Evaluation of new cultivars of triticale as dual-purpose forage and grain crops

Abstract

Two newly registered cultivars of triticale, Tiga and Empat, were compared with existing commercial cultivars of triticale, cereal rye and forage oats, for grain yield and dry matter production. Their performance was evaluated at Armidale, New South Wales, over 3 years with varying defoliation regimes (uncut to grain yield, cut in late autumn, cut in autumn and winter, and cut in winter only). Phenological observations confirmed that Tiga and Empat were midseason cultivars, intermediate between Coolabah and Blackbutt oats. Autumn and winter forage production and organic matter digestibility of Tiga and Empat were equal to those obtained from Cooba and Blackbutt oats. Grain yields (up to 4.0 t/ha) of the highest yielding triticale cultivar (Empat) were equal to, or greater than, the best oats cultivar (Blackbutt). Generally, the highest winter growth rates, dry matter yield at maturity and grain yield were recorded from uncut plots, except in the early oats cultivar Coolabah which, in 1 experiment, lodged in spring if left undefoliated through autumn and winter. Cutting only in autumn had small effects (negative) on grain yields, but cutting in both autumn and winter reduced total dry matter yields at maturity by 30% and grain yields by 50%. Cutting only in winter resulted in higher vegetative forage yields than a double cut (autumn and winter), but the single winter cut subsequently produced lowest dry matter yields at maturity. The high grain yields of triticale were linked to rapid spring growth. Harvest indices of triticale cultivars were generally lower than those of the oat cultivars. The results indicate the potential of triticale, especially cv. Empat, as a dual-purpose forage and grain crop.

Effect of Sowing Date and Cutting Stage on Yield and Quality of Irrigated Barley and Triticale Used for Forage and Grain

“…Harvest index was not affected by forage removal, was similar in the two species and did not differ between sites or sowing times. The average values of harvest index in these experiments are similar to the values found by Andrews et al (1991) in spring triticales. The effect of forage removal on harvest index has been reported to be low (Garcia del Moral et al 1995), indicating a similar impact of clipping on grain yield and biomass production.…”

Genetic variations in the digestibility in sheep of selected whole-crop cereals used as silages

“…Its hardiness and high-yield potential under limiting conditions has been noticed in different areas of the world (Lozano et al, 1998;McLeod et al, 1998;Delogu et al 2002). Its dual purpose, as a grain harvest occurring after the forage harvest, has also been pointed out (Andrews et al, 1991;Royo and Pares, 1996;Jobim and Emile, 1999).…”

Grain yield and yield components as affected by forage removal in winter and spring triticale

“…Triticale (ϫ Triticosecale Wittmack) is used mainly as a grain crop for animal feed in the Mediterranean region, but its dual-purpose potential has been pointed out in some recent studies (Andrews et al, 1991;Royo et al, 1993;1994). Winter and spring triticale are known to be morphologically and agronomically different (Royo et al, 1995).…”