Description
Soybean is a critical legume crop, which can be used as high protein forage in a crop-forage rotation system to supplement forage and increase system productivity. According to the actual production demand, selecting a suitable harvest time and the best feeding variety of soybean can provide a theoretical basis for applying forage soybean in a rotation system. In this study, four forage soybean varieties were selected in the Loess Plateau of northwest China. They were harvested on three dates suitable for local rotation conditions, and their biomass and nutritive value were evaluated. At the early harvest (20 August), the nutritive value of all varieties was good, and the biomass of variety GX1 was higher, which was 5.7±0.6 t/ha. Soybean variety NH20 was the best choice at mid-harvest (10 September), with a biomass of 9.4±0.8 t/ha, crude protein of 19.7±0.7%, total digestible nutrients of 52.6±0.2%, and relative feeding value of 137.5±2.0. At the late harvest (30 September), the biomass of variety NH20 was as high as 14.9±0.2 t/ha, but the nutritive value was further decreased and showed instability between varieties and years. Nonetheless, the total digestible nutrients and crude protein yields of NH20 were still ahead, reaching 7.2 ±0.1 and 3.0±0.2 t/ha. Soybean varieties GX1 and NH20 are considered the best choice for early, middle, and late harvest, which can provide high-quality and high-biomass soybean forage for local animal husbandry.
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Harvest Time Determine Biomass and Nutritive Value of Forage Soybean in the Northwestern Loess Plateau of China
Soybean is a critical legume crop, which can be used as high protein forage in a crop-forage rotation system to supplement forage and increase system productivity. According to the actual production demand, selecting a suitable harvest time and the best feeding variety of soybean can provide a theoretical basis for applying forage soybean in a rotation system. In this study, four forage soybean varieties were selected in the Loess Plateau of northwest China. They were harvested on three dates suitable for local rotation conditions, and their biomass and nutritive value were evaluated. At the early harvest (20 August), the nutritive value of all varieties was good, and the biomass of variety GX1 was higher, which was 5.7±0.6 t/ha. Soybean variety NH20 was the best choice at mid-harvest (10 September), with a biomass of 9.4±0.8 t/ha, crude protein of 19.7±0.7%, total digestible nutrients of 52.6±0.2%, and relative feeding value of 137.5±2.0. At the late harvest (30 September), the biomass of variety NH20 was as high as 14.9±0.2 t/ha, but the nutritive value was further decreased and showed instability between varieties and years. Nonetheless, the total digestible nutrients and crude protein yields of NH20 were still ahead, reaching 7.2 ±0.1 and 3.0±0.2 t/ha. Soybean varieties GX1 and NH20 are considered the best choice for early, middle, and late harvest, which can provide high-quality and high-biomass soybean forage for local animal husbandry.
