Yield and some quality traits of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain as influenced by the application of different rates of nitrogen

A field study was conducted in the period 2004–2007 at the Czesławice Experimental Farm, belonging to the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, on loess-derived grey brown podzolic soil (good wheat soil complex). This study determined the effect of two levels of nitrogen fertilization on yield and the basic quality traits of grain of the winter wheat cultivar ‘Muza’. The study results show the dependence of the grain quality characters mainly on variable weather conditions throughout the study period and to a lesser extent on the level of nitrogen fertilization. Good technological parameters were obtained in the seasons with low rainfall and high air temperature. The study also demonstrated that the higher rate of nitrogen tended to have a positive effect on total protein and wet gluten content, falling number, sedimentation value, and grain test weight. In spite of the lack of significant differences, the quality of gluten was found to decrease with the increasing rate of nitrogen

The effect of herbicides on Chenopodium album L. phenology in fodder beet, spring wheat and faba bean crops

The objective of the study was to determine the time of occurrence of the emergence, budding, fruiting and seed shedding stages, as well as the degree of advancement of the white goosefoot fruiting and diaspores shedding stages in fodder beet, spring wheat and faba bean crops under mechanical and chemical weed control. Phenological observations were conducted in the years 2000-2002 at 10-day intervals, starting from the day of crop sowing on alluvial soil made of light loam. Chemically weed controlled objects were treated with herbicides: fodder beet - lenacil 80%; spring wheat - MCPA 30% + dicamba 4%; faba bean - linuron 50%. It was proven that the times of occurrence and the scale of the studied phenological stages of white goosefoot depended on the crop species, the in-crop weed control method and the pattern of weather conditions in the study years. White goosefoot had the most favourable conditions of growth in the fodder beet crop. The herbicides in the fodder beet and faba bean crops delayed the emergence and the time of occurrence of successive white goosefoot growth stages. These agents also decreased the degree of diaspores shedding by the weed species studied. The most white goosefoot specimens shed fruits on the mechanically weed controlled plots. The diaspores dissemination was promoted by a warm and moist growing season

The effect of reduced rates of crop protection agents and adjuvants on productivity, weed infestation and health of spring barley (Hordeum sativum L.)

A field experiment on the cultivation of spring barley was carried out in the period 2009–2011 at the Experimental Farm in Czesławice (central Lublin region) on grey-brown podzolic soil derived from loess (soil quality class II). The study included 3 rates of herbicides, growth retardant and fungicides (100%, 75% and 50%) as well as different types of adjuvant (oil, surface-active, mineral). Plots without adjuvant were the control treatment. A hypothesis was made that the reduction in rates of crop protection agents by 25–50%, with the simultaneous addition of adjuvants, would allow spring barley productivity to be maintained at a level similar to that obtained under the conditions when recommended rates are applied without adjuvant. It was also assumed that particular types of adjuvant would show different interactions with specific groups of crop protection agents. It has been proved that a rational reduction in rates of crop protection agents is up to a limit of 25%, especially when an adjuvant is added to such reduced rates. This allows spring barley productivity to be maintained at the level obtained after the application of full rates (without adjuvant). But a further reduction in rates of crop protection agents by 50%, in spite of the interaction of adjuvants, results in a significant deterioration of all spring barley yield components, since such conditions lead to increased occurrence of agricultural pests (weeds, fungal diseases) as well as increased crop lodging. Among the group of adjuvants tested in the present experiment, the oil adjuvant Atpolan 80 EC showed the best interaction with crop protection agents used

Fenologia owocowania niektórych gatunków chwastów w zasiewach wybranych roślin uprawnych [Fruiting phenology of some weed species in sowing of chosen cultivar plants]

In the paper, the percentage shares of the phases of fruiting and diaspore shedding of some weed species during fodder beet, spring wheat and faba bean harvest are presented. The results of the study were gathered in the years 2000-2003 on river alluvial soil made from light loam. The experimental scheme included mechanical and chemical control of the cultivated plants. On weed-free objects treated with herbicides, the following herbicides were used: fodder beet - Buracyl 80 WP (lenacyl 80%) in dose 1 kg.ha-1; spring wheat - Chwastox Turbo 340 SL (MCPA + dicamba) in dose 2l.ha-1; faba-bean - Afalon (linuron 50%) in dose 1,5 kg.ha-1. Phenological observations were carried out at 10-day intervals beginning from the day of sowing the cultivated plant. It was proven that weeds had the most favourable conditions of fruiting and seed shedding in fodder beet and faba bean. Fruiting and shedding of most weed species were limited by herbicides, as well as cold years. The following weed species: fodder beet without herbicides - Lamium amplexicaule, Chenopodium polyspermum, Anagallis arvensis i Echinochloa crus-galli; fodder beet with herbicides - Convolvulus arvensis, Lamium purpureum i Echinochloa crus-galli; spring wheat without herbicides - Capsella bursa-pastoris i Fallopia convolvulus; spring wheat with herbicides - Avena fatua; faba been without herbicides - Galium aparine, Anagallis arvensis i Convolvulus arvensis; faba been with herbicides - Galium aparine, shed diaspores in the greatest degree

Zachwaszczenie warstwy ornej gleb lessowych Płaskowyżu Nałęczowskiego w zależności od formy uprawnej zbóż i rzeźby terenu [Soil weed seed bank at ploughingl layer on the Nałęczów Plateau in relation to cereal crops and sculpture elements]

The weed seed bank in the ploughing layer (0–25 cm deep) of loess soils, located at top, slope and slope foot, is presented in the papaer. Soil samples, taken just affer the harvest of winter and spring cereals, in the Nałęczów surroundings (east-middle Poland) were the investigative material. It was proved that the most of weed seeds and fruits were the winter cereals bocated at the slopes and slopes foot. The diaspors of short-lived weeds were dominant III–V degree of stability in the soil covered all sculpture elements

Weed infestation of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) under different tillage systems

Direct drilling is one of the methods to reduce tillage costs. Low labor intensity of this system also makes it possible to grow crops in locations where it is a problem to maintain optimal sowing time. However, the use of no-tillage can cause increased weed infestation of crop plants and as a consequence a decline in crop yields. The present study investigated the effect of two tillage systems, plough tillage and direct drilling, on the species composition, density and air-dry weight of weeds in crops of two soybean cultivars (‘Aldana’ and ‘Augusta’). A three-year field experiment was set up on loess-derived gray-brown podzolic soil. The study showed that the use of direct drilling for soybean cropping resulted in a significant increase in the density and dry weight of weeds relative to plough tillage. The study also found richer floristic composition of weeds and an increase in the numbers of dominant species under no-tillage conditions. Elymus repens, Echinochloa crus-galli and Chenopodium album were dominant weed species in all experimental treatments. Chenopodium album and Galinsoga parviflora were characterized by the highest constancy (constancy classes V and IV) in crops of both soybean cultivars, whereas Echinochloa crus-galli showed the highest constancy value in the ‘Aldana’ crop. Under direct drilling, most weed species were found to exhibit higher constancy compared to plough tillage

Diversity of agrocoenoses in the Lublin region, Poland

The Lublin region, one of the main agricultural regions in Poland, has very favorable conditions for agricultural production but the development of the agricultural sector has been very slow there. This is due, among other factors, to the extensive farming used on large areas and the fragmentation of fields with numerous fragments of natural ecosystems. In Lublin Province, cereals comprise the highest proportion of the crop structure, especially wheat, but farmers also often cultivate maize, oilseed rape, sugar beet, and legumes for consumption. The biological diversity of agricultural areas is enhanced by growing traditional plant species and varieties. Crop species are accompanied by segetal weeds, sometimes very expansive, sometimes rare and endangered by extinction. In recent years, the following have been the dominant weed species in the region’s crop fields: Galium aparine, Convolvulus arvensis, Papaver rhoeas, Viola arvensis, and Veronica persica. However, there are several locations of occurrence of Muscari comosum (a strictly protected species) and the following unique species: Adonis aestivalis, Anthemis tinctoria, Caucalis platycarpos, Galium tricornutum, and Thymelaea passerina. In Lublin Province, there are many organic farms which contribute to the significant diversity of agricultural plant communities. In this review, we also indicate the biocoenotic role of weeds and their importance in the proper maintenance of agroecosystems and ecosystem services

Diversity of agrocoenoses in the Lublin region, Poland

The Lublin region, one of the main agricultural regions in Poland, has very favorable conditions for agricultural production but the development of the agricultural sector has been very slow there. This is due, among other factors, to the extensive farming used on large areas and the fragmentation of fields with numerous fragments of natural ecosystems. In Lublin Province, cereals comprise the highest proportion of the crop structure, especially wheat, but farmers also often cultivate maize, oilseed rape, sugar beet, and legumes for consumption. The biological diversity of agricultural areas is enhanced by growing traditional plant species and varieties. Crop species are accompanied by segetal weeds, sometimes very expansive, sometimes rare and endangered by extinction. In recent years, the following have been the dominant weed species in the region’s crop fields: Galium aparine, Convolvulus arvensis, Papaver rhoeas, Viola arvensis, and Veronica persica. However, there are several locations of occurrence of Muscari comosum (a strictly protected species) and the following unique species: Adonis aestivalis, Anthemis tinctoria, Caucalis platycarpos, Galium tricornutum, and Thymelaea passerina. In Lublin Province, there are many organic farms which contribute to the significant diversity of agricultural plant communities. In this review, we also indicate the biocoenotic role of weeds and their importance in the proper maintenance of agroecosystems and ecosystem services

The contribution of yield components in determining the productivity of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of different growth regulator rates and nitrogen fertilization levels on yield components and to evaluate their influence on winter wheat productivity. A field experiment with winter wheat ‘Muza’ was conducted at the Czesławice Experimental Farm, belonging to the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland over the period 2004–2007. In this experiment, the effect of the studied factors on yield and its components was primarily dependent on weather conditions during the study period. An increase in nitrogen rate from 100 to 150 kg ha−1 in 2005 and 2007 had a significant effect on the increase in grain yield per unit area. In 2005, the grain yield rose through increased spike density (by 6.3%) and a higher number of grains per spike (by 1.6%). The 1000-grain weight decreased the grain yield per unit area (by 0.04 t ha−1). In 2007, the higher yield of wheat fertilized with nitrogen at a rate of 150 kg N ha−1 was positively affected by all the three yield components. The statistical analysis of the results showed that the winter wheat grain yields were also significantly affected by the retardant rates applied depending on the year