Anbauverfahren „Weite Reihe“ von Winterweizen unter den kontinentalen Anbaubedingungen Ostösterreichs

Problemstellung und Ziele: Winterweizen mit 12% Protein wird in der Regel gesichert nur nach kleinsamigen Leguminosen wie Rotklee oder Luzerne mit einem hohen Stickstoffangebot aus den mineralisierten Ernte-Wurzelrückstanden erreicht. Um dieses Qualitätsziel auch im viehlosen Anbau in niederschlagsarmen Regionen zu erreichen, wurden anhand von Feldversuchen verschiedene Saatstärken und Reihenabstände geprüft

Concentrations and uptake of macro and micronutrients by chickpea compared to pea, barley and oat in Central Europe

Ein zweijähriger Feldversuch wurde im Osten Österreichs durchgeführt, um die Konzentrationen und die Aufnahme von Makro- (Ca, K, Mg, P) und Mikronährstoffen (Cu, Mn, Zn) durch Kichererbse (Cicer arietinum) im Vergleich zu Erbse, Gerste und Hafer zu erheben, um so Informa­tionen für die mögliche Einführung von Kicher­erbse in zentraleuropäische Agrarsysteme zu gewinnen. Die Körner von Kichererbse wiesen höhere Nährstoffkonzentrationen (mit Ausnahme von Mn) auf als jene der beiden Getreidearten. In einem Jahr mit durchschnittlichen klimatischen Verhältnissen konnte die Kichererbse eine geringe Aufnahme von Mg und P ins Korn pro Fläche erreichen, während der K-, Cu- und Zn-Kornertrag ähnlich jenem von Gerste und Hafer war, da die Kichererbse den geringeren Kornertrag durch höhere Nährstoffkonzentrationen kompensieren konnte. Indessen konnte die Kichererbse in einem Jahr mit starker Trockenheit die anderen Kulturpflanzen im Kornertrag der Makronährstoffe Ca, K, Mg und P und des Mikronährstoffes Cu übertreffen, und zwar aufgrund des mit den weiteren Kulturpflanzen ähnlichen Kornertrages und den höheren Kornkonzentrationen dieser Elemente im Vergleich zu Gerste und Hafer. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2015.12.02, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2015.12.02Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) could be a promising new crop in Central Europe for contributing to agro-system diversification and reducing the substantial deficit of vegetable protein sources in the European Union. A two-year field experiment was conducted in eastern Austria to assess concentrations and uptake of macro (Ca, K, Mg, P) and micronutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn) of chickpea as compared to pea, barley and oat to gain information for a possible introduction of chickpea to Central European agro-system with regard to its contribution to human and livestock nutrition and its nutrient demand. Chickpea grain had higher concentrations of all analysed nutrients (except of Mn) than cereal grains. In year with average climatic conditions, chickpea had a lower grain nutrient uptake of Mg and P than pea, barley and oat but a similar one to barley and oat for K, Cu and Zn as higher grain concentrations of chickpea could compensate its lower grain yield. Whereas, chickpea could outperform the other crops in a year with drought conditions regarding the uptake of macronutrients Ca, K, Mg and P and micronutrient Cu due to both a similar grain yield with the other crops and higher grain concentrations of these elements as compared to barley and oat. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2015.12.02, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2015.12.0

Sortenvergleich von Körner- und Futtererbsen in Reinsaat und Gemenge

Problemstellung/Ziele: Die Erbse gilt als die wichtigste Körnerleguminose im Ökologischen Landbau, sowohl in ihrer Funktion als Leguminose zur Versorgung des Betriebes mit Stickstoff, als auch für die Futterproduktion (Geflügel und Schweine). Unter der Annahme einer richtigen Stellung in der Fruchtfolge gelten der Ertrag, die Stickstoff-Fixierungsleistung sowie die Konkurrenzkraft gegenüber Beikraut als die wichtigsten Merkmale in der Entscheidungsfindung der Sortenauswahl. Für die Tierernährung ist die Proteinqualität, im engeren Sinn der Gehalt an essentiellen Aminosäuren entscheidend. Ziel dieses Projektes ist die Untersuchung verschiedener Erbsensorten bzw. -gemenge im Hinblick auf ihre Biomassebildung, Stickstoff Fixierleistung, Konkurrenzkraft gegenüber Beikräutern, Futtermittelparameter und Vorfruchtwert

Effects of working depth and wheel slip on fuel consumption of selected tillage implements

Rising fossil fuel prices are leading to an increasing awareness of energy efficiency in plant production.  Tillage in particular can consume large amounts of fuel.  For four tillage implements (reversible mouldboard plough, short disc harrow, universal-cultivator, subsoiler), this study quantifies the effect of different working depths on fuel consumption, wheel slip, field capacity and specific energy consumption.  A four-wheel drive tractor (92 kW) was equipped with a data-acquisition system for engine speed, vehicle speed, wheel speed and fuel consumption.  Fuel consumption was measured in the fuel system with an integrated high-precision flow-meter.  The results show that the area-specific fuel consumption increased linearly with working depth for both the mouldboard plough and the short disc harrow, but disproportionately for the subsoiler.  Wheel slip was found to increase fuel consumption and decrease field capacity performance at all depths.  The influence of the engine speed was shown in a separate experiment with a universal-cultivator.  Increasing the engine speed from 1,513 r min-1 to 2,042 r min-1 results in an increase of 80% for the fuel consumption rate (L/h) and 35% for the area-specific fuel consumption (L/ha).  Future measurement of drawbar pull will allow a more detailed analysis of the energy efficiency losses at the engine, the transmission, and at the wheel/soil interface.   Keywords: fuel consumption, wheel slip, mouldboard plough, subsoiler, universal-cultivator, short disc harro

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) causes severe yield losses in different soybean varieties by reducing the infection potential of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Das ursprünglich aus Nordamerika stammende Ragweed oder Beifuß-Ambrosia (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae), íst eine einjährige, krautige Pflanze. Sie hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten massiv ausgebreitet und zählt heute in vielen Teilen Mitteleuropas zu den wirtschaftlich wichtigsten Unkrautarten in der Landwirtschaft. Aktuell übliche Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen wie Mähen oder Herbizidapplikationen zeigen auf vielen Standorten nur sehr eingeschränkte Erfolge, sind aus zeitlichen oder wirtschaftlichen Gründen nicht umsetzbar bzw. scheitern daran, dass der Neophyt nicht erkannt wird. Speziell Sojabohnenbestände wurden in den letzten Jahren immer stärker von Ragweed befallen, jedoch gibt es bislang nur wenige Studien zur Ertragswirkung von Ragweed. Das Ziel des zweijährigen Feld- und einjährigen Glashausversuches, die 2017 und 2018 durchgeführt wurden, war deshalb die Untersuchung der Konkurrenzeffekte von Ragweed auf 1) Wachstum (oberirdisch / unterirdisch), 2) Entwicklung, 3) Infektionspotential der Knöllchenbakterien und 4) Ertrag von zwei verschiedenen Sojabohnensorten. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigten, dass auf den Versuchsflächen mit der höchsten Ragweed-Biomasse der Sojaertrag um 83,7 % sank. Speziell die Anzahl und das Gewicht der Knöllchen (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) auf den Sojawurzeln wurden durch Anwesenheit von Ragweed stark reduziert. Eine Ragweed-Pflanze pro Quadratmeter reichte aus, um die Anzahl der Knöllchen um durchschnittlich 55,8 % zu reduzieren. Da jedoch eine effektive Infektion wesentlich zur Ertragsbildung von Soja beiträgt, führte diese Reduktion an Knöllchenbakterien bzw. deren Gewicht zu einem Ertragsverlust von 18 %.Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae) known as common ragweed is an annual herbaceous species native to North America which has become one of the economically most important weeds in agricultural areas throughout Middle Europe. Its large ecological amplitude enables the species to establish in several types of environment, but management options to effectively contain its spread are limited due to lack of efficacy, cost and time or lack of awareness. In the last decade especially soybean fields were severely affected by ragweed invasion, but until now information on the yield-decreasing effects of the plant are scarce for Middle Europe. Therefore, the aim of the study, conducted in 2017 and 2018 as a greenhouse and biennial field trial, was an evaluation of the competition effects of ragweed upon 1) growth (aboveground/belowground), 2) infection potential of rhizobia and 3) yield of two different soybean varieties. Results revealed that on plots with the highest ragweed biomass the yield loss accounted for 83.7% on average. Particularly, the numbers of nodules as well as the mean weight of the nodule, which stand in tight correlation with soybean yield, were significantly reduced by the presence of ragweed. Only one ragweed plant per square metre reduced the number of nodules by 55.8% and consequently led to a decrease in yield of 18%

Talking Different Languages: The Role of Plant-Plant Communication When an Invader Beats up a Strange Neighborhood

Communication through airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and root exudates plays a vital role in the multifarious interactions of plants. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemesiifolia L.) is one of the most troublesome invasive alien species in agriculture. Below- and aboveground chemical interactions of ragweed with crops might be an important factor in the invasive species' success in agriculture. In laboratory experiments, we investigated the contribution of intra- and interspecific airborne VOCs and root exudates of ragweed to its competitiveness. Wheat, soybean, and maize were exposed to VOCs emitted from ragweed and vice versa, and the adaptation response was measured through plant morphological and physiological traits. We observed significant changes in plant traits of crops in response to ragweed VOCs, characterized by lower biomass production, lower specific leaf area, or higher chlorophyll contents. After exposure to ragweed VOCs, soybean and wheat produced significantly less aboveground dry mass, whereas maize did not. Ragweed remained unaffected when exposed to VOCs from the crops or a conspecific. All crops and ragweed significantly avoided root growth toward the root exudates of ragweed. The study shows that the plant response to either above- or belowground chemical cues is highly dependent on the identity of the neighbor, pointing out the complexity of plant-plant communication in plant communities

Contrasting effects of cover crops on earthworms: Results from field monitoring and laboratory experiments on growth, reproduction and food choice

Cover crops are an essential element of sustainable agriculture and can affect earthworm populations. In a field trial, we investigated the effects of four cover crop treatments: radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus B.; at high and low seed density), black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanese M.) on earthworms under two irrigation regimes. The two parallel field trials (irrigated and rainfed) demonstrated the significance of soil moisture for earthworm abundance with lower numbers under rainfed black oat and Sudan grass compared with moister bare fallow in autumn (P < 0.05). Soil moisture content changed from autumn to spring and was highest under Sudan grass in both irrigation regimes (P < 0.05). Earthworm numbers equalised and were then similar in all treatments, but under rainfed cover crop treatments, earthworm populations gained 62.3 g g−1 in biomass from autumn to the following spring (P < 0.05). Laboratory experiments showed the importance of N content and more palatability of low C:N ratio radish for growth rate of juvenile Aporrectodea longa and cocoon production by Aporrectodea caliginosa. These two earthworm species showed a different preference in choice chamber experiments between roots and shoots. Radish was consumed first in three out of four experiments. Field and laboratory experiments highlighted the effects of cover crops on earthworm abundance, reproduction and development. Overall, our results showed that cover crops can support earthworm development, but under field conditions, soil moisture is more important. In the short-term, this can lead to a trade-off between plant biomass production and earthworm numbers

Effect of Cover Crop, Slurry Application with Different Loads and Tire Inflation Pressures on Tire Track Depth, Soil Penetration Resistance and Maize Yield

Agricultural soils can be affected in their ecological functions by in-field traffic of agricultural machinery. A three-factorial research design was carried out in a field experiment to test the effect of slurry tanker filling level (filled, half-filled, empty), tire inflation pressure of the slurry tanker (high: 300 kPa, low: 100 kPa), and ground covering (+cover crop, −cover crop) on tire track and soil penetration resistance (averaged, 0–20 cm, 21–40 cm) after application on the fields in spring. Additionally, the effect on grain yield of the subsequent culture was considered. The total weight of the tractor slurry tanker combination was 16,470 kg (empty), 25,940 kg (half-filled), and 34,620 kg (filled). The low tire inflation pressure of the slurry tanker increased the mean tire–soil contact area by 75% (filled), 38% (half-filled), and 16% (empty tanker). The results obtained show a significant effect of tire inflation pressure and ground covering on the measured parameters. The tire inflation pressure reduction effect on track depth was highest in the filled slurry tanker (−17.8%). With increasing wheel load, the effect of reduced tire inflation pressure on soil penetration resistance (0–20 cm) increased. In the subsoil (21–40 cm), the effect of tire inflation pressure was much lower, indicating that a reduction of tire inflation pressure preserves the upper layers rather than the lower ones. Furthermore, cover crops are linked to a higher degree of soil deformation after traffic with the tractor–slurry combination due to their loosening effect on the topsoil. Tire tracks were 15.0% deeper in the cover crop field than in the field without a cover crop. It is assumed that cover crop mixtures with different types of root mass can influence the mitigation of soil compaction in an ameliorative way

Energy Efficiency of Continuous Rye, Rotational Rye and Barley in Different Fertilization Systems in a Long-Term Field Experiment

A goal in sustainable agriculture is to use fossil energy more efficiently in crop production. This 60-year-old experiment on a silt loam chernozem investigated effects of fertilization (unfertilized control, mineral fertilizer (NPK) and farmyard manure (FYM)) and rotation (continuous winter rye (CR), winter rye in rotation (RR), spring barley in rotation (SB) on diesel fuel consumption, total energy input (made of both direct and indirect inputs), crop yield, energy output, net-energy output, energy intensity, energy productivity and energy use efficiency. The input rates of fertilizer, herbicides and seeds were set constant during the experiment. Soil tillage was done with a moldboard plough with subsequent combined seedbed preparation and seeding. The mean calculated total energy input was highest in NPK with 11.28 GJ ha&minus;1 and lowest in the unfertilized control with 5.00 GJ ha&minus;1. Total energy input for FYM was intermediate with 6.30 GJ ha&minus;1. With energetic consideration of NPK nutrients in FYM the total energy input increased to the level of NPK. The share of the fertilizer energy on the total energy input was 49% for NPK. Fertilization with FYM and NPK increased yield and energy output considerably, especially of CR and SB which attained about doubled values. Crop rotation also increased the yield and energy output, especially of unfertilized rye, which attained values increased by about 75%. Fertilization with FYM resulted in the highest energy efficiency as the net-energy output, the energy productivity and the energy use efficiency were higher but the energy intensity was lower compared to unfertilized controls and NPK. When the nutrients in FYM were also energetically considered, the energy efficiency parameters of FYM decreased to the level of the NPK treatment. Crop rotation increased the energy efficiency of winter rye compared to the monoculture

Efficiency of Mineral Nitrogen Fertilization in Winter Wheat under Pannonian Climate Conditions

Improvements in nitrogen (N) use efficiency in crop production are important for addressing the triple challenges of food security, environmental degradation and climate change. The three fertilizers, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea (Urea) and stabilized urea (Ureastab), were applied at a rate of 160 kg N ha&minus;1 with two or three splits to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Pannonian climate region of eastern Austria. On average, over all fertilization treatments, the grain yield (GY) increased by about a quarter and the grain N concentration (GNC) doubled compared to the control without fertilization. Consequently, the grain N yield (NYGRAIN) was increased with N fertilization by 154%. The GY increased due to a higher grain density with no differences between N fertilizers but with a tendency of a higher grain yield with three compared to two splits. Three splits also slightly increased the GNC and consequently the NYGRAIN of CAN and Ureastab in one year. The removal of N fertilizer with the NYGRAIN (N surplus) was higher than the amount of applied fertilizer. Fertilization decreased the N use efficiency (NUE), the N uptake efficiency (NUpE) and the N utilization efficiency (NUtE) but increased the soil mineral nitrate (NO3-N) at harvest and the apparent N loss (ANL). Three compared to two applications resulted in a higher NO3-N at harvest but also a lower N surplus due to partly higher NYGRAIN. Consequently, the ANL was lower with three compared to two splits. Also, the NUpE and the apparent N recovery efficiency (ANRE) were higher with three splits. The best N treatment regarding highest above-ground biomass yield with lowest N surplus, N balance and ANL was the three-split treatment (50 CAN, 50 CAN, 60 liquid urea ammonium nitrate). Three splits can, under semi-arid conditions, be beneficial when aiming high-quality wheat for bread-making and also for reducing the N loss. Whereas, two splits are recommended when aiming only at high GY, e.g., for ethanol-wheat production