Winter cereals grown for grain and for the dual purpose of forage plus grain II. Water use and water-use efficiency

Water use of barley (Hordeum distichon L.) and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) grown for the dual purpose of forage plus grain as an alternative to traditional grain monoculture (control) was assessed at Granada, southern Spain, in two experiments during three cropping years.No significant differences in seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) and soil water depletion at maturity were found between production targets, irrespective of genotype, sowing date and year. A more efficient use of autumn and winter rainfall explained the higher water use observed in 1989/90 in early sown barley as compared to the normal sowing date.There were differences in water-use efficiency (WUE) between seasons in response to clipping: in 1987/88, clipping increased WUE in both experiments relative to the control, while it either reduced it (genotype experiment) or did not affect it (sowing system experiment) in the two following seasons. The response of WUE to clipping was a consequence of similar, differential responses between years observed in dry matter and grain production.Weather-crop interactions caused variable drought and crop water-use patterns among years, which affected the different responses to clipping observed among years. In 1987/88, the crops experienced a prolonged drought period that started around clipping, and increased in severity until anthesis, when spring rains improved growth conditions for some weeks. Forage removal decreased water use and reduced plant water deficit, therefore allowing for enhanced growth and increased water use around anthesis. Thus, clipped cereals had higher grain numbers, dry matter and grain yield than the control at harvest. However, the water-use partitioning observed in the clipping-anthesis period of 1987/88 did not occur in following two seasons. This was possibly due to higher soil evaporation losses after forage removal for clipped cereals in 1988/89, and higher water availability in the clipping-anthesis period in 1989/90. Thus, clipping, by reducing the photosynthetic surface after forage removal, yielded less biomass and grain, and resulted in lower WUE, relative to the control.Winter forage production was associated to ET in 1987/88 and 1989/90, and to WUE in 1988/89 and 1989/90, during the crop phases prior to clipping. However, the increases in ET did not imply lower water availability for subsequent crop phases, as it was the result of more efficient use of autumn and winter rainfall.     

Seasonal distribution of herbage mass and nutritive value of Prairiegrass (Bromus catharticus Vahl)

A reliable supply of herbage is a crucial feature of forage‐based livestock systems. Forage resources with winter‐active growth habits can help extend the growing season in early spring and late autumn in regions with mild‐winter conditions while drought‐ and heat‐tolerant plants help meet herbage needs during summer in humid temperate regions. The prairiegrass (Bromus catharticus, Vahl) cultivars, Grassland Dixon and Grasslands Lakota, provide resistance to foliar disease and cold in addition to sustained productivity when soil moisture is low, and could be useful over a wide range of growing conditions. The cultivars were sown in spring or summer to determine seasonal distribution of productivity and nutritive value of herbage grown in a cool‐temperate region. Stands established rapidly regardless of sowing time or cultivar and were virtually pure prairiegrass once plants were well‐established. Stand composition of broadcast sowings tended to be stable in subsequent growing seasons, whereas the amount of prairiegrass varied in no‐till stands. In the growing seasons after establishment, cumulative dry matter (DM) yield of Lakota was similar regardless of when it was sown, whereas DM yield of Dixon differed with sowing time and was less in spring‐ than summer‐planted stands. Rapid stand establishment, significant late‐season yield, consistent concentrations of crude protein, non‐structural carbohydrate and total digestible nutrients in herbage, and dominance of sward composition, suggest that prairiegrass cultivars, Dixon and Lakota, are excellent resources for forage‐based livestock production systems in humid temperate conditions.     

Triticale and other small grain cereals for forage and grain in Mediterranean conditions

In field experiments conducted over 2 years, triticale was compared with barley, bread wheat and oats for its dual-purpose (forage and grain) capability.
The effect of spring forage removal on grain yield ranged from small yield increases (in the triticale and barley genotypes that otherwise lodged) to a 53% decrease, and was dependent on species, genotype, stage of development when cut, and time for recovery before grain harvest. A key factor influencing grain yield after early cutting was the number of spikes that developed.
The complete types of triticale were better than the one substituted type tested for dual purpose but, as there is variability among them, selection for good mixed aptitude is possible.
The production of the best triticale averaged over 2 years 3 t of forage DM ha^-1 (with 684 kg of crude protein ha^-1) and then 4–3 t of grain ha^-1. In this instance, neither the grain yield nor the number of spikes per plant were reduced after clipping, in spite of the fact that the shoot apices were removed.
Plant height and lodging were reduced by a forage cut. In triticale, the number of days to heading was increased even more when the cut was late, but no effect was observed in barley.     

Yield and quality of winter and spring triticales for forage and grain

In field experiments conducted over 2 years in Mediterranean conditions, five winter and five spring triticales were evaluated for forage and grain production in the same cropping season. The experiments had two treatments, namely harvesting for grain only, and dual-purpose forage and grain production. In the latter treatment, forage was cut when the first node was detectable (Zadoks' stage 31), without removing the apical meristems. Grain was harvested when ripe (Zadoks' stage 92) in both cut and uncut plots.
Environmental conditions affected grain production and protein content more than forage yield and quality. Winter triticales yielded about 43% more forage than spring types, but after forage removal the spring types yielded about 36% more grain than winter triticales.
Reductions in grain yield after clipping were more pronounced in winter (32%) than in spring (19%) types. Forage crude protein content was significantly higher in the spring types studied (24.6%) than in the winter types (23.5%), the opposite being true for fibre content (20.7 and 21.6% respectively). Grain crude protein content did not differ between grain and dual-purpose treatments, but was higher in the spring triticales (12.8%) than in the winter types (11.9%). There was more variability for the measured traits within the winter triticales studied than within the spring types.     

Effect of harvest time on yield and pre-harvest quality of semi-leafless grain peas (Pisum sativum L.) as whole-crop forage

The aim of the work was to study changes in the yield and nutritional characteristics of whole crop semi-leafless field pea over two growing seasons in the Po plain, Italy. Samples of two cultivars (Baccara and Sidney) were collected from flowering to grain maturity. The developmental stage, yield, dry matter (DM) content, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), starch, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), gross energy (GE), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and the net energy for lactation (NE_L) were determined at each harvest. The forage characteristics were regressed on the growing degree days (GDD) with 4.4 °C as the base temperature. The DM yield increased with advancing maturity from 0.5 to 8.91 Mg ha⁻¹, while the CP decreased from 261 to 159 g kg⁻¹ DM. During the whole growth cycle the GE, OMD, NE_L and milk forage units (milk FU) were almost steady. No differences were observed between the cultivars for any of the measured parameters. At grain maturity, the crop produced over 4.0 Mg ha⁻¹ DM of grain. The CP, starch and WSC of the grain did not show any differences between the cultivars or years. The data showed that the nutritive quality of the forage of the semi-leafless grain pea harvested as a whole crop for ensiling purposes did not diminish with maturity and could help improve the self-sufficiency of dairy farms, in terms of home-grown protein forages.     

Growth and distribution of maize roots under nitrogen fertilization in plinthite soil

To improve efficiency of soil N and water use in the savanna, maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars with improved root systems are required. Two rainfed field experiments were conducted in Samaru, Nigeria in the 1993 and 1994 growing seasons with five maize cultivars under various rates of nitrogen fertilizer. The capacity of maize for rapid early root growth and to later develop a deep, dense root system was assessed. In addition, the effect of N fertilization on root growth of maize was studied in 1994. The widely cultivated cultivar TZB-SR had a poor root system in the surface soil layer and was more susceptible to early-season drought, as indicated by low plant vigor and aboveground dry matter yield during that time. It had a lower grain yield and a relatively small harvest index, but ranked among the highest in total aboveground dry matter production compared to other cultivars. The size of root system alone did not always relate well with grain yield among cultivars. Partitioning of dry matter within the plant was important in determining differences in grain yield and N stress tolerance between cultivars. A semiprolific cultivar (SPL) had high seedling vigour and a dense root system in the surface soil layer that conferred a greater tolerance to early-season drought stress and improved uptake of the early-season N flush, as indicated by a greater dry matter yield at 35 days after sowing (DAS). It also had a fine, deep, dense root system at flowering that could have improved water- and N-use efficiency in the subsoil (> 45 cm), thereby avoiding midseason drought stress in 1994. SPL had a large harvest index and the greatest yield among cultivars in 1994. Averaged across cultivars, greater root growth and distribution was observed at a moderate N rate of 0.56 g plant⁻¹ than at zero-N or high N (2.26 g plant⁻¹). Differences in root morphology could be valuable as selection criteria for N-efficient and drought-tolerant maize.     

播期推迟对冬小麦产量形成和籽粒品质的调控效应

为了明确推迟播期对小麦产量形成和品质的影响,选用2个冬小麦品种(轮选987和京冬8号),在大田条件下研究了播期推迟对小麦群体动态、物质积累、产量构成和籽粒品质的调控效应.结果表明,播期推迟能显著降低小麦冬前分蘖数,促进春季分蘖的发生和成穗,提高分蘖成穗率.播期对小麦植株干物质积累的影响存在基因型差异.播期推迟引起小麦产量构成因素的变化,进而导致籽粒产量下降,且京冬8号出现显著下降时对应的播期早于轮选987.播期推迟后小麦籽粒中的淀粉含量呈下降趋势,蛋白质含量呈上升趋势,同时二者的主要组成成份也随之改变.因此,冀东地区选用轮选987且适当早播(10月5日播种)可以获得高产;推迟播期至10月10日则籽粒品质提高,但要注意加强小麦生育后期的田间管理,防止粒重明显降低.     

播后镇压和冬前灌溉对土壤条件和冬小麦生育特性的影响

为揭示冬灌和镇压的作用,以冬小麦品种石新828和石麦12号为材料,研究了冬灌和镇压措施对麦田土壤水热条件和冬小麦生育特性的影响。结果表明,与不冬灌相比,冬灌条件下,冬季和春季土壤含水量提高,土壤温度较稳定。与不镇压相比,镇压处理的冬前和起身期土壤含水量及冬前夜间土壤温度提高。冬灌处理冬小麦在越冬后各时期的总茎数、LAI、干物质积累量有所降低,开花期叶片光合速率显著下降,灌浆后期叶片SPAD值下降也较快,每穗总小穗数、结实小穗数、穗粒数和产量均减少。镇压使小麦开花前干物质积累量减少,但对成熟期干物质积累量影响不显著,因为开花后光合速率提高,叶片SPAD值下降较缓慢,开花后干物质积累较多。镇压处理成熟期的单位面积穗数降低,但由于穗粒数和千粒重提高,镇压与不镇压的产量差异不显著。从本研究结果看,冬灌是一项防冻保苗的有效措施,与播后镇压配合可减缓冬季低温和温度剧烈变化对小麦的不利影响。     

播期对青贮大麦产量和青贮品质的影响

为探究新疆北部地区播期对青贮大麦产量、青贮原料品质和青贮品质的影响,以3个大麦品种(系)(垦啤麦13、P13-3和甘啤4号)为材料,分别于3月18日、4月2日、4月17日播种,对其青贮农艺性状、干草产量、青贮原料营养成分和青贮品质进行分析。结果表明,随着播期的推迟,青贮大麦生育期大幅度缩短,4月17日播种时生育期较3月18日缩短22~23 d。晚播会显著降低大麦干草产量,晚播(4月17日)时3个品种(系)干草产量比早播(3月18日)降低15.2%~24.2%,其中垦啤麦13降幅最大。推迟播种使垦啤麦13和甘啤4号茎、穗的干物质分配比例下降,叶的干物质分配比例上升。晚播使P13-3和甘啤4号洗涤纤维含量(中性和酸性)和粗脂肪含量分别显著上升和下降,显著降低P13-3的粗蛋白含量,提高甘啤4号可溶性碳水化合物含量。播期对青贮品质影响因品种(系)而异,晚播降低了甘啤4号青贮的pH值、氨态氮含量,提高乳酸含量,对其他品种(系)无显著性影响。总体来看,新疆青贮大麦在外界条件允许的条件下,应适当早播。     

播期对啤酒大麦开花期形态指标、产量及品质的影响

为给不同用途大麦高产、优质栽培适宜播期的确定提供参考,在大田条件下,以港啤1号、扬农啤2号、苏引麦3号、单2等4个大麦品种为材料,分析了播期对冬大麦开花期形态指标、产量和品质的影响以及形态指标与产量和品质的相关性。结果表明,随着播期的推迟,大麦产量、千粒重、开花期叶面积指数和干物重呈减少趋势,开花期单茎茎鞘重、籽粒蛋白质和淀粉含量呈增加趋势。产量在早播时与开花期单茎茎鞘重和叶面积指数正相关;适播时与开花期干物重和单茎茎鞘重正相关;迟播时与开花期单茎茎鞘重负相关,与叶面积指数正相关。千粒重早播时与开花期干物重和叶面积指数负相关,适播和迟播时与开花期单茎茎鞘重和叶面积指数负相关。籽粒蛋白质含量在早播和晚播时与开花期干物重和叶面积指数正相关;适播时与开花期单茎茎鞘重和叶面积指数正相关。各个播期下籽粒淀粉含量与开花期单茎茎鞘重和叶面积指数负相关。     

Forage potential of semi-leafless grain peas

Individually sown plants of a forage‐type pea (Pisum sativum L.), cv. Magnus, and a grain‐type pea cv. Eiffel, were harvested several times over the growing season to determine how the quantity of plant components changed with time from sowing. There was no difference between the pea types in the mean dry weight per plant. The leaf‐to‐stem ratio of the two types was also not different. An appropriate grain‐type pea cultivar could be a suitable substitute for forage‐type cultivar in some forage production systems.     

Phenotypic plasticity of yield and agronomic traits in cereals and rapeseed at high latitudes

In the northernmost European environments of Finland, large variability in the yield and quality of crops is a critical source of uncertainty for growers and end-users of grain. The aims of this study were (i) to quantify and compare the plasticity, i.e., cultivar responsiveness to environment, in yield of spring oat, spring wheat, six-row barley, two-row barley, winter rye, winter wheat, turnip rape and oilseed rape, (ii) to explore the existence of hierarchies or positive correlations in the plasticity of agronomic, yield and quality traits and (iii) to probe for trends in yield plasticity associated with different eras of breeding for yield potential and agronomic traits. Plasticities of yield, agronomic and quality traits were derived as slopes of norms of reaction using MTT Agrifood Research Finland data sets combining long-term (1970-2008 for cereals and 1976-2008 for rapeseed) results from 15 to 26 locations. Plasticity of yield ranged typically between 0.8 and 1.2, was smallest for six-row barley (0.84-1.11) and largest for winter rye (0.72-1.36). We found two types of associations between plasticity of yield and yield under stressful or favourable conditions for cereals but none for rape. In spring wheat, oat and six-row barley, high yield plasticity was associated with crop responsiveness to favourable conditions rather than yield reductions under stressful conditions. Modern spring wheat cultivars had higher maximum grain yields compared to older ones at the same level of plasticity. In winter wheat and rye, high yield plasticity resulted from the combination of high yield in favourable conditions and low yield in stressful environments. Many associations between yield plasticity and other traits were identified in cereals: e.g., high yield plasticity was often associated with higher grain weight, more grains per square meter, later maturity (contrary to turnip rape), shorter plants, less lodging and lower grain protein content and in winter cereals with higher winter damage.     

宽幅播种条件下行距对小麦产量及干物质积累和转运的影响

为了确定小麦宽幅播种的适宜行距,在高产地块以高产小麦品种泰农18为材料,设置20 cm、25 cm、30 cm三个行距处理,研究了宽幅播种条件下行距对小麦产量、群体动态、干物质积累与分配的影响。结果表明,相同行距下,宽幅播种的小麦产量较常规条播提高11.0%。在宽幅播种条件下,行距过大时小麦群体数量较小,成穗不足,干物质积累减少,产量降低;缩小行距可提高群体数量和干物质积累;但行距过小时穗粒数、千粒重下降,群体边际效应减弱,产量降低;适宜行距可协调产量构成因素,提高群体在花后维持较高光合能力,提高花后干物质同化量和对籽粒的贡献度。在本试验的条件下,泰农18以宽幅播种、行距25 cm、播量120 kg·hm~(-2)为宜。     

播期对秸秆带状覆盖下冬小麦干物质积累、产量及水分利用效率的影响

为明确半干旱雨养区玉米秸秆带状覆盖条件下播种时间对小麦产量和水分利用效率可能带来的影响,在甘肃省通渭县常河镇甘肃农业大学旱作小麦试验基地设7个播期处理,分别为9月14日(T1)、9月19日(T2)、9月24日(T3)、9月29日(T4)、10月4日(T5)、10月9日(T6),以9月24日露地种植为对照(CK),研究了播期对冬小麦生育期、干物质积累及产量等性状的影响。结果表明,T2处理的产量和WUE最高,穗粒数和千粒重也显著高于其他处理。推迟播期缩短了冬小麦全生育其天数,各生育阶段天数抽穗前大于抽穗后;播期对植株干物质积累的影响表现为营养生长期大于生殖生长期,花前干物质向籽粒的转运量及其对籽粒的贡献率随播期推迟呈增加的趋势。综合来看,在半干旱雨养区玉米秸秆带状覆盖条件下9月19日是冬小麦最佳播期。     

播后镇压和冬前灌溉对冬小麦干物质转移和氮素利用效率的影响

为明确播后镇压和冬前灌溉对高产冬小麦干物质和氮素转移及氮素利用效率的影响,以冬小麦品种石新828和石麦12为材料,采用裂区田间试验,于开花期和成熟期,测定不同器官的干物质和氮积累量和转移量、籽粒产量、蛋白质产量、氮吸收效率和氮肥生产效率。结果表明,冬灌和镇压处理下,2个品种开花期和成熟期的干物质积累量下降,开花前各营养器官干物质的转移量、转移率及对籽粒的贡献率均降低,但开花后籽粒中的干物质积累量增加。冬灌处理小麦成熟期的总干物质积累量和产量下降。冬灌处理下,石新828开花后籽粒中的氮积累量增加,开花后氮素对籽粒的贡献率提高,但各器官的氮转移量显著降低,籽粒氮积累总量显著减少,氮吸收效率下降;冬灌对石麦12成熟期籽粒氮素积累量影响不显著。与不镇压相比,镇压处理下,2个品种开花期的氮积累总量和不同器官中的氮积累量均降低,而成熟期各器官氮积累量及分配比例的差异均不显著。镇压处理与不镇压处理相比,2个品种开花前营养器官中的氮转移量、转移率和贡献率均降低,但是开花后的氮积累量及其对籽粒氮的贡献率提高,其中,镇压的石麦12开花前氮转移量、贡献率和开花后氮积累量、贡献率与不镇压的差异达显著水平;成熟期籽粒氮素积累量的差异不显著。建议在足墒播种条件下不必进行冬灌,应根据播种前后土壤和水分条件确定是否需要镇压。     

Folate in barley grain and fractions

Wholegrain cereals are good sources of folate. However, little is known about folate in barley. In this study, total folate was analysed in five hulled Finnish barley cultivars from three harvesting years (2006–2008). In addition, different fractions were produced from two hulled cultivars by scarification and from mixes of hulled cultivars by industrial milling. Total folate was determined in all samples with a microbiological method and vitamer distribution in scarification and industrial milling fractions, using HPLC or UPLC. Limited variation was observed in the total folate content of the five cultivars. The average contents of the three harvest years ranged from 563 to 773 ng/g dm. Fractions containing germ and outer layers were the richest in folate. The highest total folate content in the scarification fractions was up to 1710 ng/g dm. The total folate content of the hull fraction obtained by dehulling 10% of the grains with an industrial pearler was almost 4-fold compared to the corresponding dehulled grain. This hull fraction is normally not used as food. The main folate vitamers in the fractions were 5-HCO-H₄folate, 5-CH₃-H₄folate, 5,10-CH⁺-H₄folate, and 10-HCO-PGA. Folate content could be enhanced naturally by introducing folate-rich fractions of barley into cereal products.     

水氮限量供给下两个高产小麦品种物质积累与水分利用特征

为给小麦节水高产高效栽培提供科学依据,以主栽小麦品种济麦22和石麦15为材料,在大田条件下,设置2个灌水水平[春灌一水(W1)和春灌二水(W2)],在每个灌水水平下设置2个施氮量处理[192kg.hm-2(N1)和270kg.hm-2(N2)],探讨了有限水氮供给条件下两品种的干物质生产与水分利用特征。结果表明:(1)在W1水平下,济麦22的N1与N2处理籽粒产量和水分利用效率无显著差异,石麦15的N1处理籽粒产量和水分利用效率显著高于N2处理;在W2水平下,两品种籽粒产量和水分利用效率均以N1处理较高;在相同施氮水平下,两品种籽粒产量和水分利用效率均以W2处理较高;在不同水氮处理下,济麦22籽粒产量和水分利用效率高于石麦15。(2)在相同灌溉水平下,两品种花后物质积累量和分配比例均以N1处理高于N2处理;在相同施氮水平下,两品种花后物质积累量和分配比例均以W2处理高于W1处理;2个品种比较,石麦15花后物质积累量和分配比例高于济麦22,而济麦22花前物质积累量及其对产量的贡献率高于石麦15。(3)在不同水氮处理下,济麦22总耗水量、土壤贮水消耗量及花后耗水比例均大于石麦15。综合上述结果认为,两小麦品种在W2N1水氮组合下可实现高产与水分高效利用的协调统一。     

籼粳杂交稻精准条播育秧机插减氮增产的效应研究

[目的]明确精准条播育秧机插对籼粳杂交稻产量形成的影响及其在减氮条件下降低产量损失的作用.[方法]以甬优538和甬优1540为供试品种,精准条播(precision drill sowing,PS)16条机插,并以相同播种量传统撒播(broadcast sowing,BS)机插为对照,同时设置不施氮肥(0 kg/hm2...     

北疆超晚播小麦品种生育特性及产量比较

为探明北疆超晚播条件下,冬、春性小麦品种间生育特性及产量的差异,采用田间试验（10月31日播种,冬前不灌水）,比较了6个冬性和5个春性小麦品种的生育特性及产量。结果表明,春性品种出苗率明显高于冬性品种,春性品种平均生育期（91.8 d）比冬性品种(95.0 d)短约3.0 d;春性品种总茎数平均峰值（869.3×10⁴·hm^-2）明显高于冬性品种（772.4×10⁴·hm^-2）;叶面积指数和干物质积累量的平均值在春、冬性品种间差异不明显;新冬41、新春6号、新春43号的产量较高,为7 581.6~7 935.6 kg·hm^-2,获得高产的穗数为431.7×10⁴~515.8× 10⁴·hm^-2,穗粒数 31.6~36.3,千粒重46.8~52.8 g。综合考虑产量、出苗率、成熟期等因素,初步认为新春6号、新冬41号、新春43号适合在北疆超晚播。     

Effects of broad-leaf crops and their sowing time on subsequent wheat production

Lupin, field pea, lentil, chickpea, canola, linseed, and barley were sown at different times (late April-early July) to study their effects on subsequent wheat production on a red earth at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The cultivars of field pea (Pisum sativum) included Dunn, Derrimut, Maitland and Dinkum; narrow-leaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) cultivars were Danja, Geebung and Gungurru, and either the L. angustifolius line 75A/330 (1989–1990) or the broad-leaf lupin L. albus cv. Ultra (1991–1992). Only one cultivar of the other crops was grown in any year and after 1989 lentil (Lens culinaris cv. Aldinga) was replaced by chickpea (Cicer arietinum cv. Amethyst). The canola (cv. Shiralee (1989–1991), cv. Barossa (1992)) and linseed (cv. Glenelg) rotations received annual applications of 40–50 kg N/ha as urea.Compared to barley and the oilseeds, grain legumes increased soil mineral N supply to the following wheat crop. Over 4 years the mean wheat grain yield response to a broad-leaf crop, relative to barley, was 115% for lupin, 84% for field pea, 88% for linseed and 86% for canola. However, the effects of the various crops on subsequent wheat grain yields and grain protein varied markedly with season. The main advantage of lupin over field pea occurred in years when disease reduced growth of field pea crops. In high rainfall years, wheat yields following lentil and chickpea were lower than those following lupin. The narrow-leaf cultivars of lupin promoted greater wheat yields than either the reduced branching line 75A/330 or the broad-leaf albus cultivar Ultra. Delayed sowing of lupin reduced yield and grain protein of wheat, except when low rainfall curtailed growth of either crop in the rotation. There was little effect of field pea sowing date on wheat grain yield but sowing in late June combined with a dry spring, reduced mineral N supply and grain protein. Late sowing of oilseeds had no consistent effect on wheat grain yield but increased grain protein in most years. Late sowing of barley typically increased wheat grain yield but had little effect on grain protein. The effects of sowing time were mainly attributed to effects on soil N supply and for barley on disease incidence in the subsequent wheat.