A sustainable management package for triticale in the western Canadian prairies.

Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) is a minor cereal crop in Alberta which has recently garnered interest as a biofuel feedstock. Basic agronomic information is lacking for triticale cultivars released since 1990. Field experiments were initiated in 2010 and conducted for 2 yr at four sites in central and southern Alberta to compare the impact of cultivar selection, seeding date, and seeding rate on grain yield, grain quality, and other agronomic traits. Six triticale cultivars released between 1996 and 2011, and one Soft White Spring wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated over two seeding dates; one before and one aft er 15% of the total seasonal growing degree days (GDD; base = 0 degrees C) had elapsed. Th e cultivars were evaluated at seeding rates of 250, 375, and 500 seeds m(-2). Older triticale cultivars had higher grain yields but lower grain quality than cultivars released aft er 2000. Th e triticale cultivars produced more grain than Soft White Spring wheat in fi ve of seven environments; however, Soft White Spring wheat exhibited better grain quality than the triticales. Yield generally increased linearly with seeding rate but the highest return on investment was observed at 375 seeds m(-2). Provided there was not an early frost, triticale seeded aft er 15% of the seasonal GDD had elapsed could produce grain yield similar to the earlier-seeded triticale. A sustainable management system for triticale includes modern cultivars, a seeding date that can accumulate 1750 GDD's before frost, and a sowing density of at least 375 seeds m(-2).