EFFECT OF HARVEST STAGE ON FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY OF WINTER CEREALS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fodder Programme, National Agricultural Research Centre, PO NIH, Islamabad 45 500 Pakistan.

Abstract

Oat (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Harvested at 9 stages of maturity (4-leaf repeat­edly, clipping at tillering, jointing, boot, head emergence, 50% flowering, 100% flowering, early milk and early dough) were evaluated for fodder yield and quality at Islamabad during 1990-92. Oat harvested at head emergence stage, and barley and wheat at 100% flowering stage gave maximum green-fodder yields. In all crops the highest dry-matter yield was recorded at early dough stage. Crude protein content was maximum at 4-leaf cutting stage repeatedly, whereas minimum in early dough stage. Oat, barley and wheat harvested at boot stage provided a good compromise of green fodder and dry-matter yields and fodder quality.