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THREE YEAR COMPARISON OF SUMMER ANNUAL GRASSES FOR FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY PLANTED AFTER WINTER WHEAT

Animal Science

Gary W. Wilson
FINDLAY

Abstract

Limited forage availability is often a major problem during the later part of a growing season. Hancock County in northwestern Ohio normally plants approximately 40,000 acres of winter wheat each year. Research plots were designed to compare various commonly planted summer annual grasses popular to the area and each were planted and harvested each year from 2008 to 2010. The species planted were various combinations of feed bin (Canadian) oats, forage oats, BMR sudangrass and also pearl millet and teff in 2008. The plots were planted in a randomized block design with each specie having three replications in a regular farm field. The plots were no-tilled into wheat stubble at the end of July and all forage was harvested as baleage at mid to the latter part of October. Yield and forage quality data were recorded for all varieties. The weather conditions varied from very dry to wet. For the five summer annual grasses tested, yields varied from 1795 to 3995 pounds per acre of dry matter forage. Quality measurements for crude protein varied from 8.7% to 13.3%. This study did suggest that substantial forage can be produced after winter wheat even in a variety of weather and growing conditions. Authors: Wilson, G. W.
  1. Wilson, G. W. Extension Educator, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Area Leader, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45840