Forage yield and competition indices of triticale and barley mixed intercropping with common vetch and grasspea in the Mediterranean region

Abstract EN

A 2-year study was conducted at Tel Hadya station (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Area ICARDA) in north-west Syria, to investigate forage yield of triticale (x.Triticosecale Wittmack) and barley (Hordum vulgare L.) monoculture as well as in mixture with common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in one seeding ratio (50:50) during stem elongation and booting stages of the cereal crops, in addition to assess some competition indices such as land equivalent ratio (LER), relative crowding coefficient (RCC or K) and aggressivity (A).

Dry matter yield of triticale and barley monocultures fluctuated between small increase and small decrease in comparison with their mixtures.

LER and K values exceeded unity in both stages, indicating that there was an advantage of intercropping for exploiting the environmental resources.

Legume proportions were better in triticale mixtures in both stages.

Aggressivity values indicated that triticale and barley were the dominant species in their mixtures.