C-qualitative characteristics of introduced rye, barley and wheat grain crops under different seeding rates and irrigation systems in two different agro - environment sites in Nineveh - Iraq

A field trail was conducted during the 2023–2024 season at two environmentally different locations, Telkaif 20 km north of Mosul and Jleokhan19 km southeast of Mosul, in Nineveh Governorate. The study involved three trial factors. The first factor was three cereal crops: Rye (Secale cereale L.), 2-row Barley (Hordeum distichum L.), and bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The second factor included three Seeding rates (200, 300, and 400 grains.m-2), while the third factor was two irrigation regimes (supplementary Irrigation SI and rain fed). The trail was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using a split-plot design. Barley was the fastest crops to mature and reach the full maturity stage (Z-94), followed by Wheat and then Rye, with a clear varying ripening time. At the Telkaif site. Barley exceled the other crops in grain yield—especially under SI with seeding rate of 400 grains.m-2. Conversely. Wheat recorded the greatest test weight. Regarding quality characteristics, Barley had the highest Gluten percentage %, while Rye showed the highest Protein percentage% under rain fed conditions with low seeding density.At the Jleokhan site. Barley showed the highest Grains Yield under SI with higher seeding density.Wheat recorded the highest test weight. In terms of quality characteristics, Rye showed the highest Protein percentage % under rain fed with low seeding rate, whereas Barley showed the highest gluten percentage % regardless of irrigation regime. These results indicate the success agronomic of rye under rain fed and supplemental irrigation conditions in northern Iraq