Influences of no-tillage on the yield and silage fermentation quality of Italian ryegrass

It is common in southern China that rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields are sown with a cover crop like Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) following autumn harvest. The objective of the present research was to compare the effects of different no-tillage methods on the yield, nutritive composition and silage fermentation quality of Italian ryegrass. Italian ryegrass was planted in winter fallow paddy fields on 9 days (NT9) and 5 days (NT5) prior to rice harvest and on 1 day after rice harvest for 2 years. Sowing prior to harvest was no-tillage, and sowing after rice harvest was either no-tillage (NT1) or conventional tillage (CK). The grass was harvested and ensiled two times each year. The growing year had no significant effects on the yield and most nutrition components, while it had significant effects on pH value, butyric acid and NH₃-N contents of silage. There were no differences in the yield, nutritional composition and silage fermentation quality among sowing methods. The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of NT1 decreased slightly compared with NT9, NT5 and CK (p > .05). There was no difference in silage fermentation quality among the four treatments. The best sowing method for Italian ryegrass with second cut in winter fallow paddy was no-tillage sowing after rice harvest.