Tag Archives: light use efficiency

1467-1485 K. Sieling, U. Böttcher and H. Kage
Canopy traits in rye, triticale and wheat under varying N supply
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Canopy traits in rye, triticale and wheat under varying N supply

K. Sieling*, U. Böttcher and H. Kage

Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Hermann-Rodewald-Strasse 9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany
*Correspondence: sieling@pflanzenbau.uni-kiel.de

Abstract:

Information on growth of rye (Secale cereale L.) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmark) are scarce. In 2007/08 and 2008/09, winter rye, winter triticale and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were simultaneously grown in combination with 4 nitrogen (N) treatments (0/0, 40/40, 80/80 and 120/120 kg N ha-1) at the Hohenschulen Experimental Farm in northern Germany allowing for a comparison of the resource capture and biomass accumulation during spring growth. Several canopy traits (e.g. green area index (GAI), specific leaf area (SLA), light use efficiency (LUE)) as well as N dilution curves of the whole shoots, leaves and stems were determined.
Triticale achieved highest GAI in throughout both growth periods. An extended growth period of wheat partly compensated for a lower GAI, thus the differences in the amount of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (Q) between the crops remained small. In general, rye leaves were thinner (higher SLA) compared to wheat and triticale showing similar SLA, except at ear emergence in both years. Total above-ground dry matter accumulation at dough ripening was lowest in wheat mainly due to a lower LUE which in turn may be the result of a lower specific leaf area. The N dilution curves revealed a clear reduction of stem N concentration with increasing dry matter accumulation, whereas leaf N concentration only slightly decreased presumably in order to maintain optimal photosynthesis. The presented results enhance the understanding of the growth of rye and triticale and allow improving crop growth modeling of both crops.

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