Effects of overseeding legumes on the forage yield and quality of whipgrass

Abstract: An experiment was carried out to determine the effects of overseeding legumes on the forage yield and quality of whipgrass by overseeding smooth vetch (Vicia villosa), common vetch (V. sativa) and pea (Pisum sativum) into whipgrass pasture during autumn. This study showed that the overseeding legumes increased the yield of dry matter and the nutrient value, indicating that the yield of whipgrass pasture overseeded by smooth vetch, common vetch and pea was 12.397，12.341 and 13.138 t/ha respectively, which increase by 60.46%，59.73% and 70.05% when compared with the control. There was main legume in spring and whipgrass in summer, and the crude protein content decreased and the crude fiber increased with the increase of harvest times. In generally, overseeding smooth vetch performed better, and pea and common vetch came to second