Tag Archives: crop rotation

979-993 R. Viikoja, M. Alaru, I. Keres, R. Lillak, I. Voor and E. Loit
Impact of changing weather on the crops yield stability in different cropping systems
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Impact of changing weather on the crops yield stability in different cropping systems

R. Viikoja, M. Alaru*, I. Keres, R. Lillak, I. Voor and E. Loit

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Crop Science and Plant Biology, Fr.R. Kreutzwaldi 1, EE51014 Tartu, Estonia
*Correspondence: maarika.alaru@emu.ee

Abstract:

Changes in weather conditions make it possible to change the schedule of agricultural works and introduce new crops and crop rotations in Northern Europe. It is important that the yield of the crops in the rotation are stable under highly variable weather conditions, which would ensure a high total yield for the rotation. One of the goals of this long-term field experiment (2008–2022) was to study the effect of weather conditions on the total yield and stability in the crop rotation; crops of the given crop rotation were grown in organic and conventional cropping systems.
Compared to the pre-experimental period 1964‒2007, the annual average air temperature of the test period 2008‒2022 was higher by 1.1 degrees, whereas the increase in the annual average temperature was primarily due to the increase in winter and June–July temperatures. In the 3^rd cropping cycle (2018–2022) the total yield of crop rotation as an average of fertilizer variants and experimental years was 21% and 24% lower than in the 1st (2008–2012) and 2nd (2013–2017) cropping cycles, respectively, which was mainly caused by the decrease in field pea yield. The effect of weather on yield stability was greatest for field pea. Fertilization with mineral fertilizers improved the stability of the total yield in the conventional cropping system. Correlation, factorial analyses of variance (ANOVA) and two-factor ANOVA were used to test the effect of cropping systems and climatic conditions on total and average DM yield of crop rotation, also each crop’s DM yield.
Despite the negative impact of the weather, most of the yield loss can be prevented or the damage can be eased by careful planning and detailed knowledge about the influence of different weather factors. Further investigation is required to determine the change in growing season length, sowing dates and harvesting to provide farmers more detailed tools to predict and plan their actions.

Key words:

cereals, climate change, crop rotation, field pea, potatoes, yield stability

814-823 J. Kuht, V. Eremeev, E. Loit, M. Alaru, E. Mäeorg, L. Talgre and A. Luik
Changes in the content of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the organic and conventional cropping systems
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Changes in the content of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the organic and conventional cropping systems

J. Kuht*, V. Eremeev, E. Loit, M. Alaru, E. Mäeorg, L. Talgre and A. Luik

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, EE51006 Tartu, Estonia
*Correspondence: jaan.kuht@emu.ee

Abstract:

Maintaining and increasing the stock of soil organic carbon is of vital importance in maintaining the soil fertility. In present research the changes in the content of organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (Ntot) in the soil are investigated. The data is collected from the long-term field experiment, which compares organic and conventional farming systems in a crop rotation (barley undersown with red clover, red clover, winter wheat, pea, potato) during 2014–2018. Based on the 5-year experiment, it was concluded that the cropping systems have a significant effect on the SOC content and a smaller effect on the Ntot content of the soil. The diversification of organic cropping systems with cover crops and composted cattle manure significantly increases the content of organic carbon in the soil. The results of the experiment indicate that the content of organic carbon was significantly lower (by 7.6–12.6%) in conventional systems, where pesticides had been applied and cover crops and manure had not been used, compared to the organic cropping systems. The correlations between the SOC contents of main crops and precrops were statistically more significant in organic farming system, compared to the conventional system. Highest SOC and Ntot values were observed in organic systems with cover crops and composted manure fertilization. Hence, it can be stated that in order to improve the soil fertility and fix more carbon and nitrogen, high amounts of organic material should be applied into the soil and the activity of soil microbes should be a priority. The organic cropping systems have more advantages for sustainable crop production.

Key words:

Composted manure, crop rotation, Ntot, precrops, SOC, winter cover crops

562-574 A. Harizanova, V. Delibaltova, M. Shishkova, N. Neshev, M. Yanev, A. Mitkov, N. Yordanova, S. Manhart, M. Nesheva and P. Chavdarov
Effect of the Predecessor and the Nitrogen Rate on Productivity and Essential Oil Content of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in Southeast Bulgaria
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Effect of the Predecessor and the Nitrogen Rate on Productivity and Essential Oil Content of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in Southeast Bulgaria

A. Harizanova¹*, V. Delibaltova¹, M. Shishkova¹, N. Neshev¹, M. Yanev¹, A. Mitkov¹, N. Yordanova¹, S. Manhart¹, M. Nesheva² and P. Chavdarov³

¹Agricultural University of Plovdiv, Faculty of Agronomy, 12 Mendeleev Blvd,
BG4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
²Fruit Growing Institute, Department of Breeding, Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, 12 Ostromila Str, BG4004 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
³K. Malkov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Department of Plant Genetic Resources, 2 Druzba Str., BG4122 Sadovo, Bulgaria
*Correspondence: aharizanova@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is one of the most important essential oil crops on a global scale. Coriander productivity is determined by the genotype, the environmental factors, as well the agronomic practices. A field experiment was conducted in Southeast Bulgaria during three vegetation seasons (2015, 2016, and 2017). The present study aimed at analysing the influence of two crop predecessors (winter wheat and sunflower) and four nitrogen (N) levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha^-1). Productivity elements, seed yield, and seed essential oil content of coriander (cv. Mesten drebnoploden) were under evaluation. The results obtained showed that winter wheat was a more suitable predecessor of coriander in comparison to sunflower. The highest results regarding the number of umbels per plant, the umbel’s diameter, the number of umbellets per umbel, the number of seeds per umbel, the seed weight per plant, the 1,000 seed mass, as well as the seed yield for the rate of 80 kg ha^-1 of N were recorded. The highest essential oil content after applying 120 kg ha^-1 of N was established. Increasing the N level from 0 to 120 kg ha^-1 led to a positive and significant effect on essential oil yield. No significant differences between the N rates of 80 and 120 kg ha^-1 were recorded. The received results contributed for the evaluatation of the optimum nitrogen level, as well as for the determination of a more suitable predecessor of coriander in order to obtain the highest yield of better quality in the region of Southeast Bulgaria.

Key words:

Coriandrum sativum, crop rotation, fertilization, precursor, seed yield

1359–1367 V.B. Minin, V.D. Popov, D.A. Maksimov, A.A. Ustroev, S.P. Melnikov and E. Papushin
Developing of modern cultivation technology of organic potatoes
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Developing of modern cultivation technology of organic potatoes

V.B. Minin¹*, V.D. Popov¹, D.A. Maksimov¹, A.A. Ustroev¹, S.P. Melnikov² and E. Papushin¹

¹Institute for Engineering and Environmental Problems in Agricultural Production, – BFSBSI ‘Federal Scientific AgroEngineering Centre VIM’, Filtrovskoe shosse, 3, p.o. Tiarlevos, RU196625 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
²St. Petersburg State Agrarian University, building A2, Peterburgskoe shosse, Pushkin, RU196601 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
*Correspondence: minin.iamfe@mail.ru

Abstract:

Medium term field experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of biological ways to increase potatoes yield on the sod-podzolic, light loamy soil.
The effects of the following two groups of factors were studied:
1. The level of mineral nutrition provided by compost;
2. Microbiological pant protection product (bio preparations): Flavobacterin which has N fixer attribute and Vitaplan and Kartofen, which have bio fungicide features.
Potatoes varieties ‘Nevsky’ and ‘Udacha’ were cultivated. The compost was applied in the dose range from 0 to 160 kg N ha^-1. Treatment with bio-preparations was carried out by potato tubers during planting and leaves during the growing season. Weeds were removed mechanically. Weather conditions had a significant impact on the formation of the crop. The average yield of standard potato tubers for 2017–2018 ranged from 14.1 to 29.3 t ha^-1. The use of both microbiological preparations and compost gave approximately the same effect and increased yields by 35–37% compared to the control. The use of compost together with bio-preparations provided an output of 27.6–29.3 t ha^-1of potatoes. In 2019, the joint use of compost and bio-preparations allowed to reach a yield of 40 tons ha^-1 of marketable potatoes. On the basis of the obtained data, the mathematical dependencies of the yield of potatoes on the dose of compost, the type of biological preparation and the complex indicator of the year conditions were determined.

Key words:

crop rotation, field experiment, microbiological drugs, organic fertilizers, potatoes

2016-2025 L. Dubova, I. Alsiņa, A. Ruža and A. Šenberga
Impact of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivation on soil microbiological activity
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Impact of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivation on soil microbiological activity

L. Dubova*, I. Alsiņa, A. Ruža and A. Šenberga

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences, Liela Street 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
*Correspondence: laila.dubova@llu.lv

Abstract:

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is widely grown not only as an important protein source for food and feed, but as a component in different cropping systems to improve soil quality. Beans are grown using different soil management practices, moreover, legume seeds often are inoculated before sowing. Microorganisms, introduced in the soil as an inoculum, affect not only inoculated plants, but these microorganisms can remain in the soil for the next growing season and can also affect the subsequent crops. Seed inoculation can stimulate production of root exudates as well as change microbial diversity and structure. The aim of the present study was to estimate the soil microbiological activity in soils where faba beans were cultivated with different rhizobia inoculants obtained from collection of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Another trial was established where faba beans were included in different crop rotations under two tillage systems. During both trials, soil microbiological activity was analysed. Soil respiration intensity was measured by changes of carbon dioxide. Soil enzymatic activity was assessed by dehydrogenase activity and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis intensity. The total number of bacteria, fungi and rhizobia was expressed as colony forming units (CFU) g^-1 dry soil. Soil microbiological activity depended on the cultivated crop and the crop rotation. Faba bean inoculation method had less impact on the ratio between analysed microorganism groups than on the activity of soil enzymes.

Key words:

crop rotation, Rhizobium, soil enzyme, tillage

317–326 N. Borys and A. Küüt
The influence of basic soil tillage methods and weather conditions on the yield of spring barley in forest-steppe conditions
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The influence of basic soil tillage methods and weather conditions on the yield of spring barley in forest-steppe conditions

N. Borys¹* and A. Küüt²

¹National Science Center, Institute of Agriculture NAAS Ukraine,
Mashinostroiteley Str. 2b, UK 08162 habany, Ukraine
²Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Technology, Kreutzwaldi 56,
EE51014 Tartu, Estonia
*Correspondence: agrokaktys@mail.ru

Abstract:

The research on the effect the main methods of soil treatment have on its hydrophysical properties was carried out as a stationary experiment at the National Scientific Centre, Institute of Agriculture NAAS. It included a grain crop rotation with the subsequent crop sequencing: winter wheat/grain maize/barley. In 2013–2015, the spring barley variety ‘Solntsedar’ was sown. Throughout the three years of research, the consistency of the effect of the main soil treatment methods on the overall yield stayed more or less the same. Reduction in barley grain yield against the backdrop of long-term disking at the depth of 10–12 cm is explained by the thickening of the 10–30 cm layer of soil to the critical level of 1.57 g cm^-3, moisture deficiency, as a result of the over-compaction of the root layer, and an increase in the amount of sterile spikelets. As the result of our research, we have come to a conclusion that for barley, soil disking at the depth of 10–12 cm is as good as ploughing if it is used as a part of differential treatment system, which includes ploughing at the depth of 28–30 cm or chisel tilling at 43–45 cm for its preceding crops. If disking was used for all crops of the grain crop rotation, a deterioration of hydrophysical properties was observed in the barley field, which can lead to a considerable reduction in the barley yield, especially in a dry cultivation year.

Key words:

barley, crop rotation, moisture accumulation, soil treatment, vegetation period, water consumption coefficient, weather conditions, yield

1372-1379 J. Kuht, V. Eremeev, L. Talgre, H. Madsen, M. Toom, E. Mäeorg and A. Luik
Soil weed seed bank and factors influencing the number of weeds at the end of conversion period to organic production
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Soil weed seed bank and factors influencing the number of weeds at the end of conversion period to organic production

J. Kuht*, V. Eremeev, L. Talgre, H. Madsen, M. Toom, E. Mäeorg and A. Luik

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, EE51014 Tartu, Estonia *Correspondence: jaan.kuht@emu.ee

Abstract:

In 2008 an experiment was set up on the field in Eerika experimental station (Estonian University of Life Sciences) as a 5-field crop rotation: red clover, winter wheat, pea, potato and barley undersown with red clover. The objective of the study was to measure the content of weed seeds in the soil and to evaluate the diversity of the species at the end of the period of converting to organic production. In conventional farming systems without fertilizer (Conv I) and conventional farming with mineral fertilizer (Conv II) herbicides were used for weed control. All the crops in Conv II system received P 25 kg ha-1 and K 95 kg ha-1, but the application rates of mineral nitrogen fertilizer differed. In organic systems (Org I – organic farming based on winter cover crop and Org II – organic farming based on winter cover crop and manure), the winter cover crops (ryegrass after winter wheat, winter oilseed rape after pea, winter rye after potato) were sown after the harvest and were ploughed into the soil as green manure in spring. The content of annual weed seeds was the lowest in red clover that had 17.7% less weed seeds in the soil of Org II system compared to control (Conv I). In winter wheat the content of winter annual weed seeds was 50–76% higher compared to other crops. By the end of 2009 the content of organic carbon (Corg %) in the soil had increased significantly in both organic systems which results in higher activity of organisms that decrease the viability of weed seeds.

Key words:

crop rotation, organic farming, seed bank, soil, weed seeds, winter cover crops

409-414 D. Janušauskaitė and A.Velykis
The influence of the expansion of winter crop proportion in the rotation structure on soil biological activity
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The influence of the expansion of winter crop proportion in the rotation structure on soil biological activity

D. Janušauskaitė¹ and A.Velykis²

¹Plant Pathology and Protection Department, Lithuanian Research Centre forAgriculture and Forestry Akademija, Dotnuva, Kedainiai District, Lithuania, LT-58344; e-mail: daliaj@lzi.lt
²Joniskelis Experimental Station, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry,Joniskelis, Pasvalys District, Lithuania, LT-39301; e-mail: velykisalex@gmail.com

Abstract:

The effect of the expansion of the winter crop proportion in the crop rotation structure under conditions of conventional (ploughing) and sustainable (reduced) soil tillage on soil biological properties was investigated on a clay loam Gleyic Cambisol at the Joniskelis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry over the period 2004–06. The effect of a different proportion of winter crop in the rotation on microbial populations in soil was influenced primarily by the weather conditions during the growing seasons. In different years, the number of ammonificators ranged from 5.68 to 28.37 mln g-1, the number of mineralizators ranged from 8.23 to 37.01mln g-1, fungi from 28.55 to 101.46 thousand g-1 of soil. The soil microbial amount was higher under wetter conditions. The numbers of microbes differed between soil tillage systems and had diverse impact. The number of ammonificators did not differ markedly between the soil tillage treatments; however, the number of microbes in the conventionally tilled plots exceeded that in the sustainable tillage system by 5.57%. The sustainable tillage system was positive for N assimilators and fungi. Increasing the winter crop in the rotation did not exert any strong positive effect on all microbes. Increasing the winter crop proportion was favourable for micromycetes. More bacteria were found in the rotation with 25% of winter crop, more mineral N assimilators were found in the rotation with 25% and 50% of winter crop, and fungi max under 50%, 75% and 100% of winter crop in the rotation.

Key words:

Clayey Cambisol, crop rotation, soil microbes, soil tillage, winter crops

785-792 E. Demjanová, M. Macák, I. Dalovic, F Majerník, Š. Týr, J. Smatana
Effects of tillage systems and crop rotation on weed density, weed species composition and weed biomass in maize
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Effects of tillage systems and crop rotation on weed density, weed species composition and weed biomass in maize

E. Demjanová¹, M. Macák¹, I. Dalovic,² F Majerník¹, Š. Týr¹, J. Smatana¹

¹Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Herbology, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food
Resources, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Tr. A.Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra,
Slovak Republic, milan.macak@uniag.sk 2Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia, maizescience@yahoo.com Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Herbology, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food
Resources, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Tr. A.Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra,
Slovak Republic, milan.macak@uniag.sk
²Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia, maizescience@yahoo.com

Abstract:

The field study was conducted over seven years in south-western Slovakia to investigate the effects of different soil tillage intensities and crop rotation on weed density, weed diversity and weed dry biomass in maize. Three basic tillage treatments were the following: mouldboard ploughing to a depth of 0.30 m (conventional tillage); offset disc ploughing to a depth of 0.15 m followed by combined cultivator; twice shallow loosening to a depth of 0.10 m (both reduced tillage). Annual broadleaf weeds (17 species) were clearly the dominant weed group under all soil tillage treatments, compared to perennial weeds (6 species) and annual grassy weeds (4 species). Dominant weed species were Amaranthus retroflexus and A. powelli, Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus–galli, Convolvulus arvensis and Cirsium arvense. The number of species of the annual broadleaf and grassy weeds group was insignificant in conventional tillage and reduced tillage systems. Total weed density was significantly lower under the conventional tillage than the other reduced tillage systems. The main benefit of conventional tillage is a highly significant decline of perennial weeds. Only 2.6 perennial weed plants per quadrant in conventional tillage as compared to 7.5–9.0 in reduced tillage treatments were noted. Significantly less weed dry biomass was found in conventional treatment under mouldboard ploughing as compared to reduced tillage. Crop rotation did not have a significant influence on variability of species richness expressed according to Margalef’s index in maize. Tillage system was more influential than crop rotations on the weed density and diversity and weed biomass.

Key words:

crop rotation, diversity, tillage, weed density, weed dry biomass

263-268 E. Ilumäe, E. Akk, A. Hansson and V. Kastanje
Changes the content of organic matter in soil during the whole cycle of crop rotation
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Changes the content of organic matter in soil during the whole cycle of crop rotation

E. Ilumäe*, E. Akk, A. Hansson and V. Kastanje

Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, 13 Teaduse St. 75501 Saku, Estonia;
*Corresponding author; e-mail: ene.ilumäe@eria.ee

Abstract:

The ecological crop rotation in the present trial has been established as a 10-field rotation. The crop sequence was based on calculation of how much of the nutrients does one or another crop take from the soil and how much will be left in the soil after yield harvesting. The crop sequence in ecological crop rotation was: spring wheat, barley with undersown clover, clover, clover, potato, oat, pea, barley with undersown clover, spring turnip rape. The field experiments were carried out in northem Estonia during 2003–2008.After having analyzed the soil organic matter content throughout all the fields of croprotation it became evident that the alterations of organic matter content in soil were dissimilar. The alterations of organic matter content in all fields were in linear correlation (r 95 higher than 0.549, number of pairs 10). Although more than a half rotation has already passed after the beginning of the trial the results are still probably affected by the number of times the clover has been grown on any particular field.

Key words:

crop rotation, soil humidity, soil organic matter