ANNUAL FORAGES SEEDING RATES AND MIXTURES FOR CENTRAL ALBERTA

Abstract

The three cereal crops oats (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were tested for forage yields alone and in combinations with each other as well as in combinations with peas (Pisum sativum L.), soybeans (Glycine max. L.) and rape (Brassica napus L.) at three sites and in 3 yr. A range of seeding rates and crop combinations was used. While high yields of forage were obtained from these annual crops, the most favorable yields would not justify the additional expense of cultivation and establishment when compared with perennial forage yields over the same 3-yr period. Oats gave the best yields where seasons were longer and rainfall higher whereas barley gave the highest yields in areas with a drier, shorter season. Higher seeding rates improved yields and reduced fibre contents for all crops over the range tested. This increase was not, however, substantial and with the possible exception of oats, high seed rates would not be economical. The presence of a non-cereal in the mixture always reduced yield, but peas in a mixture with oats gave an increased yield of crude protein per hectare. Where a mixture of a cereal with a non-cereal was used, peas with oats yielded more than rape with oats, while rape with barley yielded more than peas with barley. Seeding the cereal and the non-cereal in alternate rows reduced yields for all the crop combinations tested. Yields were increased by delaying the harvest date beyond the time when the grain was in the dough stage.