Triticale as Forage in China

Abstract

Triticale is a new cereal crop resulting from a cross between wheat and rye. It not only retains the high yielding performance and good quality of wheat but also combines disease resistance, tolerance and lush growth from rye. Furthermore, it desplays improved characters; such as higher protein and lysine content in the grain compared to the parent's. According to an analysis of biomass nutrient content in production and dairy cattle feeding trials, triticale has been identified as a promising silage crop compared to barley, the farmers traditional silage crop in Beijing. The relationship between biomass yield of triticale and some major agronomic measures such as sowing date, seed rate and nitrogen application was studied and defined. It indicated that sowing date is the primary factor influencing yield followed by N-application and seeding rate. A set of cultivation measures for silage triticale has been researched and released. Triticale as forage has been well accepted by farmers in China. PU - KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL PI - DORDRECHT PA - PO BOX 17, 3300 AA DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS