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ISSN : 2287-5824(Print)
ISSN : 2287-5832(Online)
Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science Vol.45 No.3 pp.217-222
DOI : https://doi.org/10.5333/KGFS.2025.45.3.217

Optimizing Sowing Dates for Maximizing Yield and Forage Quality of Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho Triticale Cultivars

Ilavenil Soundharrajan1, Jae Hyuk Kim2, Seung Hak Yang1, Jeong Sung Jung1, Hyo-Shim Han3, Ki Choon Choi1*
1Forage Production System Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan 31000, Republic of Korea
2Department of Agriculture, Korea National Open University, Seoul 03087, Republic of Korea
3Department of Biotechnology, Sunchon University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea

†These authors contributed equally to this work


* Corresponding author: Ki Choon Choi, 1Forage Production System Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development
Administration, Cheonan 31000, Republic of Korea. Tel: +82-41-580-6752, Fax: +82-41-580-6779, E-mail: choiwh@korea.kr
September 14, 2025 September 25, 2025 September 25, 2025

Abstract


The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of sowing dates on the growth, yield, and forage quality of two triticale cultivars, Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho. Field experiments were conducted with sowing dates ranging from September 25 to November 13, 2023. The results indicate that both cultivars and sowing date significantly influence growth characteristics, dry matter yield, and nutritional composition. The highest yields were obtained from the earliest sowing (September 25), with Joseong producing 10,979 ± 366 kg/ha and Hanmiso-1ho 12,201 ± 2,124 kg/ha. Yields remained relatively high on October 5 and 16 sowings but declined sharply after October 25, reaching the lowest levels on November 13 (Joseong 4,991 ± 458 kg/ha; Hanmiso-1ho 6,353 ± 338 kg/ha). Delayed sowing increased plant height but reduced forage biomass. Forage quality also varied with the sowing date. Crude protein (CP) ranged from 8–11%, with higher values in early sowing (10.7% for Joseong, 10.3% for Hanmiso-1ho) and lower at mid to late sowing dates. Fiber content such as NDF and ADF levels increased with the sowing dates delayed, but declined slightly with the November sowing dates. Overall, end September to early October sowings provide optimal yield and forage quality for both triticale cultivars.


Triticale cultivars , Sowing date , Forage yield , Crude protein , Fiber content

초록

    Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION

    Triticale (x Triticosecale wittmack) is a hybrid of wheat (Triticum species) and Rye (Secale cereale) (Stace, 1987), shows a potential source of starch (Oh et al., 2025). It has gained more attention as a dual application for both grain and forage production. It provides high yield potential and grain quality which is making particularly valuable in regions where climatic and soil conditions limit the productivity of the other cereals (Furman et al., 1997;Liu et al., 2017;Ayalew et al., 2018). In recent years, triticale has been considered a good forage for making high-quality silage for livestock due to its high crude protein content (Harper et al., 2017;Soundharrajan et al., 2023). In Korea, the triticale cultivars Sinkihomil (Youn KB 1986) and Shinyoung are reported to have a higher yield but their delayed harvesting time makes it more difficult to cultivate. Shinyoung is a strong cold tolerant crop that produces notable grain and forage yield which surpassing several existing cultivars (Park et al., 2003). More recently, the Saeyoung cultivar had been developed by the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS). It produces higher dry matter forage yield compared to Shinyoung and it has better cold tolerance though slightly lower crude protein levels (Han et al., 2017). Beyond cultivar improvement, researchers have explored new systems and strategies to enhance triticale utility. In paddybased double cropping systems, the cultivar Joseong, an early-heading forage triticale and performed well particularly under October planting compared to other feed crops with up to 16.6 tons/ha dry matter (Ahn et al., 2019). In addition, mixed cropping systems with legumes such as crimson clover has been shown to improve forage quality. Cultivation of Triticale-crimson clover mixtures increased the level of crude protein content of triticale compared to monoculture triticale cultivation (Cho et al., 2014). Adaptability across regions has also been reported. Yang et al. (2024) evaluated seven varieties of triticale across high-altitude locations such as Pocheon, Pyeongchang and Inje and reported that mid-October planting generally yielded the highest rates particularly cultivars such as Gwangyoung, Minpung, and Saeyoung exhibiting their regional suitability. In addition to yield and productivity and growth performance, the nutritional composition of triticale is critical for its value in animal production systems. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) are key factors of forage quality which influence digestibility rate, intake and animal performance. Forage with higher CP and lower fiber is generally more desirable(Rohweder et al., 1978;Moore and Undersander 2002). But, the quality of forage traits is influenced not only by cultivar differences but also sowing date which affects plant maturity and structural composition at harvest stage. According to the above statements evaluation of interaction between sowing date and cultivar performance is an essential strategy to optimize both productivity and nutritional quality of triticale. The present study investigates the growth characteristics, dry matter content and nutrient content of two different triticale cultivars such as Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho, across different sowing periods. These data would provide insights into the tradeoffs between yield and forage quality under different sowing periods and offer guidance for maximizing the agronomic and nutritional value of triticale.

    Ⅱ. MATERIALS AND METHODS

    1. Research area

    Cheonan, the most populous city in Chungcheongnam-do Province, experiences average daily temperatures above 24 °C from May 26 to September 21. The hottest month is August, with an average temperature of 29.9 °C, while the coldest month is February, averaging –5.8 °C. The cold season lasts from December 1 to February 28, with daily high temperatures remaining below 7.2 °C. Precipitation in Cheonan varies significantly throughout the year, with the wettest period occurring from June 18 to September 12, when the probability of a day with rainfall exceeds 31%.

    2. Triticale cultivation

    The experimental fields are located at latitude 36.931739 and longitude 127.106166 in Cheonan. Sowing of the triticale cultivars Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho was conducted ranging from September 25, October 5, 16, 25, to November 13, 2023, with a plot size (width x length) of 3 m × 4 m (12 m²). A total of 12 rows were planted with 25 cm spacing between rows. The cultivars were sown at a density of 180 kg/ha using a seed drill. Cultivars sown on September 25 and October 5 were harvested on April 22. Crops sown on October 16 and 25 were harvested on April 24, while those sown on November 13 were harvested on April 29, 2024. Basal fertilization consisted of nitrogen (59 kg/ha), phosphorus (74 kg/ha), and potassium (39 kg/ha). An additional topdressing of nitrogen (59 kg/ha) was applied in early March. All cultivars were harvested at the heading stage to evaluate forage yield and quality characteristics.

    3. Data analysis

    According to the research analysis criteria for Agriculture and Science Technology (RDA, 2012), triticale growth characteristics such as stem height, and dry matter yield were evaluated at heading stage. Dry matter (DM) content was determined for each sample, and then powdered samples were stored until further use. Kjeldahl method (AOAC, 1990) was used to determine crude protein content of samples. ADF and NDF contents were analyzed (Van Soest et al., 1991).

    4. Statistical analysis

    Significant differences were analyzed using SPSS by 16.0 through analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA/t-test and multivariate analysis), including post hoc tests, Duncan’s test, and descriptive analysis. The least significant difference (LSD) test was applied for mean comparisons, and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

    Ⅲ. RESULTS

    Table 1 results demonstrated that both cultivars and sowing date had significant impacts on the growth characteristics and dry matter yield of triticale. The earliest sowing date, September 25, resulted in one of the highest yields for both Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho cultivars. A total forage yield was 10,979 ± 366 kg/ha for Joseong and 12,201 ± 2,124 kg/ha for Hanmiso-1ho and an average total was 11,590 ± 1,243 kg/ha across both cultivars. Additionally, Hanmiso-1ho had a clear difference in plant height, reaching 99.2 ± 7.5 cm which was nearly 10 cm taller than Joseong cultivar. Next highest yields were produced by both cultivars at sowing dates October 5 and October 16. At both sowing dates, Hanmiso-1ho cultivar produced slightly higher biomass compared to Joseong cultivar. An average total forage yield for both cultivars at sowing dates October 5 and October 16 was 11,043 ± 116 kg/ha and 11,163 ± 286 kg/ha, respectively. By contrast, delaying sowing to October 25 caused a marked reduction in productivity. Forage yield fell sharply with Joseong cultivar dropping to 7,603 ± 447 kg/ha and Hanmiso-1ho to 8,853 ± 1,115 kg/ha, averaging only 8,228 ± 472 kg/ha across cultivars. Furthermore, most extreme effects on the forage were noted with the November 13 sowing date, exhibiting that yield for both cultivars dropped to lowest levels. Joseong recorded only 4,991 ± 458 kg/ha and Hanmiso-1ho recorded 6,353 ± 338 kg/ha. Sowing at October 25 and November 13 showed significant differences in the forage yields compared with earlier sowing dates. In terms of plant height, delayed sowing dates resulted in increased plant heights for both Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho cultivars. Among the cultivars, Hanmiso-1ho reached 119.4 ± 5.5 cm and Joseong reached 109.4 ± 10.8 cm during November 13 sowing period. This shows that delayed sowing dates lead to tall but thin plants with reduced biomass accumulation, a disadvantageous outcome for forage production.

    Table 2 presents the composition of triticale, including crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) at different sowing periods. Nutrient contents varied notably between sowing dates and cultivars. Across all sowing dates, CP levels ranged from around 8% to 11%. Joseong generally showed greater stability, maintaining CP values close to or above 10% regardless of sowing period. In contrast, Hanmiso-1ho exhibited greater variability, with CP values as high as 10.4% in early sowing but dropping to as low as 8.4% in mid- to late-sowing periods.

    Comparing sowing periods, early sowing on September 25 produced relatively favorable nutritional quality, with the highest CP levels (Joseong: 10.7 ± 0.0%, Hanmiso-1ho :10.3 ± 0.2%), and the lowest average NDF (59.6 ± 0.9%) and ADF (32.7 ± 0.1%) contents. In contrast, sowing on October 5 resulted in slightly lower CP (10.2 ± 0.2% on average) and higher NDF (60.5 ± 0.5%) and ADF (34.2 ± 0.9%) contents compared to the earlier date. Although these differences were not statistically significant, they suggest that forage quality began to decline even with a two-week delay in planting.

    The decline in nutritional quality became more pronounced with the October 16 sowing period. At this stage, CP levels decreased sharply, particularly in Hanmiso-1ho (8.43 ± 0.3%) compared to Joseong (10.2 ± 0.3%), while fiber content reached the highest values across both cultivars. The average NDF was 63.7 ± 2.7% and ADF 36.8 ± 1.9%, with Hanmiso- 1ho peaking at 65.6 ± 1.1% NDF and 38.2 ± 0.3% ADF. The late October sowing continued this trend, with reduced CP and increased fiber content, where Hanmiso-1ho again showed lower CP and higher fiber values than Joseong. Interestingly, sowing on November 13, although producing the lowest dry matter yields, showed a slight improvement in forage quality. Both cultivars maintained CP levels close to 10%, while fiber levels dropped back to moderate values of around 60% NDF and 34% ADF.

    Ⅳ. DISCUSSION

    The present study demonstrates that both sowing date and cultivar significantly influenced the growth, dry matter yield and nutritional quality of triticale forage. Hanmiso-1ho cultivar consistently produced higher dry matter yield and higher plant height compared to Joseong cultivar, highlighting its higher potency and biomass production. Average, Hanmiso-1ho produced approximately 10% more dry matter yield and grew about 10 cm taller than Joseong cultivar, confirming previous reports that cultivar differences are significant in determining the productivity of triticale cultivars (Güngör et al., 2023). The current data suggested that Hanmiso-1ho cultivar adapts well most of the environmental conditions in different sowing date and yield higher dry matter content and taller growth than Joseong cultivar. Sowing date significantly exerted greater influence than cultivar types, shaping both productivity and nutritional content. The results clearly show that end of September to mid-October sowings represented the most favorable period for higher production of dry matter yield and maintaining moderate plant heights and it reflects balanced growth, sufficient vegetative development which support high biomass production. But, delayed sowings particularly after late October showed a sharp yield reduction by as much as 50% when sowing date delayed to November 13. Although plant height increased with later sowings, thinner morphology suggests reduced tillering and a shift in assimilate allocation toward stem elongation instead of biomass accumulation. This result was concurrent with previous reports have claimed that delaying sowing dates after second week of November decreased the yield and its components in triticale (Tofique et al., 1999).

    Nutritional composition showed an opposite trend relative to biomass yield production. Sowing in September 25 and early October produced the most favorable forage quality with high level of crude protein (CP > 10%) and low fiber content such as acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) for both cultivars. As sowing date delayed to mid-October, crude protein content in Hanmiso-1ho was more sharply declined to around 8% and CP level in Joseong significantly maintained almost similar pattern (more than 10%), while NDF and ADF level markedly increased. This shift toward higher fiber content reflects advancing plant maturity and increased deposition of structural carbohydrates in stems thus reducing forage digestibility. At the same time, the very late sowing (November 13), partially restored forage quality with CP levels were reverted to 10% and fiber fractions were also reduced to moderate values. However, total dry matter content was drastically reduced. So later sowing can produce acceptable nutritional quality of triticale forage but total biomass production was reduced. Several reports claimed that an end September and early October were the more appropriate sowing for triticale cultivation(Byamungu and Hwan 2019, Yang et al., 2024). Similarly, higher dry matter yield and crude protein were observed in Joseong and Hanmiso-1ho when sown at the end of September and in early October, suggesting that these are the more favorable sowing dates.

    Ⅴ. CONCLUSIONS

    These finding highlight an exchange between yield and nutritional quality of triticale cultivars across sowing dates. Late September and early October ensure higher dry matter production with significant nutritional compositions. Whereas further delaying sowing date results in substantial loss of biomass and compromises nutritional value due to increased fiber content and reduced CP level. For practical forage production, sowing in early to mid-October represents the optimal compromise, delivering both high productivity and acceptable nutritional quality. Hanmiso-1ho provides higher biomass, while Joseong offers greater stability in protein content. These results underscore the importance of synchronizing sowing date with cultivar choice to maximize both forage yield and feeding value of triticale.

    Ⅵ. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

    This work was performed with the support of the Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project title: Efficient succession production of Domestic Maize and Triticale silage and feeding to Hanwoo cow and heifer for growth, reproduction and beef production; Project No. PJ017203), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. This study was supported by a 2025 Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration and Republic of Korea.

    Figure

    Table

    Plant height and dry matter yield of different triticale cultivars in different sowing periods at Cheonan

    Cultivars sown on September 25 and October 5 were harvested on April 22. Crops sown on October 16 and 25 were harvested on April 24, while those sown on November 13 were harvested on April 29, 2024. Data are presented as the mean STD. abcDifferent small letter alphabets within a column indicate a significant difference between Joseong & Hanmiso-1ho (p<0.05). ABDifferent capital letter alphabets within a column indicate a significant difference in triticale production between different sowing dates (p<0.05).

    Nutrient content of different triticale cultivars in different sowing periods at Cheonan

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