Multiple cropping effects of autumn-sown triticale and silage maize on the drought area of the eastern Gansu Province

To select the best multiple model of the autumn-sown triticale and silage maize in the drought area of the eastern Gansu Province, three triticale lines (C₁₆, C₂₇, and C₃₅) and one rye variety, Heisimai, were used as the previous crops, and silage maize varieties (lines) (Fengzhu No. 1, Fengzhu No. 2, and Dunqingzhu No. 28) were used as the multiple crops. The multiple cropping effects were studied in the drought area of the eastern Gansu Province. The results showed that among the previous crops, the triticale line C₁₆ obtained the highest fresh weight (45.20 t·ha^–1), the CP content of C₂₇ was the highest (13.32%) and the ADF content (30.93%) was the lowest. The lowest NDF content (46.64%) was observed in C₃₅. For the multiple crops, silage maize line Fengzhu No. 2 obtained the highest fresh weight (51.16 t·ha^–1). The CP content was significantly higher than that of Dunqingzhu No. 28, and contents of the NDF and ADF were significantly lower than that of this variety. From the interaction of the previous and multiple crops, the highest fresh weight and CP yield were obtained for the treatment of triticale line C₁₆ multiplied with the silage maize line Fengzhu No. 2. This planting model would allow the harvest of extra crops using autumn fallow fields. Furthermore, it would achieve pasture rotation and increase the ground coverage during winter and autumn, and thus, it has important ecological value.