Spring sown protein forage crops that are easy to grow

摘要

In the main north and west livestock areas, triticale has virtually been an unknown crop for the simple reason that, until 2003, all varieties available in the UK were winter sown and in those livestock areas virtually all cereal cropping is spring sown. In the three years since its introduction the area of spring triticale has rocketed up with enthusiastic uptake in areas such as Cumbria and Northern Ireland. The crop suits livestock farmers agronomically because it is low input, gets little or no disease, is near rabbit-proof and is an excellent competitor (so weed control is easy). Nutritionally it is high in protein and is particularly high in lysine and, additionally, it also gives a good yield of straw as well as grain. One of the other big benefits is that it will grow regardless of bad weather, poor soils, wet soils, acidic soils and so on.