Quality parametres of emmer wheat landraces

Emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccum SCHUEBL, is an old variety of cereals which has been traditionally grown in aride areas. Nowdays, it is mainly grown in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria and in the Czech republic. This article deals with a study of quality parametres and selected economic parametres of 6 varieties coming from the genetic resources of emmer wheat. High crude protein content in grain was proved during the trials. Nevertheless, such a characteristic is not suitable for the classical bakery processing (production of leavened products). Low figure of the harvest index is supposed to be the most problematic economic character. However, emmer wheat is a suitable variety for organic farming system. Growing of emmer wheat contributes to an extension of the agrobiodiversity in the countryside and to the suistainable development of a region

Baking Quality of Winter Wheat Varieties in Organic Farming

The technological value of wheat is negatively influenced by organic methods of cultivation. The critical factor is the crude protein content and quality. The aim of this paper is to identify diferences in the quality of eight varieties and two strains of wheat recommended in conventional or organic conditions. Correlation analysis of the qualitative parameters of wheat shows a clear relationship between crude protein content, wet gluten content and Zeleny - sedimentation value. According to the test results, it is appropriate to use the content and quality of protein as selective criteria for the selection of varieties. The Level of baking quality is never reduced below the quality level of the worstquality varieties grown in the same conditions. On the other hand, the best quality varieties provide grains characterized by better baking quality, but lower yield level, than the others

Ancient Wheat Species Can Extend Biodiversity of Cultivated Crops

Wheat genetic resources may be grown in organic farming systems or in less favourable areas for bread wheat species. Characteristics of hulled wheat species (23 varieties of einkorn, emmer wheat, spelt wheat) were studied and evaluated within a two-year trial period (which was executed on certified organic fields) and they were compared to characteristics of landraces and modern bread wheat varieties. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the potential uses of genetic resources of wheat in organic farming. The hulled wheat species were resistant to mildew and brown rust. Their grains were less contaminated with DON than the grains of the control varieties. The grain yield rate was reduced. Per hectare crude protein yield was higher in spelt and emmer wheat species than in the control varieties. High protein proportion in grain was an important advantage of the hulled wheat species. Spelt wheat is suitable for production of products similar to bread wheat (they have similar technological qualities). Einkorn and emmer wheat contain worse-quality gluten and therefore are suitable for the production of unyeasty products, that is pasta, mush, traditional unyeasty bread, etc

Perennial grasslands and agroenvironmental programme effects

Farming on grasslands is an important part of organic faming. There is a perceptible trend of increasing acreages of grasslands in organic farming in the Czech republic too. Adjustment of subventions has an inconsiderable influence on this trend. Subventions should be balanced in a sufficient measure for supporting of organic farming in all directions, nevertheless in current situation the increasing of acreage of grasslands is too strong and share of grasslands in organic farming is too high. It provokes a degradation of production function of organic farming and insufficient utilization of arable land. This article is focused on the analysis of farming of selective file of farms with accent on farming on grasslands and use of the agroenvironmental programmes

Distribution and use of grasslands in the Czech Republic and biodiversity of invertebrates

In the Czech Republic the major focus of organic farming lies in permanent grasslands management. Animal production is mostly focused on non-milk pasture beef-raising on almost the whole farm area. By contrast conventional farms do not grass sufficiently, even in areas with higher elevation. This fact is influenced by subvention programmes motivating farmers to fulfil the agroenvironmental function of agriculture using grassing, however there is no support for agriculture on arable land. Permanent grasslands are predominantly used for beef grazing. Large areas are harvested too, which affects biodiverzity. Grasslands utilized for pasture are rich in biodiversity which enhance ecosystem services. The effect of grassland management on the different taxa and assamblages is discussed. This work is focused on permanent grasslands utilization and distribution and invertebrate abundance

Spike productivity in relation to yield as criterion for emmer wheat breeding

Landraces, which are unbred cereal species, and include in particular the tetraploid emmer wheat, have become an important focus for the activities of local or organic farmers, processors and consumers of organic products. This study is based on analyses of the spike productivity, harvest index and grain yield of six emmer wheat landraces. It aims to find suitable criteria for the selection of cultivars and varieties which may contribute to the increase in the productivity of the emmer wheat. The cultivars and varieties most commonly used have short dense spikes which have a negative effect on the grain yield, as the spike density is negatively correlated with the weight of thousand grains (TGW), the weight of the grains in the spikes, the number of grains in spikelets and the proportion of hulls to the weight of the grains. Therefore, the selection of cultivars and varieties should focus on material having long lax spikes, and a high TGW, both of which would have a positive effect on the harvest index

Differences between organic and conventional farming systems in Czech Republic

Agriculture of the Czech Republic has features of submonate and montane agriculture. More than half of the surface of the Czech Republic are less favourable areas (LFA). Active state support of farming focused on the extensive production and maintenance of the countryside and the other environmental services is the crucial point of a successful development of competitive and economical (from the point of view of the environment) production in LFA. Organic farming is carried out on the area of 6 % of the surface of agricultural land, most of agricultural land is worked with conventional methods of farming. In the Czech Republic there are significant differences between structure of the organic and conventional farming, especially in the share of arable land and share of permanent grasslands. The differences between organic and conventional farming systems can be located also in structure of production and in some other parameters (average acreage of the farms…). The contemporary state of farming has been evaluated and organic and conventional farming systems have been compared in the framework of the analysis of structure of farming in the Czech Republic. The selective group of 437 associations was divided into three different subgroups, and into several categories according to the farming method and altitude. Parameters of plant and animal production and use of the agroenvironmental programmes and measures are evaluated. The evaluation of the structure of farming permits to find optimal possibilities of future development of conventional and organic farming in the Czech Republic and of arrangements of the settings of grants and subsidies

Major problems of organic farming – experience transmission

As a very particular agricultural system organic farming encounters many problems. Some of these problems are common to several countries where organic farming is applied. On that ground it might be useful to compare condition and levels of organic farming in more countries, find its common problems and thanks to experience transmission try to eliminate some of these problems preventively. Mutual comparison of organic farming in the Czech Republic with organic farming in Austria and actual conditions assessment provide to determine main problems of organic farming in both countries. Within the framework of analysis of organic farming several general problems of organic farming in both countries were defined, e. g. lower yields and higher costs per production unit or legislative restrictions. At the same time for the Czech republic were defined major problems related to agricultural and socioekonomic differences (e. g. dual characteristics of farm size, high share of imported bioproduction) and for Austria (high prices of bioproducts, lower rate of conversion to organic farming) and proposed suitable solutions based on experience of partnership country. If the number of partnership countries with differentially developed organic farming was broaden and there was defined common problems and aims for organic farming in general it might be a very important step for simplification and acceleration of its development

The Use of Organic Foods, Regional, Seasonal and Fresh Food in Public Caterings

The chapter focuses on possibilities to improve the quality of meals in public, especially school catering facilities. It presents the options for diet modifications towards a sustainable use of organic foods, local and seasonal food by optimizing portions of meat and meals prepared of fresh ingredients. From an economic, environmental and nutritional point of view, evaluation and comparison of the original and optimized meals can contribute to a more efficient use of foods and motivate staff in public catering facilities to comprehensive food assessment

Emmer wheat using and growing in the Czech Republic

Emmer wheat [(Triticum dicoccum Schrank (Schuebl)] is after bread, durum and spelt wheat further species of wheat used for economic purposes. Organic farmers and producers have become more and more interested in marginal crops such as the tetraploid emmer wheat because of its suitability for organic farming. In spite of its historical role, present distribution of emmer is very limited. The work analyzes the problem of growing possibilities of emmer and its suitability for cultivation in organic farming. In the Czech Republic it is grown only a few farms, but in Austria is more popular now. Possible candidates for the cultivation of emmer has several options about where to obtain a suitable variety. The best option appears to be the choice of legally protected variety Rudico. Another option would be to obtain seed from abroad or multiplication of seed of its own genetic resources. Among important properties of emmer belongs e.g. considerably high resistance to some fungal diseases, which make it advantageous in organic system of growing. Hulled grain requires procedure of peeling. High grain quality, first of all high protein content, predetermines emmer wheat for preparation of healthy dishes in bio quality. The grains are suitable for the production of unyeasted products because of their specific quality. As the emmer wheat is grown especially in the organic farming system, the processing of grains has to respect the individuality of this obsolete cereal species. It may be used for the production of healthy regional food products