Cultivation of high-quality forage crop by using fallow field during winter is required for national high feed self-sufficiency and establishment of self-supply system of high-quality forage crop. Field experiments for cultivation of high-quality winter forage crop were conducted at the paddy and upland fields in Cheonan and Anseong city with treatments of single Italian ryegrass(IRG) and IRG mixed with forage barley at the paddy field and of single forage barley and forage barley mixed with IRG at the upland field in the Mid-west plain. Several cultivation conditions such as broadcasting IRG seed under standing rice, sowing time, tillage method, drainage condition, mixed sowing with forage barley were compared to know the change of growth, yield and quality of winter forage crop. In particular, over-wintering rate and dry matter yield were decreased significantly in late-sown IRG and moisture-stressed forage barley. Yield and quality of forage crops were increased by sowing after tillage, mixed sowing of IRG with barley at the paddy field with good drainage. High yield as much as dry matter 10 MT ha-1 with high feed value could be obtained by early sowing of feed barley mixed with IRG at the upland field. Cultivation conditions such as early sowing, sowing after tillage, drainage management are required for higher dry matter yield, quality and stable cultivation of winter forage crops in the mid-west plain of Korea.

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid and accurate method for analyzing the quality of cereals, and dried animal forage. However, one limitation of this method is its inability to measure fermentation parameters in dried and ground samples because they are volatile, and therefore, respectively lost during the drying process. In order to overcome this limitation, in this study, fresh coarse haylage was used to test the potential of NIRS to accurately determine chemical composition and fermentation parameters. Fresh coarse Italian ryegrass haylage samples were scanned at 1 nm intervals over a wavelength range of 680 to 2500 nm, and optical data were recorded as log 1/reflectance. Spectral data, together with first- and second-order derivatives, were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) multivariate regressions; scatter correction procedures (standard normal variate and detrend) were used in order to reduce the effect of extraneous noise. Optimum calibrations were selected based on their low standard error of cross validation (SECV) values. Further, ratio of performance deviation, obtained by dividing the standard deviation of reference values by SECV values, was used to evaluate the reliability of predictive models. Our results showed that the NIRS method can predict chemical constituents accurately (correlation coefficient of cross validation, R2 cv, ranged from 0.76 to 0.97); the exception to this result was crude ash (R2 cv = 0.49 and RPD = 2.09). Comparison of mathematical treatments for raw spectra showed that second-order derivatives yielded better predictions than first-order derivatives. The best mathematical treatment for DM, ADF, and NDF, respectively was 2, 16, 16, whereas the best mathematical treatment for CP and crude ash, respectively was 2, 8, 8. The calibration models for fermentation parameters had low predictive accuracy for acetic, propionic, and butyric acids (RPD < 2.5). However, pH, and lactic and total acids were predicted with considerable accuracy (R2 cv 0.73 to 0.78; RPD values exceeded 2.5), and the best mathematical treatment for them was 1, 8, 8. Our findings show that, when fresh haylage is used, NIRS-based calibrations are reliable for the prediction of haylage characteristics, and therefore useful for the assessment of the forage quality.

Humic acid (HA) is a complex organic matter found in the environments, especially in grassland soils with a high density. The bioactivity of HA to promote plant growth depends largely on its extraction sources. The quality-control of HA and the quality improvements via an artificial synthesis are thus challenging. We recently reported that a polymeric product from fungal laccase-mediated oxidation of catechol and vanillic acid (CAVA) displays a HA-like activity to enhance seed germination and salt stress tolerance in a model plant, Arabidopsis. Here, we examined whether HA or CAVA enhances the growth of Italian ryegrass seedling. Height and fresh weight of the plant with foliar application of HA or CAVA were bigger than those with only water. Interestingly, enhanced root developments were also observed in spite of the foliar treatments of HA or CAVA. Finally, we proved that HA or CAVA promotes the regrowth of Italian ryegrass after cutting. Collectively, CAVA acts as a HA mimic in Italian ryegrass cultivation, and both as a biostimulant enhanced the early growth and regrowth after cutting of Italian ryegrass, which could improve the productivity of forage crops.

Salt stress is one of the most limiting factors that reduce plant growth, development and yield. However, identification of salt-inducible genes is an initial step for understanding the adaptive response of plants to salt stress. In this study, we used an annealing control primer (ACP) based GeneFishing technique to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Italian ryegrass seedlings under salt stress. Ten-day-old seedlings were exposed to 100 mM NaCl for 6 h. Using 60 ACPs, a total 8 up-regulated genes were identified and sequenced. We identified several promising genes encoding alpha-glactosidase b, light harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding protein, metallothionein-like protein 3B-like, translation factor SUI, translation initiation factor eIF1, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2 and elongation factor 1-alpha. These genes were mostly involved in plant development, signaling, ROS detoxification and salt acclimation. However, this study provides new molecular information of several genes to understand the salt stress response. These genes would be useful for the enhancement of salt stress tolerance in plants.

This study investigated the comparative growth characteristics, yield, chemical compositions, and nutritive yield of Italian ryegrass cultivars harvested in a paddy field. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three replicates. The treatments consisted of seven Italian ryegrass cultivars (Kogreen, Kowinmaster, Hwasan 101, Kowinnearly, Kospeed, Sahalie select, and Strike). The planting date was October 21, 2009 and the sample harvest was occurred on May 21, 2010. Dry matter yield was higher in Kowinnerary and Kogreen than in the other varieties (p<0.05). Crude protein and ether extract contents were highest in Hwasan 101 and lowest in Kospeed. The content of total digestible nutrients did not differ among the Italian ryegrass varieties. The amino acid contents were in the order Hwasan 101 > Strike > Kowinnearly > Kogreen > Sahalie select > Kospeed > Kowinnearly (p<0.05). Fructose content was highest in Kospeed, while glucose and sucrose contents were highest in Hwasan 101. The results of this study indicate that Kowinnearly, in terms of dry matter yield, and Hwasan 101, in terms of feed value (chemical composition and free sugar content), may be recommended for forage production in a paddy field.

This study was aimed to find yield prediction model of Italian ryegrass using climate big data and geographic information. After that, mapping the predicted yield results using Geographic Information System (GIS) as follows; First, forage data were collected; second, the climate information, which was matched with forage data according to year and location, was gathered from the Korean Metrology Administration (KMA) as big data; third, the climate layers used for GIS were constructed; fourth, the yield prediction equation was estimated for the climate layers. Finally, the prediction model was evaluated in aspect of fitness and accuracy. As a result, the fitness of the model (R2) was between 27% to 95% in relation to cultivated locations. In Suwon (n=321), the model was; DMY = 158.63AGD –8.82AAT +169.09SGD - 8.03SAT +184.59SRD -13,352.24 (DMY: Dry Matter Yield, AGD: Autumnal Growing Days, SGD: Spring Growing Days, SAT: Spring Accumulated Temperature, SRD: Spring Rainfall Days). Furthermore, DMY was predicted as 9,790±120 (kg/ha) for the mean DMY(9,790 kg/ha). During mapping, the yield of inland areas were relatively greater than that of coastal areas except of Jeju Island, furthermore, northeastern areas, which was mountainous, had lain no cultivations due to weak cold tolerance. In this study, even though the yield prediction modeling and mapping were only performed in several particular locations limited to the data situation as a startup research in the Republic of Korea.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of harvesting time of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam; IRG) in spring on dry matter (DM) yield. IRG cultivars ‘Kowinearly’ and ‘Greenfarm’ were seeded at 50 kg/ha and grown on rice paddy fields. There was no difference in growth characteristics between both varieties before winter. However, cold tolerance of Kowinearly was higher than that of Greenfarm, as demonstrated by post-wintering growth characteristics. The heading date of both varieties was affected by the spring weather. The IRG was harvested three times at 5-day intervals beginning from 9 May. The DM yield of Greenfarm was 6,306; 7,335; and 8,109 kg/ha, and that of Kowinearly was 7,498; 9,196; and 10,449 kg/ha at the three consecutive harvests. The delay of the harvesting time for 5 and 10 days increased the DM yield of Greenfarm by 16% and 29% and that of Kowinearly by 23% and 39%, respectively, compared to the yield at first harvest (p < 0.05). Therefore, IRG harvest later than early to mid-May is expected to increase productivity. The feed values of Greenfarm were: 12.2% of crude protein (CP), 34.5% of acid detergent fiber (ADF), 57.7% of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 61.6% of total digestible nutrients (TDN), and 72.3% of in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD). For Kowinearly, these values were 16.4% of CP, 30.4% of ADF, 52.7% of NDF, 64.9% of TDN and 79.0% of IVDMD.

The present study investigated the effects of different seeding rates on growth characteristics and seed productivity of the “Kowinearly” cultivar of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in paddy fields. Sowing Kowinearly in paddy fields under growing rice at the rates of 20, 30, 40, and 50 kg/ha resulted in seed yields of 1.57, 1.92, 2.06, and 2.09 ton/ha, respectively. Seed yield of Kowinearly was the highest at a seeding rate of 50 kg/ha (p<0.05), at which the cultivar was able to survive in winter and the weed ratio was low. Under these conditions, most growth characteristics such as winter survival (85%), weed ratio (10%), stems per square meter (1,006) were superior than those sown at other seeding rates (p<0.05). In addition, it has been reported that the economic efficiency of the 50 kg/ha seeding rate was higher than that of the other seeding rates.

Anaerobic digestion is a collection of naturally occurring processes that convert organic matter and liquid residue, so-called digestate. The use of digestate biofertilizers is one of the important components of integrated nutrient management, as they are renewable sources of plant nutrients for sustainable agriculture. Seeds of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) were germinated in different concentration of Chlorella in order to investigate it’s the effect of Chlorella on growth parameters, seed germination and early growth. The experiment using plug tray was conducted at the green house placed in the Sangji University. The experiment consisted of nine treatments including different concentrations of Chlorella sp. culture solution and non-treated control. The germination percentage at the treatment with 25% Chlorella sp. culture solution was greater than that of control. The 50% concentration of Chlorella sp. culture solution was found to promote a better seedling growth in terms of shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight compared to the anaerobic digestate. Results showed that the best concentration of Chlorella culture solution was achieved by the 50% concentration of Chlorella culture solution treatment. As a conclusion, the application of Chlorella culture solution was found to be able to promote the germination and shoots growth of Italian ryegrass

In order to study the effect of barley, Italian ryegrass (IRG), and legume mixture on nitrogen fixation and transfer to grasses on spring paddy field, an experiment was carried out from Oct. 2006 to June 2007 in Naju, Korea. A split plot design with three replications was used for the experiment. One reference plot was assigned for each treatment to determine nitrogen fixation. Main plots consisted of Chinese milk vetch, crimson clover, forage pea, and hairy vetch with barley, respectively. Subplot treatment were barley or IRG with four seeding ratio of legumes (50:50, 60:40, 70:30, and 80:20). To estimate N fixation by legumes, 15N isotope dilution technique was used. 15N fertilizer [(15NH4)2SO4 solution at 99.8 atom N] was uniformly applied to 600 cm2 in the middle of each plot on April 15, 2007. Plots were harvest by hand on June 8, 2007. Dried sample were ground to a fine power and analyzed for total N isotope N. 15N was determined using elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The calculation of N transfer was determined with the isotope dilution method. The content of N was higher in legumes than that in barley or Italian ryegrass. Nitrogen level in forage pea was significantly higher than that of other legumes. There were significantly differences in N content between legumes in IRG mixture. Atom % 15N excess was significantly different in legumes with barley. The 60:40 sub plot had higher (p<0.05) atom % 15N than other seeding ratio treatments. The enrichment ranged from 0 to 0.58. Compared to barley, the enrichment of IRG with its accompanied legumes was higher, ranging from 0.38 to 1.0. The N derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) ranged from 0% to 49.5% with barley-legume mixture. It ranged from 0 to 60.5% in IRG-legume plots. N transfer from legumes to neighboring grasses was 12.3 to 90.9 kg/ha for barley-legume mixture and 31.7 to 107.8 kg/ha for IRG plots. IRG plots showed higher N transfer for IRG-legume mixture in general based on difference method. Based on 15N dilution method, the N transfer was 0 to 36.1 kg/ha for barley-legume mixture and 0 to 50.6 kg/ha for IRG plots. There was a tendency toward higher N transfer on the difference method than that of the 15N dilution method.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of microbial culture supplements on ruminal fermentation and fermentative quality of Italian ryegrass silage (IRGS) both in vitro and in situ. Three species of microbes (Lactobacillus casei (LC), Bacillus subtilis (BS), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC)) were used in this study. They were applied to IRGS at 30 days after silage manufacture. Various items were measured using in vitro and in situ incubation technique after each microbial supplement was inoculated into IRGS at 0.5×104 CFU/g. In the first experiment, in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of IRGS were evaluated at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after microbes were inoculated into IRGS. In the second experiment, in situ fermentation characteristics were investigated at 0, 1, 3, and 5 days after the inoculation of each microbial supplement. In vitro ruminal NH3-N content was significantly (p<0.05) increased in LC-, BS-, and SC-IRGS at 12 hrs post incubation compared to that in control IRGS. In vitro ruminal total VFA concentration and dry matter digestibility (DMD) of IRGS were not significantly difference among LC-, BS-, and SC-IRGS, although they were numerically increased in LC-IRGS than those of the other IRGS. In addition, this study evaluated the fermentation characteristics and in situ DMD of IRGS with the lapse of incubation time up to 5 days. Throughout the incubation times from 1 day to 5 days, the pH value was significantly (p<0.05) lower in BS-, LC-, and SC-IRGS than that in control IRGS. Lactate was significantly (p<0.05) higher, and significantly (p<0.05) butyrate was lower in LC-IRGS than that in other treatments at 0 day. It was higher (p<0.05) in control IRGS than that of BS-, LC-, and SC-IRGS at 1-5 days. In situ DMD tended to increase in BS-, LC-, and SC-IRGS compared to that in control IRGS. Especially, DMD was higher in SC-IRGS than that in other treatments at 0 day. It tended to be higher in LC-IRGS at all incubation time. Taken together, these results suggest that it might be useful to select a microorganism by considering the feeding time of IRGS to ruminants because organic acids and DMD of IRGS were affected by the incubation time of each microorganism with IRG silage, especially for L. casei decreased the content of acetate and butyrate in IRGS.