Forage production, straw, structural characteristics and nutritional value of white oat in crop-livestock integrated systems

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the production of forage and residual straw, structural characteristics and nutritional value of white oat under different soil use in an integrated crop-livestock system. The experiment was conducted in the autumn-winter seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2011 using a randomized block design in a scheme of tracks. Six forms of soil were distributed in tracks and were used to cultivate oats: residue grazing with a height of 10 or 20 cm (G10 and G20); cutting for haymaking with a residue height of 10 or 20 cm (C10 and C20); without grazing or cutting of oat plants with subsequent direct sowing of the summer crop (NC -TS) and without grazing or cutting with subsequent conventional tillage of the soil for sowing of the crop summer (NC -CS). In 2009, 2010 and 2011 three, one and two evaluations were accomplished each year, respectively. We studied the production of forage and residual straw, structural characteristics and nutritional quality of the forage produced. The total forage production in 2009 and 2011 did not differ between soil uses; however, it was higher in the uses with a residue height of 10 cm in 2010. The white oat under cuts or grazing gave high forage dry matter, while straw production was reduced with cuts or grazing. Forage of superior quality and with better production distributed throughout the autumn-winter was obtained when the white oat was managed with grazing or cuttings.