Nutritive value and net return of forage crop rotations in the central Great Plains

Sustainable forage-based rotations with greater forage nutritive values and efficient resource utilization are needed to increase availability in the central Great Plains. The objectives of study were quantify value net return from individual crops overall crop rotation sequence winter triticale, sorghum, spring oat. was conducted near Garden City, KS, 2013–2020. There six treatments study, that is, continuous sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] (S-S) no-till (NT), triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus [Secale × Triticum])/sorghum-sorghum-oat (Avena sativa L.) (T/S-S-O) reduced till (RT) NT, triticale/sorghum-sorghum-sorghum-oat (T/S-S-S-O) RT triticale-sorghum-oat (T-S-O) NT. Crude protein concentration 23%–31% for T-S-O T/S-S-O compared S-S. S-S treatment had fiber content least digestibility, calcium, phosphorus concentrations remaining rotations. Annualized cost production 11%–32% dominated NT systems (T/S-S-O, T/S-S-S-O, [NT]) or T/S-S-S-O rotation. among top due a combination biomass nutrient value. more economical purchasing commercial feedstuffs. We concluded producers should consider productivity market value, addition selecting profitable system.