Analysis of the yield and nutritional quality of different forage planting patterns in the agricultural region of Sichuan Province

To fully exploit the abundant water and heat resources and establish an annual production system for forage grass in Sichuan Province, the yield and quality of forage grass under different planting patterns of silage maize (Zea mays) and forage oat (Avena sativa) were studied. The growth period of forage oat and silage maize was shortened with the delay in sowing date. The comprehensive performance of late autumn ‘Linna’ was good, which was associated with silage maize in rotation. When the sowing date of silage maize was May 21, 2019, ‘Aoyu 3628’ showed the best comprehensive performance and could be used as the first forage in the rotation pattern of two-season silage maize. When the sowing date was August 21, 2019, ‘Yayu 158’ showed the best comprehensive performance and could be used as the second forage in the rotation pattern of two-season silage maize. The analysis of forage yield and quality with single cropping and rotation of forage oat and silage maize revealed that the annual growth period of “silage maize ‘Aoyu 3628’ → silage maize ‘Yayu 158’→ forage oat ‘Linna’ ” was up to 339 days; the annual forage yield was 48 905.15 kg·ha⁻¹; and the crude protein yield was 5 388.35 kg·ha⁻¹, all of which were significantly higher than the values obtained in other planting patterns. Therefore, this planting pattern presents great potential for popularization and implementation.