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

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 Morgan) sown 40 or 80 kg ha−1 mixtures with triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack cv. Tobruk) 15, 30 45 sampled when was boot, anthesis, milk stage maturity, though lodging forced third harvest Murrumburrah be abandoned. The yield, botanical composition, determined. dependent on seasonal rainfall conditions ranging from an average 58,326 dry matter (DM) 2009 19,914 2010. content higher Morgan compared crops (486.4 vs. 384.8 g kg−1), those (485.3 385.8 kg−1). crude protein (CP) (124.9 114.4 kg−1 DM). Digestibility declined 704.3 639.9 between boot harvests. Some digestibility, differences occurred due variety, sowing rates; however, these infrequent, effect minor.