EFFECT OF SEEDING RATE ON SEED AND HAY YIELD IN COMMON VETCH (VICIA-SATIVA L)

The effects of six seeding rates (50-300 seeds m(-2)) on some morpholo gical traits with hay and seed yield were evaluated in common vetch (V icia saliva L.) under fall and spring sowing conditions. The mutual co rrelations among yield and yield components were also determined. The sowing seasons and seeding rates significantly affected hay and seed y ield, and most of the yield components. Fall sowings resulted in signi ficantly higher hay and seed yield than spring sowings at all seeding rates, and the highest seed and hay yield was achieved in densities of 250 and 300 seeds m(-2). In spring sowings there was a positive respo nse in hay yield up to 250 seeds m(-2) while no further increase in se ed yield at the seeding rates higher than 150 seeds m(-2). Average pro tein content of hay and seed was found to be higher in spring sown cro ps than fall. The highest protein yields of hay and seed were obtained at 250 seeds m(-2) in fall sowings,and 150 seeds m(-2) in spring sowi ngs. Most of the correlations between both hay and seed yields with th e yield components were not consistent and differed with the sowing ti me. Only the correlations between number of the plants per unit area w ith hay yield, and number of the pods and seeds per unit area with see d yield were statistically significant in both sowing seasons. Close p ositive associations were obtained between hay and seed yield.