The effects of some organic and chemical fertilizer applications on yield, morphology, quality and mineral content of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of some organic and chemical fertilizers on morphological, yield and quality properties and mineral contents of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) between 2007 and 2008 in Gümüşhane, Turkey. Treatments were control (no fertilizer), liquid manure (LM = 51-52 L ha -1N), chemical fertilizer (CF = 30 kg N ha -1+ 80-100 kg P 2O 5ha -1), three leonardite doses (L 1= 2.8; L 2= 5.6 and L 3= 8.4 kg N ha -1), three zeolite doses (Z 1= 0.4; Z 2= 0.8 and Z 3= 1.2 N kg ha -1) and three solid cattle manure doses (SM 1= 34-35 kg N ha -1, SM 2= 68-70 kg N ha -1, SM 3= 102-105 kg N ha -1). Dry hay yield (DHY), leaf weight, stem weight, plant height, leaf number, crude protein content (CP), crude protein yield (CPY), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), Ca, Fe, K, Mg, B, Cu, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S and Zn contents were determined. Organic and chemical fertilizer applications had significant effect (P<0.01) on DHY, leaf weight, stem weight, CP, CPY and mineral contents except leaf number, ADF and NDF in the both years. The plant height were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments in the first year. The SM 2application in the first year and control and LM applications in the second year resulted to obtain improved yield components and crude protein yield. Z 2and Z 3applications also loomed large in terms of mineral contents.