Changes in yield and composition of barley, wheat and triticale grains harvested during advancing stages of ripening
Year: 2006
Type: other
Abstract: This study involved an evaluation of the changes in grain yield, nutritive value, ensilability\nand harvesting losses of intensively managed winter cereals harvested during\nthe advancing stages of ripening. Five cereal crops (barley cv. Regina and wheat cv.\nMadrigal in 2001; barley cv. Regina, wheat cv. Falstaff and triticale cv. Fidelio in 2002)\nwere assessed. Twenty plots per crop were arranged in a randomised complete block\ndesign, with five times of harvest (four for barley in 2002) and four replicate blocks\nper harvest. Dry matter (DM) yields changed relatively little between harvest dates,\nbut fresh yields declined (P < 0.001) over time due to the moisture loss associated with\nripening. Time-course changes in indices of nutritive value, such as concentrations of\ncrude protein, starch and ash, and organic matter digestibility, were relatively small\nand did not follow a consistent pattern. Ensilability indices, such as DM and watersoluble\ncarbohydrate concentrations and buffering capacity, indicated that satisfactory\nfermentations were likely if such crops were ensiled; buffering capacity, generally\ndeclining with advancing maturity. Harvesting losses were not clearly related to growth\nstage at harvest. It is concluded that winter cereal grain (barley, wheat and triticale)\nDM yields and quality were relatively constant as ripening progressed from DM concentrations\nof around 550 to >800 g/kg.
Authors: P. Stacey, P. O’Kiely, R. Hackett, B. Rice, F.P. O’Mara
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
Funder: Teagasc
OpenAlex ID: W1507862823