Corn silage is extensively utilized in ruminant feeding on a global scale, with substantial research efforts directed towards enhancing its nutritional worth and managing moisture content. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of normal cutting height and elevated cutting height on whole-crop corn silage. Corn was harvested at heights of 15 cm and 45 cm above the ground, respectively, 45 days after heading. The harvested corn was cut into 2-3 cm lengths and packed into 20-liter plastic silos in triplicate. The results showed that dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of C45 were significantly higher than those of the control, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was significantly lower in C45 (p<0.05). The C15 had higher yields than C45 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total digestible nutrients (TDN) yield of whole-crop corn silage. The increase in cutting height resulted in a larger change in moisture content and NDF per centimeter. After 60 days-ensiling, C45 showed significantly lower NH3-N concentrations. Moreover, C45 had significantly higher lactic acid concentration, lactic acid/acetic acid ratio, and lactic acid bacteria count compared to the control. Mold was not detected and the yeast count was less than 2 log10 cfu/g fresh matter in both control and C45. In summary, C45 improved the feeding value and fermentation quality of whole-crop corn silage at the expense of forage productivity.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the change in the productivity of Italian ryegrass seeds according to the inter-row spacing in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) ‘Green Call’ variety was sown in Jinju, Gyeongnam in the fall of 2020 with three inter-row spacings (20, 30 and 40 cm). The experiment was arranged a randomized block design with three replications. The ryegrass was sown on October 17, 2020, and the harvest was on May 31, about 60 days from the first heading stage. There was no difference among treatments with an average of April 27th in heading stage. Plant height was significantly longer at 30 cm seeding interval and the shortest in 20 cm treatment. The length of the spike was the longest in the 40 cm seeding interval, and the number of seeds per spike was the highest in the 20cm seeding interval, but there was no significant difference among treatments. The seed yield was the highest at the 20 cm sowing interval (2,180 kg/ha), and decreased as the spacing increased. The dry matter content of seeds and straw was found to be 44.90% and 45.51% on average, and there was no significant difference among treatments. The amount of remaining straw after harvesting was found to be 7,506 kg/ha on average on DM basis, and was high at the 20 cm seeding interval. In view of the above results, it was found that it is most advantageous to sow at intervals of 20 cm when producing Italian ryegrass seeds through autumn sowing in the southern region.

To investigate the domestic seed production potential of Italian ryegrass, it was sown in autumn in the southern region and harvested in the spring of the following year to investigate the productivity and quality of seeds and straw. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) ‘GreenCall’ variety was sown in Jinju, Gyeongnam in the fall of 2020 with three seeding rates (20, 30 and 40 kg/ha). The experiment was arranged consisted of a randomized block design with three replications. The ryegrass was sown on October 17, 2020, and the harvest was on May 31, about 60 days from the heading stage. The heading stage of Italian ryegrass was April 28, and there was no difference among treatments. Plant height was significantly shorter in the 40 kg/ha seeding treatment group, and there was no significant difference in the remaining treatments. The resistance of lodging, disease, and cold did not show significant differences among treatments. Spike length and number of seeds per spike were highest at 20 kg/ha seeding amount, and there was no difference in the remaining treatments. The seed yield was the highest at 1,956 kg/ha in the 20 kg/ha seeding rate, and there was no difference in the 30 and 40 kg/ha seeding rates. The dry matter content of seeds and straws was 45.60 and 41.83% on average, and there was no significant difference among treatments. The amount of remaining straw after seed harvesting was found to be 7,689 kg/ha on average on a dry basis, and it was high in the 40 kg/ha sowing area, but there was no significant difference among treatments. According to the above results, it was found that it is most advantageous to sow at 20 kg/ha when producing Italian ryegrass seeds through autumn sowing in the southern region.

The optimal determination of seeding rate is critical to minimizing uncertainties about the large variations observed in forage quality and productivity when alfalfa is cultivated under different geographical areas and growing conditions. The objective of this investigation was to provide information about the proper seeding rate according to harvest timing for alfalfa cultivation in the Northern regions of Korea. Alfalfa was sown in September 2018 at a seeding rate of 20, 30 or 40 kg/ha and harvested four times in 2019: May 3, July 2, September 11, and October 13. Regardless of seeding rate, alfalfa plant height was longest at the third harvest (113 cm) and the shortest in the last annual harvest (43.8 cm). However, seeding rate had no effect on alfalfa plant height at any harvest. Forage relative feed value was increased in the first cutting but decreased in the third cuttings as seeding rate increased. However, seeding rate had slight effect on alfalfa forage quality components at the second and fourth cuttings. Total annual DM and crude protein production (in 4 harvests) was greater at higher seeding rates. Plots seeded at a rate of 40 kg/ha produced on average 1,257 and 2,620 kg/ha more forage (DM basis) than those seeded at a rate of 30 or 20 kg/ha, respectively. Forage DM production at the first, second, third, and fourth harvests accounted for 36.1, 24.0, 27.1, and 12.8 % of total annual DM production, respectively. Overall, small differences were seen when alfalfa seeding rate was different but maximum forage DM production (in four harvests) was detected when seeding rate was 40 kg/ha. These data could be useful to the alfalfa growers by allowing them to make more accurate trade-offs between seed price and the expected magnitude of forage yield gains in order to select the best seeding rate.

Cutting management has been identified as a critical factor in the alfalfa production systems because it has a significant impact on maximizing yield and maintaining the forage quality. The objective of this experiment was to determine the proper cutting height according to harvesting time for optimizing nutrient yield and forage nutritive quality of alfalfa grown in alpine regions of Korea. Alfalfa was sown at a seeding rate of 30 kg/ha in August 2018 and harvested at four cuttings in 2019 (3 May, 2 July, 11 September, and 13 October). Cutting heights were adjusted at 5, 15, and 25 cm above the soil surface. Alfalfa plant was tallest at the third cutting (109 cm), which was on average 35 cm taller than the first or second cutting. Relative feed value (RFV) remained unaffected by cutting height at the first harvest, but increased consistently in subsequent harvests as cutting height increased. Alfalfa collected at the first and fourth cuttings had the highest RFV (mean 152), which was on average 8 and 67 units higher than the second and third harvests, respectively. At each harvest, in vitro dry matter digestibility was highest in alfalfa cut at a 25-cm height. Dry matter (DM) production at each cutting height was highest in the first cutting, accounting for on average 36-37% of total annual DM production, and lowest in the fourth harvest, accounting for about 11-13% of the total DM yield. The total dry matter production (in four harvests) was 4,218 kg/ha higher when alfalfa was subjected to a cutting height of 5 cm rather than 25 cm. Cutting height had no effect on total crude protein yield, but from the first to fourth cutting, the protein yield followed a decreasing trend. Finally, there were visible declines in forage nutritive quality when alfalfa was cut at a shorter height. However, the magnitude of difference in total forage yield may outweigh the slight decline in forage quality when alfalfa is cut at a lower height. The findings of this study could help the alfalfa growers make better harvest management decisions.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of species and varieties of summer forage crops on growth characteristics and productivity in Sihwa reclaimed land. The summer forage crops used in the trial were silage corn, sorghum×sudangrass hybrid(SSH), and proso millet. For each forage species, Gwangpyeongok(GPO), P15453, P1952 and P2088 were used for silage corn, and 877F, Green star, Honey chew, and Turbo gold cultivars were used for SSH. For proso millet, Ibaekchal, Geumsilchal and Manhongchal developed by the National Institute of Crop Science were used. Silage corn and SSH were sown on May 21, 2019 and proso millet on June 4, and harvested on September 2. There was no significant difference in plant and ear height of silage corn among varieties. P1543 was the highest and P2088 was the lowest in yield of silage corn, but there was no significant difference among treatments. Among the SSH, the plant height of 877F was the highest and Turbo gold variety had the smallest (p<0.05). As for the dry matter(DM) yields, 877F had the highest at 3,862 kg/ha and Green star had the lowest at 2,669 kg/ha (p<0.05). The fresh matter yield of proso millet was 15,778 kg/ha, which was higher than that of corn or SSH, The average dry matter yield was 4,780 kg/ha, and Ibaekchal variety had the highest DM yield compared to other varieties (p<0.05). P2088 had the highest TDN content and GPO was the lowest (p<0.05). As for the SSH, the TDN content of Green star and Honey chew varieties was significantly higher, and the RFV value was the lowest in Turbo gold. The average crude protein content of proso millet was 7.03%, and the highest TDN and RFV values were 64.36% and 106 in Geumsilchal. In the experiment of the germination rate of summer forage crops according to salt concentration, silage corn showed a germination rate of 83.1% even at 0.4% salinity. In particular, P2088 and P1921 varieties had more than 80% germination rate even at 0.6% salt concentration. As for the SSH, the germination rate of 877F was 93.3% even at 0.8% salinity, and 88.3% with Honey chew, indicating higher resistance to salt concentration compared to other varieties. Proso millet showed a high germination rate of 84.0 to 88.7% even at a salt concentration of 0.6%. Considering the above results, proso millet was recommended as the most suitable forage crop species in the Sihwa reclaimed land with high salt concentration, and the Ibaekchal variety is recommended as a suitable forage crop due to its high yield.

This experiment was conducted to compare the seed productivity of Spring sown Italian ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) depending on the seeding rates(20kg/ha, 30kg/ha, 40kg/ha) in Gangwon region. The experiment was a randomized block design with three replications. The test plots were located in alpine areas of about 600 m above sea level in Gangwon province. The tested Italian ryegrass variety was ‘Greencall’ developed by the National Institute of Animal Science, RDA. Italian Ryegrass was sown on March 26, 2020, and the seed harvesting was on the 60th day(2 July) from heading date. The heading date was May 8 with no difference, There were no significant differences in the agronomic characteristics including plant height. 30kg/ha seed rate was the highest at 146.8 seed/spike and 40kg/ha seed rate was the lowest at 114.7 seed/spike for the number of seeds per spike. The number of spikes per unit area was the highest in 40kg/ha at 886/m2 and the lowest in 20kg/ha at 750/m2. The yield of seed and straw was the highest in 40kg/ha at 1,288kg/ha and 2,970kg/ha respectively, but there was no difference. From the above results, the production of Italian ryegrass seeds through spring sowing in the Gangwon region is not much than autumn seeding, requiring the input of various technologies to increase productivity in the future, and it is desirable to determine the production cost through economic analysis was evaluated.

This experiment was conducted to study on the growth characteristics and seed productivity of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., IRG) planted in the Spring in Gangwon Highland according to the seeding distance (20, 30 and 40 cm). The field was located in highland around 600 m above sea level. The experimental design was randomized block design with three replication and the tested IRG variety was ‘Greencall’ developed by National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS). IRG was sown on March 26, 2020, and harvested on July 2. The plant height was the shortest at 80.5 cm in the 40 cm seeding distance plot (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the 20 and 30 cm seeding distance. The number of spike per square meter (m2) was significantly higher in the 20 cm seeding distance plot than that of 40 cm (937 vs. 571). The dry matter (DM) content of seed and straw after harvesting was 49.70 and 33.36 % on average, and there was no significant difference between treatments (P>005). However, there was a significant difference in the fresh and DM yield of seeds and straw (P<0.05). DM yield of seeds was significantly higher in 20 cm distance than that of 40 cm, and the yield of straw was the same trend. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in DM yield between 20 cm and 30 cm and also in the feed value of straw after seed harvesting among seeding distance. The average CP, ADF, NDF, and TDN contents were 6.91, 36.76, 61.75 and 59.86%, respectively, and the RFV value was 91. Considering the above results, the production of Italian ryegrass seeds sown in the spring in the highlands of the Gangwon is lower than that of autumn sowing, but it is judged that it needs to be reviewed in case it is unavoidable. In the future, there should be an economic analysis and the development of technology that can increase production.

This experiment was conducted to compare the seed productivity of the Italian ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) varieties sown in the spring in Gangwon region. The experiment was randomized block design with three replications. The Experimental field was located in alpine areas of about 600 m above sea level in Gangwon province. The tested Italian Ryegrass varieties were ‘Greenfarm’, ‘Greencall’ and ‘Kowinearly’ developed by National Institute of Animal Science, RDA. Italian Ryegrass varieties were sown on March 26, 2020, and the harvest was on the 60th day of mean heading date, July 2. The heading date of Kowinearly was May 8, but Greenfarm and Greencall was May 4. The plant length was the largest in the Kowinearly variety. However, the Kowinearly suffered severe lodging. There was no significant difference in the length of spike among varieties, and the number of seeds per spike was the lowest in Greenfarm at 118.5 seed/spike. As for the seed weight per spike, the Greenfarm variety was significantly lower at 0.56 g/spike, but the 1,000 seed weight was the heaviest in the Greenfarm at 2.5g.. The number of spike per unit area was the highest in Greenfarm at 906/m2. The dry matter content of seeds was the highest in Greenfarm at 54.3%, and for straw, Kowinearly was the highest at 35.3%. Seed productivity was not significant among varieties, and the average was 1,493 kg/ha. The yield of straw after seed production was also not significant among varieties (P>0.05), and the average was 3,172 kg/ha. From the above results, the production of Italian ryegrass seeds through spring sowing in the Gangwon region is not much than autumn seeding, requiring the input of various technologies to increase productivity in the future, and it is desirable to determine the production cost through economic analysis was judged.