Cephalosporium stripe disease, crop yield and selected soil properties as influenced by straw management in a micro-plot experiment with winter wheat monoculture

Straw is a valuable by-product of crop production which can be used for various purposes (livestock feed and bedding, bioenergy). However, it should primarily be retained on farmlands to prevent soil organic matter (SOM) losses. Straw retained on the field is usually incorporated into the soil when conventional (with ploughing) and reduced tillage systems are used or left on the soil surface (mulching) when a no-tillage system is practiced. The aim of this study was to determine how different straw management practices (straw removal, straw incorporation and straw mulching) affected the incidence of Cephalosporium gramineum on two winter wheat cultivars, the grain yield of these cultivars and selected soil properties based on a long-term micro-plot experiment. Cephalosporium stripe disease was absent or occurred at very low levels (0–2.4%) when straw was removed or incorporated every second year. The disease was most severe, 24–33% tillers infected, in the SM(N) treatment with yearly straw mulching and cv. Bogatka was more tolerant to C. gramineum infection than cv. Bamberka. Importantly, yearly straw incorporation into the soil in contrast to straw mulching resulted in low disease levels (5–8% tillers infected) in both cultivars. Only in the case of cv. Bamberka was the grain yield significantly reduced in the SM(N) treatment compared to other treatments. The soil in this experiment contained the lowest level of soil SOM, which amounted to 21.0 g ∙ kg –1 soil dry matter (DM), when each year wheat straw was removed (SR). Straw incorporation every second year resulted in 24.2 g of SOM ∙ kg –1 soil and the largest amounts of SOM (26.0–26.1 g ∙ kg –1 soil) were found with yearly straw incorporation into the soil. Yearly straw mulching was inferior in this respect and the soil in this treatment contained 23.8 g of SOM ∙ kg –1 soil DM

Soil properties and crop yields as influenced by the frequency of straw incorporation in a rape-wheat-triticale rotation

Straw, particularly cereal straw, is a valuable by-product of crop production, which can be used for various purposes, e.g. as livestock feed and bedding or for making fuels, however it should primarily be retained on farmland in order to prevent soil organic matter (SOM) losses and thus to maintain or improve soil quality. The aim of this study was to analyze effects of the frequency of crop residues (straw) incorporation into the soil on the content of soil organic matter and on crop yields. There were the following experimental treatments: SR - straw of all crop in the rotation removed, S1 - straw of one crop per rotation incorporated, S2 - straw of two crops in the rotation incorporated, and S3 - straw of three crops incorporated into the soil (loamy sand). After 21 years of crop rotation with straw removal (SR) the SOM level in the soil slightly decreased to 14.4 g∙kg-1 soil DM, compared to that in 1997 (14.6 g∙kg-1). However, when straw of one crop (rape) per rotation was incorporated (S1) the content of SOM increased to 15.0 g∙kg-1 soil DM, and to 15.6 and 16.0 g∙kg-1 in S2 and S3 treatments, respectively. Straw retention had also a beneficial effect on the content of labile fractions of SOM (hot water extractable C and N). Grain yields and yield components of wheat and triticale, and seed yields of rape in the SR treatment were not significantly different from those obtained in S1, S2 and S3 treatments

Environmental and production effects of straw incorporation – results of a long-term field experiment

Celem badań przedstawionych w niniejszym opracowaniu było poznanie długofalowych skutków środowiskowych i produkcyjnych różnej częstotliwości przyorywania słomy w zmianowaniu ozimin: rzepak-pszenica-pszenżyto. W wyniku wieloletniego (21 lat) nieprzyorywania słomy żadnej z roślin uprawianych w wymienionym zmianowaniu, zawartość w glebie próchnicy spadła z początkowej wartości 14,6 g∙kg-1 s.m. do 14,4 g∙kg1s.m. gleby, natomiast przyorywanie słomy jednej rośliny w zmianowaniu, czyli rzepaku, spowodowało zwiększenie zawartości próchnicy w badanej glebie do 15,0 g∙kg-1 s.m. gleby. Pozostawianie i przyorywanie słomy dwóch roślin w zmianowaniu, tj. rzepaku i pszenicy, przyczyniło się do jeszcze większego wzbogacenia gleby w próchnicę, a przyorywanie słomy wszystkich 3 gatunków roślin skutkowało największym przyrostem zawartości (do 16,2 g∙kg-1 s.m.) tego składnika w glebie. W przeprowadzonych badaniach nie stosowano wapnowania gleby i w efekcie jej odczyn we wszystkich obiektach doświadczalnych obniżył się z początkowej wartości pH 6,2 do pH 5,0 - 5,1, najprawdopodobniej na skutek wieloletniego stosowania nawozów mineralnych, a zwłaszcza stosunkowo wysokich dawek N pod rzepak. W porównaniu do wartości wyjściowych, zawartość przyswajalnego potasu (K2O) w glebie zwiększyła się, natomiast zmniejszyła się zawartość przyswajalnego fosforu (P2O5) i magnezu (Mg), zapewne w wyniku obniżenia się odczynu gleby. W omawianym doświadczeniu stosowanie słomy nie dało wyraźnych efektów nawozowych w postaci istotnych przyrostów plonów (w stosunku do obiektu bez słomy) ziarna badanych zbóż, tylko w przypadku rzepaku stwierdzono lepsze plonowanie tej rośliny wraz ze wzrostem częstotliwości przyorywania słomy w zmianowaniu. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że w trosce o dobry stan gleb, rolnicy prowadzący gospodarstwa bezinwentarzowe i stosujący uproszczone płodozmiany zbożowe, powinni przyorywać słomę co najmniej jednej rośliny, a najlepiej dwóch, bowiem prowadzi to do nagromadzania się w glebie próchnicy, która ma duży wpływ na biologiczne, chemiczne i fizyczne właściwości gleb.The aim of this study was to analyze long-term environmental and production effects of the frequency of straw incorporation into the soil in the rotation of winter crops: rape-wheat-triticale. After 21 years of crop rotation with straw removal the SOM level in the soil decreased to 14.4 g∙kg-1 soil DM, compared to that in 1997 (14.6 g∙kg-1). However, when straw of one crop (rape) per rotation was incorporated the content of SOM increased to 15.0 g∙kg-1 soil DM, and to 15.6 and 16.0 g∙kg-1 when straw of two and three crops, respectively, was ploughed in. Straw retention had also a beneficial effect on the content of labile fractions of SOM (hot water extractable C and N). In this study no soil liming was applied which resulted in soil pH decrease from the initial pH 6.2 to pH 5.0-5.1 at the end of the experiment. In comparison to the initial values, the soil contained more available K2O and lower amounts of P2O5 and Mg, probably due to soil acidification. Grain yields and yield components of wheat and triticale were not significantly affected by straw incorporation, but in the case of rape seed yields increased with more frequent straw incorporation. The presented results indicate, that farmers practicing non-livestock farming or simplified cereal rotations in the care of soil quality should retain on the field and plough in straw of at least one crop, or preferably two crops per rotation, as it results in the accumulation soil organic matter and thus in the improvement of biological, chemical and physical soil properties

Wpływ możliwych zmian struktury i poziomu intensywności produkcji na produkcyjność roślin i siłę oddziaływań środowiskowych w perspektywie 2030 roku

The paper evaluates the changes in the structure of crop production and the intensity of mineral NPK fertilisation, as well as in the gross nitrogen balance in 2012-2020 and in 2030. A number of prognostic assumptions were made in the study which take into account the possibility of achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal in the context of current natural and productive conditions of Polish agriculture. The analysis showed that in 2030, a decrease in fertilization intensity and in total crop production should be expected, with an increase in the area of organic crops and improvement of the efficiency of fertilizer use, which should lead to a decrease in the pressure of nutrients (nitrogen) on the environment. / Synopsis. W pracy dokonano oceny zmian w strukturze produkcji roślinnej i poziomu intensywności nawożenia mineralnego NPK oraz bilansu azotu brutto w latach 2012-2020 i w perspektywie roku 2030. W opracowaniu przyjęto szereg założeń prognostycznych uwzględniających możliwość realizacji celów koncepcji EZŁ w uwarunkowaniach przyrodniczo-produkcyjnych polskiego rolnictwa. Z analizy wynika, że w perspektywie 2030 roku należy oczekiwać obniżenia intensywności nawożenia i całkowitej produkcji roślinnej, przy wzroście powierzchni upraw ekologicznych, z jednoczesną poprawą efektywności wykorzystania składników nawozowych, co powinno prowadzić do zmniejszenia presji ze strony biogenów (azotu) na środowisko

ESTIMATION OF WHEAT STRAW AND RAPESEED USEFULNESS FOR WHEAT FERTILISATION IN ARABLE FARMING

The aim of the research was the estimation of wheat and rapeseed straw usefulness for fertilising plants in arable farming. The subject matter of the study was the analysis of the influence of soil fertilisation with wheat and rapeseed straw on the yield and changes in the content of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in winter wheat grain cultivars: Finezja and Ludwig. The static field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Experiment Station, Grabów, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute (51°21′ N, 21°40′ E) in the years 2008–2010 on Haplic Luvisol. The effect of fertilisation with wheat and rapeseed straw did not have a significant effect on grain yield of winter wheat cultivars ‘Finezja’ and ‘Ludwig’. The introduction of complementary nitrogen fertilisation caused an increase in grain yield of wheat cultivar Ludwig. Organic fertilisation with wheat and rapeseed straw as well as complementary nitrogen fertilisation did not significantly differentiate the content of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in winter wheat grain cultivars ‘Finezja’ and ‘Ludwig’

THE EFFECT OF INTERCROPS AND DIFFERENTIATED TILLAGE ON THE MAIZE YIELDING

The research was carried out in the years 2008–2010 in the fields of the Experimental Station IUNG at Jelcz-Laskowice. Two-factorial experiments were laid out on the grey-brown podzolic soil formed out of loamy sand silt by the method of randomized subblocks in four replications. The experimental factors were intercrops (mustard and lupine) and tillage system (traditional, simplified and zero). Winter wheat was the forecrop and maize the sequent plant. Leaf area index (LAI) and mean tip angle (MTA) were determined in the stage of early flowering with use of a LAI-2000 meter (LI-COR, USA) in four replications. The research was carried out to find out which tillage system and intercrop would positively influence the yielding, selected indices of canopy architecture (height of plants, LAI, MTA) and the amount of weeds in maize grown for grain. The yield of maize grain grown in simplified and zero tillage appeared to be lower than that obtained in traditional tillage. The highest LAI index of maize grown after both forecrops was found with traditional tillage, while the lowest with zero one. The highest maize plants were those in conventional tillage. The intercrop which appeared to have the most favourable effect on the height of maize was mustard. Reduced tillage systems increased total weed infestation in comparison to conventional tillage. Compensation of Echinochloa crus-galli, Geranium pusillum and Chenopodium album was noticed. The greatest number of weeds per unit area was found in the experiment after no-tillage system

Weed Flora and Soil Seed Bank Composition as Affected by Tillage System in Three-Year Crop Rotation

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest around agricultural science and practice in conservation tillage systems that are compatible with sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study was to assess the qualitative and quantitative changes in weed flora and soil seed bank under reduced tillage and no-till (direct sowing) in comparison with traditional ploughing. In the crop rotation: pea/rape—winter wheat—winter wheat the number and dry weight of weeds increased with the simplification of tillage. The seed bank was the largest under direct sowing and about three times smaller in traditional ploughing. Under direct sowing, most weed seeds were accumulated in the top soil layer 0–5 cm, while in the ploughing system most weed seeds occurred in deeper layers: 5–10 and 10–20 cm. In the reduced and no-till systems, a greater percentage of perennial and invasive species, such as Conyza canadensis L., was observed. The results show that it is possible to maintain weed infestation in the no-till system at a level that does not significantly affect winter wheat yield and does not pose a threat of perennial and invasive weeds when effective herbicide protection is applied