Diversified cropping systems for promoting the beneficial insects - ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Received: January 31st, 2023 ; Accepted: April 10th, 2023 ; Published: April 27th, 2023 ; Correspondence: [email protected] agro-ecosystems ground beetles - carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are important as generalist predators of invertebrate pests and weed seeds and as prey for larger animals. This way they contribute to biodiversity and influence the most important ecological processes. Impacts of crop management practices on the carabids are not well described. Carabids were studied in winter wheat which is one crop in the rotation experiment (barley undersown with clover-clover-winter wheat-pea-potato). Carabids were collected with pitfall trap during one week at the end of June 2022. In laboratory, their species was identified. Trapping of carabids during the spiking phase of winter wheat has shown significant differences in carabids activitydensity and diversity depending on five different cropping systems. In two conventional systems where pesticides were used the number of carabids was two times smaller in comparison with three organic systems. Activity-density and diversity of carabids was significantly higher in all organic systems and especially in Org II system where winter cover crops and composted manure where used for rotation diversification. The Shannon–Wiener index values, which takes into account the number of species and their relative abundance were 1.24–1.53 in conventional systems, but higher in diversified organic systems (1.60–1.78). Only in organic systems Org I and Org II there were very rare species present, like Acupalpus meridianus (Linnaeus) and Microlestes minutulus (Goeze). In diversified organic systems the higher activity-density and abundance of carabids could be explained by the diverse plant community as possible source for better food and microclimatic conditions

Changes in the content of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the organic and conventional cropping systems

Received: February 3rd, 2023 ; Accepted: May 8th, 2023 ; Published: May 18th, 2023 ; Correspondence: [email protected] 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

Changes in weed biomass, density and diversity in long-term crop rotation experiment during second rotation

Saabunud / Received 27.01.2023 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 24.06.2023 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 15.08.2023 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author Helena Madsen ; [email protected] effects of long term (established in 2008) five-field crop rotation (barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with undersown red clover (Trifoium pratense L.), red clover, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)) on the biomass, abundance and diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) of weeds in three organic (Org) and two conventional (Conv) systems after the second rotation were investigated. The results include data from the second rotation in 2013 – 2017. The control system (Org 0) followed only the crop rotation. In the organic systems Org I and Org II winter cover crops were used. In Org II system composted cattle manure was also applied. The conventional cropping systems were treated with herbicides and fungicides and system Conv 0 acted as control (no fertilizer use). Mineral fertilizer was used in Conv II. In general, the significant differences were evident between conventional and organic cropping systems. There were also some differences depending on the crop. The weed biomass was the lowest in barley and potato plots, with significantly higher values in organic than in conventional systems. In clover plots the highest biomass of weeds occurred in Conv II whilst the lowest in Org I. In winter wheat plots the biomass of weeds was significantly lower in conventional systems than in any of the organic systems. Pea plots had the highest biomass, abundance and diversity of weeds in all systems within all rotational crops. Slight tendencies showed the decrease of weed abundance and diversity at the end of the rotation in systems with cover crops (Org I and Org II). This could be explained by better growing conditions due to higher microbial activity and organic carbon content in the soil of organic systems

The content of weed seeds in the soil based on the management system

ArticleIn 2008 an experiment was set up on the field in Eerika experimental station (Estonian University of Life Sciences) as a 5-field crop rotation: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with undersown red clover, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). 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 beginning of the period of organic production in 2011. In conventional farming systems without fertilizer (Con I) and conventional farming with mineral fertilizer (Con II) herbicides were used for weed control. All the crops in Con 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. Organic farming systems (Org II) had a negative effect on the content of weed seeds in the soil (2.0–22.7% less seeds than in other variants). The seeds of Chenopodium album were the most abundant among summer annual weeds and the seeds of Viola arvensis among winter weeds in the soil. Organic farming measures increased the domination of Chenopodium album – the dominance index D’ was increased by 0.09–0.14 compared to conventional variants. The content of seeds of winter weed Viola arvensis in Org II variant was decreased by 82%. The index of species evenness J’ and Shannon Wiener diversity index H’ were lower in organic plots by 0.10– 0.18 and 0.60–0.19, respectively. Org II variants showed the best results based on the decrease of soil weed seed bank and distribution of the weed species

Effect of thermal shock and pre-sprouting on formation of structural elements of yield

The trials were carried out in 2012 and 2013 at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Total yield, marketable yield, number of tubers per plant, average weight of tubers, tuber starch content was studied in cultivar 'Ants' (medium late) and 'Laura' (medium early). Following treatments were used: untreated control (T0) Seed tubers were planted directly from storage house (storage temperature 4°C); Thermal shock (TS). Seed tubers were kept before planting 5 days in a room with a temperature of 30°C and 2 days in a room with a temperature of 12°C; Pre-sprouting (PS). Seed tubers were kept before planting 26 days in a room with a temperature of 15°C and 10 days in a room with a temperature of 12°C. From the results in 2012 it was observed that pre-planting thermal treatments increased the number of tubers per plant compared to pre-sprouting. Pre-sprouted tubers gave higher average weight of tubers than in thermal shock variants. Hence, there were lower number tubers with higher weight of tubers in pre-sprouted variants in 2012. The results of experiments (2012–2013) indicated that pre-planting treatments did not have any significant effect on the yield of cultivar 'Ants'. In 2013 the yield of cultivar 'Laura' was significantly increased by pre-sprouting, showing higher number of tubers and higher weight of tubers. Therefore also the share of marketable tubers in the yield of both varieties was higher in pre-sprouted variants in 2012. Therefore, in case of cultivar 'Ants' it could be concluded that the thermal shock increases the number of tubers and decreases the weight of the tubers. The starch yield of cultivar 'Laura' was significantly higher in pre-sprouted variant in 2012. That was due to the significantly higher tuber yield in the same variant

The impact of using humic substance for growing potato on quality indicators of tubers

The impact of using humic substance for growing potato on quality indicators of tubers. Humic preparations are concentrated and economical form of organic matter which can relieve humus depletion caused by conventional fertilization methods. The trials were carried out in 2012 and 2013 at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Estonia. The yield of tubers and starch, and commercial yield of potato, number of tubers per plant, tuber weight was studied in cultivar 'Ants' and 'Laura'. In the experiments humic preparation (HP) "Ruponics" was used in two different treatment variants. "Ruponics" 50 l ha-1 (HP50), "Ruponics" 25 l ha-1 (HP25) and control (HP0) 0 l ha-1 variant. The experiments showed that potato cultivars 'Ants' and 'Laura', HP did not have any significant positive effect on the tuber yield, commercial tuber yield or starch yield in 2012. Yields were higher in 2013 reaching up to 52.4 t ha-1 and year 2013 'Laura' HP50 had yield 35.9 t ha-1. The main role of the addition of HP is improving nutrient mobility in the soil and higher uptake of nutrients to plants. Positive effect of HP should appear when plant is growing under unfavourable conditions

Impact of Farming System on Potato Yield and Tuber Quality in Northern Baltic Sea Climate Conditions

For finding more sustainable cropping systems, this study on how the farming system influences the yield and quality of potato tubers was carried out with long-term crop rotation experiment. The long-term five-field crop rotation field trial was established with the following farming system treatments: organic farming system treatments: Org I (organic control), Org II (organic crop rotation with winter cover crops) and Org III (organic crop rotation with winter cover crops and the addition of composted cattle manure); conventional farming system treatments: N0 (conventional system without fertilizers), N50 (conventional system with fertilization, N50P25K95), N100 (conventional system, N100P25K95) and N150 (conventional system, N150P25K95). The average yield (based on 3 trial years) of conventional systems was 25% higher, compared to organic systems. However, in organic systems, the yield was the most stable. The most fluctuating cropping system was the most intensively managed N150. In each trial year, the yield differed statistically and it varied from 4.7 t ha−1 up to 10.9 t ha−1. Org I had the same dry matter yield as the N0 system, where chemicals were used, meaning that using chemicals for plant protection but no fertilizer for growth improvement had no positive effect. In each year, the yield in Org III system was similar to N50 system. Regarding the tubers per plant, there were no differences between farming systems but there was a significant difference between the trial years. The tubers in conventional systems had a lower starch content than the organic systems. It is possible to conclude that if cover crops and manure are used, organic farming practices provide just as good results as the conventional farming with low nitrogen level

Soil Microbial Activity in Different Cropping Systems under Long-Term Crop Rotation

Soil microbes play a key role in the nutrient cycling by decomposing the organic material into plant-available elements and also by maintaining the soil health. The study of soil microbial hydrolytic activity (SMA) was carried out in a long-term crop rotation (barley undersown (us) with red clover, red clover, winter wheat, pea and potato) experiment in five different farming systems during 2014–2018. There were two conventional systems, with chemical plant protection and mineral fertilizers, and three organic systems, which included winter cover crops and composted manure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the (i) cropping system and (ii) precrops in rotation on the soil SMA. The soil microbial hydrolytic activity was significantly affected by yearly weather conditions, farming system, and crops. In all farming systems, the SMA was the lowest after dry and cold conditions during early spring in 2018. In unfertilized conventional systems, the considerably lower SMA is explained by the side effects of pesticides and low organic residuals, and we can conclude that the conventional system with no added fertilizer or organic matter is not sustainable, considering soil health. In each year, the SMA of organic systems with cover crops and composted manure was 7.3–14.0% higher compared to all farming systems. On average, for both farming systems, the SMA of all the rotation crops was positively correlated with the SMA values of precrops. However, in conventional farming systems, the effect of undersowing on the SMA of the precrop was smaller compared to organic systems

Soil Microbial Activity in Different Cropping Systems under Long-Term Crop Rotation

Soil microbes play a key role in the nutrient cycling by decomposing the organic material into plant-available elements and also by maintaining the soil health. The study of soil microbial hydrolytic activity (SMA) was carried out in a long-term crop rotation (barley undersown (us) with red clover, red clover, winter wheat, pea and potato) experiment in five different farming systems during 2014–2018. There were two conventional systems, with chemical plant protection and mineral fertilizers, and three organic systems, which included winter cover crops and composted manure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the (i) cropping system and (ii) precrops in rotation on the soil SMA. The soil microbial hydrolytic activity was significantly affected by yearly weather conditions, farming system, and crops. In all farming systems, the SMA was the lowest after dry and cold conditions during early spring in 2018. In unfertilized conventional systems, the considerably lower SMA is explained by the side effects of pesticides and low organic residuals, and we can conclude that the conventional system with no added fertilizer or organic matter is not sustainable, considering soil health. In each year, the SMA of organic systems with cover crops and composted manure was 7.3–14.0% higher compared to all farming systems. On average, for both farming systems, the SMA of all the rotation crops was positively correlated with the SMA values of precrops. However, in conventional farming systems, the effect of undersowing on the SMA of the precrop was smaller compared to organic systems

Taimekasvatus : õpik kõrgkoolidele

Taimed moodustavad esmase toodangu põllumajanduses. Taimekasvatussaadusi kasutatakse nii inimtoiduks, söödana põllumajandusloomadele kui ka toorainena paljudele teistele tööstusharudele. Lisaks eelnevale rikastavad taimed elukeskkonda hapnikuga, moodustades asendamatu lüli bioloogilises ringes. Tänapäeva olukorras, kus inimkond suureneb iga päevaga ning väärtusliku põllumajandusmaa hulk väheneb, muutub surve taimekasvatusele, kui toidu tootjale. Lisaks toob pidevalt muutuv kliima kaasa vajaduse kohaneda järjest suuremaks. Lisaks muutub kliima iga aastaga, mis toob kaasa vajaduse kohaneda. Seetõttu moodustab taimekasvatus suure osa toiduga kindlustatusest ning õiged otsused kasvatavate kultuuride ja rakendatavate tehnoloogiate valikus, on erinevate riskide vähendamise juures olulised. Taimekasvatus on juba praegu ja veel enam tulevikus osa ringbiomajandusest, mis tähendab, et tootmine peab olema kestlik ning saagi väärindama maksimaalne. Me oleme pannud kokku kaasaegse taimekasvatuse õpiku, mida saab kasutada kõrgkoolis teraviljade, õlikultuuride ning liblikõieliste kultuuride õpetamisel. Viimane üldine taimekasvatusalane õpik Eestis anti välja 1986. aastal („Taimekasvatus“, autorid: J. Heinsoo, E. Jaama, J. Jõudu, E. Reimets, K. Viilberg). Viimase 20 aasta jooksul on põhitõed taimekasvatuses jäänud küll samaks, kuid on toimunud palju muutusi kasvatavates kultuurides ja kasvatustehnoloogiates. Kartulit on põhjalikult käsitletud Juhan Jõudu koostatud ’Kartulikasvatuse“ raamatus, mis ilmus aastal 2002. Rohumaa kultuuride kohta saab õppida Dr. Ants Benderi koostatud raamatust „Eritüübiliste rohumaade rajamine ja kasutamine“, mis ilmus 2006. aastal. Käesolev õpik annab põhiteadmised emakeeles, sellele lisaks saab kasutada võõrkeelset kirjandust. Taimekasvatust õpetatakse Eesti Maaülikoolis mitmel õppekaval: põllumajandussaaduste tootmine ja turustamine, aiandus, loodusvarade kasutamine ja kaitse, loodusturism ja maamajanduslik ettevõtlus ja finantsjuhtimine. Seetõttu leiab uus õpik laialdast kasutust. Lisaks saavad õpikut kasutada Olustvere Teenindus-ja Maamajanduskoolis õppijad. Ka kogenud põllumajandustootjad noored agronoomid ja teised taimekasvatushuvilised saavad värskendada enda teadmisi. Käesolev õpik on oluline lisandus Mullateaduse kõrgkooliõpikule. Autorite kollektiivi on koondatud õppejõud ja teadlased, kes on sellel alal parimad asjatundjad Eestis. Suur tänu kõigile autoritele ja nõuandjatele! Põllumees saab igal aasta uue võimaluse. Enamus Eesti põllumajanduskultuure on üheaastased, ehk igal aastal külvatakse uus seeme. Igal sügisel saab pärast saagikoristust teha õppetundidest ja kogemustest uued järeldused. Nii näeme ka meie seda õpikut elava süsteemina. Mitte just igal aastal, aga teatud perioodi tagant, näeme me õpikut uuenemas.Õpik on valminud riikliku programmi „Eestikeelsed kõrgkooliõpikud 2013–2017“ toel.Õpik on valminud riikliku programmi „Eestikeelsed kõrgkooliõpikud 2013–2017“ toel