Effects of tillage and nitrogen fertilisation on triticale grain yield, chemical composition and nutritive value.
BACKGROUND
Given the interest in the development of cultivation systems with low agronomic input and environmental impact, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of tillage system (conventional tillage (CT), two-layer tillage (TT), surface tillage (ST) and minimum tillage (MT)) and nitrogen (N) fertilisation rate (0, 50 and 100 kg ha(-1)) on triticale grain and protein yields, chemical composition and nutritive value.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences among tillage treatments in grain and protein yields. ST resulted in significantly higher crude protein (CP) and true soluble protein (TSP) contents as well as in vitro crude protein digestibility (CPD). Neutral detergent fibre concentration was significantly higher with ST than with MT, and this led to a small reduction (2 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM)) in in vitro true DM digestibility (IVTDMD). N fertilisation significantly increased grain and protein yields as well as CP, non-protein nitrogen and TSP contents and CPD. IVTDMD was significantly lower with 0 kg N ha(-1) than with 50 and 100 kg N ha(-1).


CONCLUSIONS
Reducing tillage intensity improved the CP content and CPD of triticale grain. The application of 50 kg N ha(-1) resulted in good grain quality parameters and grain and protein yields.
Lestingi
Antonia
A
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy. a.lestingi@veterinaria.uniba.it
Bovera
Fulvia
F
De Giorgio
Donato
D
Ventrella
Domenico
D
Tateo
Alessandra
A
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004063:Digestion; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D005308:Fertilizers; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005308:Fertilizers; D010940:Plant Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen