The effect of different harvest stages on yield and quality of Triticale grown under rainfed conditions

Abstract

Triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) is recognized for its tolerance to abiotic stress and adaptation to suboptimal soils, demonstrating significant potential for fodder production in dry environments. The harvest stage is essential for preserving the nutritional content of triticale, ensuring higher fodder yields, and effective implementation of crop rotation. However, the optimum harvest stage is unknown for triticale in the Mu & scedil; province of T & uuml;rkiye under rainfed conditions. This two-year study investigated the impact of the harvest stage on hay yield and quality of the triticale genotype. The experiment consisted of two factors, i.e., 18 triticale genotypes and three harvest stages (i.e., flowering, milking, and dough). Data relating to dry matter yield and quality attributes, i.e., crude protein ratio, neutral and acid detergent fiber, digestible dry matter, and relative feed value, were collected. Results showed significant variations in yield and quality across harvest stages and genotypes. Delaying harvest increased dry matter yield from 7.11 t/ha (flowering) to 12.00 t/ha (dough) but reduced crude protein and digestibility. Genotypes such as 'Presto' and 'BC Goran' achieved the highest dry matter yields, while 'Esin' and 'Line 1' excelled in quality metrics like crude protein ratio and relative feed value (RFV). The milking stage emerged as the optimal balance between yield and quality, particularly for forage quality indicators like digestibility and protein content. It is concluded that harvesting at the milking stage is optimal for triticale in the Mu & scedil; province and similar continental climates, with 'Presto' and 'Esin' genotypes being the most suitable for producing high-quality hay. These findings address critical knowledge gaps in regional forage crop management and provide actionable insights for improving livestock feed sustainability in resource-limited environments.