Description

The Central Highlands (CH) of Turkey are characterized by cold winters and dry summers. Under these extreme air temperatures, forage crops are still underexploited as a part of crop rotations. Half of the total vetch hectarage in Turkey is in the CH, and farmers still use the local cultivars that have good adaptability but low yield potential. Therefore, with the aim of identifying and improving the annual forage legume species for the cold and dry environment of the CH, research work was carried out during the 1993/94 and 1994/ 95 crop seasons. Initial results showed that Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica) and wooly-pod vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa) were promising vetches for autumn-sowing and utilization for grazing and/ or hay. Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis) also performed well in the autumn-sown, and was found suitable to grow for grain and straw yields.

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Germplasm Enhancement of Annual Forage Legumes Suitable for Use in Cold Highland Environments

The Central Highlands (CH) of Turkey are characterized by cold winters and dry summers. Under these extreme air temperatures, forage crops are still underexploited as a part of crop rotations. Half of the total vetch hectarage in Turkey is in the CH, and farmers still use the local cultivars that have good adaptability but low yield potential. Therefore, with the aim of identifying and improving the annual forage legume species for the cold and dry environment of the CH, research work was carried out during the 1993/94 and 1994/ 95 crop seasons. Initial results showed that Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica) and wooly-pod vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa) were promising vetches for autumn-sowing and utilization for grazing and/ or hay. Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis) also performed well in the autumn-sown, and was found suitable to grow for grain and straw yields.