Research on optimum management for high winter forage quality has shown that nitrogen plays a key role in both the fall and spring growth and protein. Fall nitrogen is critical to maximize fall tillering (sets spring yield potential) and is applied at planting, so that management time has passed. Spring is when nitrogen (and critical sulfur) is applied for maximum yield and high crude protein. This is specifically for winter triticale. Our replicated research has found that increasing the nitrogen on winter rye will simply mean more of the crop is flat on the ground at harvest. Winter triticale is 2/3 as tall as rye but many more tillers produce a thicker stand and higher yields without lodging
