A triple cropping system, combining spring maize, pearl millet, and twice-cut blast disease resistant Italian ryegrass, was examined for the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 growing seasons to achieve quality herbage production in Miyazaki, southern Kyushu, Japan. The growth of the three crops reached to harvest, even though typhoon and heavy rainfall occurred. Annual dry matter (DM) yield of the triple crops was 4098 g m⁻² and 4349 g m⁻² in the first and second cropping seasons, respectively. The observed total digestible nutrients (TDN) were higher in spring maize (up to 68.2% and 76.8%), pearl millet (up to 60.0% and 67.9%), and Italian ryegrass (up to 71.6% and 68.6%), during the first and second season, respectively, leading to an annual TDN yield of 2357 g m⁻² and 2938 g m⁻². The results suggest that the present established triple cropping system is feasible for obtaining high yields with more digestible nutrients in the forages.

This study assesses the impact of defoliation applied to three developmental stages across three cropping seasons from 2021 to 2023 on growth, yield and forage quality in maize. The experimental design included three treatments: defoliation of three expanded leaves at the 3rd–4th leaf stage (DF1), the 5th–6th expanded leaves by leaf punch (DF2) and expanding leaves with the DF2 treatment (DF3) at the 6th–7th leaf stages, compared with no defoliation (control). Over three years, the most significant decrease in dry matter (DM) yield occurred in DF1 during spring sowing, while in summer sowing, the largest reduction was in DF3, both of which were correlated with changes in the number of grains per ear. The DM yields at harvest were positively correlated with plant leaf areas at the silking stage. The digestibility of forage in in vitro DM decreased concomitantly with an increase in acid detergent fiber content, indicating a decrease in forage quality. Given the frequent severe damage observed in summer sown maize and the detrimental effects of early growth stage leaf feeding on quality and quantity of spring sown maize, the application of registered insecticides is advised to reduce pest damage to maize crops.

Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) is a potential forage crop with a high yield and crude protein (CP) content; however, establishment methods need to improve for the crop to be less sensitive to typhoons. Optimal establishment, cultivation, and utilization in amaranth were examined in a variety of seasons and methods of establishment in 2021–2023. Four methods were examined: (1) direct seeding in rows, (2) direct seeding in spots, (3) soil seed balls, and (4) transplant pretreatment methods under a randomized blocked design (n = 3). Sowings every month from April to August were applied only in 2021, while establishments in April, May, and August with both pretreatment methods were applied in 2022 and 2023. The establishment in August successfully escaped damage from typhoons. The direct seeding of either rows or spots showed marginal success in establishment compared to stable establishment in pretreatment methods. In 2022 and 2023, the highest yield and CP content were achieved in soil seed balls plots in April and in both pretreated plots sown in August, respectively. The quality of silage fermentation showed a high pH, ranging from 4.52 to 6.39, due to the high CP content in 7.59–18.36% dry matter (DM). Sowing in April or August established with soil seed balls can avoid typhoon damage to have stable forage yields and can be processed with a favorable quality of amaranth silage in the region.

"Effect of moisture on the fermentation and the utilisation by cattle of silages made from tropical grasses" published on 30 Oct 2005 by Wageningen Academic.