Effect of irrigation frequency, N- fertilizer levels and mixing ratio of Egyptian clover-oat on forage yield

(Suleiman Ali al-Khatib and Abdul Rahim)

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Abstract

Effects of irrigation frequency, nitrogen fertilizer levels and mixing ratio of Egyptian clover-oat on forage yield were evaluated in a split split plot design with four replicates. Three irrigation intervals, 7, 14 and 21 days consuming 500, 650 and 800 m3 ha-1 /irrigation with water consumption of 13000, 9200 and 7600 m3 ha-1 in the season, respectively were assigned to the main plots. Four nitrogen fertilizer levels, 45, 90, 135 and 180 kg N ha-1 were assigned to the sub plots. The sub sub-plots were assigned to the following mixing ratio: solid Egyptian clover or oat (100%), 75% Egyptian clover + 25% oat, 50% Egyptian clover + 50% oat and 25% Egyptian clover + 75% oat. Combined analysis of data over all cuts in both seasons showed that irrigation every 7 days showed the highest fresh and dry forage yields ha-1. Increasing nitrogen level (180 kg N ha-1) produced the highest fresh and dry forage yields. The monoculture of Egyptian clover produced the highest fresh yield/ ha /season. However, the mixtures of 25 or 75 % Egyptian clover and 75 or 25 % oat produced the highest dry forage yields ha-1 in the season. The interaction between irrigation intervals X nitrogen levels, irrigation intervals X mixing ratio and nitrogen levels X mixing ratio had significant effects on forage fresh and dry yields. Mixing 25 % Egyptian clover with 75 % oat seeds and fertilizing with 180 kg N ha-1 under irrigating interval of 7 days showed the highest dry forage yield under Al-Hassa conditions, Saudi Arabia.
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