Effective Triple-Cropping Systems for Mass Forage Production in Korea.

We developed new cropping systems to improve forage productivity and high quality forages in middle region of Korea. Maximized biomass production obtained from the triple-cropping systems with maize, oat and Italian ryegrass (IRG) as modification of double cropping. We used maize (cv. Kwngpyeongok) as summer crop, oat (cv. highspeed) as fall crop and two cultivars of IRG (cv. Kowinearley, Greenfarm) as winter crops. The best seeding rates per ha of maize, oat and Italian ryegrass were 40 kg, 140 kg and 40kg, respectively. Seeding methods for maize, oat and Italian ryegrass were line sowing (planting space 0.75 x0.15 m), broadcast planting and line sowing (planting distance 0.3m) respectively. All plots were repressed after sowing had completed. Maize was sown in early May and was harvested in mid-August. Oat and IRG and mixtures were sown in late August and were first harvested in late October and second harvest of IRG was carried out the following year in early May after wintering. The total forage yields were 37.4-38.5 tons dry matter ha^-1using these triple-cropping systems. This study suggest that yields of high quality forages under triple-cropping systems had increased by 28% as comparing to double-cropping and real income of livestock farmer had increased by 39%.