THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SOWING TIMES AND HARVEST STAGES ON FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY IN BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM ESCULENTUM MOENCH)

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different sowing times and harvest stages on the yield and forage quality of buckwheat in Marmara conditions. The experiment was carried out in Bursa Uludag University Agricultural Application and Research Area in 2018 and 2019 years using Gunes variety as plant material. The experiment was established in a split-plot randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. Four different sowing times (15 April, 1 May, 15 May and 1 June) were considered in the main plot and three different harvest stages (flowering, milk, and dough) in the sub-plot. Results showed that higher plant height, stem diameter, and dry matter yield values were obtained from the plants sown on 15 April and harvested during the milk or dough stages. The highest crude protein ratio, crude protein yield and relative feed value, and the lowest acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber values were determined in plants, which were sown early and harvested during flowering. In general, the delayed harvest stage increased the yield of buckwheat but negatively affected the forage quality.