Comparison of Yields of Winter Forage Crops According to Regions of Korea

Abstract

We examined the use of basic forage data and indicators of forage productivity in different regions of Korea. The productivity of winter forage crops was evaluated from mid to late May 2012 by directly collecting information from farmhouses. A survey of winter forage crop productivity was conducted with 66 farmers in 16 regions; including, Italian ryegrass (IRG) from 22 farmers in 11 regions, whole crop barley from 21 farmers in eight regions, rye from 11 farmers in five regions, and IRG mixed with whole crop barley from 12 farmers in six regions. The results indicated that the Konju region exhibited higher yields of dry matter (DM) forage (15,128 kg/ha) and that the Dangjin region (reclaimed land) showed the lowest (3,885 kg/ha). The average yield of DM forage was 9,418 kg/ha. Yields of whole crop barley and IRG mixed with whole crop barley were comparatively higher than those of rye and IRG. We conclude that overall forage productivity was influenced by farmer's cultivation ability rather than the forage cultivation environment.