Yield and yield structure of triticales compared with wheat in northern New South Wales

The yields and yield structure of cultivars of triticales and bread wheats (with a range of phasic development patterns in both species) were compared in 2 field experiments at Narrabri in northern New South Wales. The experiments were performed on a grey cracking clay soil with irrigation to prevent severe moisture stress. Triticales, both early and midseason types, appeared to have reached yield parity with well-adapted wheat varieties. Meaned over the 2 experiments and all sowings, the triticales yields were 19% greater than the bread wheats. Triticales were generally superior to wheat in all components of yield of the spike (1000-grain weight, grain number/spikelet and spikelet number/spike), whilst the wheats produced more spikes per unit area. The triticales also had higher harvest indices than the wheats. The results are discussed in relation to the overall adaptability of triticale for Australian conditions.