5 Effect of Species and Maturity on Winter Hardy Small Grain Silage Yield and Quality

Abstract Winter-hardy small grains offer an opportunity to improve soil health as a cover crop, and they can also be used forage source for cattle. differ in the time needed reach various maturity stages. Species selection may impact yield nutritive value. A two-year study was conducted eastern Nebraska determine effect of species on value winter-hardy silage. Three were evaluated; cereal rye, winter wheat, triticale at four stages maturity: boot, anthesis, milk, soft dough. The experimental design randomized complete block with blocks per year. Small grain considered whole plots harvest sub-plot. Each year, randomly assigned within each block. Within plot, one quarter plot. Dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP), digestible organic (DOM), nutrient hectare measured analyzed using mixed procedure SAS. Forage increased all (P < 0.01) maturity, except where there decrease rye did not (P>0.05), dough greater than rye. (P£0.05) wheat anthesis Crude (% DM) decreased across species. Among species, CP (P£0.01) dough, but different (P³0.10) from At milk stages, (P³0.07) lower DOM > 0.05), both triticale. Cereal had £ 0.05) yields terms energy (DOM) CP. There no difference = 0.10), yield. boot 0.08) again This suggests that planting either or resulted greatest acre. Harvest compared minimal loss value; maximizing acre, harvesting best option.