Comparing the Caloric Outputs of Intermediate Wheatgrass, Wheat, and Corn

Abstract

This study measured the yields, caloric outputs, and protein outputs of various crops. The yields of Intermediate Wheatgrass were substantially lower than the conventional crops. The caloric outputs of the IWG were roughly 37% of that of wheat and 28% of that of corn. The protein output of IWG was actually higher than wheat, more than doubling the protein output of the conventional grain. However, the protein output is only 22% of that of corn. These results were true for both an IWG system that was cut once per year, and an IWG system that included the major harvest in the summer, as well as smaller forage harvests in the spring and fall.