Triticale and barley for grain and for dual-purpose (forage+grain) in a Mediterranean-type environment. I. Growth analyses

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for 2 growing seasons (1992 and 1993) at 2 sites in north-eastern Spain under irrigated conditions and high soil fertility. Two 6-rowed barley varieties, 3 spring triticales, and 2 winter triticales were evaluated for grain yield and for forage and grain production in the same cropping season. Forage was cut when the first node was detectable, and grain was harvested at ripening in both cut and uncut plots.

Barley, spring triticale, and winter triticale did not differ in biomass at cutting. The number of tillers per plant at the beginning of jointing was about 3·2 in both barley and winter triticale, and 0·7 in spring triticale. Almost all of the biomass components at cutting were positively and significantly correlated with forage yield.

Changes in dry matter accumulation and leaf area index and its components in the uncut treatment fitted accurately to the same logistic curve. The maximum number of living leaves per plant was reached between the beginning of jointing and booting in barley and spring triticale, and around jointing in winter triticale. The number of living tillers per plant at anthesis was significantly higher in barley than in triticale. The number of spikes per plant at anthesis was significantly lower in spring triticale than in barley and winter triticale. The efficiency of the plant to accumulate dry matter was greater in triticale than in barley.

In barley, grain filling in both cut and uncut harvesting treatments was mainly dependent on current photosynthesis after anthesis. In triticale, which was more affected by terminal abiotic stresses, both photosynthesis and translocation of assimilates contributed to grain filling, independent of the harvesting treatment.