Agronomic traits of dual-purpose wheat with different plant architectures under defoliation strategies

Abstract

Crop-livestock system implies in the balance of appropriate animal foraging, minimizing effects on grain production on the same crop season. This study aims to assess canopy heights (20 and 30 cm) and cuts number (no cut, 1, 2 and 3 cuts) effects on wheat productivity and bromatological composition of forage, and grain yield of BRS Umbu and BRS Tarumã cultivars. Regardless cuts number and cultivars, 30 cm provided higher forage productivity (1032 and 1348 kg DM ha-1) than 20 cm (554 and 909 kg DM ha-1), for BRS Umbu and Tarumã, respectively, in average crop seasons. For both cultivars and crop seasons, mean values of 26% crude protein, 55% neutral detergent fiber and 26% acid detergent fiber were obtained. At 20 cm no difference in grain yield was observed as a function of cuts number with 3780 kg ha-1 for BRS Umbu, in average crop seasons and 4306 kg ha-1 in 2014, for BRS Tarumã. However, at 30 cm, the grain yield was penalized at least in 30% as a result only third cut. These results indicate that wheat as dual-purpose can be employed in southern Brazil in grazing systems in forage shortage times and then produce grains without yield penalties as a function to the management used.