This study was conducted to determine suitable perennial forage species and their mixtures for the establishment of shortterm artificial pastures under dry conditions in Ankara between 2000 and 2002. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa Lam.). | Turk J Agric For 29 (2005) 69-74 © TÜB‹TAK An Investigation on the Establishment of Artificial Pasture under Ankara’s Ecological Conditions* Sebahattin ALBAYRAK Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute, Samsun - TURKEY Hayrettin EK‹Z Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Ankara - TURKEY Received: Abstract: This study was conducted to determine suitable perennial forage species and their mixtures for the establishment of shortterm artificial pastures under dry conditions in Ankara between 2000 and 2002. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa Lam.), smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leys.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) and their binary and complex mixtures were used. The research was carried out in a randomized block design with 4 replicates. The results showed significant differences among the botanical composition ratio in mixtures. The highest green, hay and dry matter yield were obtained from alfalfa + smooth brome mixtures ( t ha-1, t ha-1 and t ha-1, respectively) and the highest protein yield was obtained from alfalfa ( t ha-1). The highest mixture efficiency was found in the case of the alfalfa + smooth brome mixture (). The results showed that mixtures of alfalfa and smooth brome may be used to establish artificial pastures in Ankara’s climatic conditions, and that sainfoin might be a very suitable plant in the mixture including crested wheatgrass if some resistant varieties against root insects are improved. Key Words: alfalfa, sainfoin, smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, mixed pasture Ankara Ekolojik Koflullar›nda Yapay Mera Kurulmas› Üzerine Bir Araflt›rma Özet: Bu arafltırma Ankara koflullarında kısa süreli yapay meraların kurulmasında kullanılabilecek çokyıllık yem bitkisi tür ve karıflımlarının belirlenmesi amacıyla 2000-2002 yılları arasında kuru koflullarda yürütülmüfltür. Arafltırmada baklagil yem bitkilerinden yonca (Medicago sativa L.) ve
