Quality Parameters of Paspalum paspalodes in Wetland of Kızılırmak Delta

Abstract

The Kızılırmak Delta, located in the north of Turkey, covers approximately 20,000 hectares and contains seven lakes of various sizes. There are Balık, Cernek, Gıcı, Liman, Uzun and Tatlı Lakes in the east and Karaboğaz Lake in the west and the width of these lakes is around 3,600 hectares. While the lakes have the largest area in the winter months, the water level decreases in the summer months and livestock are grazed in these areas. This study was carried out in the grassland areas formed by the withdrawal of water in the summer period in the south of Balık Lake. Paspalum paspalodes is the powerful plant species that appears with the withdrawal of water in the summer grazing period. In the present study, the CP, ADF, NDF and RFV values of the watergrass plant were found to be 8.92, 36.83, 60.57 and 92.45%, respectively. According to the results of the research; It was determined that Paspalum paspalodes was lovingly eaten by water buffaloes in the Kızılırmak Delta and the forage quality was medium.