This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of spring seeding dates on the growth, yield and quality of early and late maturing spring oat (Auena sativa L.) cultivars on the forage experimental field, College of Agriculture, Seoul National University, Suwon from March to June, 1991. The experiment was arranged as a split plot with three replications. Oat cultivars, Cayuse and Speed oat, were the main plots, and seeding dates consisted of March 15, 22, 29, April 5 and 12 were the subplots. 1. A 7-day delay in seeding represents approximately 3~8 days being early in heading. The heading date of the early maturing cultivar, Speed oat, was 14 days earlier than that of the late maturing cultivar, Cayuse. 2. The concentrations of Crude protein (CP), Acid detergent fiber (ADF), Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and zn uitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the late maturing cultivar, Cayuse, harvested May 29 were 19.6, 30.0, 44.9, and 82.7 %, respectively, but those of the early maturing cultivar, Speed oat, were 14.8. 33.3. 52.3, and 71.2 %, respectively. Chemical analyses of oat forage indicated that the contents of crude protein and lVDMD were increased from March 15 to April 12 seeding, while crude fiber was decreased. 3. Theaverage dry matter, IVDDM and CP yields of oats harvested May 29 were 2,960, 2,435 and 572 kg per ha, respectively with the late maturing cultivar. Cayuse. while the early maturing cultivar, Speed oat, recorded 3,255, 2.298 and 475 kg per ha, respectively. No significant dry matter yield differences were found among the different seeding dates of March 15, 22 and 29 for the two oat cultivars. but a significant yield decrease was found from April 5 seeding. No interactions in dry matter yield were observed between oat cultivars and seeding dates. 4. Maximum Leaf area index (LAI) and Leaf area index duration (LAID) were observed with earlier seeding and the LA1 of Cayuse cultivar was twice or three times as much as that of Speed oat cult~var as the growth progresses. 5. As the seeding date was earlier. the Crop growth rate (CGR) of the late maturing cultivar, Cayuse. was increased continuously. but that of the early maturing cultivar, Speed oat, was declined after May 29. This trend was also found on the Net assimilation rate (NAR) of Speed oat cultivar. The present experiment indicates that spring oats can be successfully produced as forages by seeding in March with early maturing cultivars.