Einjährige Medicago- und Trifoliumarten als Bodenbedecker in Lebendmulchsystemen: Adaptation und Konkurrenzverhältnisse

The potential of self-reseeding annual clovers and medics (T. subetrraneum, T. campestre, M. minima, M. orbicularis) as continuous ground cover in living mulch systems with cereals in southern Germany was assessed. It could be shown, that all of the assessed species were winterhardy and were able to re-establish from seed. Competition of the legumes on rye was limited in the first year. The methods for seed-ing cereals into established legume stands have still to be improved

Sortenbedingte Unterschiede der N-Effizienz und Beziehung zum Wurzelwachstums von Weizen (Triticum aestivum L.) unter den Bedingungen des Ökologischen Landbaus

N Uptake at EC 32, 62 and 92 was determined in 6 wheat varieties in field trials under conditions of conventional and organic farming over 3 years. Root growth potential was assessed in a separate trial under controlled conditions. Rank of varieties regarding N-uptake was dependent on yield level of the test environments and was mainly due to differences in uptake during grain filling. In one variety high N uptake potential coincided with high root growth in later growth stages

Effect of Seeding Date of Wheat and Clover Plant Interactions in Cereal Systems with an Associated Cover Crop

The success of the establishment of living mulch systems in cereals is, among other factors, dependent on the seeding time both of the main crop and the associated crop, which may be planted together or at different seeding times. In this contribution, the results of a series of experiments are summarized, where both the absolute and the relative seeding time of winter wheat as main crop and subterranean clover as associated crop has been varied. Early seeding favored the clover, later seeding the main crop. Competition can be regulated by anticipating the seeding time of one of the components. However, an equilibrated mixed canopy could be obtained by seeding both components together

Managing the Competition in Cereal-Subclover-Systems

The success of the establishment of living mulch systems in cereals depends, among other factors, on the spacial seed arrangement of the main crop and the associated crop as well as on the nitrogen availability. A series of experiments with three different types of seed arrangement has been performed in southern Germany and central Italy in order to assess the role of this factor using model systems with wheat and subterranean clover. The effect of nitrogen availability was tested in a separate experiment with 12 different levels of N fertilization. The best seed arrangement was narrow alternate rows, where competition between crops is reduced in the early growth stages. At higher N fertilization rates, subterranean clover was suppressed; however, at yield levels, typical for organic farming (3-6 t/ha), the establishment of a subclover canopy under wheat is possible

COBRA: a new European research project for organic plant breeding

Development of organic plant breeding and seed production will have a valuable impact on organic plant production. Breeding of plant material adapted for organic agriculture is crucial in order to cope with stresses such as climate change, weeds and seed borne diseases. Conventional varieties may not meet the specific needs of organic agriculture. The use of plant material adapted to conditions of organic agriculture will have a positive effect on the productivity and sustainability of organic crop production

Optimizing spatial arrangement for durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) intercropping system

The aim of this poster is to find a suitable spatial arrangement for the subclover living mulch-durum wheat system in order to provide a high cereal grain yield and a sufficient subclover reseeding after wheat harvesting. The study was carried out at the experimental farm of Tuscia University from 2011 to 2013. Field experiments included: (i) 5 cropping systems including the monoculture of durum wheat and subclover and three different durum wheat/subclover intercropping spatial arrangements (Fig. 1); (ii) 2 nitrogen fertilization levels (0 and 100 kg ha-1 of N, hereafter called N0 and N100, respectively); (iii) 2 weed managements [weed-free (WF) and weedy (We)]. The wheat planting density was 400 seeds m-2 regardless the cropping system, while the subclover planting density was 600 seeds m-2 in pure stand, and 300 seeds m-2 in the intercropped treatments

OSCAR – a new European project on cover crops

There is widespread concern over the damage caused by modern agriculture to soil structure and the ecosystem services provided. One approach to overcome this problem is conservation agriculture (CA) which aims to maintain soil structure by minimising soil disturbance, maximising soil cover and using crop rotation. However, despite recent legislation supporting minimum tillage and direct seeding, together with the efforts of pioneer farmers, CA is still practised on less than 4% of the agricultural land in Europe. This underlines the need for major improvements in the approach together with consolidation of, and access to, information about alternative cropping methods and their biological and economic value and performance. A new European FP7-funded research project has started in April 2012 to address these issues. The project, called OSCAR is conducted by 20 partners and is led by University of Kassel, Germany. OSCAR aims to Optimise Subsidiary Crop Application in Rotations. It extends existing knowledge and improves and develops novel cropping systems based on cover crops, catch crops, living mulches and other subsidiary crops (SC). OSCAR aims to enhance the implementation and increase the duration of soil coverage by plants, introduce diversity to the crop rotation and reduce the need for and the intensity of soil tillage. Optimization will counteract the sometimes reduced yields associated with minimum or non-tillage systems whilst providing durable ecological benefits. Particular attention is given to conservation tillage systems. To maximise the potential of ecological benefits, both conventional and conservation agricultural systems are considered in OSCAR, encouraging a high level of innovation as well as offering a more immediate transfer into practical agriculture

Naturopathic Physician Attitudes and Practices for Vaccination and Primary Care in the State of Vermont

Introduction: Recent increase in measles cases has sparked vaccination controversy. Naturopathic physicians (NDs) have been recognized as primary care providers by VT since 2012. It is not well understood how NDs address vaccination with patients. Our goal was to determine how Vermont NDs address vaccines and preventative care with their patients.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1234/thumbnail.jp

Evaluating spatial arrangement for durum wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) and subclover ( Trifolium subterraneum L.) intercropping systems

Cover crops and mulches can be used for increasing sustainability in winter cereal cropping systems. We performed a 2-year field experiment in Central Italy with the aim of finding a suitable spatial arrangement for durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) as a living mulch system in order to provide a high grain cereal yield and a sufficient subclover reseeding following the wheat harvest. Experimental treatments consisted of: (i) five cropping patterns [wheat and subclover mixed in the same row, with rows 15 cm apart (same row); 2 rows of wheat and 1 row of subclover at a distance of 10 cm between rows (narrow rows); 2 rows of wheat and 1 row of subclover with a distance of 10 cm between the wheat rows and 17.5 cm between the wheat and subclover rows (wide rows); durum wheat sole crop and subclover sole crop, both in rows 15 cm apart]; (ii) two nitrogen fertilization levels (0 and 100 kg ha-1 of N); (iii) and two weed management levels (weed-free and weedy). The wheat grain yield was not reduced by the intercropped subclover in narrow rows, while it was around -14% lower in same row and wide rows compared to the pure crop treatment, although the intercropped systems always showed a higher resource use efficiency. When intercropped with subclover, wheat was the competitively superior species and its competitive advantage was greater when it was closer to the legume and/or in presence of nitrogen fertilization. A strong negative relationship between wheat aggressivity and subclover seed production was observed. Following the wheat harvest, the legume reseeding was sufficient to regenerate a cover crop in the autumn of the second year regardless the spatial arrangement, even if the density of the subclover seedlings was almost twice in wide rows compared to same row. Although the intercropped systems were characterized by an increase in plant density compared to the sole crops (100% of wheat + 50% of subclover), the competitive ability of the wheat-subclover system against the weeds was higher than the wheat sole crop only in narrow rows where a significant reduction of both weed density and weed biomass was observed. When the subclover is used as living mulch in durum wheat, a moderate separation between the two species could be a suitable spatial arrangement for obtaining an adequate wheat grain yield, ensuring satisfactory subclover reseeding, controlling the weeds more effectively

Intensivierung und Differenzierung des Leguminosen-Anbaus unter Berücksichtigung der Nematoden

Zusammenfassung Um Empfehlungen für eine Erhöhung des Anteils der Leguminosen in Ökologischen Anbausystemen bei gleichzeitiger Erweiterung des Artenspektrums zu erarbeiten, wurden die Arten Trifolium subterraneum (Erdklee), Trifolium campestre (Feldklee), Medicago orbicularis (Schneckenklee), Medicago minima (Zwergschneckenklee) und Medicago truncatula (Einjährige Luzerne) in Verfahren des Lebendmulches und der Gründüngung untersucht. Besonders interessant für Mischkulturen hat sich der Erdklee erwiesen, für kurzzeitige Gründüngung die Einjährige Luzerne. Die enge Abfolge von Leguminosen birgt die Gefahr der Unverträglichkeit durch Nematodenbefall speziell mit Meloidogyne und Paratylenchus. In einem Gefäßversuch zeigte sich, dass die Arten der Gattungen Pisum, Vicia und Trifolium eine höhere Vermehrungsrate für Meloidogyne hapla hatten als Kopfsalat. Medicago und Melilotus waren dagegen weniger anfällig. Daraus ergibt sich, dass beim Fruchtfolgemanagement die unterschiedliche Nematodenanfälligkeit durch die Wahl der Arten und die Anbauzeiten berücksichtigt werden sollte