Effect of Cutting Stage on Yield and Quality of triticale ( x triticosecale Witt ) Cultivars

The aim of the research was to investigate the herbage yield and some characteristics of three triticale cultivars (Beaguelita, Eronga and Juanillo) harvested at the boot and milky-waxy ripeness stages in 1993-94 and 1994-95. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Although there were no significant differences between the years and the cultivars, significant differences were found between the harvest stages and for most of the parameters studied superiority was observed for the late cutting (at milky-waxy ripeness). The highest crude protein (11.9%) and crude ash (9.4%) contents were obtained h m the boot stage, whereas the highest yields for green matter, dry matter, crude protein and crude ash were obtained h m the milky-waxy ripeness stage (34.94; 11.65; O.% and 0.92t/ha, respectively). Also, the dry matter content was higher at the late cutting (33.4%).