Oat Forage Research Articles

Emergency seeding of cool‐season annuals into perennial grass after fall drought

AbstractSpring establishment of cool‐season annual grasses into poorly producing orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L) (OG) swards may improve forage production and nutritive value in the southeastern United States following a fall drought. A randomized complete block experiment was conducted where annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) (AR) or forage oat (Avena sativa L.) (FO) was interseeded into an existing OG stand over three seeding dates with (+) or without (–) a burndown herbicide (BD) treatment and compared with an OG monoculture (control). In 2017, after a warm and wet winter, the OG monoculture (control) was able to produce sufficient forage mass (FM) without significant reduction in nutritive value as compared with OG interseeded with AR or FO. In 2018, OG had approximately 2,600 lb acre–1 less FM than in 2017, suggesting that recurrent fall drought with unfavorable winter conditions resulted in long‐term damage to the perennial sward. Meanwhile, treatments without BD did not show higher FM in the beginning of the season. Burndown treatment in general increased FM and nutritive value. An economic analysis of the study also revealed results suggesting that interseeding AR and FO in the spring is not economically viable, as it may cost up to 10 times as much as the control.

Soil bacterial community composition following cover crops and corn nitrogen management

AbstractUtilizing cover crops (CC) prior to corn (Zea mays L.) creates opportunities to increase plant diversity and influence soil bacterial communities, but data are scarce when CC are combined with corn N fertilizer management. Field studies were conducted in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 to evaluate corn N strategies following daikon radish [Raphanus sativus (L.)], forage oat [Avena sativa (L.)], or no CC on soil bacterial community composition. Nitrogen strategies consisted of 179 kg N ha–1 applied pre‐plant incorporated as urea, slowly‐available poultry litter (61 kg N ha–1) plus sidedress (SID) N at V11, starter N (45 kg N ha–1) applied 5 cm beside and 5 cm below the furrow (5 × 5) plus SID at V4, V11, or 50:50 (split) V4 and V11, and a zero N control. Each year, soil bacterial community composition was variably influenced by CC and N management. With excessive May–June rainfall, radish and oat CC residues shaped community structure and membership differently regardless of soil sampling zone (between‐row or in‐row), but these residues influenced operational taxonomic units (OTUs) less under deficit May–June rainfall. Soil disturbance associated with coulter‐injection of V4 SID placement influenced bulk soil community structure between‐rows, whereas in 1 of 2 yr, the 5 × 5 N placement appeared to induce an in‐row corn rhizosphere response resulting in OTU membership differences from other N strategies. Including slowly‐available organic N as part of a well‐balanced fertility program may stabilize the impact of inorganic N fertilizer to soil bacterial communities.

Metabolic adjustments in forage oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes under different sowing windows.

The current investigation was aimed to study the influence of planting dates (9 Oct, 24 Oct, 13 Nov, 26 Nov, 11 Dec, and 26 Dec) and maturity stages (40, 50, and 60 DAS) on nitrogen metabolic enzymes and biochemical constituents. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design during thewinter season of 2019 by using two oat genotypes (OL-10 and OL-11) with variable growing ability. The activity pattern of studied enzymes revealed upregulated nitrate assimilation during optimum (Oct 24) and sub-optimum (Oct 9 and Nov 13) planting dates but areverse trend was observed during late planting dates; LPD (Nov 26, Dec 11, and Dec 26). The environmental constraints during LPD resulted in theaccrual of nitrate above toxic levels (> 2000ppm). The regression analysis depicted asignificant relationship of nitrate assimilating enzymes and nitrate-N with temperature and sunshine hour. Examination of ammonia assimilation and transaminases suggested that the enzyme activities got uplifted during late planting dates but were stable or slightly low at optimum and sub-optimum ones. Additionally, OL-10 proved to be an N-efficient genotype in comparison with theOL-11 genotype because of its high N assimilation potential. Therefore, gaining a better understanding of planting time is crucial for sustainable livestock production.

Interactive effect of planting dates and development stages on digestibility, qualitative traits and yield of forage oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes

Interactive effect of planting dates and development stages on digestibility, qualitative traits and yield of forage oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes

Cover Crop Effects on Cash Crops in Northern Great Plains No-till Systems Are Annually Variable and Possibly Delayed

ABSTRACT Cover crop adoption in conventional no-tillage corn/soybean production systems has been limited due to the lack of specific information regarding the impact of cover crops on cash crop performance. Within a no-till small grain/cover crop-corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation in eastern South Dakota, we evaluated the impact of fall-planted forage oat (Avena sativa L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), winter canola (Brassica napus L.), and a combination of all three compared to a no cover crop treatment on soil nutrient dynamics, biomass, nutrient uptake, and grain yield of the immediatelyfollowing corn crop. At site-year 1, where cover crop growth was most consistent, corn yield was significantly higher with oat, vetch, and a combination of all three cover crops compared to the no cover crop treatment. At site-year 2, corn yields were equivalent among treatments except the combination treatment which was significantly lower. At site-year 3, corn yields in the canola and oat treatments were equivalent to no cover crop, while corn yields with vetch and the combination treatments were lower. Corn biomass and nutrient uptake responded to treatments similarly to corn yields. For site-years 1 and 2, some cover crop treatments resulted in modest, but significant increases in soil N during spring. For site-year 3, the combination treatment immobilized N during the corn vegetative growth phase but released N during the reproductive phase. Cover crop treatments had little effect on plant-available soil P. However, soybean yields two years following cover crop treatments were higher for all three site years with cover crops compared to no cover crop, with this difference significant in two of the three site-years. Immediate effects of cover crops on the following cash crop under no-till were variable and depend on both fall and spring cover crop biomass, which in turn are dependent on the amount and timing of precipitation and temperature patterns. Cover crops in no-till systems may produce more consistent but possibly delayed benefits by boosting yields of cash crops in later years as cover crop residues decompose.

Warming reduces the production of a major annual forage crop on the Tibetan Plateau

Climate warming has been proposed to increase primary production of natural grasslands in cold regions. However, how climate warming affects the production of artificial pastures in cold regions remains unknown. To address this question, we used open-top chambers to simulate warming in a major artificial pasture (forage oat) on the cold Tibetan Plateau for three consecutive years. Surprisingly, climate warming decreased aboveground and belowground biomass production by 23.1%–44.8% and 35.0%–46.5%, respectively, without a significant impact on their ratio. The adverse effects on biomass production could be attributed to the adverse effects of high-temperatures on leaf photosynthesis through increases in water vapor pressure deficit (by 0.05–0.10 kPa), damages to the leaf oxidant system, as indicated by a 46.6% increase in leaf malondialdehyde content, as well as reductions in growth duration (by 4.7–6.7 days). The adverse effects were also related to exacerbated phosphorus limitation, as indicated by decreases in soil available phosphorus and plant phosphorus concentrations by 31.9%–40.7% and 14.3%–49.4%, respectively, and increases in the plant nitrogen: phosphorus ratio by 19.2%–108.3%. The decrease in soil available phosphorus concentration could be attributed to reductions in soil phosphatase activities (by 9.6%–18.5%). The findings of this study suggest an urgent need to advance agronomic techniques and cultivate more resilient forage genotypes to meet the increasing demand of forage for feeding livestock and to reduce grazing damage to natural grasslands on the warming-sensitive Tibetan Plateau.

Agronomic and economical characterizations of a two-harvest regime for oat forage in cold regions of Northern China.

The natural grasslands in northern China have been seriously degraded due mainly to overgrazing and climate change in recent decades, leading to shortage of forage supply to animal husbandry. To maximize forage production, we developed a two-harvest regime of oat forage by sowing in spring in an alpine region of Hulun Buir, northern China, using two oat early maturation species. The agronomic characteristics and forage quality of the two-harvest regime were evaluated across three constructive years from 2017 to 2019. Compared to the traditional one-harvest regime, the production, resource use efficiency, and economic benefits were compared and quantified for both oat species across the 3 years. Dry weight forage by the two-harvest regime was increased by 17.5-18.5%, while crude protein was increased by 25.1-30.0%. Growing days by the two-harvest regime was increased by 36.7% on average, nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency was enhanced by 25.1-30.0%, while water use efficiency was not significantly changed. The two-harvest regime also increased the net profit by 28.0%. Taken together, our results reveal that the two-harvest regime of forage production in the cold region of northern China is a promising practice with high forage yield, nutritional value, and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency as well as economic profit.

Rendimiento y calidad nutricional de avena forrajera en la región de Puno

The study was carried out with the objective of determining the yield, chemical compositionand nutritional value of the forage oat crop, under conditions of the Puno highlands. Thesamples were analyzed to determine the chemical composition of the forage using the Weendeanalysis method, as well as the determination of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and aciddetergent fiber (ADF) using the Van Soest method; with these results were calculated thenutritional values of digestible dry matter (DMD), the dry matter consumption (CMS), therelative value of the forage (VRF) and the net energy of lactation (ENL). The results show an-1 average yield of 23.04 ± 3.86 t ha of green matter; the average chemical composition was27.95 ± 1.58% DM, 5.60 ± 0.67% total ash (TC), 8.67 ± 0.64% crude protein (PC), 7.99 ±0.70% ether extract (EE), 30.77 ± 3.33 % of non-fibrous carbohydrates (CNF), 46.97 ± 3.59%of NDF, 28.78 ± 1.94% of FDA, 18.19 ± 2.56% of hemicellulose (HC), with nutritional valuesbeing 66.48 ± 1.59% of MSD, 2.63 ± 0.26% of CMS , 136.39 ± 15.85 of VRF and 1.33 ± 0.04

Effects of anthracnose on C, N and P stoichiometry in the shoot of forage oat in north Shanxi Province, China.

The C, N and P stoichiometry are helpful to understand the capacity of carbon assimilation and nutrient utilization efficiency during plant growth, as well as to diagnose nutrient limitation status. There is still a knowledge gap about the effects of disease on plant stoichiometry. In this study, forage oats (Avena sativa) suffering from anthracnose were the object of research conducted in north Shanxi Province. The C, N and P stoichiometry in the shoot of oat were examined at different degrees of disease occurrence. We analyzed the relationship of plant stoichiometry with disease duration, cultivar, and cultivation methods. The results showed that C, N and P contents decreased with the increasing degree of disease occurrence. The C, N and P contents in the plants with serious disease were significantly lower than that of healthy plants with a decreasing rate of 5.4%, 20.0% and 24.2%, respectively. C:N and C:P showed an increasing trend with the increases of the degree of disease occurrence. C:N and C:P of the plants with serious disease were significantly increased by 18.5% and 22.2%, respectively, than that of healthy plants. There was no significant difference for C content among different sampling sites, which indicated that the three varieties of forage oats might have disease tolerance capacity to ensure crop production. However, the stoichiometric values of N and P varied from place to place. The longer the disease duration was, the more reduction of N and P contents. Compared with monoculture oats, the P utilization efficiency of mixture oats was decreased by anthracnose. In summary, anthracnose had negative impacts on carbon assimilation capacity of forage oats in northern Shanxi. Anthracnose increased the restriction of N and P nutrition on the aboveground parts. However, anthracnose significantly improved N and P utilization efficiency. For the production practice, it was recommended to take necessary control measures to reduce the adverse effects of diseases on the economic benefits and ecological functions of forage oats.

Comportamiento agronómico de variedades de avena (Avena sativa L.), con niveles de hoja de coca (Erythroxylum coca) molida como abono verde en Kallutaca, La Paz

En el Altiplano Central de Bolivia la producción de avena forrajera es de importancia para la alimentación del ganado herbívoro, sin embargo, los rendimientos obtenidos a nivel de productor registran bajos promedios en materia seca. El objetivo fue evaluar el comportamiento agronómico de tres variedades de avena, con niveles de hoja molida de coca como abono verde, en el Centro Experimental de Kallutaca, del departamento de La Paz. Se aplicó el diseño de bloques al azar con arreglo en parcelas divididas con cuatro repeticiones. Los factores son variedades de avena (Águila, Gaviota y Texas) y niveles de coca molida (0, 30 y 60 t ha-1), con variables días a la emergencia, número de macollos, altura de planta y rendimiento materia seca. Los resultados a días de emergencia muestran diferencias en tiempo 60 y 0 t ha-1 con 14 y 11 días. En relación al número de macollos por planta, en variedades el comportamiento es similar con un promedio 7 macollos, en relación a interacción los valores muestran significancia. En altura de planta las medias registran para la variedad Texas 137.10 cm en la interacción los valores son iguales. En materia seca, presentan diferencias significativas en 60 y 30 t ha-1 con 16 427.27 y 15 281.82 kgMS ha-1, la variedad Gaviota con 14 706.06 kgMS ha-1. Los tratamientos influyeron en el comportamiento agronómico de las variables estudiadas, los niveles de abono verde incidieron en el rendimiento de avena, principalmente en el número de macollos, que afecto a su vez, al rendimiento de materia seca, finalmente las variedades de avena tienen un comportamiento diferencial con el cambio de los niveles de abono verde.

Sowing ratio determines forage yields and economic benefits of oat and common vetch intercropping

AbstractMixtures of annual legumes with cereal grasses in forage production are considered to have great advantages and are extensively used in the agro–pastoral region of China. However, the effect of sowing ratio on forage yields and economic benefits of oat (Avena sativa L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) intercropping remains largely unknown. A 2 yr field experiment was conducted with seven sowing ratios (sowing ratio of oat as 0, 25, 33, 50, 67, 75, and 100%) for oat and common vetch intercropping in northeastern China. Intercropping showed significant advantages in forage yield, land equivalent ratio (LER), and net income in the 2 yr. Oat was the dominant partner in the mixtures, strongly outcompeting common vetch. A sowing ratio of oat at 50% produced the highest forage yields of 10.8–11.1 t ha‐1 in spring seeding and 4.9–7.7 t ha‐1 in summer seeding, which were 28.7–66.4% and 12.6–166.9% higher than those in monocultures, respectively, if we considered two years together. In any case, oat forage yield just slightly decreased with a decreasing share in the intercrops, whereas common vetch forage yields strongly decreased. The highest LERs were detected in a sowing ratio of oat at 50%, which was 11–57% higher than other sowing ratios. Similarly, the highest annual net incomes of US$1,336 and $1,088 ha‐1 were also obtained in a sowing ratio of oat at 50% in the 2 yr. In conclusion, oat and common vetch intercropping have greater forage yields and economic benefits compared with the corresponding monocultures in the agro–pastoral region of China, and a sowing ratio of oat at 50% is recommended.

In Vitro Assessment of Enteric Methane Emission Potential of Whole-Plant Barley, Oat, Triticale and Wheat.

Simple SummaryThere is an increasing interest in finding effective but economical strategies for mitigating enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants. Small-grain cereal forages including barley, oat, triticale, and wheat, unlike maize, are widely grown in temperate locations and may be economical to use for ruminant production. However, the starch and fiber composition and concentrations of whole-plant cereal forages affect rumen degradability, and hence may cause differences in the CH4 production potential among these forages. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the enteric CH4 emission potential of various whole-plant cereals and evaluate whether the variability in emissions could be explained by variations in nutrient profiles, degradability, and rumen fermentation characteristics. The results indicate that feeding whole-plant oat forage to ruminants may decrease CH4 emissions but adversely affect animal performance due to lower degradability, whereas barley forage may ameliorate emissions without negative effects on animal performance.The study determined in vitro enteric methane (CH4) emission potential of whole-plant cereal (WPC) forages in relationship to nutrient composition, degradability, and rumen fermentation. Two varieties of each WPC (barley, oat, triticale, and wheat) were harvested from two field replications in each of two locations in central Alberta, Canada, and an in vitro batch culture technique was used to characterize gas production (GP), fermentation, and degradability. Starch concentration (g/kg dry matter (DM)) was least (p < 0.001) for oat (147), greatest for wheat (274) and barley (229), and intermediate for triticale (194). The aNDF concentration was greater for oat versus the other cereals (531 vs. 421 g/kg DM, p < 0.01). The 48 h DM and aNDF degradabilities (DMD and aNDFD) differed (p < 0.001) among the WPCs. The DMD was greatest for barley, intermediate for wheat and triticale, and least for oat (719, 677, 663, and 566 g/kg DM, respectively). Cumulative CH4 production (MP; mL) from 12 h to 48 h of incubation was less (p < 0.001) for oat than the other cereals, reflecting its lower DMD. However, CH4 yield (MY; mg of CH4/g DM degraded) of barley and oat grown at one location was less than that of wheat and triticale (28 vs. 31 mg CH4/g DM degraded). Chemical composition failed to explain variation in MY (p = 0.35), but it explained 45% of the variation in MP (p = 0.02). Variation in the CH4 emission potential of WPC was attributed to differences in DMD, aNDFD, and fermentation end-products (R2 ≥ 0.88; p < 001). The results indicate that feeding whole-plant oat forage to ruminants may decrease CH4 emissions, but animal performance may also be negatively affected due to lower degradability, whereas barley forage may ameliorate emissions without negative effects on animal performance.

Impacts of Low Temperature and Ensiling Period on the Bacterial Community of Oat Silage by SMRT.

The objective of this study was to investigate how storage temperatures influence the bacterial community of oat silage during the ensiling process via PacBio single molecule, real-time sequencing technology (SMRT). Forage oat was ensiled at four different temperatures (5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C) and ensiling days (7, 14, 30, and 60 days). With the rise in storage temperature, the lactic acid content showed an increased trend. Acetic acid production was observed highest in silage fermented at 5 °C compared with other treatments, and Enterococcus mundtii was also the dominant bacterial species. Lactiplantibacillus pentosus and Loigolactobacillus rennini were exclusively detected in silages at 10 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C, and dominated the fermentation after 60 days of ensiling at 10 °C and 25 °C, respectively. In addition, L. pentosus, L. rennini, and E. mundtii may be related to changes in the fermentation products due to the differences in ensiling temperature. In conclusion, results of this study improve our understanding of the complicated microbial composition underlying silage fermentation at low temperatures, which might contribute to target-based regulation methods for enhancing silage quality and developing new inoculants.

Competition Effects and Productivity in Oat–Forage Legume Relay Intercropping Systems under Organic Farming Conditions

Cereal-legume intercropping is important in many low-input agricultural systems. Interactions between combinations of different plant species vary widely. Field experiments were conducted to determine yield formation regularities and plant competition effects of oat (Avena sativa L.)–black medick (Medicago lupulina L.), oat–white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and oat–Egyptian clover (T. alexandrinum L.) under organic farming conditions. Oats and forage legumes were grown in mono- and intercrops. Aboveground dry matter (DM) measured at flowering, development of fruit and ripened grain, productivity indicators, oat grain yield and nutrient content were established. The results showed that oats dominated in the intercropping systems. Oat competitive performance (CPo), which is characterized by forage legumes aboveground mass reduction compared to monocrops, were 91.4–98.9. As the oats ripened, its competitiveness tendency to declined. In oat–forage legume intercropping systems, the mass of weeds was significantly lower compared to the legume monocrops. Oats and forage legumes competed for P, but N and K accumulation in biomass was not significantly affected. We concluded that, in relay intercrop, under favourable conditions, the forage legumes easily adapted to the growth rhythm and intensity of oats and does not adverse effect on their grain yield.

Productivity, nutrients uptake and quality of forage oat (Avena sativa) and residual soil fertility as influenced by nitrogen and FYM

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season (2014-16) at Research Farm, R.B.S. College, Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.) to study the effect of nitrogen and FYM levels on growth, yield and uptake of nutrients in oat (Avena sativa L.) and soil fertility. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four levels of nitrogen (0,50,100 and 150 kg ha-1) and three levels of FYM (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) with three replications. The results revealed that the plant height, yields of oat crop increased significantly up to 150 kg N and 10 t FYM ha-1 over control. The maximum values of green foliage (447.16 and 414,03 qha-1) and dry matter yield (64.98 and 60.30 q ha-1) were recorded with 150 kg N and 10 t FYM ha-1 , respectively. The application of FYM alone was also found to be more beneficial in terms of growth and yield of oat crop over control. The interaction effect between 150 kg N ha-1 and 10 t FYM ha-1 recorded maximum yield than other treatment combination. The maximum content (14.14 and 14.10 %) and yield of protein in oat crop (920.6 and 853.5 kg ha-1) were recorded with 150 kg N and 10 t FYM ha-1 but maximum value of crude fiber (32.96 and 33.7 %) were recorded under control, respectively. However, crude fiber content in oat was not affected significantly with N and FYM levels. The uptake of major (N,P and K) and micronutrients (Fe,Mn,Cu and Zn) by oat crop increased significantly with the levels of nitrogen up to 150 kg ha-1 and FYM 10 t ha-1, respectively. The status of organic carbon and available nutrients in post harvest soil improved with 150 kg N and 10 t FYM ha-1.The minimum amounts of available nutrients in post harvest soil were recorded under control treatment.

Optimization of integrated nutrient recommendations through soil test crop response approach for forage oats (Avena sativa L.) in a Mollisol

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2018-19 to optimize integrated nutrient recommendations through soil test crop response approach for forage oats (Avena sativa L.) grown in a Mollisol of Uttarakhand. The experiment was conducted as per the technical programme and methodology of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Soil Test Crop Response Correlation (STCR). Response of forage oats to selected combinations of three levels of farmyard manure (0, 5 and 10 t FYM ha-1), four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1), four levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) and four levels of potassium (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K2O ha-1) at different soil fertility levels was studied. It was found that to produce one quintal forage yield, forage oats required 0.27 kg of N, 0.03 kg of P2O5 and 0.32 kg of K2O with FYM. The per cent contributions of N, P2O5 and K2O were 71.4, 33.7 and 59.9 from soil and 73.0, 7.51 and 90.4 from FYM, 89.6, 50.8 and 302.7 from chemical fertilizers and 102.4, 52.9 and 351.5 from conjoint use of chemical fertilizers with FYM. Using these data, fertilizer prescription equations were developed for adjusting fertilizer dose in forage oats for different range of soil test values and desired yield targets.

Growth of young cattle grazing high-moisture winter forages in a temperate environment was not affected by access to drinking water

Context Early sown, annual ryegrass pastures and winter crops provide a high-quality feed for livestock and also have a high water content during autumn and early winter compared with typical temperate pastures. Aim We hypothesised that beef cattle grazing annual ryegrass or forage oats would not need additional access to drinking water to maintain their intake and growth. Methods In Experiment 1, 48 weaned, castrated male Hereford calves with liveweight 154 kg (±6.7 kg; s.d.) grazed Italian ryegrass at a daily allowance of 4.5 kg dry matter (DM)/100 kg liveweight in two treatments including with or without access to drinking water. In Experiment 2, 60 Hereford steers with liveweight 382 kg (±20.6 kg; s.d.) were offered a daily allowance of 5 kg DM/100 kg liveweight of forage oats in a 2 × 2 factorial design either with or without access to drinking water and with or without sorghum grain silage supplemented at 1% of liveweight. The experiments were analysed as a completely randomised design, with individual pasture plots as the experimental unit. Key results Daily growth rates of calves in the two treatments were similar (P &gt; 0.05); however, calves with access to drinking water consumed 60% more water than did the calves without drinking water (P &lt; 0.001). Access to drinking water had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on the daily growth rate of steers (P &gt; 0.05); however, the daily growth rate of supplemented steers was 9% higher than that of the unsupplemented steers (P &lt; 0.05). Total water intake was affected by access to drinking water (P &lt; 0.005) but not access to supplementation (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions Both calves and steers derived no production benefits by having access to drinking water when grazing actively growing annual ryegrass pasture or forage oats. Nevertheless, livestock should be monitored closely so that appropriate interventions can be made if there are changes in the pasture availability or weather. Implications Grazing early sown winter forages by livestock can help circumvent the autumn–winter feed gap and these forages can be utilised more cost-effectively by not having to provide drinking water when the DM content is low.

Productivity of diverse forage brassica genotypes exceeds that of oats across multiple environments within Australia’s mixed farming zone

In many areas of Australia’s mixed farming zone, cropping rotations are dominated by cereals and some areas have few suitable broadleaf alternatives. Forage brassicas are widely used in high rainfall livestock systems, but this study shows that several genotypes offer an alternative to forage oats in drier environments within Australia’s mixed farming zone. We compared a diverse set of forage brassica genotypes sown in autumn and winter with benchmark species, principally oats, across 10 experimental site-years. In both early (800–1300 growing degree days after sowing) and late (1600–2100 growing degree days after sowing) grazing windows, several forage brassica genotypes had forage production similar or superior to oats and dual-purpose canola. Many forage brassica genotypes produced higher yields of metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP), particularly in the late grazing window. In the early grazing window, Rival and Green globe turnips and HT-R24 forage rape consistently produced ~15% above the site mean for all productivity measures, whereas kale produced ~40% less than the site mean. In the late grazing window, oats produced the greatest amount of edible biomass (~44% higher than the site mean); however, Goliath and HT-R24 forage rapes, Pallaton raphanobrassica and dual-purpose canola had the highest yields of ME and CP (~16% higher than the site mean). Green globe turnip, Hunter leafy turnip and Regal kale produced ~22% less than the site mean in this late grazing window. Multi-environment analyses revealed no genotype × environment interactions within the early grazing window. In the late grazing window, there were several genotypic adaptations, particularly for Pallaton, which performed better in low–medium production environments than the other genotypes. We show that forage brassicas offer superior yields of ME and CP, indicating that they may be better able to meet the energy and protein demands of grazing livestock than forage oats.

Black oat (

Context The effect of long-term gypsum on nitrogen (N) responsiveness in black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) forage lacks information. Aims and methods This study evaluated interactions between different rates of N (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha−1) and gypsum (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 Mg ha−1) on the yield, nutrition and bromatology of forage black oats in a long-term experiment using a no-till system (NTS) in a Ferralsol in southern Brazil. Key results There was an interaction between residual gypsum and N rate on biomass forage yield in 2015, but not for the 2016 growing season. In 2015, the rate of 100 kg N ha−1 increased yield by 10% in the absence of gypsum and by 30% at low-medium rates of residual-gypsum (3 and 6 Mg ha−1), but there was no response to high N rate under high gypsum rates (9 and 12 Mg ha−1). In 2016, a poor-growing season, a gypsum rate of 6 Mg ha−1 and N rate of 100 kg ha−1 independently improved forage yield by 5%. Gypsum application produced higher forage contents of N, P, K, Ca and S, and decreased Mg content. N-fertilisation increased the N, K, Ca, and Mg contents, but decreased P content and S concentration. Gypsum had no effect on forage bromatological quality, and even with equivalent forage yield between 50 and 100 kg N ha−1, only the high N rate improved some of the forage quality attributes in both years. Conclusions and implications Neither gypsum nor topdressing of N altered N use by black oat forage.

Performance evaluation of oat variety Bundel Jai-15-1 for fodder and seed yield in hill zone of India

A high yielding new forage oat entry, JHO-2015-1, a derivative of the cross between UPO 90 × IGO2-70 was released&nbsp;as Bundel Jai-2015-1 during the year 2018 as an alternate variety for irrigated, timely sown conditions in tropical and subtropical regions during winter season in the hilly areas of India. Variety is ready for fodder harvesting with 50 per cent of flowering in 110-120 days with additional desirable features like high green forage yield, dry matter yield, physiological efficiency and better adaptability. The variety has high crude protein content, crude protein yield and high nutritional quality for in vitro dry matter digestibility and low in ADF and NDF content. A semi erect stature variety having efficient tillering capacity, with highly acceptable plant morpho-characters, good for single cut system and with medium size of grains. An efficient material with positive response to nitrogenous fertilizer treatments for green fodder, dry matter, crude protein yield (q/h) and content (%) and the number of tillers present in per meter row length and moderately resistant to leaf blight and powdery mildew. In the overall performance, the mean green forage yield of 292.65 q/ha was recorded for entry, JHO-15-1 in five years of trials with 14-15 per cent increase over check varieties. Besides the mean dry matter yield recorded for entry was 96.6 q/ha in five years of trials with 24-26 per cent increase over check varieties. At Srinagar district of Kashmir the entry has recorded the highest green forage yield of 479.0 q/ ha and 122.3 q/ha of dry matter yield among the trials conducted, this demonstrate the genetic potential. The per day productivity of entry JHO-15-1 for green forage yield and dry matter yield and seed yield is also higher than the other released and tested varieties like Kent,OS-6 and SKO-90. Crude protein yield of entry was 3.9 q/ha, IVDMD was 54.8% and CP content was 10.0%. The entry JHO-15-1 was recommended for cultivation in hilly areas of Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Srinagar areas of India.