Forage Production of Triticale Relative to Other Spring Grains1

Abstract Small grains have been used in various regions of the United States and Canada as a source of forage; however, forage yield and quality from spring seedings have not been evaluated adequately. A field study was conducted on a Palouse silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic pachic Ultic Haploxerolls) to compare the forage production of two spring seeded triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.) lines (VT75229 and CF76) to currently grown oats (Avena sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars in eastern Washington. Forage yield, percent crude protein, and crude protein yield were determined at the heading and the soft‐dough stage of development from an early and a normal date of planting for the area. Forage yields were not significantly affected by planting date or any of the interactions containing planting date; however, there was a significant increase in percent crude protein with all species except barley when seeded at the normal compared to an early planting date. Triticale CF76 had a mean forage yield averaged over years and planting dates generally equal to the other spring grain species at the soft‐dough stage, but lower than barley and oats at the beading stage. Crude protein yield for the triticales was similar to the other spring grains under the majority of planting dates and harvest stages. These data indicate that triticale will have forage yields and crude protein yields equal to other spring grains in the Pacific Northwest; however, management factors, i.e., planting date and stage of harvest, need to be considered in making recommendations to producers in order to obtain maximum forage potential.