Study on the effects of plant density and cutting height on forage and grain yield of triticale under Ahwaz conditions

A two year experiment was conducted in 2000 and 2001 in order to investigate the effect of height of cutting and plant density on forage and grain yield of triticale (var. Juanillo 92). The experimental design was a split plot based on randemized complete block design, in which main plots consisted of 4 level of height of cutting: Cutting from 5 centimeter above ground (C1), Cutting from 10 centimeter above ground (C2), Cutting from 15 centimeter above ground (C3), No cutting (C4). All of the cutting treatments were implemented before stem elongation. Four planting densities (300, 400, 500 and 600 plant m-2) assigned to sub-plots with 4 replications. Results showed that by increasing in height of cutting significantly affected grain yield, biological yield, 1000 kernel weight, spike number per square meter and number of grain per spike. The highest grain yield (490.8 gm-2) obtained from C4 treatment (Non cutting) and the least (323 gm-2) in the C1 treatment (cutting from 5 centimeter). There were no significant differences between C3 and C4 treatments. Effect of plant density on grain yield was not significant. No cutting (C4) treatment at the 400 plants m-2 produced 500.9 gm-2 of grain. There was no significant difference between this treatment and C4D1, C4D3 and C3D3. Cutting hieght showed significant effect on forage yield. As the cutting height increased, forage yield decreased significantly. Results showed that the effect of plant density on forage yield was significant. When plant density increased, forage yield also increased, significantly. Combined analysis of variance indicated that cutting from 15 centimeter above ground at 500 plants m-2 treatment (C3D3) could be recommended for growing tritical (cv. Juanillo 92) as dual purpose crop.