Effect of Planting Date on Distribution of Seasonal Forage Yields in Dual‐Purpose Wheat, Oats, and Ryegrass Crops

Abstract

Planting date is a key factor for determining the forage yields in different seasons to meet grazing requirements for various winter annual crops. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of planting date on seasonal forage yield distribution for different grazing systems in dual‐purpose winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.). The research was conducted in two consecutive growing seasons (2003–2004 and 2004–2005) at the Texas A&M University Agriculture Research and Extension Center, McGregor, TX. Treatments were six planting dates (September through November with 2‐week interval between consecutive planting dates) for all three crops designed in randomized complete block with three replications. Three harvests of forage (fall, winter, and spring) were conducted each year for all three winter annuals. The results indicated that early planting (early September) favored the higher forage yields in fall season for both years in all three crops. For all three crops, under below‐average precipitation (2003–2004), planting date had no significant effect (P < 0.05) on both winter and spring forage yields. In the year 2004–2005, with above‐normal precipitation, late‐mid planting (late October) was optimum for both winter and spring seasons in wheat and oats. For ryegrass, late‐early (late September) planting produced significantly greater yields in fall and spring seasons. Planting date had no significant effect on winter forage yields for ryegrass. These research findings may be utilized in making planting decisions for the farmers with different grazing requirements in south and central Texas.