Grains & Cereals· x Triticosecale

Triticale Growing Guide

Triticale is a synthetic hybrid of wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale), combining wheat's grain quality with rye's hardiness. It is widely used for animal feed, silage, and increasingly for human food and bioenergy production.

How Long Does Triticale Take to Grow?

Triticale is typically ready to harvest about 140 days after planting.

140

Days to Harvest

3,600

kg/hectare

moderate

Water Needs

full sun

Sun Needs

FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.

Growing Conditions

Temperature

12-25°C optimal

Rainfall

350-900 mm/year

Frost Tolerance

high

Drought Tolerance

moderate

Humidity

moderate tolerance

Heat Tolerance

moderate

Soil Requirements

Soil Type & pH

Best soil types: sandy loam, loam, clay loam

pH range: 5 - 7.5 (optimal: 6)

Drainage: moderate

Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)

Nitrogen (N)moderate

Phosphorus (P)moderate

Potassium (K)moderate

Planting Guide

Planting Methods

direct seeding, drilling

Planting Depth

4 cm

Plant Spacing

3 cm apart, 18 cm rows

Planting Season

fall, early spring

Yield & Economics

Yield Range

1,530 - 6,220 kg/ha

Market Demand

stable

Profitability

medium

Common Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

cereal leaf beetle
aphids
armyworm

Common Diseases

powdery mildew
septoria
ergot
take-all

Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.

Growing Tips

Triticale's higher biomass makes it ideal for dual-purpose grazing-then-grain or whole-crop silage systems.

Avoid late nitrogen top-dressing, as triticale is more prone to lodging than wheat due to its taller stature.

Select modern short-straw varieties for grain production; older tall varieties are better suited for forage use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Triticale take to grow?

Triticale typically takes 140 days from planting to harvest. Seeds germinate in about 7 days. The best planting season is fall, early spring.

What soil does Triticale need?

Triticale grows best in sandy loam, loam, clay loam soil with a pH of 5-7.5. Moderate drainage is required.

What temperature does Triticale need?

Triticale grows best at 12-25°C. Frost tolerance: high. Heat tolerance: moderate.

What is the expected yield for Triticale?

Across 43 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Triticale range from 1,530 to 6,220 kg/hectare, with a median of 3,600. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.