1997-98 Forage Yields from Rye, Oat, Wheat, & Triticale Varieties and Strains

by Jerry Baker

Discussion
Early Small Grains Forage Variety Trials
Small grain forage variety tests were planted at Ardmore Headquarters Farm and the Red River Demonstration and Research Farm near Burneyville (Tables 1 and 2). Fall planting was delayed at both locations by dry soil conditions during September. At Ardmore, the late September planting was on marginal moisture and erratic stand emergence was evident especially among the rye varieties. At Burneyville, the trial was dry-seeded on October 6 and stands developed following a series of showers the week after planting. Overall, stands were adequate with the exception of several wheat varieties. At both locations, the growing season was characterized by mild temperatures and abundant soil moisture from December through March followed by an extreme dry period during April and May. Temperatures were warmer than normal for most of December through February. Plant development for all the small grains was well ahead of normal by March. In fact, many varieties had reached the first hollow stem stage of development by early February. A freeze on March 10-12 was severe enough to cause damage to the primary tillers of many early-maturing varieties in the trials. Fortunately the freeze came early enough that late tillers developed and the damage to late forage and grain production was minimal.

At Ardmore, the trial was harvested five times for forage yield during the growing season (Table 1). Despite the dry weather in early fall and late spring, total forage yields averaged 5,475 pounds for the test, which is 32% higher than the previous year. Overall production was extremely early as 50% of all forage was produced by February 9. Generally the ryes produced earlier forage and oats the latest. The oats responded very well to the mild temperatures and ample winter moisture, thus producing more total forage for the season than the other small grains. The overall performance of wheats and triticales was also very good as several varieties were near the top in total forage yields. The soft wheat varieties, as a group were generally more productive than the hard wheats. Forage yield of the ryes was limited somewhat by thinner stands of most varieties.

At Burneyville, the dry soil conditions and late planting date limited fall forage production. However, the mild temperatures and above-normal rainfall accelerated plant growth and development during the winter and early spring months resulting in excellent overall forage production at this site. The average total forage yield of 5,037 pounds was about 21% more than the previous year. Overall, 32% of the total forage had been clipped by January 28. Once again the ryes were the most productive forage yielders throughout most of the growing season. All of the oat varieties and the late-maturing triticales provided excellent spring forage. Forage production of the wheats was the latest and lowest in the trial. Lower yields may have resulted from slower plant emergence and erratic stands of many of the wheats. Rye varieties averaged 2,858 pounds of dry forage by January 28 as compared to 679 pounds for the wheats.

Table 3 compares the total forage yields of commercially available small grain varieties that have been tested at both Ardmore and Burneyville for the last three growing seasons. The main focus of our testing program is to provide producers with forage performance data on crops and varieties that are presently being grown and available for use in South-central Oklahoma and North Texas. When selecting crops and/or varieties, producers should emphasize the consistency and dependability of multi-year performance rather than an individual year. At Ardmore, notice that oats have the highest average and ryes the lowest over the past three years. However, you should keep in mind that the last two seasons have produced mild winters, which favors oat production. At Burneyville on a deep sandy loam site, a reverse trend is very apparent. Note the stable, consistent yield advantage the ryes have over the other crops. Oat forage yields have fluctuated the most. Although oat yields have been good the last two seasons, winterkill severely reduced yields in 1995-96. Within each crop there is some variation among varieties for yield performance over the two and three year periods at each location. However, there are a number of varieties of each crop that demonstrate consistency across years and locations.

Oklon rye has consistently ranked high at both locations. Ozark oat appears to have more winter hardiness than the other oat varieties and thus yields have been more stable over this period. As a group, the soft wheat varieties have consistently out-yielded the hard wheat varieties. Coker 9134, Coker 9543 and Coker 9803 are good soft wheat choices. Jagger, an early forage variety has been the most dependable producer of the hard wheat varieties. Presto and Trical Stan I triticale varieties do not produce much early fall forage, but have consistently produced good spring forage.

Discussion
Small Grain Varieties – Comparison of Planting Dates
Planting dates during the 1997-98 season were September 30 and October 29 at Ardmore (Table 4) and October 6 and October 29 at Burneyville (Table 5). The early plantings were delayed by dry conditions whereas, the late plantings were hampered by wet weather in October, particularly at Ardmore. Forage yields from the two locations are shown in Tables 4 and 5.

At Ardmore, the September planting was clipped five times; the October planting was clipped only three times. The September planting produced an average of 34% (1,966 pounds/acre) more total forage than the late October planting. The advantage was gained during the late fall and winter months. The early planting had produced 19% of its total forage by December 16 and 63% by February 26. Note that all 12 varieties in the early-planted test out-yielded the highest producing variety in the late planting. The three oat varieties were more consistent and dependable than the other small grains, regardless of planting date. Longhorn wheat was lowest at both planting dates.

At Burneyville, the early October planting was clipped five times; the late October planting was clipped only four times. At this location, the late planting was more productive as it averaged about 22% (1,398 pounds/acre) more total forage than the early planting. The ryes again produced the most early forage in both plantings, but were slightly (4%) more productive in total forage in the early planting. The reverse was true for the other small grain crops. Oat, triticale, and wheat varieties were respectively 24, 32, and 38 percent more productive in total forage in the late planting. The overall yield advantage of the late planted test developed during the late winter and spring as 83% (5,291 pounds/acre) of the total forage was produced after February 24.

A multi-year comparison of total forage production from early and late fall plantings at the two locations is shown in Table 6. At Ardmore, notice that forage production was higher for the early fall planting in four out of seven years for ryes and triticales; whereas, the oats and wheats have favored the late plantings in four out of seven years. The 1997-98 growing season was just the third year where we have compared dates of planting at the Burneyville location. The current trend favors the late plantings for total forage production of all the small grains on this sandy loam site.

I would like to acknowledge the following Research Assistants for their valuable assistance in the collection and analysis of data used in this report: Julie Barrick, Bret Flatt, Roger Hartwell, Sean Maher and Frank Motal.

Information in this report is not conclusive, but should be of valuable assistance when used with similar information from other sources.

All available information pertaining to the subject should be used in making conclusions and decisions. This publication is intended to furnish supplemental information to aid in making a more sound decision and to stimulate thinking for new ideas.