Effect of time of planting on yield and nutritional value of tem forage rape

Abstract

During two years a field trial with forage rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) was carried out at Lages, SC, Brazil. Twelve and ten cultivars respectively, were tested in 1977 and 1978, arranged in a split plot design with three replications. The effect of planting time on dry matter yield (DM) and its respective nutritional value were evaluated. The largest yields were obtained with early planting dates (February until April), resulting in 2.500 to 3.000 kg/ha of DM, 450 to 780 kg/ha of crude protein (CP) and 1.000 to 2.000 kg/ha of total digestible nutrients (TDN) 80 days after planting.