Objective

The purpose of this study is to test forage yield, and quality of twelve spring cereal forages

Summary

Twelve cereal forage entries (eight barley, three oats, and one triticale) were tested in a randomized complete block trial replicated four times (for detailed management information, see Table 1).

Forage yield ranged from 5.9 t/ac (MT20_F099_05) to 8.0 t/ac (Oats, Haymaker, and MT20_F109_08). Haymaker, SD Titan and Goliath averaged the highest forage yields values, however they were not statistically different from each other. MT20_F099_05 had the lowest forage yield value (Figure 1).

Plant height ranged from 36 inches (MT Double Barrel) to 58 inches (SD Momentum) (Figure 2). Lodging was only observed for the barley entries where Lavina had the lowest percentage, and the rest were greater than 50% (Figure 3).  

Table 1. Management Information

Seeding date:

4/28/2025 (118 Julian)

Field Location:

R9

Seeding rate:

20 plants/ft2

Harvest date:

Forage harvest 7/28/25 (209 Julian)

Previous crop:

Fallow (2023 Canola)

Soil type:

 

Flathead Fine Sandy Loam

Herbicide:

Cleansweep 1.5pt/A

Tillage:

Conventional

Soil residual nutrient

(N, P, K, S lb/A):

142.5-18-448-68 (Fall 2024)

Insecticide:

N/A

Nutrient fertilizer applied (N, P, K, S lb/A):

100-35-10-5 (Spring 2025)

Fungicide:

N/A

 

Figure 1 A & B. Forage yield and plant height by entry with barley, oat, and triticale color-coated from left to right respectively. The same letter assignment denotes an insignificant difference at α =0.05.

 

Figure 2. Plant lodging by entry with barley. The same letter assignment denotes an insignificant difference at α =0.05.