Balancing grain and forage production in dual-purpose cereals: physiological basis, yield variation, and economic evaluation

Overview

This study evaluated dual-purpose cereal management (concurrent grain and forage production) versus grain-only production across barley, triticale, oat, and wheat over three growing seasons. The research examined physiological responses through photosynthetic and antioxidant properties alongside yield outcomes and economic viability to establish crop-specific management recommendations within crop-livestock systems.

Methods and approach

Four cereal crops were subjected to two treatments: grain production only and grain plus forage production across three consecutive growing seasons. Measurements encompassed fresh and dry matter yields at post-cutting and harvest stages, grain yield at maturity, and 13 physiological indicators related to photosynthetic capacity and antioxidant function. A factor analysis model was constructed to integrate physiological indicators and evaluate treatment, crop, and seasonal effects. Economic viability was assessed through harvest index calculations and comparative cost-benefit analysis.

Key Findings

Grain plus forage treatment significantly reduced wheat performance, decreasing post-cutting fresh and dry matter yields and final grain yield by 31.7% and 21.5% respectively compared to grain-only treatment. The factor analysis ranked physiological condition by season (season 1 optimal), by crop (oat superior to wheat, triticale, and barley), and by cropping system (grain only superior to grain plus forage). Despite reduced grain yields under dual-purpose management, the harvest index improvement demonstrated enhanced overall productivity. Rainfall variability emerged as the primary natural constraint affecting dual-purpose system stability across seasons.

Implications

Dual-purpose cereal management exhibits economic sustainability potential through improved harvest index despite grain yield reductions, supporting integration within crop-livestock systems. However, rainfall unpredictability represents a critical limitation to widespread adoption and consistent performance of dual-purpose cropping strategies. Crop selection substantially influences dual-purpose feasibility and should account for physiological resilience under shared resource allocation between grain and forage production.