Effect of Boron on Growth, Forage Yield and Quality of Some Legume Forage Crops

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of boron (B) fertilizer application on the growth, forage yield, quality and nutritive element content of legume forage crops. Methods: The field experiment was conducted during season of 2023-24 at the Siirt University Faculty of Agriculture Research and Experiment Land, T & uuml;rkiye. In the study, narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) (NV), forage pea [Pisum sativum ssp. arvense (L.) Poir.] (FP), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) (BC) and Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) (PC) species were examined. Treatments included five pureboron concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 kg ha-1) applied on before sowing. Boron experiments were set up separately for each legume species. Result: Boron treatments increased legume forage crops species productivity relative to the control. When plant growth characteristics, forage yield and quality parameters were evaluated together, it was concluded that 1 kg ha-1 B application for NV and PC, 2 kg ha-1 B application for FP and BC were the most effective doses.