Influence of Sowing and Harvest Date on Yield and Nutritional Quality of Forage Rye

In order to find out the optimum harvest (dipping) date combined with sowing date on yield and nutrient quality of forage rye which is suitable at the Southern part of Korea, Paldanghomil variety was grown Sep. 2001 to May 2002 at Sunchon National University, and yield and nutrient quality of plant were observed. As harvest date and sowing date were delayed, the plant length was longest, number of leaves per plant was increased in the time of May 20 clipping. Fresh yield was the heaviest in the time of May 20 clipping and Oct. l0 sowing, and the most dry matter yield was the heaviest in the time of May 20 clipping and Oct. 10 sowing. Content of crude protein was the highest and that of crude fiber such as NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were the lowest in the late time of clipping and sowing. Further more IVDMD was high and dry matter yield and digestible dry matter yield were the highest in the time of May 20 dipping and Oct. 10 sowing. Judging from the results reported above, at optimum harvest (dipping) date combined with sowing date for yield and nutrient quality of forage rye seemed to be the time of May 20 clipping and Oct. 10 sowing.