RESULTS REGARDING YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

AT DIFFERENT TRITICALE VARIETIES

Marin DUMBRAV , Adrian Gheorghe B A, Viorel ION, Lenu a Iuliana EPURE, Niculae DINC , Dumitru TEFAN

University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Agriculture

59 Marasti Blvd, District 1, 011464, Bucharest, Romania

Corresponding author email: dumbrava.marian@yahoo.com Abstract Triticale (Triticosecale Wittm.) is more and more of interest for the Romanian farmers, the harvested area being increasing in the last years. In South Romania this is used both for grain yield and biomass, which is more and more of interest as fodder, but also as raw material for producing biogas. The cultivated varieties have to be tested and known as yielding capacity in different growing conditions. The South Romania has favourable conditions for growing triticale. Researches were performed in the agricultural year 2012-2013, in field experiments located in South Romania at Moara Domneasca Experimental Farm (44o30’ N latitude and 26o14’ E longitude). Researches were performed at an assortment of 10 triticale varieties, respectively: Mezin, Stil, Titan, Oda, Negoiu, Cascador, Haiduc, Tulus, Polego, and Gorun 1. The aim of researches that conduced to the elaboration of the present paper was to present the results regarding yield components and grain yield obtained at an assortment of triticale studied under soil and climatic conditions from South Romania. Key words: triticale, varieties, yield, yield components, comparative crops, ecological plasticity. INTRODUCTION Triticale (Triticosecale Wittmack) is a new cereal crop resulted from wheat and rye crossing for the better use of poor sandy soils, water stress and excessive temperature, in order to produce large yields under pedoclimatic conditions that are unsuitable for other agricultural crops (Gaspar and Butnaru, 1985). According to FAO database, in 2012 triticale was grown on 3.69 million ha all over the world, of which 86% in Europe. In Romania, in 2012 triticale was grown on 48 thou ha. Triticale is more and more of interest for the Romanian farmers, the harvested area being increasing in the last years. It is possible to extend the crop up to 160 thou ha ( tefan et al, 2011). Triticale is a plant species which is characterised by high genetic potential for grain yield, as well as good nutritive properties of its grain, while it is not as demanding as wheat in regard to agrotechnic measures and ecological conditions, so it is regarding as a very promising crop (Biberdžic et al., 2012). Triticale has demonstrated high yield potential even under the marginal growing conditions

and could be attractive alternative for raising cereal production globally (Kutlu and Kinaci, 2010). New triticale varieties have been created over the past decade; they now compete with other cereals and even maize, particularly in the hilly areas, on soils of low fertility and acid pH (Ittu et al., 2005). New varieties of triticale are equal or superior to other crops for grain yield, forage and biomass production for human food, animal feed or industrial applications (Nefir and Tab r , 2012). The new varieties are characterized by high capacity to use the environmental and technological conditions with top agronomic characteristics concerning the use of unfavourable climate and soil conditions, spike fertility, grain size and fill, and spike germination (Ittu et al., 2006). The competitiveness of the Romanian triticale varieties has led to the certification of the Titan variety in Canada, France and Hungary, and the Decor line in the U.S. The study of the triticale varieties in comparative crops allows hierarchization according to their production performances for crop purposes.

174

Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LVII, 2014ISSN 2285-5785; ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5793; ISSN Online 2285-5807; ISSN-L 2285-5785

In South Romania triticale is used both for grain yield and biomass, which is more and more of interest as fodder, but also as row material for producing biogas. The cultivated varieties have to be tested and known as yielding capacity in different growing conditions. The South Romania has favourable conditions for growing triticale. Yield components of triticale crop are developed successively during the vegetation period, as follows: - number of emergent plants/m2; - number of tillers/m2 at beginning of spring; - number of ears/m2. The ear yield components are recorded from the phase of “1 cm” to harvest maturity, and refer to the following: - ear length; - total number of spikelets on ear; - number of fertile spikelets on ear; - number of sterile spikelets on ear; - number of grains on ear; - number of grains on spikelet; - grain weigh on ear; - thousand grain weight (TGW). Grain yield is usually positively correlated with all its components (Kozak et al., 2007). The aim of the paper was to present the results regarding yield components and grain yield obtained at an assortment of triticale studied under soil and climatic conditions from South Romania. MATERIALS AND METHODS Researches were performed in the agricultural year 2012-2013, in field experiments located in South Romania at Moara Domneasca Experimental Farm (44o30’ N latitude and 26o14’ E longitude) belonging to the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. The soil from Moara Domneasca area is reddish preluvosoil. In the period September 2012 - August 2013, in Moara Domneasca area the average temperature was of 12.6oC and the sum of rainfall of 288 mm. Researches were performed at an assortment of 10 triticale varieties, respectively: Mezin, Stil, Titan, Oda, Negoiu, Cascador, Haiduc, Tulus, Polego, Gorun 1. Each variety was sown on 144.8 m2 (3.62 m of width and 40 m of length).

The sowing was performed on 16th of October 2012, at 12.5 cm row spacing. The preceding crop was rapeseed. The fertilization was performed with 86 kg ha-1 of nitrogen and 40 kg ha-1 of phosphorus. The weed control was performed by the help of herbicides. To the studied triticale varieties, determinations were performed in view to establish the yield components and the grain yield. Thus, it was determined the number of ears per square meter. The ears from one square meter were harvested for determining the grain yield. The grain moisture content was determined by the help of a portable moisture analyser. A total of twenty ears were picked and analysed for determining the ear yield components, respectively: ear length; number of spikelets on ear (total, fertile and sterile spikelets), number of grains on ear, number of grains on spikelet, grain weight on ear. Also, it was determined the thousand grain weight and the hectoliter weight. The obtained data were statistically processed by analyses of variance (Anova-single factor). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Under the same pedoclimatic and technological conditions, each variety recorded different values for yield and yield components. Number of ears/m2 The analysis of the yield components indicates that the number of ears per square meter was in average of 337, with a wide variation between the analysed varieties (Figure 1). The Cascador variety recorded the highest number of ears per square meter, i.e. 369.3 ears/m2, while the Haiduc variety recorded the lowest number of ears per square meter, i.e. 309.3 ears/m2. High values of the number of ears per square meter were also recorded in the Gorun variety (362.7 ears/m2), and the Tulus variety (348 ears/m2). Most varieties under study recorded lower values of the number of ears per square meter than the average value of the ten studied varieties, as follows: Haiduc – 309 ears/m2, Negoiu – 317 ears/m2, Oda – 326.7 ears/m2, and Mezin – 329.3 ears/m2. The number of ears per square meter had a direct influence on the ear yield components.

175

Figure 1. A

Ear lengthConcerningcorrelationmeter; howthe grain yvarieties thears per Cascador vwith a ndifference studied vara 7.98 csignificant value of thThere werwith a 10.910.32 cm very distinto the aver

Figure 2. Av

329.

3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400N

o of

ears/m

2

9.05

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Ear l

engt

h(cm)

LSD 5% =LSD 1% =LSD 0.1%

Average numbstudied tri

h g ear leng

n with the nwever, it hayield. The hat recordesquare me

variety, thenegative vcompared trieties. Alsocm ear le

difference he studied vare two rem92 cm ear lear length,

nct significaage value o

verage ear len

338.

7

332.

0

326.

7

7.98

o 8.67

8.54

= 0.82= 1.11% = 1.51

ber of ears periticale varietie

gth, there number of ead no direcears were

ed the higheter (Figure ear lengthvery distinto the averao, the Stil vength, with

compared arieties

markable valength, and

both of thant differen

of the studie

gth at studied

317.

3

369.

3

309.

3

Tr

8.72

7.27

ooo

8.63

Triti

r square meteres

was a diears per squct influencesmaller in

hest numberre 2). In h was 7.27 nct significage value ofariety recorh a negato the aver

arieties: TuPolego, wit

hem registernces compad varieties.

triticale varie

348.

0

337.

3 362.

7

riticale varieties

10.92

***

10.32

***

7.99

icale varieties

r at

irect uare e on

the r of the cm, cant f the rded ative rage

ulus, th a ring ared

eties

NuEaryiespilenLonspiTulspinumspiTheinflmefacdettheThecormevarTul28.recmea ncomstuTheinflforwasterHaspiStil

Fig

337.

18.

81

umber of spr length ha

eld componkelets on

ngth and comng-eared vakelets on lus – 30.63kelets. Shomber of spikelets, and e number

fluenced byeter and thctors durintermined the ear base. e number rrelated witeter. There rieties: Hailus – 28.9083 fertile

corded the heter and onlynegative vempared to died varietie number

fluenced bymation ands correlatedrile spikeletiduc variekelets occul varieties.

gure 3. Averagon ea

pikelets on ead a direct nents; thus, ear was dempactness. arieties recoear: Haidu

3 spikelets, rt-eared varikelets on eStil – 27.20of fertile the numb

he presenceng the cre formation

of fertile h the numb

were remiduc – 290 fertile spispikelets. T

highest numy 21 fertile ry distinct the averag

es. of sterile

y several d fill phasesd with the ets occurred eties, whilurred in the

ge number of ar at studied tr

ear influence the total

etermined

orded a highuc – 31.43, and Negoarieties recoear: Cascad0 spikelets (spikelets o

ber of ears e of severritical perin of sterile

spikelets ober of ears

marked the 9.43 fertileikelets, andThe Cascad

mber of earse spikelets o

significantge value

spikelets ofactors du

s; at the saear length. in the Tita

le the leGorun, Ca

fertile and steriticale varietie

on the earnumber ofby the ear

h number of3 spikelets,oiu – 30.37orded a lowdor – 22.43(Figure 3). on ear was

per squareral limitingiod whichspikelets at

on ear wasper squarefollowing

e spikelets,d Negoiul –dor variety

s per squareon ear, witht differenceof the ten

on ear wasuring grainme time, itThus, most

an, Oda andeast sterileascador and

erile spikelets es

r f r

f ,

7 w 3

s e g h t

s e g ,

– y e h e n

s n t t d e d

176

Number of grains on ear and on spikelets The analysis of the number of grains on ear showed that it was influenced by the number of ears per square meter, the low competitiveness in the plant population, the absence of water and thermal stress during the grain formation and fill phase, the presence of the leaf diseases and pests after the ear-formation phase. The average recordings consisted in 36 grains on ear for the ten triticale varieties (Figure 4). The highest number of grains on ear resulted from the Haiduc variety (40.3 grains on ear) while the lowest number of grains on ear was recorded in Cascador (29.6 grains on ear). A large number of grains on ear were also recorded in the following varieties: Mezin (39.4 grains on ear), Negoiu (38.7 grains on ear) and Oda (38.4 grains on ear). The average number of grains on spikelet was correlated with the number of ears per square meter and the number of spikelets on ear. Thus, the average number of grains on spikelet was different in the varieties under study. Most varieties recorded 1.4 grains on ear, the lowest number being recorded in the Tulus and Gorun varieties (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Average number of grains on ear and average number of grains on spikelet at studied triticale varieties Grain weight on ear Grain weight on ear had a direct influence on the yield resulted from the experiment. In the ten triticale varieties under study, the average grain weight on ear was 2.18 g, with slight variations between the varieties, resulting from the number of ears per square meter (Figure 5). Grain weight on ear was influenced by the number of grains on ear and their size.

The most productive varieties were the following: Mezin (2.51 g on ear), Haiduc (2.34 g on ear) and Gorun (2.28 g on ear). The lowest productivity was recorded in Tulus (1.96 g on ear) and Stil (1.99 g on ear).

Figure 5. Average number of grain weight on ear at

studied triticale varieties Thousand grain weight (TGW) TGW was influenced by water stress and high temperatures in the grain formation and fill phase, presence of leaf diseases and pests, as well as nitrogen amount, as shown in Figure 6. The analysis of the data presented in the Figure 6 indicates that the average TGW was 51.5 g, with an evident variation between the varieties included in the experiment. The highest values were recorded in the following varieties: Negoiu (56.0 g), Haiduc (55.7 g) and Mezin (52.5 g). The lowest TGW was recorded in Polego – 47.8 g, Oda – 48.6 g and Stil – 48.3 g.

Figure 6. Average thousand grain weight (TGW) at

studied triticale varieties

39.38

36.63

37.93

38.35

38.65

29.63

40.35

30.70

36.75

32.08 36

.05

1.42 1.43 1.471.39

1.341.41

1.36

1.06

1.29

1.14

1.33

0,0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1,0

1,2

1,4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

No of

grains o

n spikelet

No of

grains o

n ear

Triticale varieties

No of grains on ear No of grains on spikelet

2.51

1.99 2.

16

2.00

2.50

2.00

2.34

1.96 2.07

2.28

2.18

0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

Grain

weigh

t on ear (g)

Triticale varieties

52.5

48.3 51

.3

48.6

56.0*

51.8

55.7

50.7

47.8

52.2

51.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

TGW

(g)

Triticale varieties

LSD 5% = 4.30

177

Grain yielThe averagentire expsignificant varieties urecorded thTitan recorHigh prodfollowing v(8,775 kgHaiduc (8,

Figure 7.

HectolitreThe qualitytime was hectolitre wThe highesthe Oda vlowest was

Figure 8. A

8,77

5

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

Yield (kg/ha

)ld at 14% mge grain yieperiment wa

differencesunder studyhe highest yrded the lo

ductions wevarieties: T

g/ha), Neg845 kg/ha).

Average yieldtritica

e weight y indice tha

hectolitreweight wasst hectolitrevariety (76s 73.0 kg/10

Average hectolva

7,69

8

7,55

2

7,94

0

moisture ld at 14% mas 8,337 ks between ty. The Cayield (9,300

owest yield ere also re

Tulus (9,224oiu (8,714

d at 14% moisale varieties

at was mease weight. 74.8 kg/10e weight w6.5 kg/100 00 l in the H

litre weight atarieties

8,71

4 9,30

0

8,44

5

Tr

moisture forkg/ha, with the ten triticscador var0 kg/ha), w(7,552 kg/h

ecorded in 4 kg/ha), Me4 kg/ha),

sture at studie

sured at harvThe aver

00 l (Figurewas recorded

l), while Haiduc varie

t studied tritica

9,22

4

7,60

1 8,12

2

riticale varieties

r the no

cale riety

while /ha).

the ezin and

ed

vest rage e 8). d in the

ety.

ale

CO -

-

-

-

-

AC Theof RoDo177Ap(OP RE Bib

S.loR

Gas(TBu

KozWgeSo

KutRThD95

8,33

7

ONCLUSIO

Triticale is plasticity wconditions lThe varietcrops achiefrom one favourablereddish preThe new superior wafrom the hicrops; The studiedconditions preluvosoilproductionshybrids untechnologicTriticale is future for climate cotechnologic

CKNOWLE

e researchethe prese

manian Proomains”, pr78 “OPTI

pproach PTIBIOMA

EFERENCE

erdžic M., Je., 2012. Effe

ocations and esearch Journspar I., ButnaTriticale – a ucure ti. zak K., Samb

Winter triticaleenotypes. Actoil and Plant Stlu I., Kinacesistance Indihree Triticaleergisi, Journa5-103.

ONS

a new cereawhich valorless favouraies studiedved yields ovariety to

climate conluvosoil frotriticale vaay the soil ailly area, le

d triticale vof 2013

achieves than whe

nder identiccal conditiona grains spareas wit

nditions bucal condition

EDGEMEN

es carried oent paper ogram “Parroject PN-IImization

to WaA-W), Contr

ES

eli M., Deletcts of agroclfertilization o

nal of Agricultru G., 1985. new cereal p

borski S., Roze grain yield, a AgriculturaeSciences, 57:2ci G., 2010.icates for Yiee Cultivars. al of Tekirda

al with highrises the enable to othed in the cof over 7 t/h

o another, nditions of 2om South Rarieties valand climateess favourab

varieties in t3 and oed higheeat and mocal environmns.

pecies belonth limitingut also fons.

NTS

out for the were fin

rtnerships fII-PT-PCCA

of BIOMater conract no. 45/2

ti N., Bara limatic condion grain yieldture Sciences, Triticale – o

plant). Editur

zbicki J., Mada comparative Scandinavic

263-270. . Evaluation eld and Its CoTekirda Zir

ag Agricultura

h ecologicalnvironmentr crops.

comparativeha, variableunder the

2013 on theomania. lorise in ae conditionsble to other

the specificn reddish

er grainsost of cornmental and

nging to theg soil andr intensive

elaborationnanced byfor PriorityA-2011-3.2-Mass andnservation”2012.

S., Stojkoviitions at triald of triticale.44 (1): 3-8. nou cereal

a Academiei,

dry W., 2007.e study of 15ca, Section B-

of Droughtomponents inrrat Fakültesial Faculty, p.

l t

e e e e

a s r

c h s n d

e d e

n y y -d ”

l .

,

. 5 -

t n i .

178

Nefir P., Tab r V., 2012. Influence of climatic conditions on production of triticale (Triticosecale Wittmack). Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 44(1):125-129.

Roman Gh., Tab r V., Axinte M., Robu T., tefan M., Morar G., Pîr an P., Cercea S., 2011. Fitotehnie (Crop production). Editura universitar , Bucure ti, p. 149-155 ( tefan M.).

Ittu Gh., S ulescu N.N., Ittu M., Must ea P., 2005. Realiz ri i perspective în ameliorarea speciei triticale

în România (Triticale breeding in Romania – Present and future). Lucr ri tiin ifice USAMVB XLV.

Ittu Gh., S ulescu N.N., Ittu M., Must ea P., 2006. Rezisten a la încol ire în spike a germoplasmei române ti de triticale (Spike germination resistance in Romanian triticale germplasm). Probl. Genet. Teor. Aplic. XXXVIII.

***, http://faostat3.fao.org/faostat-gateway/go/to/ download/Q/QC/E

179