Influence of nitrogen rate on yield and profitability of rye grain production

Abstract

Rye (Secale cereale L.) grain production in Kentucky is insufficient to meet the needs of distillers and bakers, in part because there is a knowledge gap about rye management that discourages farmers from choosing this crop. We conducted an economic study to develop recommendations for profitable rye grain production. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of two different nitrogen rates (35 lb N acre−1 and 70 lb N acre−1) on yield and profitability of winter rye grain production. Experiments were conducted in 2020–2021 season at three Kentucky locations: Lexington, Princeton and Adairville. Twenty‐four rye entries were planted in a split plot design experiment and the two nitrogen rates (35 lb N acre−1 and 70 lb N acre−1) were assigned to main plots. There was no significant difference in mean yield between 35 and 70 lb N acre−1. This indicates that less investment in nitrogen fertilizer will not adversely affect grain yield level, will enhance profitability of production, and will benefit distillers due to the higher alcohol yield associated with higher starch and lower protein levels.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Influence of Nitrogen Fertilisation Level and Weather Conditions on Yield and Quantitative Profile of Anti-Nutritional Compounds in Grain of Selected Rye Cultivars

“…Population cultivars, however, showed a weaker yield response to nitrogen fertilisation than hybrid cultivars [52]. Szuleta et al [53] found no significant differences in the grain yield of rye population cultivars as a result of doubling the nitrogen dose. The efficiency with which rye utilises the supplied nitrogen dose depends on weather conditions, especially the amount of rainfall during the growing season, but also the content of organic matter, which accumulates in the water reserve [48,54,55].…”

“…Weather conditions during the growing season also affect the accumulation of water-soluble pentosans in rye grain. Less rainfall during the growing season favours higher content in rye grain [49,53]; in winter wheat, on the other hand, a higher accumulation of pentosans in the grain is favoured by a lower temperature at the grain pouring stage [56]. Marentes-Culma and Coy-Barrera [57] showed that grain of the same cultivar of triticale from cultivation under different environmental and weather conditions contains different amounts of alkylresorcinols.…”

“…In the grain of the hybrid cultivar SU Performer, the highest content of alkylresorcinols was found after fertilisation at a dose of 70 kg N•ha −1 . Literature reports indicate that cereal cultivars show a differentiated response in alkylresorcinol content to increasing doses of nitrogen fertilisation [17,53,61]. Grabi ński et al [17] showed that an increase in the intensity of production technology, including nitrogen fertilisation, caused a significant increase in alkylresorcinol content by 7%.…”