THE USE OF CEREAL GRAINS AS COMPANION CROPS IN DRYLAND FORAGE CROP ESTABLISHMENT

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Abstract
The effect of wheat, oats, barley, and spring rye as companion crops on the establishment of a perennial forage crop mixture consisting of crested wheatgrass, brome, and alfalfa under arid conditions compared to no companion crop was studied at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Cereal companion crops reduced the vigour, stand, and subsequent early forage yields of the grass-alfalfa mixtures, but less so if the cereal crop and the forage crop were seeded separately at right-angles to one another. The method of harvesting the cereal companion crop also influenced the performance of the subsequent forage crop. Cutting the cereal crops at a height of 8 inches or more for grain resulted in better grass-alfalfa stands and yields than was obtained when the cereal crops were mowed at a 2-inch height for hay. The effect of kind of cereal grain on performance of the perennial forage differed little. Wider row spacings for the cross-seeded companion crops also resulted in a better stand and yield of the grass-alfalfa crop.

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