Sowing time effect on yield and quality of field beans in a changing meteorological situation in the Baltic region

Received: January 26th, 2021 ; Accepted: June 26th, 2021 ; Published: June 30th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] field beans (Vicia faba L.) need a lot of moisture to germinate, growers believe that they should be sown as early as possible in the spring. Field trial was carried out at the LLU RSF “Pēterlauki”, from 2018 to 2020. Following factors were researched: A) sowing time (early, medium and late), B) variety (‘Laura’, ‘Boxer’, ‘Isabell’), C) sowing rate (30, 40, 50 germinable seeds m-2 ), D) fungicide application (without and with application of fungicide at the GS 61-65). Meteorological conditions during the study had the greatest impact on the results as they were contrasting. Adverse meteorological conditions for field bean growing were observed in 2018 and in spring and early summer of 2019. The best year for bean yield formation was 2020, when temperature and precipitation was moderate. The highest average three year been yield was obtained sowing beans at the medium sowing time, however, equivalent yield was obtained sowing beans also in early sowing time. Fungicide application increased average three year yield significantly (p = 0.007) and independently of the sowing time. Influence of variety and sowing rate on average three year yield was insignificant, and it was not proved that any variety or sowing rate could be more suitable in a specific sowing time. Average three-year values of crude protein content, thousand seed weight and volume weight were affected by sowing time significantly (p < 0.001). Trial year, variety and fungicide application also affected all quality parameters significantly (p 0.05)

Variety, seeding rate and disease control affect faba bean yield components

ArticleFaba beans (Vicia faba L.) have been grown since 8000 years B.C. in the Middle East. Despite their long growing history in the world, there are only few researches carried out in Baltic region in last decades about variety, seeding rate and disease control effect on faba beans’ growth, development and yield formation. Research was carried out at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies during 2015–2017. Three factors were researched: A – variety (‘Laura’, ‘Boxer’, ‘Isabell’), B – seeding rate (30, 40 and 50 germinate able seeds m-2 ), C – treatment with fungicide (with and without application of fungicide Signum (1 kg ha-1 )). Meteorological conditions were diverse and sometimes caused stress for crop, but in general they favoured faba beans’ growth and development. High average yield of the field beans was obtained during all three trial years, however, yield differed significantly among them. Sowing time was constantly quite early, germination took longer time as expected due to the low air temperature, but later, temperature and humidity level improved and conditions were suitable for plant growth and development with some exceptions during flowering and pod filling. Number of productive stems per 1 m2 was significantly affected only by seeding rate. Plant height in trial site was affected by variety (p < 0.001), fungicide application (p = 0.008) and meteorological conditions (p < 0.001) of the year. Number of pods per plant differed depending on trial year (p < 0.001). Number of seeds per plant had a close positive correlation with number of pods per plant. Whereas number of seeds per pod was a relatively stable and typical characteristic for variety. We can observe correlation between faba bean yield and number of productive stems per 1 m2 at harvest, plant height, number of pods and seeds per plant

Field bean (Vicia faba L.) yield and quality depending on some agrotechnical aspects

ArticleDespite growing interest about field beans ( Vicia faba L.), only few researches have been carried out in Baltic countries on the possibility to increase field be ans’ yield and quality depending on different agrotechnical measures. Field trial was carried out in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Researched factors during all years were: A – variety (’Laura’, ’Boxer’, ’Isabell’), B – seeding rate (30, 40 and 50 germinate able se eds m - 2 ), C – treatment with fungicide (with and without application of fungicide). Beans’ yield (t ha - 1 ) and yield quality characteristics were detected in the trial. Temperature and moisture conditions were mostly suitable for high yield formation of fie ld beans in all three trial years. In all three trial years, field bean yield has been significantly affected by all factors. The highest yield ( p = 0.001) was provided by variety ‘Boxer’ in all years (6.10 – 7.74 t ha - 1 ). Thousand seed weight (TSW) was sign ificantly affected by variety and fungicide application. From agronomical point of view, crude protein level was not importantly affected by seeding rate changes or fungicide application. Volume weight was affected significantly by increased seeding rate o nly in 2016. Fungicide application also did not affect volume weight significantly during the whole trial period. Field bean yield increased by each year, but the main tendencies in all years were the same: higher yield and TSW was provided by variety ‘Box er’, but higher protein content and volume weight – by ‘Isabell’. Seeding rate increase gave positive impact on yield. Fungicide application affected field bean yield, but did not affect its quality significantly

Winter wheat leaf blotches development depending on fungicide treatment and nitrogen level in two contrasting years

Received: January 31st, 2021 ; Accepted: December 1st, 2021 ; Published: December 4th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] spot (caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and Septoria tritici blotch (caused by Zymoseptoria tritici) are the most widespread winter wheat leaf diseases in Latvia. The aim of the present research was to clarify the development of leaf blotches on winter wheat depending on fungicide treatment schemes under four nitrogen rates. A two-factorial trial was conducted at the Research and Study farm “Pēterlauki” (Latvia) of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. For this study, data from the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 growing seasons was used. Four schemes of fungicide application and an untreated variant, as well as four nitrogen rates (N120, N150, N180, and N210 kg ha-1 ) were used. The total disease impact during the vegetation period was estimated by calculating the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The severity of leaf blotches in winter wheat leaves differed significantly during both vegetation seasons. Tan spot was the dominant disease in 2019 (18.7% in untreated variant). The development of tan spot was reduced by fungicide treatment; however, only in 2019, the influence of fungicide was significant. Septoria tritici blotch was the dominant disease in 2020 (11.4% in untreated variant), and its development was decreased by fungicides. Nitrogen fertilizer rate had no significant effect on the development of Septoria tritici blotches. Yield harvested in 2020 were significantly higher than those in 2019 (on average 5.23 t ha-1 in 2019, 8.40 t ha-1 in 2020). The using of fungicides provided significant increase of yield but there were no significant differences among fungicide treatment schemes