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A completely randomized factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and biomass production of single- and mixed crop species inoculated with mycorrhizae. Radish, (R), safflower (SF), pearl-millet (PM), mustard (M), field peas ((FP), faba-bean (FB), common vetch (CV), and berseem clover (BC) and their blends as R-SF-PM-M, FP-FB-CV-BC, R-SF-PM-M-FP-FB-CV-BC, R-SF-M-FP-FB-CV-BC, and PM-FP-FB-CV-BC were planted in a pot culture. The mycorrhizal inoculum significantly influenced the cover crops growth and biomass production under sterilized soils than that of non-sterile soils. While the safflower produced the highest total biomass, the pearl millet and field peas produced the lowest total biomass. Generally, in sterile and mycorrhizal conditions plant grown better and have high total C fixation. Within non-sterile and mycorrhizal inoculation, Safflower (1383.1 g C m−2) and Berseem Clover (1235.5 g C m−2) as a single species have fixed highest amount of carbon as biomass. Mycorrhizae inoculated BC+CV+FB+FP+SF+PM blends had a return of 1365.0 g C m−2 in non-sterile soil. Our results suggested that cover crops in single or mixed stands with mycorrhizal inoculations are expected to provide a significantly greater amount of biomass, which would contribute to soil organic matter and nutrient recycling for crop production.

Limited information on nutrient composition and in vitro digestibility of corn-soybean intercropped silage is available. The objective of this study was to compare corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max L. Yesilsoy) monocrop silage with corn-soybean intercropped silages in term of yield, nutritive value, and in vitro digestibility. Intercropping was as follows: 1 row corn to 1 row soybean (1M1S), 1 row corn to 2 rows soybean (1M2S) and 2 rows corn to 1 row soybean (2M1S). The crops were harvested when the corn reached 3/5 or 1/4 milk line. The silage samples were analysed for pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Also, in vitro true (IVTD) and in vitro NDF (IVNFD) digestibilities were determined in the silages samples. The DM, EE, calculated non structural carbohydrate values were higher in silage harvested at 1/4 than 3/5 milk line. All intercropped silages had higher CP values (1M1S, 8.3%; 1M2S, 10.1%; 2M1S, 8.0%) than the monocrop corn (SM, 6.8%) silage. The NDF and ADF levels were higher for 1M1S, 2M1S and SM compared with 1M2S and monocrop soybean (SS) silage. In vitro true DM digestibility of all silages increased with maturity stage; it was higher for the 1M2S than other silages. It is concluded that corn-soybean intercropped silage has better nutrient composition and digestibility than SM or SS silage.

This study was carried out in order to compare in 20 different rangeland sample areas that determined in order to environmental variables, vegetation and soil properties by multivariate ordination analysis in Mugla province. Cluster analysis was made to determine the similarity and species compositions of sample areas, and as a result of this analysis, three different groups have occurred. Additionally, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was made after the indicator species analysis. The interaction between environmental and soil-borne factors as altitude, distance to village, soil depth, pH in saturated soil with water, lime and surface stoniness were found to be significant and this significance was expressed by graphs. Moreover, it was indicated that relationship with species in the vegetation of the variables that were determined as significant by tables and figures. The relationship with the species in the vegetation of the variables that were determined as significant was also indicated. The result of the study showed that environmental variables as soil depth, soil pH saturated with water, stony surface, altitude and distance to villages had a significant effect on the species diversity and distribution in the samples areas.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different irrigation water levels on the biomass yield and forage quality. M81-E sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. saccharatum (L.) Mohlenbr.) genotype was used as the plant material for the study. Field experiments were conducted at the experimental fields of Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, in 2017 and second-crop conditions (June-October) in a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 3 replications. In the experiment, 4 different irrigation levels 100% (I1), 75% (I2), 50% (I3) and 25% (I4) were applied during plant development periods. Irrigation was done according to the Class-A pan evaporation values measured at 7-day intervals. In this research, total irrigation water was applied to the experimental treatments between 227.8 and 479.6 mm. Harvest was performed between milk and soft dough stages. In addition to the determination of biomass yield, whole plant was ensiled and silage quality attributes were also determined. As a result of the research, according to irrigation levels applied; biomass yield ranged between 8733 and 13300 kg da-1, and the highest yield was found at I1 and the lowest yield at I4 treatments. Besides, it has been determined that different irrigation water levels have statistically significant effect on neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP) ratio, crude ash (CA), dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed value (RFV) amongst the main quality characteristics of silage.