Introduction of autumn-sown triticale in high-elevation and alpine regions of Diqing

This study explored planting patterns appropriate for the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan. For this, 11 varieties of triticale and 3 varieties of rye were sown in autumn in Xiaozhongdian town in Shangri-La City. Factors such as plant height, yield, stress resistance, and nutrient quality of the trial varieties were evaluated. The results showed the following. 1) There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in yield and stress resistance among the trial varieties of triticale and rye; the latter demonstrated the lodging phenomenon but the former did not. The fresh weight of the ‘Zhongsi No.1048 ’, ‘C6’, ‘Youneng’, and ‘Jisi No.3’ varieties were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than other varieties at 28.0 t·ha⁻¹, 27.3 t·ha⁻¹, 26.9 t·ha⁻¹, and 26.0 t·ha⁻¹, respectively. 2) There were several differences in the nutrient quality among the trial varieties. The crude protein content of ‘C35’, ‘Youneng’, ‘Jisi No.2’, ‘C10’, and ‘C16’ were greater than 7.03%; this was a higher than in all other varieties. The soluble sugar contents of the trial triticale varieties were significantly higher than those of the trial rye varieties (P < 0.05). 3) Comprehensive evaluation of forage yield, nutrient quality of the whole plant, and stress resistance showed that the varieties appropriate for autumn-sowing in the Diqing alpine region were the ‘Jisi No.2’, ‘Youneng’, ‘Jisi No.3’, ‘Gannong No.2’, and ‘Zhongsi No.1048’ varieties of triticale; these can be used in a rotation system with summer-sown silage corn in the high-elevation and alpine areas of Diqing. This is because the autumn-sown triticale and summer-sown silage corn used croplands that were left fallow over winter and changed the traditional planting pattern of “one ripe one year” to a planting pattern of “three ripe two years.” This balanced with the high-quality forage provided year-round for yaks that fed locally and alleviated the worry about grass supply and livestock numbers in the high-elevation and alpine areas of Diqing.