20211076 - Intercropping spring and winter cereals for silage and grazing

Account: East Central Research Foundation
Total Funds Requested: $9,128
Funded: Yes. Leads into carbon sequestration. Cutting low - should keep erosion into consideration from fall harvest Fall grazing is needed
Amount: $1,825


Objectives:

1) Demonstrate that various intercrops of spring and winter cereals can provide silage or greenfeed yields comparable to spring monocrops, with the additional benefit of fall grazing

2) Quantify the impact of a spring and winter cereal intercrop on the initial silage or greenfeed yield as well as the yield potential from the regrowth after harvest for fall grazing

​
Why is this Important?

1) While intercropping may result in a somewhat lower forage yield compared to a spring cereal alone, it will produce a higher quality silage, as cutting low will gather much of the winter cereal component

2) total forage production may actually be higher for the intercrop when including fall grazing

3) Attention and information is needed on best seeding and fertilizer rates.

4) Intercropping spring and winter cereals extends the production of quality pasture into the fall and provides the producer with some flexibility. In a year like 2021, regrowth on annual cereals harvested for silage or greenfeed extended the grazing season significantly for many producers

5) the presence of winter cereal with a spring cereal means the forage as a whole can benefit from early and late season rainfall.

​Methodology:

1) 2 order factorial with 4 replicates with 3 different spring cereals, grown as a monoculture or a companion crop of winter triticale or Italian ryegrass.

2) Harvest with a forage harvester when spring cereal has reached soft dough stage, for silage or greenfeed yield.

3) Harvest 2nd time in late fall for plots with winter cereal, to represent grazing.

4) Measure greenfeed yield and quality, grazing yield and quality, plus data weather.

Questions to consider:

Notes:

​Summary:

Intercropping spring and winter cereals extends the production of quality pasture into the fall and provides the producer with some flexibility. In a year like 2021, regrowth on annual cereals harvested for silage or greenfeed extended the grazing season significantly for many producers. The presence of winter cereal with a spring cereal means the forage as a whole can benefit from early and late season rainfall.