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Legumes are typically challenging to ensile due to their low concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates and high capacity for buffering. If legumes and medicinal plants are ensiled together, the silage quality increases, which benefits the digestive system of ruminates. The aim of this study was to research the effects of different alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and hops (Humulus lupulus L.) ratios on silage quality and in vitro rumen fermentation traits. The plant materials were chopped to a particle size of <2 cm; then alfalfa (A) and hops (H) were ensiled in ratios of 100A + 0H, 75A + 25H, 50A + 50H, 25A + 75H and 0A + 100H by weight with 4 replicates. Fresh silage samples were left to ferment for 45 days at 25 ± 2 °C. Subsequently, it was observed that hops added to alfalfa improved the silage’s fermentation qualities. At a 75A + 25H ratio, the silage quality increased due to having a lower pH and dry matter ratio as well as increased values for Flieg score, crude protein, relative feed, and condensed tannin concentration. A higher proportion of alfalfa in the silage mixture increased methane (CH4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and decreased lactic acid (LA). Comparing 50A + 50H and 25A + 75H silages to 100A + 0H, the CH4 production was 26.19% and 27.80% lower, respectively, and the CO2 production decreased by 25.61% and 28.15%, respectively. Consequently, the 50A + 50H and 25A + 75H silage ratios are advised for feeding ruminants. Furthermore, more research with different forage combinations is required to understand how hops influence rumen fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it was aimed to determine the silage quality of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) collected from wild pear (Pyrus amygdaliformis) and poplar trees (Populus canadensis) in January, July, August, and December. The fresh samples were chopped in 2 cm size and ensiled in 2 kg plastic bags then stored at 25 ± 2 °C conditions for 45 days. Silage samples were investigated for dry matter ratio, pH, crude protein ratio, crude ash ratio, condensed tannin, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, malic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium contents. All quality traits of mistletoe silages were significantly different between host trees, collected times, and the interactions of host tree x collection time. It has been determined that mistletoe can be used as silage in terms of all the traits investigated. Besides, the silage of mistletoe collected from wild pear in December is better than other treatments. Mistletoe can be considered as an alternative roughage source due to its high content of crude protein, nutrient composition, easy digestibility, and organic acid content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, maize and legume intercropping were evaluated in terms of silage yield and quality. Maize (Zea mays L. "M") was intercropped with soybean (Glycine max L. "S") and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. "C") as binary mixtues (maize + legume), and the seed rates were as follows: 100 + 0%, 75 + 25%, 50 + 50% and 25 + 75%. The harvested plants were chopped with the particle size of < 2, ensiled in 2 kg plastic jars and left fermentation at 25 ± 2 °C for 45 days. In this study, silage yield, dry matter ratio, pH value, crude protein ratio, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, digestibility of dry matter, dry matter intake, total digestibil nutrient relative feed values, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, malic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium contents were determined. All the M + S mixtures showed high performance in terms of Flieg score and lactic acid content. The highest relative feed quality value was determined in the sole cowpea (156.4) and 25M + 75S% (148.5) mixture. As a result, intercropping maize with legumes resulted in superior silage quality without a reduction in yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of smoke solutions derived from wheat straw on the germination, seedling growth characteristics, and biochemical content of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) were examined in this study. The smoke solutions were applied to petri and pot media at different concentrations. Both experiments were conducted in a randomized plot design with 3 replications. In the pot experiments, the smoke solutions were applied through the initial irrigation at 5 different concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%) while 6 concentrations were used for petri experiments (0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 10%) and results were compared to a control (distilled water). The smoke solutions increased root and shoot growth but decreased the germination rate and speed of grass pea in both media. In general, there were positive outcomes for the investigated traits with moderate concentrations of solution, but negative outcomes with low and high concentrations. The smoke solution treatments improved the shoot dry weighs, K, and protein contents, but decreased the acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents and the toxic component oxalyldiaminopropionic acid (ODAP). Accordingly, the smoke solutions stimulated the development of grass pea and promising outcomes were achieved in terms of high protein and low ODAP contents, which are the main targets of grass pea breeding studies. It was concluded, based on the present findings, that smoke solutions derived from wheat straw could be used as an environmentally friendly practice in grass pea culture to increase yield and quality. However, it should be kept in mind that concentration was a critical issue for ensuring the expected outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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