Winter Triticale Response to Nitrogen Fertilization when Grown after Corn or Soybean

Winter triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) could be more widely grown as a forage, grain, or cover crop in the US Corn and Soybean Belt, but research needed to establish best management practices is limited. This study was conducted to determine the amount of N fertilizer needed to optimize triticale productivity and to quantify the amount of N taken up following either corn (Zea mays L.) silage or soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The response of winter triticale grown near Ames and Lewis, IA, to four N fertilization rates (0, 33, 66, 99 kg N ha-1) applied in mid-March was evaluated for the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 growing seasons. Maximum dry matter and grain yields were produced with 33 kg N ha-1 at Ames and no N fertilization at Lewis. Maximum N concentrations of triticale dry matter were generally produced with 99 kg N ha-1. Nitrogen uptake by winter triticale was mostly complete by early May and was 39 to 133 kg ha-1 without N fertilization. Nitrogen uptake increased with each 33 kg ha-1 increment of additional N fertilizer, totaling 98 to 192 kg ha-1 for 99 kg N ha-1. The results of this study suggest forage and grain yields of winter triticale grown after corn silage or soybean in the midwestern USA can be maximized by applying 33 kg ha-1 N fertilizer. For N rates of 0 to 99 kg ha-1, winter triticale captured 47 to 82 kg N ha-1 beyond that supplied as fertilizer.