) over two growing seasons (2007-2008 and 2008-2009).
Significant differences between the tested oat varieties were observed for the plant height, hay
yield, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), total
digestible nutrients (TDN), relative feed value (RFV) and macro minerals (Ca, K, P and Mg).
Plant height varied from 76.2 to 141.2 cm, hay yield from 6.03 to 11.83 t ha-1, crude protein
from 58.8 to 136.4 g kg-1 dry matter (DM), acid detergent fibre from 333.2 to 424.8 g kg-1 DM
and neutral detergent fibre from 522.5 to 652.4 g kg-1 DM. The TDN ranged from 465.1 to
583.3 g kg-1 and relative feed value from 80.9 to 112%. Cluster analysis grouped the 100
genotypes within 7 clusters, each of which having 17, 21, 13, 12, 20, 12 and 5 genotypes. Sisko,
Akiyutaka, Longchamp, Sanova, Flämingslord, Matra and Revisor were identified as the high
hay yield potential genotypes. However, quality traits of these genotypes were lower than some
of other genotypes. Furthermore, while some macro minerals were insufficient, others were in
excess regarding healthy feeding. Hence, some form of commercial mineral supplement would
be required to oat-based ration or oat should be grown in mixtures with legumes for feeding
productive livestock.
Keywords
)