Effects of the nitrogen application rate and sowing density on the productivity and nutritional value of × Triticosecale Wittmack in the Gannan area

In this paper, the effects of nitrogen fertilizer rate (0, 120, 240, 360, and 480 kg·hm^–2) and sowing density (506, 675, 843, 1 011, and 1 180 million seedling·ha^–1) on the plant height, the number of branches, hay yield and nutritional value of × Triticosecale Wittmack ‘Gannong No. 2’ were studied in the Gannan area were studied, As the nitrogen fertilizer rate and sowing density increased, the plant height, number of branches, and hay yield of triticale frist increased and the decreased; nutritional value also followed a similar trend. When the nitrogen fertilizer rate was 240 kg·ha^–1, regardless of the density of seeding, the averag hay yield (15.63 t·ha^–1) and crude protein content (12.47%) were the highest, and the fiber content was the lowest. When the sowing density was 843 million seedling·ha^–1, regardless of the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, the highest average hay yield (15.30 t·ha^–1) was obtained. From the interaction of the nitrogen fertilizer rate and sowing density, a nitrogen fertilizer rate of 240 kg·ha^–1 and a seeding density of 8.43 million seedlings·ha^–1, led to the triticale obtained the highest hay yield (22.13 t·ha^–1) and high crude protein content (12.33%) for ‘Gannong No. 2’.