Yield and quality of triticale forage

Abstract

Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) yield at the milk-dough stage of 33 triticale (Triticosecale Withmack) lines were evaluated in the Mediterranean-type environment of Turkey. This experiment was carried out in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 at the experimental station of Uludag University in Bursa, Turkey, on six CIMMYT winter triticale lines and 27 pure lines developed from crosses among the CIMMYT lines. Pure lines selected from homogenous F-8-derived lilies were bulked and evaluated in yield trials for forage production and quality. A randomized complete block design was used to evaluate the lines. Forage was harvested when each line reached soft-dough stage. Nitrogen and protein were determined for each line on whole plant forage samples and for leaf, spike and stem components of the five selected lines. There were statistically significant differences between triticale lines in all characteristics of yield and degradability. DM and CP yields of fall-sown triticale lines averaged 16.3 and 1.3 t ha(-1), respectively. Spike, leaf and stem biomass fractions contributed 26.8, 12.3, and 60.9% of total DM, respectively. Degradability of the whole plant averaged 58.5% for DM and 78.6% for CP. Leaf blade and spike fractions showed significantly higher DM and CP degradation rates than did stem parts. The results indicate that triticale has potential as a fall-sown forage alternative in Mediterranean-type regions.