Forage productivity of rye and triticale at different nitrogen levels and seeding rates

The experiment was aimed to know the effects of nitrogen levels (12, 16, 20Kg/10a) and seeding rates (target number of seedlings considering germination rate was 300, 450, 600 seedlings/m** (2)) on forage productivity and qualtiy of a rye variety "Paldanghomil" and a triticale variety "Sinkihomil". As N level increased leaf blade dry weight of both rye and triticale increased greatly due to large leaf area and high leaf blade/total dry matter (TDM) ratio. With increased seeding rate leaf blade/TDM ratio decreased, while leaf area and leaf blade dry weight increased until flag leaf stage due to increased number of tillers per unit area. Forage fresh and dry weight were not affected by N level, but increased significantly with increased seeding rate. The content of crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash of whole plant decreased as plant growth advanced. In the leaf blade the content of crude protein and crude fat was higher than that of culm + leaf sheath markedly. As growth stage advanced crude protein and crude fat decreased slightly in leaf blade, but rapidly in culm + leaf sheath. As plant growth stage advanced crude fiber and nitrogen free extract (NFE) contents of whole plant increased. With increased N level the content of crude protein and crude fat increased, but crude fiber decreased and crude ash and NFE contents were not different among N levels at heading stage. However, as seeding rate increased, the content of crude protein and crude fat decreased, but crude fiber increased, and crude ash and NFE content were not different among seeding rates at heading stage. Total digestible nutrients (TDN) content of whole plant decreased as growth stage advanced and seeding rate increased, but it increased as N level increased. Percent TDN of leaf blade was higher compared with culm + leaf sheath. As N level increased TDN yield increased due to increased TDN yield of leaf blade, but as seeding rate increased TDN yield increased due to increased dry weight of culm + leaf sheath