Comparison of Turnip‐Chinese Cabbage Hybrid, Rape, and Rye, Alone and in Combination with Annual Ryegrass and Crimson Clover1

Abstract

AbstractSmall grains, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) have been used extensively for cool‐season pastures. Rape (Brassica napus L.), turnip (B. rapa L.), and hybrids thereof are possible alternatives that need investigating. A turnip‐Chinese cabbage hybrid [B. campestris var. rapa L. × B. pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr.], rape, rye (Secale cereale L.), ryegrass, and crimson clover were grown in a field experiment in monoculture and mixtures during 3 yr, on a Dothan fine sandy loam soil (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudult). The mixtures and the ryegrass monoculture produced more dry matter (DM) and digestible organic matter (DOM) than the other monocultures. There was more variability between mixtures and monocultures with respect to crude protein (CP). The turnip hybrid was relatively unproductive for the whole season; however, when first‐harvest yields were considered, its value for early season production was apparent in that it was high producer of DM in all years and at the top in 2 yr for production of CP and DOM. The turnip hybrid‐ryegrassclover mixture, at the first harvest, was among the best in production of DM, DOM, and CP in 2 yr and was equal to the rye‐ryegrassclover mixture in production of DM, DOM, and CP at the first harvest in all years, The yield of DM, DOM, and CP from rape, at the first harvest, was equivalent to the high yield in only 1 yr. Rye was a top producer, at the first harvest, of DM, CP, and DOM, and ryegrass and clover had low first‐harvest yields. The turnip hybrid appears to be a reasonable alternative to rye in cool‐season mixtures with ryegrass and clover but less valuable than rape or rye in monoculture except for early season forage