Chapter 37 - Earliness in barley and dry matter yield in a double-cropping system

Abstract

In the fertile Padana Plain in Italy double-cropping systems allow for increased production of dry matter per hectare. In a three year trial a comparison was made between:(a)a single-cropping system, with maize hybrids of the 600 and 700 FAO classes, sown around 20 April;(b)a double-cropping system where, after barley had been harvested for silage, maize hybrids of the 400, 500 and 600 FAO classes were sown around the end of May;(c)a double-cropping system where, after barley had been harvested for grain, maize hybrids of the 200, 500 and 400 FAO classes were sown around the end of June.