Description
Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium) and Mountain Rye (Mtn Rye; Secale strictum) have potential for release as dual-purpose (grazing and grain production) perennial grains in Australia due to their superior longevity compared to hybrid perennial wheats. Initially developed as perennial forage grasses, few management guidelines exist to inform agronomic practices to maximise grain yields and profitability in Australian environments. An experiment was established in 2020 to examine the effect of plant density and nitrogen rates on grain yield components. The experiment compared the two species (IWG, Mtn Rye) sown at three plant densities (50, 100 and 200 plants/m2) with three nitrogen rates (0, 100, 200 kg/ha N). Overall, in the first year of production, Mtn Rye had higher grain yields than Kernza although yield decreased with increasing N rates. With further selection for floret fertility and seed size, Mtn Rye could prove a successful candidate for a perennial grain crop in Australia.
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The Effect of Nitrogen Rates and Plant Density on Grain Yield Components and Persistence in Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and Mountain Rye (Secale strictum)
Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium) and Mountain Rye (Mtn Rye; Secale strictum) have potential for release as dual-purpose (grazing and grain production) perennial grains in Australia due to their superior longevity compared to hybrid perennial wheats. Initially developed as perennial forage grasses, few management guidelines exist to inform agronomic practices to maximise grain yields and profitability in Australian environments. An experiment was established in 2020 to examine the effect of plant density and nitrogen rates on grain yield components. The experiment compared the two species (IWG, Mtn Rye) sown at three plant densities (50, 100 and 200 plants/m2) with three nitrogen rates (0, 100, 200 kg/ha N). Overall, in the first year of production, Mtn Rye had higher grain yields than Kernza although yield decreased with increasing N rates. With further selection for floret fertility and seed size, Mtn Rye could prove a successful candidate for a perennial grain crop in Australia.
