Triticale Moisture and Protein Content Prediction by Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe use of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of whole‐grain triticale moisture and protein content was evaluated. Because triticale is genetically close to wheat, commercially available wheat prediction models for Foss Infratec analyzers were applied in a year‐by‐year basis to triticale samples harvested in Iowa between 2002 and 2006. Wheat models were not applicable to moisture prediction (SEPavg = 0.37% pt; expected SEP on wheat samples 0.15% pt), but usable for screening for protein (SEPavg = 0.38% pt; expected SEP on wheat samples 0.25% pt). Dedicated triticale calibrations were developed from 2002 to 2005 data. Prediction results for 2006 samples only were compared. Triticale calibrations performed better than wheat calibrations for 2006 samples (moisture SEPtriticale = 0.29% pt, SEPwheat = 0.50% pt; protein SEPtriticale = 0.30% pt, SEPwheat = 0.68% pt).