The Relationship between Maturity Stage and Forage Yield and Quality of Field Pea (Pisum Sativum Ssp. Arvense)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the appropriate growth stage for the harvest of peas (Pisum sativum L., cv.Özkaynak) to obtain a better yield and quality. The study was conducted in Kızıltepe district, Mardin province in the Southern Anatolian Region of Turkey during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 growing seasons. Forage peas were harvested at 3 different stages: 50% flowering stage, detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed value (RFV) were determined. The harvest at the visible first pod stage showed the highest values for GM, DM, CP yield, ADF, DMI, and RFV. Harvesting before or after this stage resulted in a significant decrease in these parameters. However, the highest CP rate and DDM value were recorded for the harvest at the 50% flowering stage, and the highest NDF was noted when the harvest was done at the full pod stage. Therefore, it is concluded that the most appropriate maturity stage for forage pea harvest in the Mardin province of Turkey and regions with similar ecological conditions is the first visible pod stage.