Triticale and other small grain cereals for forage and grain in Mediterranean conditions

Abstract

Abstract In field experiments conducted over 2 years, triticale was compared with barley, bread wheat and oats for its dual‐purpose (forage and grain) capability. The effect of spring forage removal on grain yield ranged from small yield increases (in the triticale and barley genotypes that otherwise lodged) to a 53% decrease, and was dependent on species, genotype, stage of development when cut, and time for recovery before grain harvest. A key factor influencing grain yield after early cutting was the number of spikes that developed. The complete types of triticale were better than the one substituted type tested for dual purpose but, as there is variability among them, selection for good mixed aptitude is possible. The production of the best triticale averaged over 2 years 3 t of forage DM ha ‐1 (with 684 kg of crude protein ha ‐1 ) and then 4–3 t of grain ha ‐1 . In this instance, neither the grain yield nor the number of spikes per plant were reduced after clipping, in spite of the fact that the shoot apices were removed. Plant height and lodging were reduced by a forage cut. In triticale, the number of days to heading was increased even more when the cut was late, but no effect was observed in barley.