Einfluß langjähriger Winterweizen-Monokultur auf Ertragsbildung, Krankheitsbefall und Nematodenbesatz im Vergleich zum Winterweizenanbau in der Fruchtfolge

Influence of winter wheat grown continuously on grain yield, foot rot infection and nematodes compared with winter wheat in rotation
The field trial, started in 1968 at the experimental-station in Rauischholzhausen, was intended to give informations about winter wheat in continuous cultivation. The question was if intensification of growing culture enables monoculture wheat to yield as high as winter wheat in rotation (sugar-beet, winter wheat, spring barley). Influence of green manuring with additional nitrogen, straw manuring with additional nitrogen, straw burning and fungicid treatment against eyespot was investigated.
The following results have been obtained in the years 1969 to 1985:
1. In the 17 years average winter wheat in rotation yielded with 50.1 dt/ha a higher amount of grain dry weight than wheat in monoculture (43.6 dt/ha). Only in 3 years wheat in monoculture reaches the grain yield level of wheat in rotation.
2. The incidence of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides was in wheat after wheat about 10% higher than in wheat after sugar-beets.
3. The use of fungicides against culm base diseases caused in monoculture an increase in yield of about 2.7 dt/ha which was not higher than in rotation (+2.5 dt/ha).
4. The first 12 years indicated a decline-effect with continuously decreasing differences in the yield of wheat in monoculture compared with rotation. But until the 17th year of the trial grain yield differences were as high as in the beginning.
It is not possible either by means of intensification of fertilizing or chemical plant protection treatment to reach the grain yield level of winter wheat in rotation with winter wheat in monoculture. Even the use of modern agronomical methodes remains crop rotation as a central part of an effective plant culture.     

Residual nitrogen effect of clover-ryegrass swards on yield and N uptake of a subsequent winter wheat crop as studied by use of N methodology and mathematical modelling

The residual effect of 2-year-old swards of clover-ryegrass mixture and ryegrass in monoculture on yield and N uptake in a subsequent winter wheat crop was investigated by use of the ¹⁵N dilution method and by mathematical modelling. The amount of N in the wheat crop, derived from clover-ryegrass residues was 25–43% greater than that derived from residues of ryegrass which had been growing in monoculture. Expressed in absolute values, the N uptake in the subsequent winter wheat crop was 23–28 kg N ha ⁻¹ greater after clover-ryegrass mixture than after ryegrass in monoculture. Up to about 54 kg N ha⁻¹ of the N mineralised from the clover-ryegrass crop was calculated to be leached, whereas only 11 kg N ha⁻¹ was leached following ryegrass in monoculture.     

Performance of Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at two Different Seeding Rates and Nitrogen Levels under Contrasting Environmental Conditions

The aim of this investigation was to obtain information about differences between spelt and wheat in relation to their performance under low-input conditions. Two spelt varieties ( Oberkulmer, Hercule ) and two wheat varieties ( Anna, Iend ) were grown at two different seeding rates (S1 = 200; S2 = 400 kernels/m²) and two nitrogen levels (Nl = 80 kg N/ha; N2 = 110 kg N/ha) at two contrasting locations (Muri; altitude 459 m asl; Oberwallestalden: altitude 1011 m asl). No growth regulators and fungicides were applied.
The overall mean for the "husked" yield (grains and glumes) of spelt was not significantly different from the grain yield of wheat. At the higher site Oberwallestalden however, the "husked" yield of spelt was 10.5 % higher than the grain yield of wheat. Although the number of ears per m² was higher at S2 than at S1, spelt and wheat produced a similar yield at both seeding rates (spelt: S1 = 96 % of S2; wheat: S1 = 95 % of S2) due to the higher single ear weight at S1.
The reaction of spelt and wheat to nitrogen was similar. The yield was 10 % higher at N2 than at Nl for both species. The performance of spelt under low-input conditions was better than for wheat in marginal areas for cereal production only.     

Soil Type Influences Relative Yield of Barley and Wheat in a Mediterranean-type Environment

In the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia the yield of barley relative to wheat is influenced by soil type. Field trials studied detailed aspects of growth, development, yield and water use of a range of barley and wheat cultivars on 2 soil types at 2 locations to identify those factors that lead to the differential relative yields.
Barley had greater grain yields than wheat on both fine and coarse textured soils. On both soil types barley had a greater number of mainstem leaves which appeared faster than those of wheat and this was associated with greater tillering (6.5 v. 3.5 shoots/plant), higher GAI and greater dry matter production (845 v. 804 g/ m). The difference in yield between the two species was greater on the fine textured soil (15 v. 7 %). Barley also had greater harvest index than wheat (6—15%), and this combined with greater dry matter production on the fine textured soil led to a larger yield advantage over wheat than occurred on the coarse textured soil. Water use efficiency was greater for barley than for wheat on both soils.
The greater yield advantage of barley over wheat on the fine textured soil was the result of greater biomass production by barley and greater harvest index. Differences in pattern of water use, and water use efficiency of grain production were associated with greater barley yields but are not themselves considered to be the cause of relative yield differences across soil types. The possible implications of factors such as intrinsic nutrient supply on the 2 soil types in relation to observed yield differences are discussed.     

N-Dynamik des Bodens, Ertragsbildung und Stickstoffentzug von Winterweizen bei unterschiedlicher Höhe und Verteilung der mineralischen N-Düngung

NO₃ dynamics in the soil, yield formation and N uptake of winter wheat as influenced by dosage and distribution effects of N-fertilizer application
In a 4 year series of field trials carried out with 9 regimes of nitrogen fertilizer application at two trial sites with rather shallow top soil layers but large deviations in soil characteristics, grain yield varied between 50 dt/ ha and 120 dt/ha with nitrogen doses from 0–170 kg N/ha. Soil nitrogen supply for wheat grain formation on unfertilized plots reached 80 kg N/ha/year within the narrow range of 75–95 kg N/ha in different years at both sites which amounts to 1.5 % and 0.5 % of the highly different N-content of the trial sites.
The most successful nitrogen application regimes are characterized by modest fertilizer doses in early spring and the delay of supplemental fertilizer doses until growth stage EC 32. They resulted into modest NO) soil content from EC 29 to EC 32 and/or a noticable decrease of soil NO₃ content during growth stage EC 30–32, which seems to be responsible for the development of only modest stand densities and reduced straw yield, while the delayed supplementation with nitrogen fertilizer overcompensated these effects mainly by increased grain numbers/ear and a remarkable improvement of harvest index.
The contribution of soil borne nitrogen to kernel yield formation started to decrease with even low dosages of supplemental nitrogen fertilization with the exception of the highest yielding season 1987/88. Top levels of grain yield have been regularly obtained with supplemental nitrogen fertilizer dosages about 40 kg N/ha below grain yield nitrogen extraction if they were added within favorable application regimes.     

Effects of crop residue management on winter durum wheat productivity in a long term experiment in Southern Italy

A long-term experiment comparing different crop residue (CR) managements was established in 1977 in Foggia (Apulia region, southern Italy). The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of different types of crop residue management on main yield response parameters in a continuous cropping system of winter durum wheat. In order to correctly interpret the results, models accounting for spatial error autocorrelation were used and compared with ordinary least square models.Eight crop residue management treatments, based on burning of wheat straw and stubble or their incorporation with or without N fertilization and irrigation, were compared. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with five replicates.Results indicated that the dynamics of yield, grain protein content and hectolitric weight of winter durum wheat did not show any decline as usually expected when a monoculture is carried out for a long time. In addition, the temporal variability of productivity was more affected by meteorological factors, such as air temperature and rainfall, than CR management treatments. Higher wheat grain yields and hectolitric weights quite frequently occurred after burning of wheat straw compared with straw incorporation without nitrogen fertilization and autumn irrigation and this was attributed to temporary mineral N immobilization in the soil. The rate of 50 kg ha⁻¹ of N seemed to counterbalance this negative effect when good condition of soil moisture occurred in the autumn period, so yielding the same productive level of straw burning treatment.     

Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Soil Available Phosphorus in Wheat-Cotton Double-Cropping Systems

[Objective] Here, the spatial and temporal distributions of soil available phosphorus (AP) were investigated during cotton growth stages in wheat-cotton double-cropping systems in northern Henan, China. [Method] Using the spatial grid sampling and geo-statistical analysis methods, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distributions of soil AP in a cotton monoculture, wheat-cotton 3-1 intercropping system (3-1) and wheat-cotton 6-2 intercropping system (6-2) during the wheat and cotton co-growth stage and the key growth stages of cotton only. [Result] The AP contents were significantly influenced by the cropping systems on different dates. In the co-growth stage, the AP content in the cotton monoculture was higher than that in 3-1, at 20.98% on May 12 and 24.26% on June 7. After wheat was harvested (July 3 and August 4), there were no significant differences among the three cropping systems, and in the boll-opening stage of cotton, the order of the AP contents were as follows: cotton monoculture＞6-2＞3-1. In the vertical direction, the AP contents decreased as the soil depth increased, while in the horizontal direction, the AP distribution was influenced significantly by the cropping system. Based on the semivariance, there were strong spatial dependencies in the vertical direction in all three cropping systems. [Conclusion] Wheat-cotton double-cropping systems changed the distribution of soil AP, but had no influence on the spatial heterogeneity of the soil AP in the vertical direction. Geo-statistics provide a more intuitive method and guide to study the soil nutrients of the wheat–cotton and other double-cropping systems.     

Die Ertragsentwicklung von Wintergetreide und Zuckerrüben bei dauerhafter Senkung des N-Düngungsniveaus

Effects of Long-term Fertilizer N Reduction on Winter Grain and Sugar Beet Yields
The results of recent field experiments concerning the effect of long-term N-reduction on the yield and quality of sugar beet, winter wheat and winter barley on plots which had previously had received ample amounts of N are studied in this paper.
The yield and quality of crops harvested on plots where N-dressings had been reduced for 6–8 years were similar to those of crops grown on plots where N-application had been reduced for only 1 year. Grain yield of winter wheat and winter barley grown without any N-application decreased to about 60 % of amounts normally harvested under local conditions with recommended N dressings, whereas the white sugar yield still remained at 90 %. The yields decreased slightly with an increase in the duration of the experiments. Yields of both cereals and beets remained constant within each level of fertilization, even 6 years after inition of trials with 50, 75 and 125 % of locally recommended N dressings.
On plots that did not receive nitrogen fertilization, N-contents of grain were between 1.5 and 1.7 % for winter wheat and 1.0 and 1.6 % N for winter barley. These contents remained constant over a trial period of 6 years. The amount of annual export of 55–91 kg N/ha also remained constant. Limited N availability causes a decrease in grain protein content rather than in grain yield.
Compared to winter grain species, sugar beet (with 74–117 kg N/ha in the beet body) could realize the highest annual export of nitrogen from the plot. Differences in annual N export existing between the various locations of the plots cannot be explained by differences in soil quality. Continuous high yields that were found even without any N-dressings may be explained by asymbiotic N-fixation, deposition of atmospheric N and a progressive decrease in soil N with 17–56 kg N/ha removed from soil resources annually.     

Crop Rotation to Improve Agricultural Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

A three years' trial was conducted in a farmers' field in northern Ghana to evaluate the effect of sole crops (cotton, cowpea, groundnut, soybean, and sunflower) planted once or twice on yield of the staple foods of the region, maize and sorghum. Sole cropping for only one year already resulted in significant yield increases for maize and partly for sorghum compared to the conventional cropping of mixed stands of maize–sorghum or maize–groundnut and natural fallow. Lowest yield of maize and sorghum was obtained where these cereals followed maize–sorghum (monoculture). Intercropping of maize with groundnut led to subsequent maize and sorghum yields which were similar to those obtained after maize–sorghum. After growing legumes and sunflower for one year the grain and straw yield of maize and sorghum was significantly higher in the two consecutive years than after cereal (maize–sorghum) monoculture. In this trial maize and sorghum were found to be not as tolerant to the disadvantages of monoculture or preceding cereals–legumes mixture. The results suggest that continuous intercropping with cereals under the given conditions has negative effects on soil fertility and can lead to an increase in soil-borne pests and troublesome weeds like Striga comparable to monocropped cereals.     

单作棉和3-2式麦棉生态系统作物共生期的光温特点

种植模式影响到农作物生存的微环境,3-2式麦棉套种模式在小麦与棉花共生期间,由于小麦的遮挡作用,使得棉田土壤接受的太阳辐射减少,土壤温度低,且单作与套作种植模式的光合有效辐射(PAR)和土壤温度具有各自的时空变化,在麦棉复合种植模式中,地上10cm的PAR是:棉行间>棉行上>麦棉间>麦行上;而单作棉模式是:棉行间>棉行上。两种种植模式土壤温度也存在差异,在空间上存在垂直分异和水平分异,在时间上存在时间分异。土层深度是影响土壤温度另一个重要因子。上层土壤温度在一天的不同时段上差异比较明显。40cm的土壤温度波动很小,60cm处的土壤温度基本上平稳。     

Nitrogen use efficiency of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as influenced by wheat–cotton cropping systems

Wheat–cotton rotations largely increase crop yield and improve resources use efficiency, such as the radiation use efficiency. However, little information is available on the nitrogen (N) utilization and requirement of cotton under wheat–cotton rotations. This study was to determine the N uptake and use efficiency by evaluating the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N use and the soil N balances, which will help to improve N resource management in wheat–cotton rotations. Field experiments were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons in the Yangtze River region in China. Two cotton cultivars (Siza 3, mid-late maturity with 130 days growth duration; CCRI 50, early maturity with 110 days growth duration) were planted under four cropping systems including monoculture cotton (MC), wheat/intercropped cotton (W/IC), wheat/transplanted cotton (W/TC) and wheat/direct-seeded cotton (W/DC). The N uptake and use efficiency of cotton were quantified under different cropping systems. The results showed that wheat–cotton rotations decreased the cotton N uptake through reducing the N accumulation rate and shortening the duration of fast N accumulation phase as compared to the monoculture cotton. Compared with MC, the N uptake of IC, TC and DC were decreased by 12.0%, 20.5% and 23.4% for Siza 3, respectively, and 7.3%, 10.7% and 17.6% for CCRI 50, respectively. Wheat–cotton rotations had a lower N harvest index as a consequence of the weaker sink capacity in the cotton plant caused by the delayed fruiting and boll formation. Wheat–cotton rotations used N inefficiently relative to the monoculture cotton, showing consistently lower level of the N agronomic use efficiency (NAE), N apparent recovery efficiency (NRE), N physiological efficiency (NPE) and N partial factor productivity (NPFP), particularly for DC. Relative to the mid–late maturity cultivar of Siza 3, the early maturity cultivar of CCRI 50 had higher N use efficiency in wheat–cotton rotations. An analysis of the crop N balance suggested that the high N excess in preceding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in wheat–cotton rotations led to significantly higher N surpluses than the monoculture cotton. The N management for the cotton in wheat–cotton rotations should be improved by means of reducing the base fertilizer input and increasing the bloom application.     

Einfluß von Monoethanolamin auf den Ertrag von Kulturpflanzen

Effect of monoethanolamine on yield of crops
I. Studies on the effect of monoethanolamine on the grain yield and the nitrogen household in cereal plants (pot experiments)
The effect of monoethanolamine (EA, applied as foliar spray, 10 mg per pot) on grain yield and yield components was investigated in pot experiments with spring barley, winter wheat, and winter rye. Under conditions of a moderate drought stress the applied EA increased the grain yield of spring barley from 5 % to 7 % (significance only at α= 0.05). A stimulating effect of EA on the grain yield of winter wheat and winter rye was also obtained.
The positive influence of EA on the grain yield of spring barley was reproducible under the conditions of a limited water supply in small-scale plot experiments (increase of yield about 9 %).
In case of spring barley and winter rye the increase of the grain yield by EA, applied at growth stage 31 (= DC 31) was connected with a greater number of ear-bearing tillers. The increase of the winter wheat yield resulted from more grains per ear of the tillers.
The enhanced formation of tiller grain mass and total tiller biomass by EA was in correlation with a higher nitrogen import into tillers (r = 0.8⁺). Since an export of N from the main shoots into the tillers was not observed a higher N uptake (≥ 6 %) was calculated from N balances. After a fertilization with ¹⁵N-labelled fertilizers the additional ¹⁵N uptake was 13 % to 20 %.
Possible stress reducing activities caused by EA are discussed.     

Untersuchungen zur Optimierung der N-Aufnahme von Winterweizenbeständen durch ergänzende Düngungmaßnahmen

Investigations on supplemental N-fertilizer application for the optimum course of N-uptake into winter wheat stands
During a period of 5 years 14 N-fertilization field trials with winter wheat have been carried out in which N-uptake and biomass production in 6 growth stages were analysed. By comparison with non-optimal variants of N-supply a critical range for N-uptake has been recognized which centered around an optimum value of 86 kg biomass N/ha at growth stage EC32. In connection with intensified N-uptake during later growth stages, this has allowed full exploitation of the wheat yield potential without substantial decrease of the N-harvest index.
Field trials on two different soil types (Parabraunerde and humose Auenrendzina), different dates of sowing and long year stands in wheat monoculture as well as applications of N-fertilizers containing dicyandiamid for delay of nitrification showed differences in efficiency as related to the fertilizer dosages but no systematic deviation from the optimum course of N-uptake for full exploitation of yield potential.
Provided that excessive fertilizer dosages before EC32 had been avoided, it seems possible to adjust the reuptake of winter wheat stands close to its optimum within an error of not more than 30 kg fertilizer N/ha by growth stage oriented splittings of fertilizer application and adequate account of soil-N supply and weather conditions during early growth stages.
Full exploitation of the wheat yield potential has been possible in all trials without significant losses in N-use efficiency if optimal splittings and dosages of supplemental N-fertilizers were provided.     

Ergebnisse zur Ertragsbildung bei ökologisch orientiertem Winterweizenanbau auf Lößschwarzerdeböden in trockenen Lagen

Results of yield formation at ecological oriented winter wheat cultivation on Calcic Chernozem soil in arid areas
The influence were examined in field experiments of wheater elements (air temperature, precipitation), nitrogen fertilization, sowing rate and irrigation on the yield and yield formation of winter wheat stands. The average level of yields amounts to 81.3 dt/ha (76…93.8 dt/ha). Limiting factor for yields is the availability of water in the soil. In humide seasons 9…12 % higher yields were obtained then in dry seasons. Without nitrogen fertilization yields of winter wheat are lower by 18 % than with nitrogen fertilization. At very high level of N fertilization only vegetative biomass increases, and the water use efficiency decreases.
Increase in plants/m² caused a rise of vegetative biomass and of ears/m², kernels per ear strongly decreased in the same time. At winter wheat cultivation in low input farming systems without nitrogen fertilization high yields will be obtained with 320…370 plants/m² and 15,000 kernels/m². Nitrogen uptake from the soil amounts to 180 kgN/ha. Because of great amounts of inorganic in the soil (70…200 kgN/ha) sufficient nitrogen is available until heading of the wheat plants. The nitrogen supply of wheat plants in later stages of development is influenced by wheater conditions.     

水氮配合对强筋小麦产量和品质的影响及其相关性分析

在水泥池中控制条件下,研究了不同水氮配合方式对强筋小麦产量和品质的影响。结果表明,在亩产300公斤左右条件下,在小麦生育中后期,水氮配合应用与只浇水相比,可以显著提高小麦产量和品质,以拔节期肥水增产效果最佳,后期增加氮肥用量可以显著提高小麦品质,在土壤肥力偏低条件下,强筋小麦不易达到较高的品质指标。     

Landscape Position and Precipitation Effects on Spatial Variability of Wheat Yield and Grain Protein in Southern Italy

Wheat yield and protein content are spatially variable because of inherent spatial variability of factors affecting the yield at field scale. In Mediterranean environments, yield variability is often caused by the irregular weather pattern, particularly rainfall and by position on the landscape. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of landscape position and rainfall on spatial variability of wheat yield and protein in a rolling terrain field of Southern Italy, and to propose stable management areas through simulation modelling and georesistivity imaging in rolling landscape. The study was carried out in Southern Italy, during 2 years of wheat monoculture; extensive soil properties and in-season plant measurements were measured. This study showed that soil water content was the main factor affecting spatial variation of yield for both years. The interactions between rainfall, topography and soil attributes increase the chances to observe yield variability among years. The principal component analysis demonstrated that for both years, soil water content explained most of the variability. The crop simulation model provided excellent results when compared with measured data with root mean square error of 0.2 t ha⁻¹. The simulated cumulative probability function showed that the model was able to confirm the yield temporal stability of three different zones.     

Die Ertragsbildung von Dinkel (Triticum spelta L.) und Weizen (Triticum aestivum L.) unter verschiedenen Umweltbedingungen im Freiland

Dry Matter Production of Spelt ( Triticum spelta L.) and Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) under Different Environmental Conditions in the Field
The primary aim of our work was to obtain information regarding the germination characteristics of spelt under different environmental conditions in field experiments, and to trace possible differences between spelt and wheat, with regard to crop production. For the present study two spelt varieties ( Ostro/Rouquin) and two wheat varieties ( Arina/Probus) were used. In addition the spelt cultivars Altgold, Oberkulmer and Hercule were included in some of the experiments. To obtain information on the influence of the glumes, spelt was planted in the hulled (SP +) and dehulled (SP-) form.
Field emergence of spelt SP- was up to 40 % lower than that of SP+, Under water logged soil, the percentage of germination was higher for spelt SP+ than for wheat.
Spelt produced more tillers per plant than wheat. However, tiller reduction was also higher for spelt so finally both species had similar numbers of ears per plant. Plants with a high tiller production might be more flexible in response to unfavourable growing conditions.
Grain yield of spelt and wheat was developed in different ways. Spelt produced fewer but larger kernels per ear, whereas wheat produced more but smaller kernels. In 1986 grain yield was up to 20 % higher in wheat than in spelt. In 1987, an unfavourable year for cereal crop production in marginal areas, grain yield was higher for spelt than for wheat. For the farmer, the "husked" form of spelt is economically important. This was equal or higher than the grain yield of wheat in both years.
The high germination rate under unfavourable conditions, in combination with a high tillering capacity and the production of large kernels appear to be the major reason for the stable yielding ability of spelt.     

Effect of Drought Stress on Yield and Quality of Maize/Sunflower and Maize/Sorghum Intercrops for Biogas Production

Intercropping represents an alternative to maize (Zea mays L.) monoculture to provide substrate for agricultural biogas production. Maize was intercropped with either sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) or forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] to determine the effect of seasonal water supply on yield and quality of the above‐ground biomass as a fermentation substrate. The two intercrop partners were grown in alternating double rows at plant available soil water levels of 60–80 %, 40–50 % and 15–30 % under a foil tunnel during the years 2006 and 2007 at Braunschweig, Germany. Although the intercrop dry matter yields in each year increased with increasing soil moisture, the partner crops responded quite differently. While maize produced significantly greater biomass under high rather than low water supply in each year, forage sorghum exhibited a significant yield response only in 2006, and sunflower in none of the 2 years. Despite greatly different soil moisture contents, the contribution of sorghum to the intercrop dry matter yield was similar, averaging 43 % in 2006 and 40 % in 2007. Under conditions of moderate and no drought stress, sunflower had a dry matter yield proportion of roughly one‐third in both years. In the severe drought treatment, however, sunflower contributed 37 % in 2006 and 54 % in 2007 to the total intercrop dry matter yield. The comparatively good performance of sunflower under conditions of low water supply is attributable to a fast early growth, which allows this crop to exploit the residual winter soil moisture. While the calculated methane‐producing potential of the maize/sorghum intercrop was not affected by the level of water supply, the maize/sunflower intercrop in 2006 had a higher theoretically attainable specific methane yield under low and medium than under high water supply. Nevertheless, the effect of water regime on substrate composition within the intercrops was small in comparison with the large differences between the intercrops.     

Attempts at Avoiding the Yield Constraints of Bread Wheat (T. aestivum) in Mediterranean Environments

In bread wheat, in spite of the upward trend of grain yield, the Italian average production remains far below that of Central or Northern Europe. Recognized constraints are water availability to plants and the increase of air temperature during the grain filling period. To quantify these aspects, three varieties remarkably different in several morphophysiological traits were grown for three years under different water regimes in two locations of North and Central Italy.
The grain yield potential of the two locations was similar although if in the Southern location the plants were taller, with a denser canopy and a greater number of smaller seeds. Irrigation after flowering increased yield and yield stability; however, at high air temperatures, dry matter accumulation ceased even though water in the soil was abundantly available. These results suggest the possibility of applying irrigation during grain filling, but a more realistic approach seems to be selection of new varieties characterized by moderate carliness and capacity to sustain kernel growth for a longer period even in the presence of high air temperatures.     

Results of Long-term Experiments with Growing Flue-cured Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in Monoculture and Different Types of Crop Rotations

In broadly conceived long-term experiments, tobacco was grown in monoculture and with different crop rotations. This paper presents results in terms of the yields achieved and the major yield components for the crops grown, and the proportion of particular tobacco quality classes obtained. In addition to tobacco monoculture (initially only fertilized and later also unfertilized) as the key crop, different types of crop rotations included, besides tobacco, the following crops: winter wheat, maize, soybean, oil-seed rape, and red clover. Experiments involved two 2-year and two 4-year crop rotations, and a 3-year, a 5-year, and a 6-year crop rotation. Experiments were set up on luvic semigley on multilayered Pleistocene sands. Average 10-year results suggest that there is an advantage of crop rotation over monoculture for tobacco leaf yields. The influence of different crop rotation types on yields of other crops was variable, tending towards higher values as the number of crops in rotation was increased. Values obtained for yield components should be considered from two angles: some of the values were primarily influenced by genetic factors, while others were influenced by ecological factors, including crop rotation as an overall biological buffer. With regard to quality classes (IB-III), the growing of flue-cured tobacco in crop rotation represents a great advancement relative to its growth in monoculture, even in a narrower crop rotation.