Determination of Silage Quality of Different Companion Crops with Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Abstract

With silage technology, roughages can be stored fresh for a long time, so the need for quality roughages of animals can be met all year round. The aim of the current study was to determine the silage quality of sole, binary (50%+50%) and ternary mixtures (40%+30%+30%) of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) “C” with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) "PR", orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) “OG”, white clover (Trifolium repens L) “WC”, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) "RC", alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) "A", and birdsfood trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) "BT". After the plants were harvested, they were cut into 2 cm in size and filled in vacuum bags, and stored at 25 ± 2 oC for 45 days. In the study, at the end of the 45th day, the dry matter ratio, pH, crude protein (CP) ratio, crude ash ratio, acid detergent insoluble fiber (ADF), neutral detergent insoluble fiber (NDF), lactic acid (LA), acetic acid, butyric acid, lactic acid/acetic acid ratio, and potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper and molybdenum contents were determined and the Flieg score (FS) was calculated. The highest FS were determined in 50C%+50WC% (97.72), sole white clover (92.95), 50C%+50BT% (91.15), sole chicory (91.09), sole birdsfood trefoil (90.28), and in 40C%+30PR%+30WC% (90.20). The crude protein, ADF, and NDF ratio ranged between 11.82 -19.22%, 19.27-34.15%, and 25.29-57.64%, respectively. The highest lactic acid was determined in 40C%+30PR%+30WC% (2.952%), sole white clover (2.694%), and in 50C%+50WC% (2.548%). Chicory and white clover mixtures showed superior performance in terms of mineral contents. According to the quality properties and mineral contents, it was determined that the sole chicory and sole white clover with 50C%+50WC%, 50C%+50BT%, and 40C%+30PR%+30WC% mixtures were better than other silage.

Keywords

• chicory
• companion crops
• mixture
• silage
• forage quality