Effects of harvesting programme and sowing date on the forage yield, digestibility, nitrogen concentration, tillers and crop fractions of barley in Cyprus

Abstract

All combinations of four harvesting treatments and two sowing dates were compared in each of 3 years in field experiments near Nicosia. In two of the years, different levels of applied nitrogen were compared. The harvesting treatments were: (1) a milk-stage cut, (2) a boot-stage cut and a regrowth cut, (3) a grazing-stage cut and a regrowth cut, and (4) three grazing-stage cuts and a regrowth cut. The sowing dates were (1) normal (12 November) and (2) early (15 October), with sufficient irrigation to ensure establishment.There was almost no response to applied nitrogen, evidently because of high reserves of available nitrogen in the soil. Early sowing reduced by 20 days the time taken to reach the stage at which the first node appeared, but increased, by 36 days, the length of time between the first node and the milk stage. Early sowing increased yield when the first cut was at the grazing stage, but reduced yield when the first cut was at the boot or milk stage.At the grazing stage, the proportion of green leaf blade and the concentrations of nitrogen and nitrate-N were relatively high (means 74, 4-0 and 013% respectively) and digestibility was moderate (mean D-value 61). By the boot stage, green leaf, nitrogen and nitrate-N, but not digestibility, had declined (means 21, 1-8, O02 and 63 respectively). By the milk stage, green leaf, nitrogen and digestibility, but not nitrate-N, had declined further (means 3, 1'5, 48 and 0-05 respectively). Fully dead leaf blades were 28 units less digestible and 3'2 percentage units lower in nitrogen concentration than emerging leaves. Half dead leaf blades were higher in nitrate-N than fully expanded, fully green blades.

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

“…Different studies have concluded that in the Mediterranean area the most appropriate period for sowing Spring triticale (Ramos et al 1993), and barley (Droushiotis and Wilman 1987) is between mid-November and mid-December. Our results show that delaying sowing until January leads to substantial grain yield losses.…”

“…Of 35 different studies summarized by Holiday (1956) in a review of the effect of forage use on the grain yield of cereals, 24 studies showed a decrease in yield and five showed an increase. Increases in grain yield after cutting are usually associated with decreased lodging (Droushiotis 1984). Diminished grain is normally associated with the removal of shoot apices by grazing (Droushiotis 1984).…”

“…Increases in grain yield after cutting are usually associated with decreased lodging (Droushiotis 1984). Diminished grain is normally associated with the removal of shoot apices by grazing (Droushiotis 1984). Forage harvesting should be completed by the early-joint stage in order to avoid reducing tiller survival and the photosynthetic area needed to support reproductive growth (Miller et al 1993).…”

Response of Triticale Grain Yield and Yield Components to Number of Cuttings in a Mediterranean Environment

“…This fact is even more pronounced in Mediterranean areas, where the annual rainfall can be a major influence on grain-yield variations. Under these conditions, the depressive effects of the cuttings on the grain yield are more important the drier the environment or year (DROUSHIOTIS 1984). In our study, the greatest depressions on grain yield occurred at Guadix, where the rainfall was about half that of Aeropuerto.…”

“…In the literature, results vary concerning the dual use of triticale for forage and grain. It has been suggested that the response of grain yield to foliage removal is mterwoven with such factors as climate, genotype, agronomic practices, and the number and time of cuttings (HOLLIDAY 1956 a, b, DROUSHIOTIS andWiLMAN 1987).…”