• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2023

In order to select high-quality winter cereal crops with high yield and to increase self-sufficiency rate of forage, their growth, yield, and feeding value of several cereal crops cultivated in winter were investigated in the paddy field of the southern region. Four wheat cultivars and green barley headed in early and mid-April, while oat and Italian ryegrass headed in early May. Fresh forage yields of wheats, green barley, and oat were significantly higher than that of Italian ryegrass, and dry forage yields of wheats and green barley were significantly higher than those of not only Italian ryegrass but also oat. In particular, the yield of a wheat cultivar 'Cheongwoo' was the highest. Mineral contents of wheat forages, even though low, were in the range 27.8~33.7mg·g^-1 DW suitable for feeding cattle and young female cows. Crude protein content of a wheat cultivar 'Cheongwoo' was high up to 7.6%, similarly to 7.0% requiring for feeding cattle. Feeding values such as total digestible nutrients (TDN) and relative feed value (RFV) of wheats and green barley were superior to those of oat and Italian ryegrass. In addition, dry matter rates of 4 wheat cultivars and green barley were in the range 30~40%, indicating that wheat cultivars and green barley could be used for various feeding purposes such as green or dried forage, and silage. Based on these results, wheat cultivars including 'Cheongwoo' and green barley could be encouraged to be cultivated in paddy fields, as high-quality winter forage crops with high yield.