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.

This research was carried out in Eskişehir Plain in 2014, to compare sub-irrigated rangelands vegetation of Eskişehir Plain which have been grazing by sheep and cattle. Measurements were made according to loop method with 40 transect for each rangeland sites in the period of dominant species flowering. In both rangeland sites, it was estimated that Bermuda grass was dominant, Common rush could be suppressed by sheep grazing and species composition was different at rangeland vegetation depend on grazing animal species. Although canopy was dense in investigated rangeland sites, species components were adversely affected from heavy grazing in both rangeland sites. It was concluded from the results that botanical composition of the sub-irrigated rangelands in Eskisehir Plain were shaped differently depending grazing animal type, heavy grazing is main problem and new studies on carried capacity, grazing season and animal type are needed to improve and sustainable use of these natural resources.

In this study which was carried out during the 2015 summer season in Eskişehir, the flower, pod and seed characters attributed to yield components were investigated in 12 forage pea genotypes. They showed significant differences in terms of agronomic and morphological (flower, pod, and seed) traits. The highest fresh hay yield with 2171 kg/da and plant height with 106.6 cm were obtained from Populasyon-1. Crackerjack had lower values in some flower traits such as, whereas the higher values of pod and seed traits were obtained from cv. Rose. In addition, Population-1 included in the higher value group for standard petal width, keel petal length, calyx tube and teeth lengths, and flower length. Although cluster analysis did not reflect agronomic traits, the clustering resulted in four groups. The first group consisted of Özkaynak 1, 2, and 3 and Taşkent, Töre, and Population-2, which were the standard petal colour violet, light, and dark violet. Population-1 had both violet and white standard petal; however, it was included in the second group together with white-flowered Ulubatlı and Ürünlü according to cluster analysis. While Rose and Gölyazı were in the third group, Crackerjack was in the fourth group alone. There was a highly significant positive correlation between fresh hay yield and both standard petal width and length and flower length. Consequently, a hopeful result for summer growing in Eskişehir condition was obtained from Population-1. It was suggested that some flower characters can be used for pre-selection of yield-related traits in the evaluation of genetic diversity of pea germplasm through morphological trait.

Plant-plant interactions could shift from facilitation to competition or vice versa depending on stress conditions. Many researchers are investigating these interactions among the plant species but knowledge about the effect of these interactions on the establishment and growth is limited. Therefore, the effect of plant-plant interactions on forage yield and quality were investigated in pea-cereal mixtures under Central Anatolia conditions during the 2018 and 2019 years. Forage pea were sown using different densities (80, 100, 120 plants m -2 ) and as binary mixtures with 50-75 % reduced seeding ratio of oat, silage maize, and Sudangrass as a mixture. The highest dry matter yield was 7224.7 kg ha -1 and, obtained from 50 % reduced silage maize + 100 plants m -2 forage pea mixture. All mixtures increased dry matter yield but decreased the crude protein content concerning forage pea monoculture. Sudangrass mixtures negatively affect the crude protein content in the mixture and decreased it down to 14.58 % but it was, nevertheless, considerably high. Forage NDF and ADF contents were generally higher in Sudangrass mixtures. Above-and below-ground relative neighbor effects (ARNE and BRNE respectively) were facilitative under stressful climate conditions of 2018 but they shifted into competition in 2019. The cereals used in the mixtures caused a competitive effect on forage pea in terms of BRNE. The results indicated that plant-plant interactions could significantly affect the forage yield, quality, and competition. Forage pea (100 plants m -2 ) could be cultivated as a second crop when sown as a binary mixture using 50% reduced silage maize (5000 plants m -2 ).

This study was conducted to determine genotypic variation among sorghum cultivars grown under similar ecological conditions for seed vigor, salt (NaCl) and drought stresses. A seedling survival test was also performed in a pod experiment to investigate genotypic differences in terms of sorghum drought tolerance. In seven sorghum cultivars, seed vigor was determined using electrical conductivity and accelerated ageing tests. Also, germination rate and seedling growth of these cultivars were evaluated under salt and drought stress induced by PEG 6000 at water potentials of 0.0 (distilled water),-1.8,-3.6,-7.2 and-10.8 bar. The results showed that there was a significant difference in seed vigor of sorghum cultivars grown at same ecological conditions. Akdarı produced more vigorous seeds than the other cultivars. The significant relationship between accelerated ageing and laboratory emergence (r= 0.967**), and between electrical conductivity and germination percentage (r=-0.873**) were determined. The suitable tests for germination and emergence potential in sorghum were electrical conductivity and accelerated ageing, respectively. Increasing NaCl and PEG levels inhibited germination and seedling growth. Germination, root length and shoot length were higher, whereas mean germination time was lower, in NaCl solution compared to in PEG solution at the same water potential. In salt, drought and seedling survival tests, Aldarı showed the better performance than the others. It could be concluded that seed vigor is not a reliable indicator of germination performance under salt and drought stress conditions and that genetic differences may play an important role in stress tolerance.