Changes in Productivity of Several Forage Crops during the Late Autumn Season for Grazing Purpose at Two Altitudes in the Kanto-Koshinetsu Region

Abstract

The study aimed to show the grass species suitable for grazing during the late autumn period in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region. For this, the change in productivity of several types of forage crops was investigated in the two regions. One site was located at an altitude of 1000m, and the other at 320m. Two varieties of oat (Avena sativa L.), one of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), one of rye (Secale cereale L.), and two of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were sown from August to September at both sites. Crop production was measured during October to December. In both sites, the production of rye (Rai Taro) was the highest throughout the study period. The mid-October when to begin late autumn grazing, production of all the grass varieties except the Italian ryegrass at the 1000m site was more than 100g/m² ; all seeds were sown in late August. At 320m altitude, the production of all crops in mid-October was less than 35g/m², regardless of the time of seeding. Thus, because the production was too low to begin grazing at the 320m site from mid-October, it is necessary to delay the start of grazing.