https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2020.1719

Forage and grain yields of dual-purpose triticale as influenced by the integrated use of Azotobacter chroococcum and mineral nitrogen fertilizer

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2021): Special issue on "Innovative fertilizers for sustainable agriculture"
Submitted: 5 August 2020
Accepted: 18 November 2020
Published: 28 December 2020
Biofertilizer, forage yield, forage quality, grain yield, mineral nitrogen, Triticosecale Wittmack.
Abstract Views: 1355
HTML: 60
PDF: 709
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

The utilization of dual-purpose cereals is encouraged in the Mediterranean environments to fill a feed gap during the winter season. Triticale is a promising dual-purpose crop for forage and grain production. Studies on the variations in productivity and quality of dual-purpose triticale under variable fertilization management are scarce. This study was carried out during winter 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, in Northern Egypt, to evaluate the performance of triticale grown in dual-purpose and grain-only production systems under variable mineral N (mN) rates (zero, 25, 50, 75% of the recommended), accompanied with Azotobacter chroococcum (AC) seed inoculation, as well as 100% mN application without AC. The application of 50% mN with AC seed inoculation resulted in an average of 7.23, 7.27 t ha–1, forage and grain yields, respectively. Moreover, forage and grain crude protein reached 125.57, and 200.60 g kg–1, respectively. Forage fibre fractions were non-significantly variable among the fertilizer treatments. Azotobacter chroococcum seed inoculation, thus, allowed for the reduction of the used amount of mN to 50% without sacrificing the forage and grain yields and protein content. In the dual-purpose system, an average of 7.23 t ha–1 forage yield was obtained with little reduction in the grain yield (19% reduction in average). Meanwhile, grain crude protein content was higher in dual-purpose system (201.38 g kg–1) than in grain-only system (182.98 g kg–1). In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to expand the production of dual-purpose triticale in the winter while reducing mN fertilizer rate to 50% in combination with AC seed inoculation.

Highlights
- Triticale is a promising dual-purpose crop that can be utilized for forage and grain production under irrigated Mediterranean conditions.
- Around 7.23 t ha–1 forage yield was obtained from the dual-purpose triticale with a slight decrease (19% in average) in final grain yield.
- Dual-purpose production system was profitable due to the good prices of triticale green forage in the region.
- Azotobacter chroococcum seed inoculation allowed for the reduction of mineral nitrogen rate to 50% without sacrificing the forage and grain yields.
- The integrated use of Azotobacter chroococcum seed inoculation with mineral nitrogen resulted in 43% decrease in fertilization costs.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Aazadi MS, Siyadat SA, Syahbidi MMP, Younesi E, 2014. The study effect of nitrogen, Azotobacter Spp. and Azospirillum Spp. on phenological and morphological traits of durum wheat cultivars in Dehloran Region, Iran. Cercetari Agronom. Moldova 47:15-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cerce-2014-0002
Alaru M, Laur Ü, Eremeev V, Reintam E, Selge A, Noormets M, 2009. Winter triticale yield formation and quality affected by N rate, timing and splitting. Agric. Food Sci. 18:76-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2137/145960609788066861
AOAC, 2012. International official methods of analysis (19th Ed.). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
Ayalew H, Kumssa TT, Butler TJ, Ma XF, 2018. Triticale improvement for forage and cover crop uses in the Southern Great Plains of the United States. Front. Plant Sci. 9:1130. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01130
Baron VS, Juskiw PE, Aljarrah M, 2015. Triticale as a forage. In: Triticale. Springer, Cham., pp. 189-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22551-7_10
Bell LW, Harrison MT, Kirkegaard JA, 2015. Dual-purpose cropping–capitalising on potential grain crop grazing to enhance mixed-farming profitability. Crop Pasture Sci. 66:i-iv. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/CPv66n4_FO
BenYoussef S, Kachout SS, Abidi S, Saddem B, Ismail J, Salem BH, 2019. Effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilization on forage yields and quality of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa, Roth) triticale (X Tritcosecale, Wittmack) mixtures. Open Agric. J. 13(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/1874331501913010090
Bilal M, Ayub M, Tariq M, Tahir M, Nadeem MA, 2017. Dry matter yield and forage quality traits of oat (Avena sativa L.) under integrative use of microbial and synthetic source of nitrogen. J. Saudi Soc. Agric. Sci. 16:236-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2015.08.002
Bilgili U, Cifci EA, Hanoglu H, Yagdi K, Acikgoz E, 2009. Yield and quality of triticale forage. J Food Agric. Environ. 7:556-60.
Blum A, 2014. The abiotic stress response and adaptation of triticale - A review. Cereal Res. Commun. 42:359-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/CRC.42.2014.3.1
Bonachela S, Orgaz F, Fereres E, 1995. Winter cereals grown for grain and for the dual purpose of forage plus grain I. Production. Field Crops Res. 44:1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(95)00045-1
Brenner DJ, Krieg NR, Staley JT, 2005. Bergeys manual of systematic bacteriology. volume two: The Proteobacteria. Part B: the Gammaproteobacteria (Second Ed. Vol. 2): Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-29298-5
Briske DD, Richards JH, 1994. Physiological responses of individual plants to grazing: current status and ecological significance. pp 147-176 in Ecological implications of livestock herbivory in the west. Society for Range Management, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Cherney JH, Marten GC, 1982. Small grain crop forage potential: II. Interrelationships among biological, chemical, morphological, and anatomical determinants of quality 1. Crop Science 22:240-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1982.0011183X002200020010x
Collee JG, Miles PS, 1989. Tests for identification of bacteria. In: Collee JG, Duguid JP, Fraser AG, Marmion BP (Eds.), Practical medical microbiology. Churchil Livingstone, NY, USA, pp 141-160.
Droushiotis DN, 1984. The effect of variety and harvesting stage on forage production of barley in a low-rainfall environment. J. Agric. Sci. 102:289-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S002185960004260X
Evert F, Honermeier B, 1999. Spikelet initiation of winter triticale and winter wheat in response to nitrogen fertilization. Eur. J. Agron. 11:107-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(99)00023-4
FAOSTAT, 2018. Statistical yearbook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
Francia E, Pecchioni N, Nicosia OLD, Paoletta G, Taibi L, Franco V, Delogu G, 2006. Dual-purpose barley and oat in a Mediterranean environment. Field Crops Res. 99:158-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2006.04.006
Giunta F, Motzo R, Fois G, Bacciu P, 2015. Developmental ideotype in the context of the dualâ€purpose use of triticale, barley and durum wheat. Annals Appl. Biol. 166:118-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12167
Habiba HE, Salama HS, Bondok AT, 2018. Effect of the integrated use of mineral-and bio-fertilizers on yield and some agronomic characteristics of fodder pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). Alexandria Sci. Exchan. J. 39:282-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2018.8224
Hajighasemi S, Keshavarz-Afshar R, Chaichi MR, 2016. Nitrogen fertilizer and seeding rate influence on grain and forage yield of dual-purpose barley. Agron. J. 108:1486-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2015.0447
Hartley HO, 1950. The maximum F-ratio as a short-cut test for heterogeneity of variance. Biometrika 37:308-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/37.3-4.308
Jensen HL, 1951. Notes on the biology of Azotobacter. In Proceedings of the Society for Applied Bacteriology. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford, UK, 14(1):89-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.1951.tb01997.x
Jnawali AD, Ojha RB, Marahatta S, 2015. Role of Azotobacter in soil fertility and sustainability - A Review. Adv. Plant Agric. Res. 2:1-5.
Kizilkaya R, 2009. Nitrogen fixation capacity of Azotobacter spp. strains isolated from soils in different ecosystems and relationship between them and the microbiological properties of soils. J. Environ. Biol. 30:73-82.
Liu W, Maurer HP, Leiser WL, Tucker MR, Weissmann S, Hahn V, Würschum T, 2017. Potential for marker-assisted simultaneous improvement of grain and biomass yield in triticale. Bioener. Res. 10:449-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-016-9809-0
Obour A, Holman JD, Schlegel A, 2018. Seeding rate and nitrogen application effects on spring oat and triticale forage. Kansas Agric. Exp. Station Res. Rep. 4:5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7587
Quatrin MP, Olivo CJ, Simonetti GD, Bratz VF, Godoy GLD, Casagrande LG, 2019. Response of dual-purpose wheat to nitrogen fertilization and seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. Ciênc. Agrotecnol. 43:1-10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-7054201943027718
Royo C, 1999. Plant recovery and grain-yield formation in barley and triticale following forage removal at two cutting stages. J. Agron. Crop Sci. 182:175-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-037x.1999.00280.x
Royo C, Insa JA, Boujenna A, Ramos JM, Montesinos E, Garcia del Moral L, 1994. Yield and quality of spring triticale used for forage and grain as influenced by sowing date and cutting stage. Field Crop Res. 37:161-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(94)90095-7
Royo C, Lopez A, Serra J, Tribo F, 1997. Effect of sowing date and cutting stage on yield and quality of irrigated barley and triticale used for forage and grain. J. Agron. Crop Sci. 179:227-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-037X.1997.tb00521.x
Sadreddine B, 2016. Yield and quality of dual-purpose barley and triticale in a semi-arid environment in Tunisia. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 11:2730-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2016.10803
Salama HSA, 2019. Dual purpose barley production in the Mediterranean climate: effect of seeding rate and age at forage cutting. Int. J. Plant Prod. 13:285-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42106-019-00054-8
Salama HSA, Badry HH, 2020. Effect of partial substitution of bulk urea by nanoparticle urea fertilizer on productivity and nutritive value of teosinte varieties. Agron. Res [In press].
SAS Institute Inc., 2012. Statistical Analysis System (SAS), PC Windows Version 9.4 SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
Patel KM, Patel DM, Gelot DG, Patel IM, 2018. Effect of integrated nutrient management on green forage yield, quality and nutrient uptake of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). Int. J. Chem Stud. 6:173-6.
Rajae K, Fatima G, Chaouki AF, Mohammed I, 2017. Forage and grain production of dual-purpose triticale grown under Moroccan conditions. Int. J. Agric. Sci. Res. 7:401-10.
Van Berkum P, Fuhrmann JJ, 2000. Evolutionary relationships among the soybean bradyrhizobia reconstructed from 16S rRNA gene and internally transcribed spacer region sequence divergence. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 50:2165-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1099/00207713-50-6-2165
Van Soest PV, Robertson JB, Lewis BA, 1991. Methods for dietary fibre, neutral detergent fibre, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 74:3583-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2
Wani SA, Chand S, Wani MA, Ramzan M, Hakeem KR, 2016. Azotobacter chroococcum - A potential biofertilizer in agriculture: an overview. In: Hakeem K, Akhtar J, Sabir M (Eds.) Soil science: agricultural and environmental prospectives. Springer, Cham. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34451-5_15
Zadoks JC, Chang TT, Konzak CF, 1974. A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals. Weed Res. 14:415-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3180.1974.tb01084.x

How to Cite

Salama, H. S. A., & Badry, H. H. (2020). Forage and grain yields of dual-purpose triticale as influenced by the integrated use of <em>Azotobacter chroococcum</em> and mineral nitrogen fertilizer. Italian Journal of Agronomy, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2020.1719
Copyright (c) 2021 The Author(s) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.