Chemical composition and forage yield of three Vicia varieties (Vicia spp.) at full blooming stage

Abstract

Mixing nitrogen-stabilizing leguminous forages such as Vicia spp. with livestock feeding systems like farm-pasture or farm-animal systems is one of the best approaches to reserve seasonal feeds, to decrease the load on pasture, and to increase soil fertility. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical compositions and fresh/dry forage yield of three varieties of Vicia spp. (Vicia narbonensis, narbon vetch, accession 2561; Vicia sativa, common vetch, accession 463; Vicia dasycarpa, woolly-pod vetch, accession 2446) at full blooming stage. The plants were grown under the climatic conditions of the province of Lorestan in Western Iran and were harvested at full blooming stage. Fresh and dry forage yields, as well as protein yield, were significantly higher (PVicia varieties in vitro. Results showed that all the Vicia varieties provide high quality forage for livestock, and can be recommended for cultivation because of their adaptability to the particular conditions of a region.

Keywords

• Vicia varieties, Iran, Full blooming, Forage yield, Digestibility