PRODUCED, HARVESTED AND UTILIZABLE GRAIN YIELDS OF THE PSEUDOCEREALS BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM-ESCULENTUM MOENCH), QUINOA (CHENOPODIUM-QUINOA WILLD) AND AMARANTH (AMARANTHUS-HYPOCHONDRIACUS L X AMARANTHUS-HYBRIDUS L) AS AFFECTED BY PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

Harvesting and separation processes and combined losses of grain yield s of the pseudocereals buckwheat, quinoa and amaranth as compared to t he cereal oats were investigated. A two years factorial field experime nt including the four species represented by two cultivars each, two p lanting densities and two nitrogen fertilisation levels was conducted. Losses were calculated as differences between the categories ''produc ed grain yield'' (samples harvest by hand) ''harvested grain yield'' ( plots harvested by combine),'' marketable grain yield'' (separation of grains) and,utilizable grain yield'' (shelling of grains). The necess ary treatments and processing of grains varied greatly at the four spe cies. Comparatively processing was most complicated at buckwheat. Tota l losses of grain yield amounted to 40 - 50% at this species, at quino a and amaranth total losses moved between 35 and 40%. Similar losses w ere measured at the spelted oats cultivar, remarkably smaller remained the losses at the naked oats cultivar. Besides of oats the difference s between the two cultivars within species and the effects of producti on techniques were small in relation to the differences between specie s and the effects of years.