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Silage corn has an important potential as second crop under irrigated lands of semi-arid regions. This research was conducted to determine silage yield and quality of some corn cultivars (Ada, Cadiz, Donana, Sagunto and Sakarya) grown after barley harvest using different sowing methods (direct and conventional) in 2014 and 2015 years in Eskisehir Plain. Investigated parameters were significantly different between years except for leaf ratio and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. In the first year, plant height, fresh forage yield, and Fleig point were higher than the second year but dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, cob ratio and pH were contrarily higher in the second year. Sowing method significantly affected all parameters except leaf ratio. Using direct sowing method increased cob ratio (40.3 %), dry matter (22.93 %), crude protein content (7.56 %), pH (3,76) and Fleig score (85.82) compared to conventional sowing method. Cultivars significantly varied in terms of plant height, cob ratio, dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, pH, and Fleig point. Considering the total silage yield and quality the domestic cultivar Ada, which seeds are common in the market, could be suggested after barley harvest for second crop production as long as sown conventionally in irrigated lands of Central Anatolia.

The objective of this research was to determine the forage yield, quality and physiological properties of mixtures of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) with triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) and annual ryegrass (Lolium moltiflorum) grown as intermediate winter crop system under the conditions of Southern Marmara Region. Forage yield, light interception, leaf area index, crude protein content, crude protein yield, ADF and NDF contents were measured. The highest forage yield (15.21 t ha-1) was obtained from 50% common vetch + 50% triticale mixture which was followed by 75% common vetch + 25% triticale, 25% common vetch + 75% triticale, 25% common vetch + 75% annual ryegrass mixtures.The results of two-year averages indicated that the 75% common vetch + 25 % triticale mixturewas the best one for good quality and higher forage yield, and its suitability wasrecommended for the experimental ecology.

This research sought to determine the correlations between grain yield and yield components and to measure the direct and indirect effects of yield components on grain yield in barley by using correlation coefficient and path analysis methods, respectively. This research was conducted with ten varieties of two-rowed barley under the ecological conditions of the coastal zone of northwest Turkey during the years 2003-2004. Agronomic traits such as grain yield, plant height, spike length, kernel number per spike, kernel weight per spike, spike number per m2, harvest index and 1000-kernel weight were determined. The data from two years were combined. Correlation analyses indicated that the grain yield was positively and significantly associated with all the yield components except 1000-kernel weight. The highest correlation coefficients were found between grain yield and kernel number per spike (r = +0.406), and between grain yield and harvest index (r = +0.474). Results of path analyses indicated that harvest index had the greatest direct effect (+0.7716) on grain yield followed by spike number per m2 (+0.3359) and kernel number per spike (+0.2081). Percentages of their direct effect were 71.97%, 48.47% and 28.22%, respectively. On the other hand, most of the indirect effects of yield components on grain yield were found to be significant and positive. Because of the significant effects of the harvest index, spike number per m2 and kernel number per spike on grain yield, they may be regarded as criteria for barley improvement and breeding programs.

One of the major uses of soybean crops (Glycine max (L.) Merril) is as silage. However, due to its unpleasant odour and relatively high butyric acid content, soybean silage is not readily preferred by animals. Because it does not have a regular fermentation, easily fermented forage resources are needed to obtain quality silage. To improve the quality of the silage, soybeans can be mixed with an appropriate amount of maize (Zea mays L.). In this study, we examined the quality and properties of maize (M) and soybean (S) silages of different mixtures (100 % M, 100 % S, 10 % S + 90 % M, 20 % S + 80 % M, 30 % S + 70 % M, 40 % S + 60 % M, 50 % S + 50 % M, 60 % S + 40 % M, 70 % S + 30 % M, 80 % S + 20 % M and 90 % S + 10 % M). For this purpose, each plant species was grown separately, and the maize was harvested when the plants reached the doughy stage. The harvest was performed using a single row maize harvester that chops the plants into 1.5-2 cm pieces. The fresh plant material from each species was then mixed in different proportions and squeezed before being transferred to 1.5 L anaerobic jars (Le Parfait, France). The jars were opened after a 60-day ensiling period. Then, the dry matter rate, pH, silage loss, fleig point, crude protein content, ADF content and NDF content of the silages were determined. The results showed that an increase in soybean rate in the mixture decreased the dry matter rate. Conversely, the silage pH, crude protein content and ADF content increased. Our results suggested that producing quality silage required the soybean material to be mixed with a minimum of 50 % maize.