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Triticale is an interspecific hybrid between wheat and rye. It is used primarily for winter pasture but can be used as silage or hay. Most of the production is in the western states, grown for green-chop and silage. The southern states grow winter types that are grazed in the fall. In the Midwest there is some interest in using triticale as a forage crop. Triticale, cut slightly before boot stage, makes the best silage similar to other small grains, but dry matter yields are higher at later maturity stages. Triticale’s bunch growth habit is similar to wheat and rye. Environmental requirements for winter triticale are similar to other fall-planted small grain crops and for spring triticale. The requirements are similar to spring-planted oats, barley, and wheat.
Triticale is a bunch-type grass with upright tillers. Morphology is similar to wheat and rye.
Habit: Upright bunchgrass
Temperature: Triticale is susceptible to damage by hot, dry weather that occurs during reproduction. Overall, it grows best under cool, dry conditions, but can withstand hot, dry or cold and wet weather. Tmax is 30-34 ºC (86-93.2 ºF).
As a cool-season grass, optimum temperature is between 64 and 68 ̊F (18-20 ̊C).
Seedlings survive above its Tmin value of 17 °F (-8 °C).
Precipitation: 15-70 inches; 381-1778 mm
pH: Tolerant of strongly acid to moderately alkaline soils (5.1-8.4).
Al3+: Somewhat tolerant of aluminum (persisted at 1–2 ppm Al3+ and pH 4.0).
Drainage: Suited to well drained and moderately well drained soils (WD-MWD).
Flooding: Tolerant of brief flooding only (3-6 days).
Salinity: Higher tolerance of salinity than other cereals, 6-12 dS/m (millimhos/cm).
| Suitability | July Max Temp (C°/F°) | Jan Min Temp (C°/F°) | Annual Precipitation (mm/in) | Soil pH | Drainage Class | Soil Salinity (dS/m) | ||||||
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | |
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Well-suited |
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| Moderately-suited | ||||||||||||
| Marginally-suited | ||||||||||||
| Unsuited | ||||||||||||
Based on literature and expert triticale specialist counsel, climatic and soil tolerances were compiled. Nine maps were created for winter triticale, one for each of 3 climate factors and one for each of the soil factors, one combined climate factors map, one combine soil factors map, and a map for all of the factors combined. This allows for each factor to be examined and addressed to improve suitability through management. Small images of maps are provided below, with larger maps linked by clicking. For spring barley, all factors except for Tmin values would be the same.
US Production Areas
A general suitability map for barley, oat, rye, and wheat were provided in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education publication “Managing Cover Crops Profitably”; https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/. No maps for triticale were provided.
Major and minor US Triticale production areas were graphed by the USDA Agricultural Weather Assessments unit. Data were obtained from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (http://www.nass.usda.gov).
Cover Crop Resources article: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/articles/triticale/
Production Profile
Triticale is a cool-season grass with optimum growth rates between 64 and 68 ̊F (18-20 ̊C).
Spring triticale can be planted early into cool soils [~40 ̊F (4.4 ̊C)] and can be harvested for forage in 58-65 days. The sigmoidal growth curve of plant height vs days after planting of winter triticale is illustrated in a Kansas State University publication sourced from this document: http://courses.missouristate.edu/WestonWalker/AGA375_Forages/Forage%20Mgmt/References/2Forages/4Annual/2Cool
Winter triticale is planted in late summer or early autumn, growing sufficiently for light grazing before growth stops due to low temperatures. Spring harvest at the soft-dough stage is early enough to allow a double-cropping system with corn, sorghum, or other warm-season annual grasses.
Irrigation Requirements
Adequate soil moisture during germination and early seedling growth is important for cool-season annuals planted for forage. When managed as a grazing or hay crop, emphasis should be focused on meeting the plant’s water needs during rapid growth stages (see Figure 7 of this web link: https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g2012/build/g2012.htm).
Even moderate water stress during vegetative stages is likely to reduce yield, although it may lead to improved forage quality.
Note: Irrigation needs during August and early September can be relatively high, reducing water-use efficiency, especially when compared to spring-planted systems.
There are spring and winter type triticale cultivars.
Historically, triticale yields have not been as great as wheat. Until recently, most of the breeding work for triticale has been for grain production. Triticale matures faster than wheat but more slowly than rye, and its forage quality declines rapidly after seedhead development. However, newer varieties have better forage production and, when harvested correctly, can provide excellent quality. Some of these newer varieties work well as single-cut silage or baleage crops, particularly for use in dairy rations. (adapted from Dennis Hankock – UGA; https://georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu/species-and-varieties/cool-season/triticale.html)
Where triticale varieties have been tested for forage yield and quality differences, the superior performance of newer varieties is apparent. Planting certified, weed-free seed of known germination percentage and purity will always pay dividends. (paragraph from Mike Rankin; 2018: https://hayandforage.com/article-2178-a-call-to-triticale.html)
Triticale forage has similar nutritional value to other small grain cereal forages and annual ryegrass. Field reports indicate no drop in milk production when dairy cows are switched from a corn silage-based total mixed ration to a triticale silage-based total mixed ration.
Nitrate Poisoning
Nitrate (NO3-) accumulates in plant tissue because of luxuriant uptake of soil N when plant metabolism of N is slow or stopped. This condition is promoted by cool temperature, drought, or other physiological stress that slows growth (Wright and Davison, 1964; Adv. Agron. 16:197-247). Plant nitrate is not toxic to animals but is reduced to nitrite (NO2-) in the rumen which causes methemoglobinemia that may lead to acute poisoning of animals. Non-ruminants, such as horses, are also subject to methemoglobinemia, however, at higher consumed concentrations.
Nitrate is the most common form of nitrogen in soil solution. Plants need nitrogen to make amino acids and proteins which results in plant growth and increased yield, however, excessive applications of N fertilizers can result in appreciable amounts of nitrate accumulation. For silage, ensiling more than 30 days, may entirely or partially degrade the nitrate concentration. Nevertheless, high nitrate level forages should be checked before feeding by submitting samples to an accredited forage lab. Farm workers can develop Silo-Filler’s disease from inhaling nitric and nitrous oxides emitted from fermenting forages containing high N concentrations. Ensure good air ventilation to reduce the health hazard.
Livestock suffering from methemoglobin poisoning, will have brownish-colored blood and brownish discoloration to the nonpigmented areas of skin and mucous membranes. Clinical signs include staggering, rapid pulse, frequent urination, and labored breathing followed by collapse, coma and death. Sub-lethal toxicity, which is primarily unrecognized in livestock, includes early-term abortions in pregnant females. This can also manifest as open cows or ewes at calving and lambing.
Plants with < 0.44% dry matter nitrate are considered safe. Forages containing 3,400 to 4,500 mg N/g as nitrate should be considered potentially toxic and should be mixed with safer feeds prior to use.
Grass Tetany
Hypomagnesemia (grass tetany) is a magnesium (Mg) deficiency of ruminants associated with their grazing of cool-season grasses during spring. It occurs in all classes of cattle and sheep, but is most prevalent among older females early in their lactation. Magnesium must be supplied daily because it is excreted in urine and milk. Symptoms are nervousness, twitching and staggering, collapsing, and convulsions that may cause death.
Vegetative and early jointing stage cereal grains, like other lush growing pastures, may have a low Mg content. Many factors affect Mg concentration and availability to livestock. The principal factor is high potassium (K) which negatively affects soil Mg uptake by plants and animal absorption and low calcium (Ca) levels. Forage Mg levels greater than 0.2 percent (2.0 mg/g) and a milliequivalent ratio of less than 2.2 for K/(Ca+Mg) are considered safe.
Grass tetany often occurs when the crop has received large amounts of water (from spring rains or irrigation) and has been heavily fertilized with N and K because soil Mg is leached by water and K is preferentially absorbed in early spring. Agronomic practices to increase forage Mg include splitting applications of N and K fertilizers, liming acid soils with dolomitic limestone, spraying Mg on herbage, or choosing cultivars higher in Mg. Mg can be supplemented to livestock by applying Mg fertilizer to pasture, providing other higher Mg-containing forages (e.g. legumes), adding Mg to drinking water, providing stock salt-mineral, molasses licks, or other energy sources to reduce the incidence.
Bloat
Although usually associated with legume grazing, cereal grain pastures can cause frothy bloat. Pasture bloat is caused by rapid release of cell contents of succulent, immature forage during rumen fermentation. The material has a rapid rate of cell rupture, releasing the soluble proteins and fermentable carbohydrates. Soluble proteins are foaming agents, causing the formation of a stable foam in the rumen. This prevents eructation (belching) of rumen gases formed by the fermentation.
Bloat typically happens on lush pastures, with low dry matter and fiber content, and high protein and soluble nitrogen fractions. These conditions may occur in autumn or early spring. To prevent bloat, hungry cattle should be supplemented with more fibrous forages. Low concentrations of Ca may make bloat more likely by reducing rumen motility. High levels of soluble protein are also associated with increased occurrence of bloat.
Bloat can be controlled by feeding antifoaming agents such as poloxalen (Bloat Guard) or laurenth-23.
Triticale, field grain, Texas A&M: https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/5785-texas-triticale-program-moving-forward-with-new-lines
French article: https://www.lescereales.fr/wiki-cereales/triticale
Forage Information System
Oregon State University
Department of Crop and Soil Science
109 Crop Science Building
Corallis, OR 97331-3002
