Impact of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Grain Yield in Winter Triticale Grown on Degraded Vertisol

The objectives of this study were to investigate: (1) the effects of fertilization, environment, and their interactions on the thousand grain weight (TGW), hectolitre weight (HW) and grain yield (GY) of winter triticale, and (2) the correlations between these traits in different environments. The invariable nitrogen (80 kg N ha(-1)), potassium (60 kg K2O ha(-1)) and two phosphorus (60 and 100 kg P(2)O(5)ha(-1)) doses were used in Kragujevac location in central Serbia. Nitrogen was applied individually and in combination with two phosphorus rates and one rate of potassium fertilizer. Eight fertilization treatment controls and N-80, P-60, P-100, N80P60K60, N80P100K60, N(80)P(60)and N(80)P(100)were examined during three growing seasons. The yield and quality of triticale significantly varied across years and treatments. The average yield of all treatments in the 2015 growing season was significantly greater than in the previous years (3.597 t ha(-1)). Combined usage of NPK fertilizer (80 kg N ha(-1), 100 kg P(2)O(5)ha(-1)and 60 kg K2O ha(-1)) represented the excellent base for optimum supply of major nutrients, resulting in maximum GY (4.0 t ha(-1)). Negative and significant correlation was found between grain GY and TGW (-0.392*) in 2015, and positive highly significant correlation were in 2013 (0.648*) and 2014 (0.493*). The positive effect over complete application of fertilizer is the result of a lower pH value of the soil, as well as the low content of available phosphorus and potassium in Vertisol soil type. Optimizing fertilization for maximum profitability is of great importance in the future triticale production in Pannonian Environments

Impact of agro-ecological conditions and fertilization on yield and quality of triticale on pseudogley soil

The results of the study of the influence of fertilization and calcification on the yield and yield components of winter triticale grown on low pH soil are presented in this paper. Five variants of fertilization were tested during three growing seasons. Trial treatments included different fertilization variants: V1-control, V2-N120, V3-N120P80K60, V4-N120P80K60 + 5 t ha- 1 of lime and V5-N120P80K60 + 5 t ha-1 of lime + 30 t ha-1 of manure. The results of the research showed that all yield components responded positively to the application of mineral nutrition by changing the production characteristics and grain quality. The variant with the combined application of NPK, lime and manure had the greatest positive effect on all tested parameters affecting triticale productivity. During the study, the highest yield of triticale 5.826 t ha-1 was obtained on the fertilization variant with the combined application of lime, manure and NPK fertilizers. The achieved increase in the grain yield of triticale was significant compared to the control and the NPK variant of fertilization. Highly significant positive dependencies were found between the grain yield with 1000-grain weight, and test weight and significant positive dependencies were found between 1000-grain weight and test weight. Theresearch highlighted the impact of different fertilizer treatments on the yield and grain quality traits of winter triticale

Impact of agro-ecological conditions and fertilization on yield and quality of triticale on pseudogley soil

The results of the study of the influence of fertilization and calcification on the yield and yield components of winter triticale grown on low pH soil are presented in this paper. Five variants of fertilization were tested during three growing seasons. Trial treatments included different fertilization variants: V1-control, V2-N120, V3-N120P80K60, V4-N120P80K60 + 5 t ha- 1 of lime and V5-N120P80K60 + 5 t ha-1 of lime + 30 t ha-1 of manure. The results of the research showed that all yield components responded positively to the application of mineral nutrition by changing the production characteristics and grain quality. The variant with the combined application of NPK, lime and manure had the greatest positive effect on all tested parameters affecting triticale productivity. During the study, the highest yield of triticale 5.826 t ha-1 was obtained on the fertilization variant with the combined application of lime, manure and NPK fertilizers. The achieved increase in the grain yield of triticale was significant compared to the control and the NPK variant of fertilization. Highly significant positive dependencies were found between the grain yield with 1000-grain weight, and test weight and significant positive dependencies were found between 1000-grain weight and test weight. Theresearch highlighted the impact of different fertilizer treatments on the yield and grain quality traits of winter triticale

The Balkan Macrophyte Index (BMI) for Assessment of Eutrophication in Lakes

Aquatic plants have long been used as indicators for nutrient enrichment in lakes. In the Mediterranean, however, the process of developing and intercalibrating macrophyte assessment methods for lakes has lagged behind Northern and Central Europe, likely due to the relatively small number and high variability of natural lakes in the Mediterranean but also because of the different monitoring traditions in different parts of Europe. We here present a macrophyte index for assessment of lake eutrophication, tailored to Balkan lakes (Balkan Macrophyte Index, BMI). We analysed submerged aquatic vegetation, water chemistry and sediment total phosphorus content at several sites in lakes Prespa, Ohrid, Lura, Biogradsko, Crno and Sava, located in Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Despite the restricted number of lakes in our dataset, the BMI was loosely related to water phosphorus, rather than nitrogen, concentrations. Our results show that macrophyte indices may not be applicable in lakes experiencing annual water level fluctuations of several meters, because the macrophyte vegetation in such lakes may be absent, or alternatively dominated by “oligotrophic” or “eutrophic” species. Once a larger number of lakes has been analysed using the same methods, reference conditions and status class boundaries may be derived from the phosphorus – BMI regression

Relating environmental pressures to littoral biological water quality indicators in Western Balkan lakes: Can we fill the largest gaps?

Along six transects in each of six lakes across the Western Balkans, we collected data for three groups of littoral biological water quality indicators: epilithic diatoms, macrophytes, and benthic invertebrates. We assessed the relationships between them and three environmental pressures: nutrient load (eutrophication), hydro-morphological alteration of the shoreline, and water level variation, separating the effect of individual lakes and continuous explanatory variables. Lake water total phosphorus concentration (TP) showed substantial variation but was not related to any of the tested biological indicators, nor to any of the tested pressures. We suggest that this may be due to feedback processes such as P removal in the lake littoral zone. Instead, we found that a gradient in surrounding land-use towards increasing urbanization, and a land-use-based estimate of P run-off, served as a better descriptor of eutrophication. Overall, eutrophication and water level fluctuation were most important for explaining variation in the assessed indicators, whereas shoreline hydro-morphological alteration was less important. Diatom indicators were most responsive to all three pressures, whereas macrophyte biomass and species number responded only to water level fluctuation. The Trophic Diatom Index for Lakes (TDIL) was negatively related to urbanization and wave exposure. This indicates that it is a suitable indicator for pressures related to urbanization, although a confounding effect of wave exposure is possible. Invertebrate abundance responded strongly to eutrophication, but the indicator based on taxonomic composition (Average Score Per Taxon) did not. Our results suggest that our metrics can be applied in Western Balkan lakes, despite the high number of endemic species present in some of these lakes. We argue that local water management should focus on abating the causes of eutrophication and water level fluctuation, whilst preserving sufficient lengths of undeveloped shoreline to ensure good water quality in the long run

Lychnothamnus barbatus (Meyen) Leonhardi 1863, A New Species to the Flora of Montenegro

This study presents a newly discovered site of Lychnothamnus barbatus, one of the rarest charophytes worldwide of a disjunctive, Euro-Australasian-American distribution. The species is the only representative of the genus Lychnothamnus on a global scale, hence its threat poses a risk of extinction to the entire lineage. In June 2019, Lychnothamnus barbatus was discovered in Lake Malo Blato, a north-western bay of Lake Shkodra/Skadar, to be a new element to the flora of Montenegro. Lychnothamnus barbatus was recorded at a depth of 3 m, in nutrient-poor but calcium-rich water and on a muddy substrate in the zone of submerged vegetation composed of charophytes and angiosperms. The collected thalli of L. barbatus were young and sterile, green, slightly calcified, and up to 15 cm high. Except for gametangia, all features which are diagnostic for this rare charophyte were well developed. Based on the synthesis of the current state of knowledge, the new site of L. barbatus is presented in the context of the species’ ecological requirements and climatic plasticity, current distribution, and history in the Balkans

Maize yield depending on fertilization and soil compaction

Soil fertility is a combination of mineral and biological properties of soil and the circulation of plant nutrients in the soil-plant system is constantly happening within it. In order for the root system to develop and function normally, it is necessary that there is enough oxygen in the soil. Only well-drained soils provide enough oxygen and good activity of microorganisms. Since most of the operations, from sowing to harvest, are performed with the help of heavy mechanization, soil compaction occurs and its structure deteriorates. Within compacted soil, there is a weaker development of the root system, weaker microbiological activity, slowing down the absorption of water and nutrients, thus slowing down the growth of plants. Growing plants on such soils result in reduced yields and increased production costs. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of manure and mineral fertilizers on soil compaction and maize yield. The experiment was performed on the territory of the municipality of Leskovac on smonica soil type. The experiment included four variants of fertilization with organic and mineral fertilizers. Compaction was measured after sowing and after maize harvest, by penetrologger Eijkelkamp hardware version 6.0, software version 6.03. The application of manure in combination with mineral fertilizers significantly reduced soil compaction. The greatest compaction was recorded at a depth of 40-50 cm, after which it stagnated and slightly decreased to a depth of 80 cm. The average compaction measured after harvest was 24.10% higher than that measured after sowing. The soil moisture content was higher on plots with manure and mineral fertilizers than on nonfertilized plots. Maize yield was significantly higher in variants where manure was used together with mineral fertilizers compared to variants with the only use of mineral fertilizers and variants without fertilizers. Variants with the lowest soil compaction achieved the highest yields. The recommendation to maize producers is to apply more organic matter on heavy and compacted soils, primarily manure, but also mineral fertilizers, in order to have high and stable yields

Maize yield depending on fertilization and soil compaction

Soil fertility is a combination of mineral and biological properties of soil and the circulation of plant nutrients in the soil-plant system is constantly happening within it. In order for the root system to develop and function normally, it is necessary that there is enough oxygen in the soil. Only well-drained soils provide enough oxygen and good activity of microorganisms. Since most of the operations, from sowing to harvest, are performed with the help of heavy mechanization, soil compaction occurs and its structure deteriorates. Within compacted soil, there is a weaker development of the root system, weaker microbiological activity, slowing down the absorption of water and nutrients, thus slowing down the growth of plants. Growing plants on such soils result in reduced yields and increased production costs. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of manure and mineral fertilizers on soil compaction and maize yield. The experiment was performed on the territory of the municipality of Leskovac on smonica soil type. The experiment included four variants of fertilization with organic and mineral fertilizers. Compaction was measured after sowing and after maize harvest, by penetrologger Eijkelkamp hardware version 6.0, software version 6.03. The application of manure in combination with mineral fertilizers significantly reduced soil compaction. The greatest compaction was recorded at a depth of 40-50 cm, after which it stagnated and slightly decreased to a depth of 80 cm. The average compaction measured after harvest was 24.10% higher than that measured after sowing. The soil moisture content was higher on plots with manure and mineral fertilizers than on nonfertilized plots. Maize yield was significantly higher in variants where manure was used together with mineral fertilizers compared to variants with the only use of mineral fertilizers and variants without fertilizers. Variants with the lowest soil compaction achieved the highest yields. The recommendation to maize producers is to apply more organic matter on heavy and compacted soils, primarily manure, but also mineral fertilizers, in order to have high and stable yields

Influence of mineral fertilizers and zeolites application on the yield of some wheat varieties

Zeolite is well known for the improvement of the structure of the soil due to the fact that it reduces its acidity, which is of high importance for agricultural production that takes place on soils with low pH values. It has shown exceptional results in improving soil characteristics, thus increasing the yield and quality of cultivated plants. The aim of our study was to determine the yield and some qualitative properties of numerous wheat varieties, depending on the mineral fertilizers and zeolites application. The experiments were performed in 2018/19 and 2019/20, in the area of Southern Serbia (Bojnik). The research involved 4 wheat varieties and 4 variants of fertilization, including mineral fertilizers and zeolite. The research results demonstrated that there were no major differences in the 1000 grains weight, regardless of the variety of wheat or variant of fertilization. The hectoliter grain weight of the wheat variant which was treated with the combination of mineral fertilizers and a higher dose of zeolite was considerably higher than the control variant weight. All fertilization variants had a significantly higher grain yield compared to the control variant. The variant on which the combination of mineral fertilizers and a higher dose of zeolite were applied achieved a significantly higher grain yield compared to the variant with mineral fertilizers. The application of zeolite in combination with mineral fertilizers increased the wheat yield as compared to those that were treated with mineral fertilizers alone, by an average of 370 kg ha-1. In addition to the selection of varieties (Pobeda and Nikol), the application of a combination of mineral fertilizers and zeolites proved to be effective for growing wheat on acidic soils in southern Serbia

Influence of soil type and compaction on yield of some varieties of winter wheat

Wheat has high demands in terms of fertility and physical properties of the soil. The most successful cultivation is on fertile soils, where pH is 6.8-7.2. The soil is the basic substrate of plant rooting, and root growth depends on the depth of the layer, plant species, soil compaction, moisture, etc. The aim of this paper was to determine the yield of different varieties of wheat depending on the soil type and compaction. The trial was set during 2016/17. and 2017/18. in the territory of south Serbia (territory of Leskovac municipality), on two different types of soil (alluvium and vertisol). Four varieties of wheat were included in the experiment (Darija, Avenue, Carica and Sosthene). Compaction was measured after sowing and after harvest of wheat, with penetrometer Eijkelkamp hardware version 6.0, software version 6.03. The soil type and variety significantly influenced the average yield of wheat. Significantly higher average yields of all varieties of wheat were gained on the alluvium, related to the vertisol. Varieties Avenue and Sosthene had the highest average yields that were significantly higher than yields of varieties Daria and Carica, among which there were no significant differences. The higher soil compaction of the soil in the ploughing layer was on vertisol related to the alluvial soil. These data on average yields and soil compaction indicate the benefits of individual soil types for the wheat production