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

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.

The field experiment was conducted during season of 2023–24 at the Siirt University Faculty of Agriculture Research and Experiment Land, Türkiye. 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.

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.