Yielding ability of different annual cereal-legume mixtures

The preliminary results of a trial aimed at optimizing legume-cereal mixtures are reported. The experiment was carried out during the season 2012-2013 in North Sardinia (Italy). Sixteen plots were sown in November 2012 with pea or vetch and oat or triticale in monoculture and mixtures, following a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Measurements included dry matter production, botanical composition and phenology. The dry matter production of sown species ranged between 5.0 and 7.3 t ha-1. Both vetches cultivars showed a very competitive behaviour against unsown species. These preliminary results allowed to identify some mixtures with correct dry matter yield combined with a favourable forage composition and a satisfactory control of unsown species.