Effect of Mineral Fertilizers on the Quantitative and Qualitative Indicators of Winter Triticale
Maharram Ismayilov 
Abstract. This study evaluates the effects of various mineral fertilizer (NPK) rates on the quantitative and qualitative indicators of winter triticale (cv. "Qismət") under the semi-desert, dry steppe climatic conditions of the Ganja region, Azerbaijan, alongside a comparative performance analysis with "Qırmızı buğda 1" wheat and a rye breeding line over a three-year period (2023–2025). The experimental plots were organized in a randomized block design. The results demonstrate that NPK application significantly enhanced the structural yield components and nutritional quality of triticale. Optimal results were achieved with the N90P90K40 treatment, which maximized mean grain yield at 64.20 c/ha (a 14.53 c/ha increase over the unfertilized control) and crude protein yield at 10.26 c/ha. Structural analysis revealed that this productivity surge was primarily driven by a 17.6% increase in grains per spike and a 16.4% improvement in grain weight. Comparative evaluation showed that triticale exhibits superior responsiveness to intensive fertilization, outperforming both wheat (maximum yield increase of 9.00 c/ha) and rye (maximum yield increase of 5.92 c/ha). Due to its tall-growing morphotype and moderate input response, the "Qismət" cultivar is categorized as a semi-intensive variety well-suited for improving localized concentrated fodder production.
Keywords: winter triticale, NPK fertilization, grain yield, crude protein, crop responsiveness