Rotational Diversity Effects in a Triticale-Based Cropping System.

A study was conducted at four locations across AB and SK, and one location at Normandin, QC from 2008 to 2013. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cropping sequences of varying levels of diversity including continuous triticale and triticale grown in combinations with wheat, oats, canola, pea, and intercropped combinations. An analysis without Normandin data indicated that triticale yield, seed mass, test wt., and protein concentration was less for a continuous triticale, cropping sequences including triticale and a cereal, and triticale that is intercropped when compared with more diverse cropping sequences. Triticale grain yield responses were as follows: continuous triticale, triticale-cereal, and triticale intercropped with pea yielded 3.5 T ha-1 < triticale-pea yielded 3.6 T ha-1 < triticale-canola and canola-triticale-pea yielded 3.9 T ha-1. Moreover, along with improved yield the canola-triticale-pea yields were more consistent than other treatments. Triticale biomass yield was greatest for canola-triticale-pea (1140 kg ha-1) compared with other less diverse triticale cropping sequences (1050 kg ha-1). Weed biomass was not affected by cropping sequence, cropping sequence effects were relatively more variable among sites for grassy weed. Analysis of only data from Normandin did reveal cropping sequence effects, with one exception. Triticale grain yield for continuous triticale and triticale-triticale-canola (2.8 T ha-1) was less than the triticale-pea and triticale-oat (3.1 T ha-1) sequences, with intermediate yields for the other cropping sequences. Canola yield and other select canola responses were not affected by cropping sequences.