Evaluation of Forage Yield and Quality at Two Phenological Stages of Triticale Genotypes and Other Cereals Grown Under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

Forage yield and quality of triticale and some other cereals were evaluated under rainfed conditions in Samsun, Turkey, at two phenological stages in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. The experimental design was a randomized split block design with three replicates. Twelve triticale genotypes (Triticosecale Withmack), one rye cultivar (Secale cereale L.), two barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) and one bread wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L.) were used. Plants were harvested at two stages, the early heading and the milk-dough stage, for the determination of their forage yield and some quality traits. Average dry matter yield across genotypes and years was 7.78 t/ha at the early heading and 13.55 t/ha at the milk-dough harvest stages. At the early heading stage, dry matter yield ranged from 6.19 to 10.16 t/ha, while it ranged from 10.92 to 14.78 t/ha at the milk-dough stage. Dry matter yields of all genotypes increased by 43% from early heading to milk-dough stage. Plant height increased from 82.1 cm at the early heading stage to 108.4 cm at the milk-dough stage. The crude ash yield changed from 0.56 (early heading harvest stage) to 0.79 t/ha (milk-dough harvest stage). Crude protein yields among the genotypes were 0.73 and 0.89 t/ha at the heading and milk-dough stages, respectively. Ca contents of the genotypes varied from 0.072 to 0.171% at the heading stage, in contrast Ca contents of the genotypes were in the range of 0.061 to 0.134% at the milk-dough stage. At both harvest stages, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Mg contents in the forage samples were 0.998-2.391%, 63.06-117.68, 16.99-69.40, 19.42-42.92 ppm, 0.064 and 0.124% respectively.