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

Abstract

In six field experiments conducted over 2 years, the effect of one or two cuttings on grain yield of triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) were investigated. In addition, the relationships between triticale grain yield its components were analysed.Grain yield of the uncut plots invariably exceeded the plots with one or two cuttings, regardless of the environment or year. The reductions in grain yield caused by one cutting ranged from 27 % to 60 % under rainfed conditions and 18 % to 20 % under irrigation. With two cuttings the reduction was 45 % to 70 % for rainfed, and 35 % to 48 % for irrigated conditions.The yield components which most influenced grain yield of triticale under cutting treatment were the number of ears m"-in all six experiments and the number of grains per ear under rainfed conditions. At tne rainfed sites in 1989 cuttings diminished the number of ears m"^ mainly by increasing plant mortality. Nevertheless, at the rainfed sites of 1990 and at the irrigated site of both years, the reduction in the number of ears m"'^ with cuttings was due principally to a lower survival of tillers per plant.