Variability in 1000 kernel weight of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes depending on ecological and agrotechnical factors

In the ecological conditions of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe (The V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat, NAAS of Ukraine) the influence of growing season conditions (2016-17–2018-19), sowing dates (September 26, October 5, October 16) and different preceding crops (green manure, mustard, soybean, sunflower, corn) on variability of 1000 kernel weight of seventeen modern genotypes of winter wheat was investigated. Under environments of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe, significant variability in the trait depending on the factors under study was revealed. Part of sum square for the growing season conditions in the variation of 1000 kernel weight of winter wheat was the most (63.2%). Part of sum square for genotype was 7.0%, for preceding crop it was 4.8%, for sowing dates it was 0.4%. In terms of growing season, the variation in part of sum square was 23.5–30.1% for genotype, 12.7–39.8% for preceding crop, 0.8–6.1% for sowing date, and 2.0–26.5% for interactions between them. During the period of the study, on average for all genotypes, the maximum 1000 kernel weight was obtained after green manure (42.6 g), the least one was after soybean (39.0 g). When changing the sowing dates from September 26 to October 16, it was revealed a general tendency of decrease 1000 kernel weight after the preceding crops mustard, sunflower, corn, and soybean. Significant differences in the response of genotypes under study on the sowing dates after different preceding crops were revealed. The most influence on 1000 kernel weight was established for preceding crops in the variety MIP Darunok and for sowing dates in the variety MIP Vidznaka. There were distinguished the varieties Trudivnytsia myronivska, Balada myronivska, MIP Dniprianka, Avrora myronivska, MIP Darunok which significantly exceeded the standard by 1000 kernel weight on average through the growing season conditions, sowing dates, and preceding crops.

Insights into soil bacterial and physicochemical properties of annual ryegrass-maize rotation (ARMR) system in southern China

The popularized application of annual ryegrass—maize rotation (ARMR) in southern China has been proposed to fully utilize the farmlands and to increase forage yield and quality. Herein, one growth cycle of ARMR was conducted and soil bacteria were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing for control (CK), after the preceding crop (monoculture, or mixed sowing of annual ryegrass and oat) and the successive crop (maize). Our results indicated that the α-diversity of soil bacteria was changed in the ARMR system, which was related to the activity of urease and available phosphatase. The mixed sowing of annual ryegrass and oat in preceding crop could improve the yield and quality, while it was accompanied by unbalanced soil community. With the increased sowing proportion of oat to annual ryegrass, the soil pH increased while the soil available phosphatase decreased. The ARMR system was found to benefit the soil microenvironment by increasing the beneficial soil bacteria and enzyme activity or decreasing the harmful soil bacteria. Considering the soil bacteria α-diversity index and physicochemical properties comprehensively, the recommended sowing regime is the mixed sowing of M2 (22.5 kg·hm−2 annual ryegrass with 75 kg·hm−2 oat).

Impact of Legumes as a Pre-Crop on Nitrogen Nutrition and Yield in Organic Greenhouse Tomato

An organic greenhouse crop of tomato was established in February following cultivation of cowpea (CP) or common bean (CB) for green pod production, or faba bean (FB) for green manuring. The vegetative residues of CP and CB were incorporated to the soil together with farmyard manure (FYM), prior to establishing the tomato crop. The FB plants were incorporated to the soil at anthesis together with either FYM or composted olive-mill waste (CO). Green manuring with FB resulted in higher soil mineral N levels during the subsequent tomato crop and higher tomato fruit yield when combined with FYM, compared to compost. The level of soil mineral N was the main restrictive factor for yield in organic greenhouse tomato. FB for green manuring as preceding crop to tomato increased significantly the level of soil mineral N and tomato yield compared to CB or CP aiming to produce green pods. The lowest tomato yield was obtained when the preceding crop was CB cultivated for green pod production. The soil mineral N was significantly higher when FYM was applied as base dressing compared with CO, despite the higher total N concentration in CO, pointing to slower mineralization rates of CO during tomato cultivation.

Fusarium mycotoxin content and Fusarium species presence in Czech organic and conventional wheat

Deoxynivalenol and zearalenone content and the presence of Fusarium species in organically and conventionally grown wheat harvested in the Czech Republic during 2015-2017 were studied. Mycotoxin contamination was compared using two approaches. The first was based on samples taken from randomly selected farms in individual regions of the Czech Republic, both organic (154 samples) and conventional (330 samples). In the second approach, a sample set of conventional wheat compatible with organic one was formed, with samples paired according to the preceding crop and region of harvest. Using the first approach, mycotoxins were shown to be higher in conventional wheat; however, there was no difference in mycotoxin contamination between organic and conventional wheat using the second approach. Eight wheat samples with mycotoxin content above the EU limits were found, seven for deoxynivalenol (2.1%) and one for zearalenone (0.3%), all of them originated from conventional farming system. Six of them had maize as the preceding crop. The presence of five Fusarium species (Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium poae and Fusarium sporotrichioides) was compared for the compatible wheat sample sets (second approach). The predominant species were found to be F. poae and F. graminearum in both the organic and conventional wheat. Harvest year significantly influenced both the occurrence of the main Fusarium species and the level of mycotoxin contamination. The study confirmed that (a) organic farming system was able to keep mycotoxin contamination of wheat at a low level, (b) in studies on the significance of organic/conventional agricultural practice on mycotoxin levels in cereals, it is important to pay attention to common production and environmental variables.

YIELD AND QUALITY OF WINTER WHEAT GRAIN ON THE BACKGROUND OF FERTILIZERS AND DIRECT SOWING ON ORDINARY CHERNOZEM UNDER STAVROPOL CONDITIONS

The problem of reducing crop yields during the transition from classical technology of cultivation to the technology without tillage (no-till) can be solved by the most effective use of fertilizers. The purpose of the research was to study the influence of mineral fertilizers on the yield and quality of winter wheat grain under direct sowing in the Stavropol Territory. Studies were carried out in 2015-2019 on the experimental field of the North Caucasus Federal Agricultural Research Centre. Winter wheat was sown using two cultivation techniques for growing crops with and without disturbing the soil through tillage. Preceding crops – pea and sunflower. Fertilizers were added to the rows simultaneously with the Triticum vulgare L. sowing; topsoil dressing was carried out using N52 according to the method of splitting dividers. Options (amount of fertilizers added to the rows): 1. Without fertilizers; 2. N6Р26; 3. N12Р52; 4. N24Р104; 5. N52Р52; 6. N52Р52К52; 7. N52; 8. N104Р52К52. In the third year of direct sowing (2017–2019), winter wheat showed high responsiveness to the addition of all doses of fertilizers in rows. The yield increase in case of pea being preceding crop varied between 0.76-3.06 t/ha; sunflower – 0.51–2.75 t/ha. N104P52K5 contributed to the highest and most stable yield – 6.89 t/ha and 5.92 t/ha after pea and sunflower, respectively. The increase from 1 kg of the active substance of the fertilizer was 14.7 and 13.2 kg of grain. The use of this dose of fertilizer minimized crop losses compared to the first year of wheat cultivation using no-till farming and classical agricultural technique. At the same time, the 3rd and 4th class grain was formed. Higher content of raw gluten compared to other doses of fertilizers was noted likewise: 1.6–9.8 % (preceding crop – pea) and 1.1–11.5 % (preceding crop – sunflower) more. Nitrogen fertilization played a significant role in increasing yields only after sunflower (the average increase was 0.21–0.86 t/ha).

‘PODAROK KRYMU’ – NEW EARLY RIPENING VARIETY OF WINTER SOFT WHEAT

Creation and introduction into production new high-yielding and early ripening varieties of soft winter wheat adapted to certain weather conditions are the principal ways to increase yield and improve general harvest volumes. A properly selected variety is one of the most effective ways of achieving crop yield improvement for any farm. To realize the potential for increasing yields, it is crucial to bear in mind specific soil and climatic conditions. The aim of the research was to characterize a new variety of winter soft wheat ‘Podarok Krymu’ by economic and biological qualities, as well as morphological characteristics. Soil of the experimental plot – chernozems ordinary with a thick humus layer (up to 140 cm). The meteorological conditions during the years of research were quite diverse, which made it possible to evaluate the new variety by a set of economically valuable features. The studies were carried out in 2015–2019 on the experimental fields of the scientific crop rotation of the Department of Winter Wheat of State Scientific Establishment “Agricultural research center “Donskoy” (SSE “ARC “Donskoy”). The object of the research – a new variety of winter soft wheat ‘Podarok Krymu’. Winter soft wheat variety ‘Don 107’ was used as a standard. Preceding crop – corn for grain. The accounting area of the variety test plot – 10 m². Field experiments were replicated six times. In 2019, variety ‘Podarok Krymu’ was submitted for State Variety Testing by SSE “ARC “Donskoy” together with the Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea. This variety has a high potential for grain productivity. The average yield in the competitive variety testing was 7.71 t/ha (preceding crop – corn for grain), which is 0.39 t/ha higher than the average yield of standard variety ‘Don 107’. According to the length of the growing season, the variety belongs to the early maturing group; its ears emerge and kernels ripe three days earlier than that of the standard. The high and stable yield of the new variety is ensured by its tolerance to drought and heat, increased winter hardiness and resistance of plants to frost, as well as resistance to the main diseases typical in the regions where studies are being conducted. Since the autumn of 2020, ‘Podarok Krymu’ has been studied to cultivate it in the North Caucasian, Lower Volga and Central Black Earth regions of the Russian Federation.