Tests were conducted at Lacombe, AB, from 1989 to 1991 to determine the forage yield and quality of Wapiti triticale (× Triticosecale Rimpani Witt.) grown as a monocrop and in binary mixtures with Cascade oat (Avena sativa L.), Empress barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) or Johnston barley. The Cascade monocrop and mixtures with Wapiti had the highest DM yields (12.37–13.42 t ha−1). Yields of the barley monocrops and mixtures with Wapiti (6.60–9.10 t ha−1 in 1989 and 8.96–11.49 t ha−1 in 1990) were similar to the Wapiti monocrop (8.06 and 8.99 t ha−1). In 1991, yields for the Wapiti monocrop and 25:75 barley:Wapiti mixtures (14.54 and 14.99 t ha−1, respectively) were higher than those for the barley monocrops and 50:50 and 75:25 mixtures (11.98–12.79 t ha−1). The yields of the mixtures in 1989 and 1990 were 108 and 106% higher than expected based on the yield of the components, although in 1991 this enhancement was not observed. Moisture contents at harvest were variable and not always as expected based on the relative maturities of the species. However, mixtures with Wapiti could offer some flexibility in harvest for silage production. Protein contents were found to be highly variable and no trends were established. The Cascade monocrop and mixtures had the highest protein yields in 1990 and 1991. The acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents of the 50:50 and 25:75 Cascade:Wapiti mixtures (26.9 and 28.4 g 100 g−1) were lower than the Cascade monocrop (33.6 g 100 g−1). Lignin contents were found to vary between treatments only in 1989 when the Wapiti monocrop (3.90 g 100 g−1) was intermediate to the Empress (3.30 g 100 g−1) and Cascade (4.83 g 100 g−1). Yield stability and quality would make use of Wapiti mixtures for silage attractive choices for silage production. Key words: Silage, protein, ADF, lignin, cereal mixtures
Effects of seeding rates on forage yield and quality of oat (Avena sativa l.) vetch (Vicia sativa l.) mixtures under irrigated conditions of Madagascar
