Studies on Productivity and Nutrient Quality of Forage Rape (Brassica napus Subsp. oleifera) VI. Influence of Sowing and Harvest Date on Yield and Nutritional Quality

In order to find out the optimum harvest (clipping) date combined with sowing date on yield and nutrient Quality of forage rape which is suitable at the southern part of Korea, Velox, introduced variety was grown from Sep. 1987 to May 1988 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 branch and leaves per main stem were increased in the time of full bloom clipping and Sep. 24 sowing but stem diameter was thickest in the early sowing. Fresh yield was heaviest in the time of flowering clipping and Sep. 24 sowing but the most dry matter yield was heaviest in the time of full bloom clipping and Sep. 24 sowing. Content of crude protein was highest and that of crude fiber such as NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were lowest in the late time of clipping and sowing. Further more IVDMD was high and dry matter yield and digestible dry matter yield were highest in the time of flowering clipping and Sep. 24 sowing. Judging from the results reported above, at optimum harvest (clipping) date combined with sowing date for yield and nutrient Quality of forage rape seemed to be the time of flowering clipping and Sep. 24 sowing.