FORAGE PRODUCTION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION IN SPRING TRITICALE (x Triticosecale Wittmack) IN SOUTHERN SONORA, MEXICO

Abstract

Hybrid triticale is rich in protein content, with values around 20% higher than in wheat. Therefore,
there is a need to investigate and evaluate producing spring triticale in southern Sonora, in order to
incorporate this crop into the agri food chain for the production of food and forage. The objective of this research was to evaluate forage production in advanced lines of spring-habit triticales and their chemical properties. The study was carried out in the fall-winter 2022-2023 agricultural cycle at Tecnológico Nacional de México-Valle del Yaqui, Sonora (Mexico), using a randomized block experimental design with three repetitions; each experimental unit consisted of four furrows of five meters in length. The measured variables were: green forage, dry forage, plant height and number
of stems. In addition, the following chemical properties were evaluated: dry matter (MS), crude protein (PC), digestible protein (DP), fat, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), total digestible nutrients (TDN), net lactation energy (NLE), net maintenance energy (NME), net energy gain (NEG), digestible dry matter (DDM), and dry matter intake (DMI). The results showed statistical differences between lines for all the variables evaluated; the L-8 line showed a higher production of green and dry forage, as well as in the most basic chemical properties such as DDM, ADF, NDF, TDN, DM and ash. However, the Bicentenario control and the L-11, L-7, L-10, L-6, L-9, L-4 were associated with plant height, fat, DMI, CP and number of stems.