What the study found
The study found that dual-purpose cropping, which combines grain and forage production, changed yield and plant traits differently across crops and seasons. Oat was the best choice when comparing dual-purpose or grain-only systems, while barley was the best single crop for forage production.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that dual-purpose crops are an important part of crop-livestock systems, but that choosing the right crop and management approach is difficult because yields and economic returns are unpredictable. The findings indicate that dual-purpose cropping can be economically viable and sustainable, according to the study, because it improved the harvest index, which is the share of total plant output that ends up as harvested grain.
What the researchers tested
The researchers compared two treatments, grain only and grain plus forage, in four crops: barley, triticale, oat, and wheat. They measured yield along with photosynthetic and antioxidant properties across three growing seasons and assessed yield and economic benefits.
What worked and what didn't
Compared with oat, barley, and triticale, the grain plus forage treatment reduced wheat fresh matter and dry matter yield after cutting and also reduced grain yield at harvest. At harvest, grain plus forage reduced fresh matter yield by 31.7% and dry matter yield by 21.5% compared with grain only. The factor analysis model based on 13 photosynthetic and antioxidant indicators ranked seasons as season 1 > season 2 > season 3, crops as oat > wheat > triticale > barley, and cropping systems as grain only > grain plus forage.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says that unstable rainfall was the most important natural factor limiting wider promotion of dual-purpose crop management. Other limitations are not described in the available summary.
Key points
- Dual-purpose cropping reduced wheat yield after cutting and at harvest compared with the other crops studied.
- Across harvest measurements, grain plus forage lowered fresh matter yield by 31.7% and dry matter yield by 21.5% versus grain only.
- A factor analysis using 13 photosynthetic and antioxidant indicators ranked oat highest among the crops and grain only higher than grain plus forage.
- The authors say dual-purpose cropping can be economically viable and sustainable because it improved harvest index despite lower grain yield.
- Unstable rainfall was identified as the main natural factor limiting wider use of dual-purpose management.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Dual-purpose cereals vary in yield, photosynthetic traits, and economics
- Authors:
- Dan Wu, Yuanyan Meng, Xianfu Lv, Qingfu Huang, Mingyue Haung, Hua Jiang, Liuxing Xu
- Institutions:
- Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan Agricultural University, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-26
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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