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标题：Yield and Nutritive Value of Grain, Glumes and Straw of Triticum dicoccum Produced by Prehistoric Technology in Comparison to T. aestivum Produced by Modern Technology
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作者：Michal Hejcman ; Pavla Hejcmanová
期刊名称：Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica : Natural Sciences in Archaeology
印刷版ISSN：1804-848X
出版年度：2015
卷号：VI
期号：1
页码：31-45
出版社：Archaeological Centre Olomouc
摘要：Triticum dicoccum (emmer) was the main crop from the start of the Neolithic period up to the migra- tion period in central Europe, but almost nothing is known about its planting and nutritive value under prehistoric conditions. To fill this gap, we performed an archaeological experiment aimed at comparing the soil properties, grain and straw yields, hulled and harvest index, nutritive values of grain, glume and straw, plant height, and weedy communities, in stands of T. dicoccum established on an old field used for crop production for several preceding years, and a stand of T. dicoccum established on a field converted from permanent grassland by hoe-digging. To demonstrate differences between old and modern technologies and cereals, the obtained data were compared with those for a modern variety of T. aestivum planted on a modern field. Key results and conclusions: (1) digging using a hoe was the easiest way to convert permanent grassland into arable field. The use of a scratch plough or wooden spade for soil preparation was effective only on the permanent arable field without dense grass swards. (2) Broadcast seeding was a simple and effective method for the establishment of T. diccocum stands. Spikelets that remained on the soil surface after seeding were eaten by rodents and birds. (3) Triticum dicoccum possessed a high grain-yield compensation ability, a high competitive ability to cope with weeds, and a high value for its grain, particularly with respect to human N, P, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn nutri- tion. (4) In prehistory, no strict borders between arable fields and grasslands probably existed, as many grassland species were also weeds on arable land, such as Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium repens. (5) The grain yield of T. dicoccum of 1.7–1.8 t ha – 1 probably corresponds to the yields of prehistoric farmers on high-quality soils in central Europe. The grain yield of a modern variety of T. aestivum was 4.7 t ha –1 . (6) The nutritive value of glumes was low in comparison to that of grain. We suppose that prehistoric people preferred food made from clean grain. (7) Grain yield represented 75% of spikelet yield. (8) The nutritive value of T. dicoccum and T. aestivum straw was insufficient for optimum cattle nutrition, especially due to too low N and P concentrations, together with too high fibre and lignin contents. We conclude that straw was used for livestock feeding only if better forage was not available
关键词：baker wheat ; emmer ; harvest index ; phosphorus ; scratch plough ; weedy species ; zinc