This experiment was carried out to study the effect of elapsed time after air flow cutoff on the germination rate of Italian ryegrass seed with different moisture contents during natural drying on reclaimed land, Jangheung and Kimje of Korea from 2023 to 2024, respectively. Seeds with moisture contents of 15.3, 22.3 and 28.0% were placed in vinyl bag (30 × 40 cm) at storage thicknesses of 10, 15, and 20 cm, and air flow was cutoff for 48 h. Seed moisture content, seed temperature (℃) and germination rate were investigated at 12-h intervals. After 48 h of airflow cutoff during natural drying, seed moisture content did not significantly differ among storage thickness treatment (p>0.05). When Italian ryegrass seeds with moisture contents of 27~28% were stored under conditions with air flow cutoff at 15~20cm thickness for 48 h, the seed temperature reached up to 30℃ and the germination rate was excellent at around 70~80%.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of natural drying methods on the moisture content and germination of Italian ryegrass seed in Jicheon reclaimed land, Jangheung, Korea, from 2023 to 2024. The natural drying methods tested included seed spread thicknesses of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm; seed reversal frequencies of 1, 2 and 3 times per day; and two reversal methods: seed-only reversal and complete mixing of seed with a dry mat. The thinner seed spread thickness significantly accelerated moisture content reduction(p<0.001). However, the reduction in moisture contents due to the number and method of seed reversal was minimal, approximately 1%. Seeds initially having around 48.9% moisture content required 2, 4 and 5 days to reach a moisture content of 14% when dried at spread thickness of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm, respectively. Seeds with an initial moisture content of 23-26% required 1 to 2 days to reach 14% moisture content while maintaining approximately 80% germination rate under the tested natural drying methods. When seeds with an initial moisture content of 48.9% were dried at a spread thickness of 2.5 cm, the germination rate was 74.6%, which was significantly lower than the 83.8 and 81.6% germination rates observed for seeds dried at 5.0 and 7.5 cm thickness, respectively(p<0.002). These results suggest that for faster drying and higher-quality Italian ryegrass seed, harvesting at 30% seed moisture content, utilizing the cultivation field as a seed drying place, and applying a seed spread thickness of 2.5 to 5.0 cm are optimal practices.

This study was conducted at the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) from 2010 to 2017 to develop a late-maturing variety with high productivity for cultivation in the southern region of South Korea. The new variety of Italian ryegrass, ‘IR901’, was a late-maturing variety, and its heading date was 22 May, 17 days later than that of the control variety ‘Kowinearly’. ‘IR901’ had a flag leaf width of 11.2 mm, flag leaf length of 31.8 cm, and plant length of 103 cm on its heading date. The combined average dry matter yield of ‘IR901’ in all three adaptability evaluation regions (Cheonan, Pyeongchang and Haenam) was 7,747 kg/ha, which was similar to that of the ‘Kowinearly’ variety (7,734 kg/ ha). However, the average dry matter yield over three years in Cheonan and Pyeongchang was 82% and 96%, respectively, compared to that of the control, which was most likely because of the poor cold tolerance of ‘IR901’. By contrast, in Haenam, in the southern region, the average dry matter yield of ‘IR901’ was 19% higher than that of the ‘Kowinearly’ variety. The proportions of crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in ‘IR901’ were 8.6%, 59.7%, 36.9%, and 54.8%, respectively; the proportions were 0.2% lower, the same, the same, and 2.5% lower than those in the ‘Kowinearly’ variety. The determined in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of ‘IR901’ was 72.2% higher than that of ‘Kowinearly’ (67.2). In general, of the two varieties, the forage quality of ‘IR901’ was marginally superior to that of ‘Kowinearly’.

This experiment was carried out to study the effects of different environmental conditions and cultivation techniques on productivity of grasslands in central and southern area of Korea on 2017 and 2018. Average dry matter yield of grasslands at 10 actual production sites was 7,496 kg/ha. that was ranged from 4,652 to 13,292 kg/ha with least significant difference(LSD) of 1,577kg/ha between grasslands (p<0.05) on 2017. Average dry matter yield of grasslands at 10 actual production sites was 7,914 kg/ha. that was ranged from 3,927 to 12,372 kg/ha with LSD of 1,577kg/ha between grasslands(p<0.05) on 2018. Dry matter(DM) yield of grasslands have positive correlation with soil fertility (p<0.01) but not correlated with rainfall and air temperature among cultivation environments. And also DM yield of grasslands have positive correlation with grassland management techniques(p<0.01). These results suggest that practices of grassland management techniques and improvement of soil fertility are more important than cultivation environments by climate change for increasing the DM yield of grassland in central and southern area of Korea.

This study was conducted to find out the effects of seed mixture using new domestic grass varieties orchardgrass ‘Onnuri’ and tall fescue ‘Greenmaster’ on botanical composition and dry matter productivity from 2015 to 2018 in oversown hilly pasture, the central northern area of Korea. This experiment was consisted of 4 mixed grasses (Treatment 1 : tall fescue oriented mixture with imported varieties; Treatment 2 : orchardgrass oriented mixture with imported varieties; Treatment 3 : orchardgrass oriented mixture with domestic varieties, Treatment 4 : tall fescue oriented mixture with domestic varieties). Evaluation of seasonal changes in botanical composition of pasture showed that orchardgrass was the highest in all treatments, ranging from 46 to 89% and Kentucky bluegrass was the second highest in all treatments. Treatment 3 (7,633 kg ha-1) and Treatment 4 (7,570 kg ha-1), mixed grasses using domestic varieties, were showed the highest dry matter yield than Treatment 1(6,950 kg ha-1) and Treatment 2 (6,934 kg ha-1), which were mixed grasses using introduced varieties. Therefore, these results showed that the orchard grass oriented grasses mixture with domestic varieties was good for grassland vegetation and productivity in oversown hilly pasture, the central northern area of Korea.

This experiment was carried out to study the effects of different environmental conditions and cultivation techniques on productivity of forage corn in central and southern area of Korea on 2017 and 2018. Average dry matter yield of forage corn at 34 cultivation regions was 13,510kg/ha. Forage productivity of forage corn cultivated at actual production sites have positive correlation with cultivation techniques(p<0.01) but not correlated with cultivation environments. Forage productivity of forage corn have positive correlation with seeding techniques(p<0.01) but not correlated with fertilization techniques. These results suggest that practices of cultivation techniques are more important than cultivation environments for increasing the forage productivity of forage corn. Therefore, yield prediction techniques of forage corn in Korea have to be considered the practices of cultivation techniques along with soil and climate conditions.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of seeding dates on grassland productivity and botanical composition in oversown pasture located in Cheonan of South Korea. Four treatment groups were established based on the seeding dates: 18th August, 1st September, 15th September and 29th September. Evaluation of seasonal changes in botanical composition of pasture showed that the highest ratios of grass in 18th August and 1st September (pasture species 93% and weeds 7%) and the lowest in 15th September (pasture species 75% and weeds 25%). In the plant length, there is no significantly different in 5% probability level. In the total dry matter yield of grass, 18th August (13,362 kg ha–1) and 1st September (13,988 kg ha–1) were higher than 15th September (11,883 kg ha-1) and 29th September (11,459 kg ha-1). The findings of the this study suggest that seeding by early September the most desirable results for botanical composition and grassland productivity in oversown pasture, Cheonan of South Korea.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the characteristic and productivity of forage corn varieties sown at the last ten days of May at Cheonan of Korea on 2017 and 2018. Forage corn varieties sown on 24th May 2017 and 25th May 2018 were emerged in 5th and 1st June, respectively. Silking date of forage corns was different among varieties(p<0.05). Stem length of forage corns was not different among the varieties, except Kwangpyeongok(KPA) and Nero IT. Stem diameter of forage corns was not different amaong the varieties. Outbreak rate of black streaked dwarf virus was lower than 3% in all varieties. Total digestible nutrient(TDN) yield was different among corn varieties(p<0.05), which was higher in P32P75, followed by P2088, P31N27, and KPA. The TDN yield of varieties had direct correlation with stem length, stem diameter and ear yield, respectively(p<0.01). Average of TDN in all varieties was 69.8%. These results suggested that forage corn variety with late-seeding adaptability is more important for increasing the productivity of forage corn If harvesting of winter forage crops have to be finished in the middle ten days of May in middle region of Korea.