An investigation of artificial pasture establishment under dryland conditions

This study was conducted to determine the suitable mixtures of perennial forage species for the establishment of artificial pasture under dry conditions in Karapinar-Konya between 2004 and 2006. In this study, complex mixtures of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner), tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv.), intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv.), smooth brome (Bromus inermis Layss), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L.), tall oatgrass (Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) Presl.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa Lam.) and garden burnet (Poterium sanguisorba L.) were used. The experiment design was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications. The highest fresh forage yields were obtained from crested wheatgrass, garden burnet and alfalfa mixtures in 2005 and 2006 (1708.1 and 1763.6 kg ha(-1), respectively) and the highest dry matter yield was obtained in 2006 (933.9 kg ha(-1)). The results showed that mixtures of crested wheatgrass, garden burnet and alfalfa may be used to establish artificial pasture under dryland conditions in similar ecology of Karapinar-Konya.