The effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) companion crop management on red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) establishment and productivity

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) has the potential to be a suitable companion crop for the establishment of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), as it is fast growing and is harvested early, and thus reduces the duration of competition and allows light to be transmitted through its canopy to an undersown species more so than other companion crops such as small grains. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of field pea as a companion crop for red clover, and in particular to determine the effect of pea cultivar and plant population density. The field experiment comprised 2 sowing years, (2004 and 2005), and the first cut in the first full harvest year in 2005 and 2006. The factorial component of the experiment involved 2 pea varieties (Jezero: semi-leafless; Javor: normal leaves with reduced leaflet size) and 3 densities (30, 60, and 90 plants m-2). Two control treatments were also included in the experiment, i.e. red clover grown as pure stand (control I) and red clover with oat as a cover crop (control II). When the field pea had reached the harvestable stage all plots were cut, followed by 2 additional cuts in the sowing year. Yields at the first cut in the following year were also recorded. Forage and protein yields, as well as the weed proportion were measured. On average, control II produced the highest forage yield, followed by pea as the cover crop; the lowest yield was obtained in the pure stand of red clover. Field pea cultivar yields did not differ significantly. The highest average yield was obtained with 90 plants m-2. The first cut comprised the highest proportion of annual yield (50%-69% when field pea was included). Red clover establishment was not adversely affected by competition from peas. As crude protein content did not vary much, crude protein yield followed the same trend as forage yield (r = 0.83).

The effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) companion crop management on red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) establishment and productivity

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) has the potential to be a suitable companion crop for the establishment of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), as it is fast growing and is harvested early, and thus reduces the duration of competition and allows light to be transmitted through its canopy to an undersown species more so than other companion crops such as small grains. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of field pea as a companion crop for red clover, and in particular to determine the effect of pea cultivar and plant population density. The field experiment comprised 2 sowing years, (2004 and 2005), and the first cut in the first full harvest year in 2005 and 2006. The factorial component of the experiment involved 2 pea varieties (Jezero: semi-leafless; Javor: normal leaves with reduced leaflet size) and 3 densities (30, 60, and 90 plants m-2). Two control treatments were also included in the experiment, i.e. red clover grown as pure stand (control I) and red clover with oat as a cover crop (control II). When the field pea had reached the harvestable stage all plots were cut, followed by 2 additional cuts in the sowing year. Yields at the first cut in the following year were also recorded. Forage and protein yields, as well as the weed proportion were measured. On average, control II produced the highest forage yield, followed by pea as the cover crop; the lowest yield was obtained in the pure stand of red clover. Field pea cultivar yields did not differ significantly. The highest average yield was obtained with 90 plants m-2. The first cut comprised the highest proportion of annual yield (50%-69% when field pea was included). Red clover establishment was not adversely affected by competition from peas. As crude protein content did not vary much, crude protein yield followed the same trend as forage yield (r = 0.83).

___

  • Açikgöz E., Tekeli AS (1980) Seed yield and its components in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) cultivars. Euphytica 29: 199-203.
  • Anil L, Park J, Phipps RH, Miller FA (1998) Temperate intercropping of cereals for forage: review of the potential for growth and utilisation with particular reference to the UK. Grass Forage Sci 53: 301-317.
  • Avola G, Tuttbene R, Gresta F, Abbate V (2008) Weed control strategies for grain legumes. Agron Sustain Dev 28: 389-395.
  • Chapko LB, Brinkman MA, Albrecht KA (1991) Oat, oat-pea, barley, and barley-pea for forage yield forage quality and alfalfa establishment. J Prod Agric 4: 360-365.
  • Ćupina B, Mihailović V, Erić P (2000) Management practices for yield and quality of field pea. A Periodical of Scientific Research on Field and Vegetable Crops 33: 91-102.
  • Dewey DR, Lu KH (1954) A correlation and path-coefficient analysis of components of crested wheatgrass seed production. Agron J 51: 515-517.
  • FAO (2002) Food energy–methods of analysis and conversion factors. Report of a technical workshop In: FAO food and nutrition paper. Vol. 77, pp. 7-11.
  • Faulkner JS (1985) A comparison of faba beans and peas as whole- crop forages. Grass Forage Sci 40: 161-169.
  • Gilliland TJ, Johnston J (1992) Barley/pea mixtures as cover crops for grass reseed. Grass Forage Sci 47: 1-7.
  • Horrocks RD, Vallentine JF (1999) Establishment of forage species. In: Harvested Forages (Eds. RD Horrocks, JF Vallentine). Academic Press, London, pp. 135-154.
  • Jensen ES, Hauggaard-Nielsen H (2002) Understanding the role of grain legumes in the N cycling of agroecosystem. Grain Legumes 36: 12-14.
  • Joanne R, Thiessen M, Hoeppner JW, Entz MH (2001) Legume cover crops with winter cereals in southern Manitoba: establishment, productivity, and microclimate effects. Agron J 93: 1086-1096.
  • Klesnil J (1980) Contribution to the problem of establishing of clover crop stands. Rostl Vyr 26: 6-10.
  • Koivisto JM (2002) Semi leafless pea: a cover crop for establishing lucerne or red clover. PhD Thesis. Royal Agricultural College & Coventry University, UK, p. 278.
  • Lanini WT, Orlof SB, Vargas RN, Orr JP, Marable VL, Grattan SR (1991) Oat companion crop seeding rate effect on alfalfa establishment, yield and weed control. Agron J 83: 330-333.
  • Matejkova O (1982) Limited ways of the soil cultivation to summer sowing of alfalfa. Rostl Vyr 28: 233-248.
  • Obračević Č (1990) Tablice hranjivih vrednosti stočnih hraniva i normativa u ishrani preživara [Tables of feed nutritional value and normatives in ruminants nutrition]. Naučna knjiga, Belgrade, pp. 27 [In Serbian].
  • Simmons SR, Craig S, Sheffer DC, Rasmusson DD, Stuthman S, Nickel E (1995) Alfalfa establishment with barley and oat companion crops differing in stature. Agron J 87: 268-272.
  • Smith LW, Goering HK, Gordon CH (1972) Relationships of forage compositions with rates of cell wall digestion and indigestibility of cell walls. J of Dairy Sci 55, 8: 1140-1147.
  • Smith RR, Taylor NL, Bowley SR (1985) Red clover. In: Clover Science and Technology (Eds. NL Taylor). ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 458-470.
  • Sturgul SJ, Daniel TC, Mueller DH (1990) Tillage and canopy cover effects on iterrill erosion from first-year alfalfa. Soil Sci Am J 54: 1733-1739.
  • Sule RM (1993) Ryegrass companion crops for alfalfa establishment: I Forage yield and alfalfa suppression. Agron J 85: 67-74.
  • Tan M, Serin Y, Erkovan HI (2004) Effect of barley as companion crop on the hay yield and plant density of red clover and botanical composition of hay. Turk J Agric For 28: 35-41.
  • Tesar MB Marble VL (1988) Alfalfa establishment. In: Alfalfa and Alfalfa Improvement (Eds. AA Hanson, DK Barnes, RR Hill). ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 303-332.
  • Undersander D, Mertens DR, Thiex N (1993) Forage analyses procedures. National Forage Testing Association, Omaha.
  • Vough LR, Decker AM, Taylor TH (1995) Forage establishment and renovation. In: Forages, Vol. 2: The Science of Grassland Agriculture (Eds. RF Barnes, DA Miller, J Nelson). Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, Iowa, USA, pp. 29-43.
  • Vrzal J, Šantruček J, Svobodova M, Fogl J (2001) Inserting red clover stands into different cover crop. Rostl Vyr 47: 54-57.
  • Zollinger RK, Meyer DV (1996) Imazethapyr for weed control in alfalfa establishment. Weed Sci 49: 19-21.
Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry-Cover
  • ISSN: 1300-011X
  • Yayın Aralığı: Yılda 6 Sayı
  • Yayıncı: TÜBİTAK
Sayıdaki Diğer Makaleler

Zinc alleviates salt stress and increases antioxidant enzyme activity in the leaves of pistachio (Pistacia vera L. ‘Badami’) seedlings

Vahid TAVALLALI, Majid RAHEMI, Saeed ESHGHI, Bahman KHOLDEBARIN, Asghar RAMEZANIAN

A new study on the bacteria of Agrotis segetum Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and their insecticidal activities

Ali SEVİM, Zihni DEMİRBAĞ, İsmail DEMİR

Şekerle beslenmenin, parazitoit Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) dişilerinin lipit, glikojen ve toplam şeker miktarına etkisi

Eylem Akman GÜNDÜZ, Adem GÜLEL, Özgür Varer IŞITAN, Ali BOZ, Özlem CESUR

Zinc alleviates salt stress and increases antioxidant enzyme activity in the leaves of pistachio (Pistacia vera L. ‘Badami’) seedlings

Vahid TAVALLALI, Majid RAHEMI, Saeed ESHGHI, Bahman KHOLDEBARIN, Asghar RAMEZANIAN

The determination of pneumatic conveying characteristics of chickpea

Ahmet KILIÇKAN, Metin GÜNER

Properties of particleboard produced with liquefaction-modified phenol-formaldehyde adhesive

Jung-Uk LEE, Yong-Sung OH

The effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) companion crop management on red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) establishment and productivity

Branko CUPINA, Dorde KRSTIC, Aleksandar MIKIC, Pero ERIC

Effects of climate change on water resources of the Büyük Menderes river basin, western Turkey

Ömer Faruk DURDU

Assaying of diversity among soybean (Glycin max (L.) Merr.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes at DNA level

Faheem Shehzad BALOCH, Cemal KURT, Halis ARIOĞLU, Hakan ÖZKAN

Effects of sugar feeding on lipid, glycogen, and total sugar levels of a female parasitoid, Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Eylem Akman GÜNDÜZ, Adem GÜLEL, Özgür Varer IŞITAN, Ali BOZ, Özlem CESUR