Effects of previous cropping on seed yield and yield components of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Information about the effect of the preceding crop or crop combination on the seed yield of oil-seed rape is extremely scarce. Experiments were carried out in northwest Germany to investigate the effect of different preceding crops on the growth, seed yield and yield components of oil-seed rape. The two directly preceding crops, wheat and oil-seed rape, had only a negligible and non-significant effect on the seed yield of the following oil-seed rape crop. Oil-seed rape grown after wheat had more pods per plant, due to an increase in the number of pods on the higher category branches. In contrast, the seed yield and yield components were more affected by the cropping sequence, i.e. the crops 2 years before. Averaged over two experimental years, the greatest yields were observed in oil-seed rape following the sequence peas-wheat (694 g m⁻²), whereas the smallest seed yield occurred after 2 years of oil-seed rape cropping (371 g m⁻²). The differences in the seed yield were again associated with more pods per plant, which compensated for the lower number of plants m⁻², whereas the number of seeds per pod and the mean seed weight were almost unaffected by the previous cropping. It was not possible to relate the described differences to the crop development, since differences in the biomass caused by the previous cropping were only significant at maturity. Oil-seed rape grown after 2 years of oil-seed rape had the highest ratings of stem canker (Leptosphaeria maculans) as well as verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae). But the general level of the diseases was low, and therefore other causes for the effects described must be considered.     

Effect of preceding crop combination and N fertilization on yield of six oil-seed rape cultivars (Brassica napus L.)

Information about the effect of the cropping history on the seed yield of oil-seed rape is extremely scarce. In 1992/93 and 1994/95, the effects of different preceding crop combinations (winter barley and winter wheat as preceding crops, oil-seed rape and wheat as pre-preceding crops) on the yield of six double low oil-seed rape cultivars were examined in a field trial at Hohenschulen Experimental Farm, north-west Germany. In addition, eight nitrogen treatments (different amounts and distribution patterns) were tested for their potential to reduce negative effects of the preceding crops. Following the cropping sequence of oil-seed rape then wheat, oil-seed rape yielded only 3.12 t ha⁻¹; after oil-seed rape then barley, the yield was 3.43 t ha⁻¹ compared with 3.77 t ha⁻¹ following wheat then barley and 3.71 t ha⁻¹ following wheat then wheat. The number of seeds per m² showed a similar pattern, whereas the thousand-seed weight partly compensated for the reduced seed number. It was highest if oil-seed rape was grown 2 years previously. The cultivars differed significantly in their yield potential. Express (3.79 t ha⁻¹) yielded 0.6 t ha⁻¹ more than Falcon (3.18 t ha⁻¹). Increasing amounts of fertilizer-N (80–200 kg N ha⁻¹) increased the seed yield from 3.21 t ha⁻¹ to 3.84 t ha⁻¹. Changes in the distribution pattern within one fertilizer amount had no effect on seed yield. In addition, no interactions between preceding crop combination and the different cultivars or N treatments occurred. It is concluded that crop management cannot totally eliminate the negative effects of an unfavourable cropping history on the seed yield of oil-seed rape.     

No-tillage and direct seeding for super hybrid rice production in rice–oilseed rape cropping system

No-tillage and direct seeding (NTDS) is an effective crop production method for reducing production costs and soil conservation. In order to understand performance of super hybrid rice under NTDS in rice–oilseed rape cropping system, a researcher-managed trail (2004–2010) and an on-farm research (2002–2005) were conducted to compare different tillage (conventional tillage or no-tillage) and rice establishment methods (transplanting or direct seeding) in super hybrid rice–oilseed rape cropping system. Under researcher-managed condition, grain yields of super hybrid rice under NTDS and conventional tillage and transplanting (CTTP) were equal. Compared with under CTTP, super hybrid rice under NTDS was characterized by more panicle number per m² but less spikelet number per panicle, and lower aboveground biomass production before heading but higher aboveground biomass accumulated during heading to maturity. Higher maximum tiller number per m² and lower spikelet production efficiency were responsible for the more panicle number per m² and less spikelet number per panicle under NTDS, respectively. Under farmer-managed condition, super hybrid rice under NTDS had more panicle number m² than under CTTP, which resulted in higher grain yield. Labor input under NTDS was lower than that under CTTP. Moreover, adoption of NTDS for super hybrid rice production had no significant impacts on seed yield and yield components of oilseed rape in rice–oilseed rape cropping system. Our study showed that CTTP could be replaced with NTDS to maintain yield and save labor for super hybrid rice production in rice–oilseed rape cropping system.     

Energy balance of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cropping as related to nitrogen supply and preceding crop

Data from a field experiment (1995–2000) conducted on a fertile sandy loess in the Hercynian dry region of central Germany were used to determine the energy efficiency of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) as affected by previous crop and nitrogen (N) fertilization. Depending on the previous crop, winter oilseed rate was cultivated in two different crop rotations: (1) winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–winter oilseed rape–winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and (2) pea (Pisum sativum L.)–winter oilseed rape–winter wheat. Fertilizer was applied to winter oilseed rape as either calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or cattle manure slurry. The N rates applied to winter oilseed rape corresponded to 0, 80, 160 and 240 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹.Results revealed that different N management strategies influenced the energy balance of winter oilseed rape. Averaged across years, the input of energy to winter oilseed rape was highly variable ranging from 7.42 to 16.1 GJ ha⁻¹. Lowest energy input occurred when unfertilized winter oilseed rape followed winter barley, while the highest value was obtained when winter oilseed rape received 240 kg N ha⁻¹ organic fertilization and followed winter barley. The lowest energy output (174 GJ ha⁻¹), energy from seed and straw of winter oilseed rape, was observed when winter oilseed rape receiving 80 kg N ha⁻¹ as organic fertilizer followed winter barley. The energy output increased to 262 GJ ha⁻¹ for winter oilseed rape receiving 240 kg N ha⁻¹ as mineral fertilizer followed pea. The energy efficiency was determined using the parameters energy gain (net energy output), energy intensity (energy input per unit grain equivalent GE; term GE is used to express the contribution that crops make to the nutrition of monogastric beings), and output/input ratio. The most favourable N rate for maximizing energy gain (250 GJ ha⁻¹) was 240 kg N ha⁻¹, while that needed for minimum energy intensity (91.3 MJ GE⁻¹) was 80 kg N ha⁻¹ and for maximum output/input ratio (29.8) was 0 kg N ha⁻¹.     

Transfer of Grain Legume Nitrogen within a Crop Rotation Containing Winter Wheat and Winter Barley

In a crop rotation trial, conducted from 1985 to 1988 at TU-Munich's research station in Roggenstein, the transfer of grain legume nitrogen was evaluated in crop rotations containing fababeans and dry peas as well as oats (reference crop) and winter wheat and winter barley as following crops. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: Dinitrogen fixation by fababeans ranged from 165 to 240 kg N ha¹, whereas N₂-fixation by peas amounted from 215 to 246 kg N ha^?1. In all seasons the calculated N-balance where only grain was removed was positive, with a net gain being on average 106 (peas) and 84 (fababeans) kg N ha^?1. After the harvest of peas 202 kg N ha^?1 remained on the field on average over seasons (158 kg N ha^?1 in the above ground biomass and 44 kg N ha^?1 as NO₃-N in 0–90 cm depth). As compared to peas, fababeans left 41 kg N ha^?1 less due to smaller amounts of nitrogen in the straw. After oats very small amounts of residual nitrogen (33 kg N ha^?1) were detected. After the harvest of grain legumes always a very high nitrogen mineralization was observed during autumn especially after peas due to a close C/N-relationship and higher amounts of nitrogen in the straw as compared to fababeans. In comparison with fababeans, N-mineralization after the cultivation of oats remained lower by more than 50%. During winter, seepage water regularly led to a considerable decrease of soil NO₃-N content. The N-leaching losses were especially high after cultivation of peas (80 kg N ha ^?1) and considerably lower after fababeans (50 kg N ha^?1) and oats (20 kg N ha^?1). As compared to oats, a higher NO₃-N content in soil was determined at the beginning of the growing period after preceding grain legumes. Therefore, winter wheat yielded highest after preceding peas (68 dt ha^?1) and fababeans (60 dt ha^?1) and lowest after preceding oats (42 dt ha^?1). The cultivation of grain legumes had no measurable effect on yield formation of the third crop winter barley in either of the growing seasons.     

Changes over time in the adaptation of barley releases in north-eastern Spain

The objective of this study was to characterize grain yield and adaptation of barley cultivars released in recent decades in north-eastern Spain. Ten six-rowed and 10 two-rowed barley genotypes were grown in eight environments. Mean yields varied among environments between 1.7 and 5.8 tha^?1. New releases showed higher mean yields and were specifically adapted to nonlimiting growing conditions. The average genetic advances were estimated as 40.7 and 32.9 kg ha^?1 years^?1 for two- and six-rowed genotypes, respectively, in the four most productive environments. Old genotypes, with lower overall grain yields, were specifically adapted to the poorer sites. A negative genetic gain, estimated as -14.8kg ha^?1 years^?1. was reorded for six-rowed culiivars in the four poorest sites. No significant association was observed between heading date and year of release. Variations in carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) were examined to assess whether changes in adaptation could be partially explained by shifts in the genoiypic transpiration efficiency (TE) over time, in the most favourable environments, new releases showed the highest grain yields and carbon isotope discrimination values (Δ). By contrast, older cultivars had constitutively? lower Δs and therefore higher TEs. These results suggest a genetic association between low TE and yield potential and specific adaptation to stress-free conditions so that selection for yield under favourable conditions could have resulted in an indirect downward genetic shift in the TE of modern cultivars.     

Effects of input management and crop diversity on non-renewable energy use efficiency of cropping systems in the Canadian Prairie

Although producers’ prime objective may be to increase net returns, many are also interested in conserving and enhancing the quality the soil, water and air resources through adopting more environmentally friendly production practices. This study compared non-renewable energy inputs, energy output, and energy use efficiency of nine dryland cropping systems comprised of a factorial combination of three methods of input management [high (HIGH), i.e., conventional tillage plus full recommended rates of fertilizer and pesticides; reduced (RED), i.e., conservation tillage plus reduced rates of fertilizer and pesticides; and organic (ORG), i.e., conventional tillage plus N-fixing legumes and non-chemical means of weed and pest control]; and three crop rotation systems with varying levels of cropping diversity [a fallow-based rotation with low crop diversity (LOW); a diversified rotation using annual cereal, oilseed and pulse grains (DAG); and a diversified rotation using annual grains and perennial forages (DAP)]. The study was conducted over the 1996–2007 period on a Dark Brown Chernozemic soil (Typic Boroll) in the Canadian Prairies. As expected, total direct plus indirect energy input was the highest for the HIGH and RED input treatments (3773 MJ ha^?1 year^?1), and 50% less for ORG management. Most of the energy savings came from the non-use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides in the ORG management treatments. Further, total energy use was the highest for the DAG treatments (3572 MJ ha^?1 year^?1), and similar but about 18% lower for the DAP and LOW crop diversity treatments compared to DAG. Thus, overall, the HIGH/DAG and RED/DAG systems had the highest energy requirements (4409 MJ ha^?1 year^?1) and ORG/DAP had the lowest (1806 MJ ha^?1 year^?1). Energy output (calorimetric energy content) was typically the highest for the HIGH input treatments (26,541 MJ ha^?1 year^?1), was about 4% less with RED, and 37% less with ORG management. The latter reflected the lower crop yields obtained with organic management. Similarly, energy output was the highest for the DAP treatments (25,008 MJ ha^?1 year^?1), about 5% less for DAG, and 20% less for the LOW crop diversity treatments. The higher energy output with the DAP treatments largely reflected that the entire harvested biomass of the forage crops was included in energy output, while for grain crops only the seed was included. The straw and crop residues from annual crops were returned to the land to protect the soil from erosion and to maintain soil organic matter as this is the recommended practice in this semi-arid region. In contrast to energy output and to net energy produced, energy use efficiency (measured as yield of grain plus forage produced per unit of energy input or as energy output/energy input ratio) was the highest for the ORG input treatments (497 kg of harvested production GJ^?1 of energy input, and an energy output/energy input ratio of 8.8). We obtained lower, but generally similar energy use efficiency for the HIGH and RED input treatments (392 kg GJ^?1 and ratio of 7.1). Thus, overall, ORG/DAP was the most energy efficient cropping system, while RED/LOW and RED/DAG generally ranked the lowest in energy use efficiency. Our findings support the current movement of producers toward ORG management as a means of reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy inputs and improving overall energy use efficiency of their cropping systems. Our results also suggest that moving away from traditional monoculture cereal rotations that employ frequent summer fallowing, toward extended and diversified crop rotations that use reduced tillage methods, although resulting in an increase in energy output, will not significantly reduce the overall reliance on non-renewable energy inputs, nor enhance energy use efficiency, unless perennial legume forages and/or legume grain crops are included in the cropping mix.     

内蒙古平原灌区高产春玉米(15 t hm-2以上)产量性能及增产途径

针对内蒙古平原灌区春玉米高产(15 t hm^-2以上)群体产量进一步提高难度大,产量挖潜途径不明确的问题,采用产量构成因素分析与产量性能参数分析相互验证的方法,在4年52点次高产(15 t hm^-2以上)群体产量构成因素分析的基础上,设计不同品种密度试验,研究增密对不同品种群体产量性能的影响,明确不同类型玉米品种的增产途径和栽培调控的主攻方向。结果表明,穗数和穗粒数是决定高产(15 t hm^-2以上)群体产量的主要因素。实现15 t hm^-2以上群体的产量结构为：穗数(7.08~9.60)×10⁴穗,穗粒数477~654粒,千粒重324.7~388.7 g,穗粒重168.9~234.0 g。其合理群体结构衡量指标是LAI_max在6.5以上,平均LAI在5左右,收获期LAI在3.5以上。高秆大穗型品种理想的产量结构是：67 500~75 000穗 hm^-2,每穗610~640粒,千粒重380 g左右,单穗粒重220~240 g,产量大于15 t hm^-2;株高适中的中小穗型品种,理想产量结构是： 75 000~97 500穗 hm^-2,每穗520~600粒,千粒重340~355 g,单穗粒重180~220 g,产量在16.5 t hm^-2以上。密度增加促进平均作物生长率(MCGR)和单位面积总籽粒数(TGN)的增加进而提高产量,但增密后平均净同化率(MNAR)降低导致穗粒数显著降低并限制了TGN的提高潜力。通过增密为主的结构性挖潜,使得群体功能的增益大于个体生产性能的降低,实现高产(15 t hm^-2以上),属于“得失性补偿增产”;在优化群体结构的基础上,提高个体生产能力,突破个体库容降低的限制,进行功能性挖潜,实现群体结构和个体功能协同增益的“差异性补偿增产”,是产量进一步提高的重要途径。     

Winter Wheat Cultivar Responses to Fungicide Application are Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization Rate

Foliar fungicides are important management inputs for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in high-yielding areas of Europe, but their effectiveness may interact with cultivar selection and nitrogen (N) fertilization. No information is available on the potential use of fungicides in reducing yield losses from foliar diseases in Croatia, where wheat crop is extensively grown under low N inputs. Field experiments were conducted during 2000–02 to evaluate the agronomic responses of six winter wheat cultivars to fungicide application (tebuconazol around heading) compared with untreated plots at low (67 kg N ha⁻¹) and high (194 kg N ha⁻¹) N fertilization rates. Grain yields tended to increase in all years following fungicide treatment at high N rate by an average of 10.1 % (773 kg ha⁻¹), but improved significantly in one year only at low N rate. When these occurred, yield increases were associated with larger grain weight per ear primarily due to heavier 1000-kernel weight. Cultivars differed in their responses to fungicide application across growing seasons and N fertilization rates. Under low disease pressure in 2000 and 2001, improved yields with fungicide use occurred for few susceptible cultivars only, whereas all cultivars significantly increased yields under higher disease severity in 2002 by an average of 383 kg ha⁻¹ (5.0 %) at low N rate and 1443 kg ha⁻¹ (19.0 %) at high N rate. Following fungicide application at high N rate, some susceptible cultivars outyielded resistant cultivars, whereas opposite responses occurred in untreated plots. High N fertilization rate consistently produced larger grain yields except under high disease severity and no fungicide sprayed in 2002, when it had no benefits at all over low N rate. Fungicide application showed limited importance for wheat performance at low N rate; however, cultivars significantly differed in yield responses as well as in rankings after fungicide use at high N fertilization rate.     

Forage and Food Legumes in a Multi‐Year,Wheat‐Based Rotation Under Drought‐Stressed Conditions in Northern Syria’s Medium Rainfall Zone

Long‐term crop rotation trials were designed to assess sustainability of alternatives to traditional fallow and monocropping. The trial described here (6 years) involved wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in rotation with lentil (Lens culinaris L.), forage vetch (Vicia sativa), pasture medic (Medicago spp.), fallow and watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris). Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was compared with wheat for an additional 2 years. Cereal grain and straw yields were highest with fallow and watermelon followed by vetch, lentil and medic; the latter showed no differential effect of variable grazing intensity. Fertilizer N increased yields except in the low‐rainfall years (less than 250 mm). Barley out‐yielded wheat in terms of grain, but not straw. Medic yielded highest in dry matter, whereas lentil produced highest seed yield. Despite the difficulty of assessing crop and animal‐oriented rotations because of non‐commonality of outputs, economic considerations are foremost, but other benefits of rotations (soil quality, water‐use relations) are also relevant to the overall assessment of cereal‐based Mediterranean rotations. The study suggested barley rather than wheat as the desired cereal in rotation with legumes in this marginal‐rainfall (350 mm) environment and provided support for the viability of vetch and lentil in the cropping system. Given the importance of sheep in the region’s farming system, vetch is likely to have a major role in crop rotations.     

Long-term evaluation of productivity,stability and sustainability for cropping systems in Mediterranean rainfed conditions

Mediterranean cropping systems in rainfed conditions are generally based on rotations with a very high frequency of winter wheat and, therefore, they are at risk of declining trends for yield and soil health in the long-term. In order to quantify this risk, a long-term experiment was set-up in 1971 in central Italy, which is still running at present (2016). This experiment is based on 13 rotations, i.e. three continuous winter wheat systems with different N fertilization rates (W150, W200 and W250), five maize/winter wheat rotations with increasing wheat frequency (maize preceded by 1–5 years of wheat: i.e., WM, 2WM, 3WM, 4WM and 5WM) and five two-year rotations of winter wheat with either pea (WP), faba bean (WFB), grain sorghum (WGS), sugar beet (WSB) or sunflower (WSU). All these rotations are managed either with the removal of crop residues after harvest (REM), or with their burial into the soil at ploughing (BUR). For each rotation, all phases are simultaneously grown in each year, according to a split-plot design (with REM and BUR randomised to main plots), with three replicates in complete blocks and plots of 24.5 m² each. The following data are considered: (1) total and marketable biomass yields from 1983 to 2012; (2) content of Organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (N) in soil, as determined in 2014. Considering the 30-year period, BUR resulted in an average positive effect on yield (+3.7%), increased OC (+13.8%) and total N content (+9.4%) in soil, while the C/N ratio was not significantly affected. Wheat in two-year rotations showed a significantly higher (+19.4%) average yield level than in continuous cropping or in 2WM, 3WM, 4WM and 5WM, mainly due to a drop in yield occurring in the first (−13%) and second (−19%) year of recropping. Increasing N fertilisation level from 150 to 250 kg N ha⁻¹ with continuous cropping resulted in an increase (+3.7%) in long-term average yield and in a decrease in yield stability. All rotations heavily based on wheat (continuous cropping and 5WM) produced the highest amount of buried biomass (>175 t ha⁻¹ in 30 years), with the highest increase in soil OC content (>16 t ha⁻¹). All the other rotations produced a lower amount of residues and were less efficient in terms of carbon sequestration in soil, apart from WFB, which gave a high increase in soil organic carbon content (+18.9 t ha⁻¹ in 30 years), in spite of a low amount of buried residues (158 t ha⁻¹).     

Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and residues of oil and protein crops

Oil and protein crops are of growing importance in cropping systems. This study was carried out to compare oil crops of linseed, rapeseed, sunflower and protein crops of faba bean and white lupin for grain production, residual plant dry matter and nitrogen. Two field experiments with either oil or protein crops were conducted in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Total dry matter production, grain yield, residues, N concentrations and mineral N in the soil were measured. Dry matter production and distribution as well as N uptake and residues varied greatly among species and between years. In 1993, oil crops gave up to 3 t ha⁻¹ grain and 16 t ha⁻¹ residues with sunflower, while in 1994 up to 5 and 11 t ha⁻¹, respectively, were recorded with winter rape. Protein crops showed an opposite reaction in years. Nitrogen uptake and residual N amounts were correlated with dry matter production. Plant residues of oil crops contained 20–140 kg N ha⁻¹; those of protein crops up to 80 kg N ha⁻¹. Despite the variation of residual plant N the variability of mineral N in the soil at harvest was hardly influenced by crops and amounted to only 20–50 kg NO⁻₃-N ha⁻¹.     

Crop and Weed Growth in a Sequence of Spring Barley and Winter Wheat Crops Established Together from a Spring Sowing (Relay Cropping)

A relay cropping system of cereals, whereby winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was undersown in two‐row spring barley (Hordeum distichum L.), was established in a field trial in central Sweden in 1999 and continued until 2000. The purpose of the study was to examine crop and weed responses to different plant densities of the undersown winter crop. Winter wheat was sown at four seed rates (187, 94, 47 and 0 kg ha^?1) immediately after the sowing of barley. Barley was harvested in the first autumn after sowing and winter wheat in the second autumn. The grain yield of barley was not affected by the seed rate of wheat, and averaged 4580 kg ha^?1. Winter wheat did not vernalize during the first growing season but remained at the vegetative stage. The grain yield of wheat was 1990 kg ha^?1 for the lowest and 5610 kg ha^?1 for the highest seed rate of wheat. Whilst the undersowing process itself stimulated weed emergence in this experiment, increasing the undersowing seed rate reduced the population of perennial weeds by 40–70 %. In the second growing season, the total biomass of weeds was 66 % higher at the highest seed rate compared with the lowest seed rate.     

长江流域直播冬油菜氮磷钾硼肥施用效果

冬油菜直播种植的推广应用对提高我国油菜籽总产量和保障食用油安全有重要意义。2009-2010年度在长江流域6个冬油菜主产省布置36个大田试验,研究当前生产条件下我国直播冬油菜的氮磷钾硼肥施用效果和肥料利用率,比较农民习惯施肥与推荐施肥的差异,并与移栽油菜施肥效果进行对比,以探讨直播冬油菜的施肥管理措施。结果显示,在推荐施肥量和施肥方法条件下,氮磷钾硼肥配合施用(NPKB)处理直播冬油菜的油菜籽产量和产值平均分别为2001 kghm^–2和8205元hm^–2,显著高于农民习惯施肥(FFP)处理,施用效果为N > P > B > K。NPKB配合施用显著促进直播冬油菜的养分吸收,N、P、K累积量分别为104.2、20.4和160.2 kg hm^–2。NPKB配施条件下,直播冬油菜的氮、磷、钾肥表观利用率平均分别为35.8%、22.3%和45.9%,明显高于农民习惯施肥的20.8%、7.2%和28.0%。说明合理施肥对直播冬油菜生产有重要作用,现阶段应积极推行氮磷钾硼肥配施技术,并根据生长发育特点和养分吸收规律调整肥料的施用时期和比例。     

Maize Grain Yield Response to Tillage and Fertilizer Nitrogen Rates on a Tara Silt Loam

Effects of tillage on the appropriate fertilizer N applications needed to achieve maximal grain yield are poorly denned. The study objective was determination of relative corn grain yield response to N application rate for four tillage practices: no-tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT), fall chisel plowing (CP) and fall moldboard plowing (MP). Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and N accumulation were monitored over a 6 year period with the same tillage treatment and the same fertilizer N rate applied each year to each plot. Two hybrids, differing in relative maturity rating, were planted each year. Fertilizer N rates ranged from 10 to 190 kg ha^?1 and consisted of 10 kg ha^?1 of liquid starter N applied at planting with varying amounts of fall applied anhydrous ammonia. With only starter fertilizer, grain yields increased with tillage intensity in the order NT ≤ RT ≤ CP ≤ MP. With ≥ 55 kg total applied Nha^?1, 6 year average grain yields were unaffected by tillage. Total N removed in grain annually with only starter fertilizer ranged from 25–85 kg ha^?1 Maximal amounts of N removed, about 145 kg N ha^?1, occurred with 100–145 kg applied N ha^?1 for all tillage treatments under the more favorable climatic conditions. Several interactions affecting grain yield appear climatically sensitive with exception of tillage by fertilizer N interactions. Because of variability in climate, planting dates varied by almost 4 weeks. Relative yield loss due to planting delay were Fertilizer N (mean change ??124 –?275 kg ha^?1 day^?1) > Starter N only and MP (mean ?? 259 kg ha^?1 day^?1) > other tillages in general. Yield loss due to delayed planting ranged from 0.0–275 kg ha^?1 day^?1. Grain yield gains due to early spring soil temperatures were 16.0–21.8 kg ha^?1 index-degree^?1 with MP tillage and averaged 2.7– 16.7 kg ha^?1 index-degree^?1 more than those of other tillage-hybrid combinations.     

Growth and yield of winter wheat in the first 3 years of a monoculture under varying N fertilization in NW Germany

Different preceding crops interact with almost all husbandry and have a major effect on crop yields. In order to quantify the yield response of winter wheat, a field trial with different preceding crop combinations (oilseed rape (OSR)–OSR–OSR–wheat–wheat–wheat), two sowing dates (mid/end of September, mid/end of October) and 16 mineral nitrogen (N) treatments (80–320 kg N ha⁻¹) during 1993/1994–1998/1999, was carried out at Hohenschulen Experimental Station near Kiel in NW Germany. Single plant biomass, tiller numbers m⁻², biomass m⁻², grain yield and yield components at harvest were investigated. During the growing season, the incidence of root rot (Gaeumannomyces graminis) was observed. Additionally, a bioassay with Lemna minor was used to identify the presence of allelochemicals in the soil after different preceding crops.Averaged over all years and all other treatments, wheat following OSR achieved nearly 9.5 t ha⁻¹, whereas the second wheat crop following wheat yielded about 0.9 t ha⁻¹ and the third wheat crop following 2 years of wheat about 1.9 t ha⁻¹ less compared with wheat after OSR. A delay of the sowing date only marginally decreased grain yield by 0.2 t ha⁻¹. Nitrogen fertilization increased grain yield after all preceding crop combinations, but at different levels. Wheat grown after OSR reached its maximum yield of 9.7 t ha⁻¹ with 210 kg N ha⁻¹. The third wheat crop required a N amount of 270 kg N ha⁻¹ to achieve its yield maximum of 8.0 t ha⁻¹.Yield losses were mainly caused by a lower ear density and a reduced thousand grain weight. About 4 weeks after plant establishment, single wheat plants following OSR accumulated more biomass compared to plants grown after wheat. Plants from the third wheat crop were smallest. This range of the preceding crop combinations was similar at all sampling dates throughout the growing season.Root rot occurred only at a low level and was excluded to cause the yield losses. The Lemna bioassay suggested the presence of allelochemicals, which might have been one reason for the poor single plant development in autumn.An increased N fertilization compensated for the lower number of ears m⁻² and partly reduced the yield losses due to the unfavorable preceding crop combination. However, it was not possible to completely compensate for the detrimental influences of an unfavorable preceding crop on the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop.     

Innovative cropping systems to reduce N inputs and maintain wheat yields by inserting grain legumes and cover crops in southwestern France

The reduction in crop diversity and specialization of cereal-based cropping systems have led to high dependence on synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer in many areas of the globe. This has exacerbated environmental degradation due to the uncoupling of carbon (C) and N cycles in agroecosystems. In this experiment, we assessed impacts of introducing grain legumes and cover crops to innovative cropping systems to reduce N fertilizer application while maintaining wheat yields and grain quality. Six cropping systems resulting from the combination of three 3-year rotations with 0, 1 and 2 grain legumes (GL0, GL1 and GL2, respectively) with (CC) or without (BF, bare fallow) cover crops were compared during six cropping seasons. Durum wheat was included as a common high-value cash crop in all the cropping systems to evaluate the carryover effects of rotation. For each cropping system, the water use efficiency for producing C in aerial biomass and yield were quantified at the crop and rotation scales. Several diagnostic indicators were analyzed for durum wheat, such as (i) grain yield and 1000-grain weight; (ii) aboveground biomass, grain N content and grain protein concentration; (iii) water- and N-use efficiencies for yield; and (iv) N harvest index. Compared to the GL0-BF cropping system, which is most similar to that traditionally used in southwestern France, N fertilizer application decreased by 58%, 49%, 61% and 56% for the GL1-BF, GL1-CC, GL2-BF and GL2-CC cropping systems, respectively. However, the cropping systems without grain legumes (GL0-BF and GL0-CC) had the highest water use efficiency for producing C in aerial biomass and yield. The insertion of cover crops in the cropping systems did not change wheat grain yield, N uptake, or grain protein concentration compared to those of without cover crops, demonstrating a satisfactory adaptation of the entire cropping system to the use of cover crops. Winter pea as a preceding crop for durum wheat increased wheat grain production by 8% (383 kg ha⁻¹) compared to that with sunflower − the traditional preceding crop − with a mean reduction in fertilizer application of 40–49 kg N ha⁻¹ during the six-year experiment. No differences in protein concentration of wheat grain were observed among preceding crops. Our experiment demonstrates that under temperate submediterranean conditions, properly designed cropping systems that simultaneously insert grain legumes and cover crops reduce N requirements and show similar wheat yield and grain quality attributes as those that are cereal-based.     

Optimierung der Produktion von Wintergetreide zur Bioethanolherstellung durch unterschiedlich intensive Anbauverfahren

The investigations were based on biennial field trials carried out at two locations comprising the factors location/previous crop, winter cereal genotype (rye cv. ‘Farino’,triticale cv. ‘Modus’, wheat cv. ‘Batis’) and production intensity level. One agronomical focus was to replace the mineral N‐supply due to its energetic relevance, by either the residues of legumes, or stillage, a processing residue containing organic N. The measurement included the crop yield ha^?1, the bioethanol exploitation dt^?1 and the bioethanol yield ha^?1. The last was closely correlated to the grain yield and thus dominated by intensity level. Highest bioethanol yields with an average peak at 4022 l ha^?1, always occurred at the highest intensity level. Bioethanol exploitation however, was mainly determined by the genotype. The cultivars showed significant exploitation and yield differences. An adequate bioethanol exploitation was observed with the wheat cv. Batis in contrast to diminished grain and bioethanol yields. Considering bioethanol exploitation and bioethanol yield, the triticale cv. Modus was the outstanding genotype. Despite high grain yields, the bioethanol yields of the rye cv. Farino stayed mean, because of a genotypic lowered bioethanol exploitation. Comparing the approaches of mineral nitrogen substitution, legume N was successful, whereas stillage fertilizing, according to the examined conditions, resulted in ample decreased grain and bioethanol yields ha^?1.     

Intercropping for the Improvement of Sorghum Yield, Soil Fertility and Striga Control in the Subsistence Agriculture Region of Tigray (Northern Ethiopia)

Striga hermonthica is a major biotic constraint in the dry and less fertile areas of northern Ethiopia. Emphasis is being placed on improved cropping systems to address the interrelated problems of Striga and soil fertility decline. The potential benefits of intercropping were investigated at two sites representing different environments for crop yield improvement, soil fertility maintenance and Striga control. Ten food legume and oilseed crop species were compared in inter‐row arrangement with sorghum under non‐fertilized conditions. In most cases, there was no significant negative impact of intercropping on sorghum growth and development. Among the intercrops, two cowpea varieties – cv. TVU 1977 OD and cv. Blackeye bean – produced the highest supplemental yield of up to 329 and 623 kg ha^?1 grain and 608 and 1173 kg ha^?1 biomass at Adibakel and Sheraro respectively. Treatment differences on Striga infestation and measured soil fertility indicators were not significant. Nevertheless, valuable grain and biomass obtained from the legume intercrops, without seriously compromising sorghum yield, could offer multiple benefits as a source of protein, additional income, feeds for animals and manure in the subsistence agriculture regions of northern Ethiopia.     

Effects of cover crops on soil mineral nitrogen and on the yield and nitrogen content of maize

Current agricultural practice favours winter cover crops, which can not only optimize N management in field crop rotation; but also affect subsequent crops. Three field experiments were carried out in Eastern Slovenia to examine the effects of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), winter rape (Brassica napus ssp.oleifera (Metzg.) Sinsk), subclover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) as winter cover crops on the mineral N (N_min) content of soil and on the yield and N content of subsequent maize (Zea mays L.), fertilized with 120 kg N ha⁻¹. Italian ryegrass and winter rape decreased soil N_min contents before winter and in spring more than both clovers. In contrast, clovers accumulated significantly higher amounts of N in organic matter and had lower C/N ratios than winter rape and especially Italian ryegrass. In comparison to the control (bare fallow without cover crop), clovers increased the whole above ground maize dry matter yield, maize grain yield and N contents in whole above ground plants and in grain. The yields and N contents of maize following winter rape were on the same level as the control, while yields and N contents of maize following Italian ryegrass were, in two of the experiments, at the same level as the control. The effects of Italian ryegrass on the maize as subsequent crop in the third experiment were markedly negative. Maize in the control treatment exploited N much more efficiently than in treatments with cover crops. Therefore, cover crop N management should be improved, especially with a view to optimizing the timing of net N mineralization in accordance with the N demands of the subsequent crop.