Effect of Sowing Rate and Maturity on the Yield and Nutritive Value of Triticale–Field Pea Forage Crops

Abstract

Experiments were conducted over three years at Murrumburrah, in southern NSW, Australia to assess the yield and nutritive value of triticale–pea forage crops. Field pea (Pisum sativum L. cvv. Parafield and Morgan) were sown at 40 or 80 kg ha−1 in mixtures with triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack cv. Tobruk) at 15, 30 or 45 kg ha−1 and sampled when the triticale was at the boot, anthesis, and milk stage of maturity, though lodging forced the third harvest at Murrumburrah to be abandoned. The yield, botanical composition, and forage nutritive value was determined. The yield was dependent on seasonal rainfall conditions ranging from an average of 58,326 kg ha−1 dry matter (DM) in 2009 to 19,914 kg ha−1 in 2010. The pea content was higher in Morgan compared to Parafield crops (486.4 vs. 384.8 g kg−1), and those sown at 80 kg ha−1 compared to 40 kg ha−1 (485.3 vs. 385.8 g kg−1). The crude protein (CP) content was higher when pea were sown at 80 kg ha−1 compared to 40 kg ha−1 (124.9 vs. 114.4 g kg−1 DM). Digestibility declined from 704.3 to 639.9 g kg−1 between the boot and milk harvests. Some yield, digestibility, and crude protein differences occurred due to pea variety, or due to triticale or pea sowing rates; however, these were infrequent, and the effect was minor.