Investigations of the agronomical value of the cereals milet (Panicum miliaceum) canary grass (Phalaris canariensis) and the pseudocereals buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)

A two-years field experiment was conducted to investigate the agronomical v alue of the cereals miler and canary grass and of the pseudocereals buckwhe at, quinoa and amaranth under marginal growth conditions. Available vegetat ion periods, yields of shoot dry matter and of produced and harvested grain dry matter, losses before and during threshing included, were measured. Hi gh germination temperatures, Frost sensitivity and wet maturation periods l imited the available vegetation periods to 120-130 days. Buckwheat and cana ry grass stands, as well as early ripening varieties of milet, quinoa and a maranth reached threshability in time. Milet, quinoa and amaranth stands pr oduced 100-110 dt/ha shoot drymatter, buckwheat stands reached 90 dt/ha, ca nary grass stands reached only 60 dt/ha. The harvest indices of miler and q uinoa were 40-45 and exceeded the indices of the other species by far. The grain yields of milet and quinoa stands leveled up to 60 dt/ha, followed by buckwheat and amaranth stands with about 30 dt/ha and by canary grass stan ds with only 12 dt/ha. On account of losses, levels of threshed grain yield s remained 10-35 % below.