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【Objective】 Winter wheat in Northern China is often rotated with other crops which are expected to have a legacy effect. This paper aims to study the effect of different tillage and preceding crops on soil nutrients, yield and water use efficiency of the winter wheat. 【Method】 The field experiment consisted of a rotary tillage (RT) and a no-tillage (NT). The preceding crops for each tillage were corn (MW) or soybean (SW). During the experiment, we measured the changes in soil nutrients, soil water content, water and fertilizer use efficiency, and yield of the wheat. 【Result】 For the same preceding crop, non-tillage increased soil water content compared to rotary tillage; under the same tillage, soil water content with maize as the preceding crop was higher than that with soybean as the preceding crop. In all treatments, soil nutrients decreased with soil depth. In the 0-50 cm soil layer, NTSW increased soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen by 4.14%-13.54%, 35.51%-54.44% and 55.75%-112%, respectively, compared to the RTMW. RTMW had the highest available phosphorus and potassium in the 10-50 cm soil layer. The RTSW had the highest ammonium nitrogen in the 0-50 cm soil layer, 13.39%-20.64% more than that in the RTMW. The winter wheat in NTSW had the highest spike numbers, spikelet numbers, thousand-grain weight; and its grain yield was 16.62% higher than that of RTMW. The NTSW had the highest water use efficiency, 8.67% more than that of RTMW. The NTSW had the highest nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium use efficiency. 【Conclusion】 The NTSW facilitated nutrient accumulation in the winter wheat field. It had the highest water and fertilizer use efficiency and increased grain yields the most as a result.

Rice-wheat and maize-wheat rotations are major cropping systems in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River in China, where high nitrogen (N) inputs and low N efficiency often exacerbate resource waste and environmental pollution. Due to the changes in factors such as soil properties and moisture content, the N fate and the N utilization characteristics of wheat in different rotations are significantly different. Efficient N management strategies are thus urgently required for promoting maximum wheat yield in different rotation systems while reducing N loss. A 2-year field experiment using isotopic (15N) tracer technique was conducted to evaluate the fate of 15N-labeled urea in wheat fields and the distribution characteristics of N derived from different sources. The wheat yield and N use efficiency under various N rates (180 and 240 kg ha-1, abbreviated as N180 and N240) and preceding crops (rice and maize, abbreviated as R-wheat and M-wheat) were also investigated. The results showed that N240 increased N uptake and grain yield by only 8.77-14.97% and 2.51-4.49% compared with N 180, but decreased N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N physiological efficiency (NPE) by 14.78-18.79% and 14.06-31.35%. N240 also decreased N recovery in plants by 2.8% on average compared with N180, and increased N residue in soil and N loss to the environment. Compared with that of basal N, the higher proportion of topdressing N was absorbed by wheat rather than lost to the environment. In addition, the accumulation of topdressing N in grain was much higher than that of basal N. Compared with that in R-wheat treatment, plants in M-wheat treatment trended to absorb more 15N and reduce unaccounted N loss, resulting in higher yield potential. Moreover, the M-wheat treatment increased N recovery in 0-20 cm soil but decreased 80-100 cm soil compared with R-wheat treatment, indicating a lower risk of N loss in deeper soil. Collectively, reducing N application rate and increasing the topdressing ratio is an effectiveway to balance sustainable crop yield for a secure food supply and environmental benefit, which ismore urgent in rice-wheat rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simplified cereal-based crop rotations are widely grown due to economic reasons, leading to the cultivation of wheat after wheat and associated yield losses. In this study, a crop rotation trial was conducted in Northern Germany on a Stagnic Luvisol from 2006 to 2018 with winter wheat after the four most widely used preceding crops in the region (sugar beet, winter wheat, silage maize and winter oilseed rape) in different crop rotations to evaluate potential benefits of different preceding crops. Additionally, the effects of two different sowing dates (2016–2018) and higher crop residue input (whole period) were investigated. While the pre-preceding crop had no effect, preceding crops winter oilseed rape and sugar beet led to a significantly higher yield of about 1.00 and 0.43 t/ha, respectively, compared to wheat after wheat. This was not modified by crop rotational diversity, including wheat monoculture. Wheat yield tended to be higher for the late sowing date after sugar beet, maize and wheat, while there was no effect of sowing date after oilseed rape. Higher crop residue input led to a significantly higher yield (0.30 t/ha) in wheat after wheat (after pre-preceding crop sugar beet). Overall, sugar beet and winter oilseed rape were found to be favourable preceding crops for winter wheat under the given site conditions. The effect of sowing date on yield and potential modifications of the preceding crop effect by sowing date needs further research in appropriate long-term trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-wheat and maize-wheat rotations are major cropping systems in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River in China, where high nitrogen (N) inputs and low N efficiency often exacerbate resource waste and environmental pollution. Due to the changes in factors such as soil properties and moisture content, the N fate and the N utilization characteristics of wheat in different rotations are significantly different. Efficient N management strategies are thus urgently required for promoting maximum wheat yield in different rotation systems while reducing N loss. A 2-year field experiment using isotopic (15N) tracer technique was conducted to evaluate the fate of 15N-labeled urea in wheat fields and the distribution characteristics of N derived from different sources. The wheat yield and N use efficiency under various N rates (180 and 240 kg ha−1, abbreviated as N180 and N240) and preceding crops (rice and maize, abbreviated as R-wheat and M-wheat) were also investigated. The results showed that N240 increased N uptake and grain yield by only 8.77−14.97% and 2.51−4.49% compared with N 180, but decreased N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N physiological efficiency (NPE) by 14.78−18.79% and 14.06−31.35%. N240 also decreased N recovery in plants by 2.8% on average compared with N180, and increased N residue in soil and N loss to the environment. Compared with that of basal N, the higher proportion of topdressing N was absorbed by wheat rather than lost to the environment. In addition, the accumulation of topdressing N in grain was much higher than that of basal N. Compared with that in R-wheat treatment, plants in M-wheat treatment trended to absorb more 15N and reduce unaccounted N loss, resulting in higher yield potential. Moreover, the M-wheat treatment increased N recovery in 0−20 cm soil but decreased 80−100 cm soil compared with R-wheat treatment, indicating a lower risk of N loss in deeper soil. Collectively, reducing N application rate and increasing the topdressing ratio is an effective way to balance sustainable crop yield for a secure food supply and environmental benefit, which is more urgent in rice-wheat rotation.

Rice is often grown as multiple seasons in one year, alternating between flooded and upland systems. A major constraint, introduced from the flooded system, is a plough pan that may decrease rooting depth and productivity of follow-on upland rice. Roots penetrating the plough pan under flooded rice system can leave a legacy of weaker root growth pathways. Deeper rooting rice cultivars could have a bigger impact, but no direct evidence is available. To explore whether a deep rather than a shallow rooting rice cultivar grown in a flooded cropping cycle benefited deeper root growth of follow-on rice in an upland, reduced tillage cropping cycle, a simulated flooded paddy in greenhouse was planted with deep (Black Gora) and shallow (IR64) rooting cultivars and a plant-free control. Artificial plough pans were made in between the topsoil and subsoil to form different treatments with no plough pan (0.35 MPa), soft plough pan (1.03 MPa) and hard plough pan (1.70 MPa). After harvest of this ‘first season’ rice, the soil was drained and undisturbed to simulate zero-tillage upland and planted rice cultivar BRRI Dhan 28. The overall root length density (RLD), root surface area, the numbers of root tips and branching of BRRI Dhan 28 did not vary between plough pan and no plough pan treatments. Compared with the shallow rooting rice genotype, the deep rooting rice genotype as ‘first season’ crop produced 19% greater RLD, 34% greater surface area and 29% more branching of BRRI Dhan 28 in the subsoil. In the topsoil, however, BRRI Dhan 28 had 28% greater RLD, 35% greater surface area and 43% more branching for the shallow rather than deep rooting genotype planted in the ‘first season’. The results suggested that rice cultivar selection for a paddy cycle affects root growth of a follow-on rice crop grown under no-till, with benefits to subsoil access from deep rooting cultivars and topsoil proliferation for shallow rooting cultivars.

Rice is often grown as multiple seasons in one year, alternating between flooded and upland systems. A major constraint, introduced from the flooded system, is a plough pan that may decrease rooting depth and productivity of follow-on upland rice. Roots penetrating the plough pan under flooded rice system can leave a legacy of weaker root growth pathways. Deeper rooting rice cultivars could have a bigger impact, but no direct evidence is available. To explore whether a deep rather than a shallow rooting rice cultivar grown in a flooded cropping cycle benefited deeper root growth of follow-on rice in an upland, reduced tillage cropping cycle, a simulated flooded paddy in greenhouse was planted with deep (Black Gora) and shallow (IR64) rooting cultivars and a plant-free control. Artificial plough pans were made in between the topsoil and subsoil to form different treatments with no plough pan (0.35 MPa), soft plough pan (1.03 MPa) and hard plough pan (1.70 MPa). After harvest of this 'first season' rice, the soil was drained and undisturbed to simulate zero-tillage upland and planted rice cultivar BRRI Dhan 28. The overall root length density (RLD), root surface area, the numbers of root tips and branching of BRRI Dhan 28 did not vary between plough pan and no plough pan treatments. Compared with the shallow rooting rice genotype, the deep rooting rice genotype as 'first season' crop produced 19% greater RLD, 34% greater surface area and 29% more branching of BRRI Dhan 28 in the subsoil. In the topsoil, however, BRRI Dhan 28 had 28% greater RLD, 35% greater surface area and 43% more branching for the shallow rather than deep rooting genotype planted in the 'first season'. The results suggested that rice cultivar selection for a paddy cycle affects root growth of a follow-on rice crop grown under no-till, with benefits to subsoil access from deep rooting cultivars and topsoil proliferation for shallow rooting cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the crop production factors, preceding crop and tillage management affect the sustainable use of soil resources and ultimately crop growth and productivity. This study aimed at investigating the impact of preceding winter crops (grass or legume) and different tillage systems on forage yield, quality and nutritive values of three summer grass (Sudan grass, pearl millet and teosinte) and two legume forage crops (cowpea and guar) under arid conditions. The results exhibited that growing forage crops after legumes (as berseem clover) produced the highest fresh and dry forage yields and quality attributes compared with grasses (as wheat) with the exception of crude fiber content, which was decreased. Moreover, tillage practices showed positive impact on forage yields and quality attributes. The maximum forage yields and quality parameters were recorded under conventional tillage (CT) practice compared with reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT) systems. Among the evaluated crops, the highest yields of fresh forage, dry forage, crude fiber, crude protein and total digestible nutrient were exhibited by grass forage crops (Sudan grass, pearl millet and teosinte), whereas the highest crude protein content and the digestible energy values were produced by legume forage crops (cowpea and guar). The maximum fresh forage, dry forage, crude fiber, crude protein, total digestible nutrient and digestible crude protein yields were produced by pearl millet followed by Sudan grass under CT and RT after berseem clover. The highest net return was recorded by sowing pearl millet after berseem clover and applying CT followed by RT practices, which could be recommended for the commercial production. Moreover, it could be assumed that the combination of growing grass forage crops after legume crops under CT or RT systems could enhance forage crop yield and quality with an improvement in soil properties for sustainable agriculture with low cost and the highest net income.

At the present time, crop rotations are constantly adapted to economic conditions and one or two main crops are grown in agricultural farms. This has a negative impact on the environment. The optimization of grain yield and quality of winter wheat are dependent not only on the appropriate crop rotation but also on the nitrogen fertilisation. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of crop rotations, fertilisation and preceding crop on grain yield and quality of winter wheat during the years 2015/2016 – 2017/2018. The grain yield of winter wheat after preceding crop pea in crop rotation with 40% proportion of cereals was statistically higher (5.91 t/ha) than in crop rotation with 80% share of cereals (5.55 t/ha). In the treatment with mineral fertilisation and organic manure Veget® incorporation, the grain yield was statistically higher (6.00 t/ha) than in the treatment with mineral fertilisation (5.50 t/ha). According the standard STN 46 1100-2:2018 based on the wet gluten content, the winter wheat grain was classified into the class E by mineral fertilisation + organic manure Veget® in all monitored years. In 2017 the winter wheat grain was categorized into the class P based on wet gluten content in crop rotations with 80% proportion of cereals in the treatment with fertilisers only after preceding crop winter barley.

Purpose. Reveal the features of the formation of a quali­ty indicator complex in winter bread wheat depending on the growing seasons, preceding crops and sowing dates, as well as differentiate and identify genotypes with high and stable levels of manifestation. Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical. Results. A different share of the influence of the year conditions, the preceding crop, the sowing date and their interactions on the quality indicators of some varie­ties was determined. A different reaction of varieties in terms of quality indicators, depending on the investigated factors was revealed. The variation was very low for test weight, water absorption ability of flour, crumb porosity. Strong variation was observed for flour strength after sunflower and soybean as preceding crops, alveograph configuration ratio after sunflower and soybean, index of elasticity dough after corn, valorimetric value after mustard, dough dilution degree after green manure, sunflower, corn and especially after mustard and soybeans. The varieties, which on average for 2016/17–2018/19 reliably exceeded the standard both in individual indicators and in general in terms of physical indicators of grain and flour quality and dough rheological properties. GYT biplot analysis identified the genotypes ‘MIP Vidznaka’ and ‘MIP Assol’ with a more optimal combination of increased yield and a complex of quality indicators in terms of different years, preceding crops and sowing dates. Some varieties, namely, ‘Estafeta myronivs’ka’, ‘Trudiv­nytsia myronivs’ka’, ‘MIP Valensiia’, ‘MIP Yuvileina’, ‘Balada myronivs’ka’, ‘Vezha myronivs’ka’ were inferior to them, but were significantly superior the others. Conclusions. The selected by quality indicators varieties as genetic sources can be used in breeding process. A more stable level of yield and quality indicators at different sowing dates after different preceding crops should be expected for growing varieties ‘MIP Vidznaka’, ‘MIP Assol’, as well as ‘Estafeta myronivs’ka’, ‘Trudivnytsia myronivs’ka’, ‘MIP Valensiia’, ‘MIP Yuvileina’, ‘Balada myronivs’ka’, ‘Vezha myronivs’ka’. The peculiarities obtained in the research should be taken into account when evaluating and differentiating genotypes in breeding process, as well as developing basic elements of technology for growing the varieties of winter bread wheat.

The influence of tillage method and crop rotation on soil respiration (SR) has been widely studied. However, very few studies have investigated the combined effects of different preceding crop types and tillage methods on SR rates of the same crop in the following season. In this study, two tillage methods including no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and three preceding crops (maize, peanut and soybean) were selected to study their combined effects on SR. The results showed that (1) for the same preceding crop, the total amount of soil respiration (TSR) of NT treatment was significantly higher than that of CT treatment; (2) under the same tillage method, preceding maize treatment generally had higher SR rates than other preceding crop treatments; (3) the temperature sensitivity (Q10) values of preceding soybean crops were significantly lower than that of preceding maize and peanut crops under CT treatment, but the values of preceding soybean crops were higher than that of preceding maize and peanut crops under CT treatment, and the difference between preceding soybean and peanut crop was significant. Overall, the results indicated that NT method and preceding maize potentially increased SR by changing soil temperature and soil water content in our study area, further studies should strengthen to reveal the microbiological mechanism under different tillage methods and preceding crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the crop rotation on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) yield and yield components is limited. Therefore a study in three consecutive growing seasons of sunflower (2018, 2019, and 2020) was conducted. The trial was performed on the experimental field of the department of "Agriculture and herbology" at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The experiment was performed by the long plots method. Two crop rotations were evaluated: 1. Winter wheat - sunflower and 2. Sunflower - sunflower (monoculture). All evaluated parameters of sunflower as plant height at the end of the vegetation, head diameter, seed yield, seed oil content, as well as the absolute mass of 1000 seeds and hectoliter seed mass were influenced by the preceding crop. The highest results for the rotation of winter wheat - sunflower were reported, while statistically lower results for the sunflower monoculture were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researches to study changes in productive moisture reserves in leached low-humus medium loamy chernozem during the nongrowing period of spring wheat, depending on the preceding crop and methods of basic tillage, were performed in 2011–2021 in the forest-steppe of southwestern Siberia on a southeastern slope 1–2° steep. The fallow–wheat–oats–wheat–pea–wheat crop rotation and permanent wheat crops in the variants of zero tillage and shallow (14–16 cm) and deep (25–27 cm) subsurface plowing were analyzed. Moisture reserves in the upper 1-m-thick soil layer in autumn were determined by preceding crops (65.7%) and their interaction with cultivation methods (30.9%). They decreased from fallow (109.2 mm) to pea (88.1 mm), oats (82.4 mm), and permanent wheat (72.6 mm) as well as from deep (91.4 mm) to shallow (88.7 mm) and zero (84.0 mm) cultivation. In early spring, moisture reserves were mainly determined by the cultivation method (81%), decreasing from deep (169.4 mm) to shallow (145.8 mm) and zero (118.4 mm) plowing and from fallow (156.6 mm) to pea (144.4 mm), oats (140.0 mm), and permanent wheat (136.9 mm). The accumulation of winter precipitation by soil was determined by the cultivation method (81.0%), decreasing from deep (77.9 mm) to shallow (57.0 mm) and zero (34.4 mm) treatment and increasing from fallow (47.5 mm) to pea (56.3 mm), oats (57.7 mm), and permanent wheat (64.3 mm). By the germination period, moisture reserves in the soil decreased, depending on the cultivation approach (87.6%), from deep (120.1 mm) to shallow (108.5 mm) and zero (100.5 mm) plowing. Moisture losses in spring on an unplowed background were minimal (81.2–87.5 mm) and increased on backgrounds with shallow and deep plowing (92.8–117.8 and 101.0–135.2 mm, respectively) and from permanent wheat to oats, pea, and fallow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors showed that strip sowing with the paw plowshare allows soybean plants to branch better, and branches with leaves of nearby rows do not close for a long time, mowing vegetation between the strips reduces the total number of weeds, the chemical load on the crops, and ensures environmental safety of the products.(Research purpose) To determine the seed distribution parameters by the paw plowshare according to the area of the sowing strip and the depth of seed placement, to establish the effect of the plowshare of different types on the weediness of crops and soybean yield after various preceding crops.(Materials and methods) The authors studied the equability of soybean seeds distribution with the paw plowshare on the surface of the grooved tub, adhesive tape, and in the soil according to the following indicators: spread width, number of seeds per unit area, and placement depth. They conducted a comparative field experiment; in different years according to meteorological conditions, on a typical meadow black earth soil, soybean was sown with seeders with plowshare of two designs after various preceding crops: steam, wheat and soy.(Results and discussion) It was determined that the paw plowshare the specified sowing row width of 0.18-0.20 meters at the channel soil at a depth of 0.05 meters. The deviation from the equability of the sown seeds distribution over the area was determined 0.93-1.56 percent. It was found that strip sowing with the paw plowshare and further mowing of weeds between the strips reduced the weediness of soybean crops after fallow land by 67.7 percent, after wheat by 66.5 percent and after soybean by 65.4 percent, increasing its yield compared to ordinary sowing with a disc plowshare.(Conclusions) The authors established a regular increase in soybean productivity when sowing with the paw plowshare: after naked fallow – by 0.59 tons per hectare, after wheat – by 0.51, after soy – by 0.21 tons. They suggested using seeders with paw plowshare 0.2 meters wide at a distance of 0.6 meters from each other for growing ecologically safe soybean seeds in the Amur region.

Rice-wheat and maize-wheat rotations are major cropping systems in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River in China, where high nitrogen (N) inputs and low N efficiency often exacerbate resource waste and environmental pollution. Due to the changes in factors such as soil properties and moisture content, the N fate and the N utilization characteristics of wheat in different rotations are significantly different. Efficient N management strategies are thus urgently required for promoting maximum wheat yield in different rotation systems while reducing N loss. A 2-year field experiment using isotopic ( 15 N) tracer technique was conducted to evaluate the fate of 15 N-labeled urea in wheat fields and the distribution characteristics of N derived from different sources. The wheat yield and N use efficiency under various N rates (180 and 240 kg ha -1 , abbreviated as N180 and N240) and preceding crops (rice and maize, abbreviated as R-wheat and M-wheat) were also investigated. The results showed that N240 increased N uptake and grain yield by only 8.77-14.97% and 2.51-4.49% compared with N 180, but decreased N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N physiological efficiency (NPE) by 14.78-18.79% and 14.06-31.35%. N240 also decreased N recovery in plants by 2.8% on average compared with N180, and increased N residue in soil and N loss to the environment. Compared with that of basal N, the higher proportion of topdressing N was absorbed by wheat rather than lost to the environment. In addition, the accumulation of topdressing N in grain was much higher than that of basal N. Compared with that in R-wheat treatment, plants in M-wheat treatment trended to absorb more 15 N and reduce unaccounted N loss, resulting in higher yield potential. Moreover, the M-wheat treatment increased N recovery in 0-20 cm soil but decreased 80-100 cm soil compared with R-wheat treatment, indicating a lower risk of N loss in deeper soil. Collectively, reducing N application rate and increasing the topdressing ratio is an effective way to balance sustainable crop yield for a secure food supply and environmental benefit, which is more urgent in rice-wheat rotation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ma, Dai, Cao, Yu, Cheng, Zhu, Ding, Li, Guo, Zhou and Zhu.)

Sugar beet and sugarcane are two major crops for sugar extraction throughout the world. However, the sugar beet importance is not just about sugar production but it also plays an important role in crop rotation and increased productivity in various industries as well as livestock feed. In this study the long-term (2009-16) field trial effect of alfalfa (4 years)-winter wheat (1 year)–fallow (1year)-sugar beet rotation on yield and quality parameters of sugar beet were evaluated for two consecutive rotations. The field trials were carried out at single location in Karaj, Iran, using randomized complete block design with four replications. Analysis of variance showed that the seasonal factors influenced different traits. In the first and second rotations, the root yield ranged from about 56.5 to 83.2 and 61.4 to 77.8 t ha-1, respectively with significant difference among cultivars in the first rotation. However, no significant difference was observed among both rotations in terms of root yield. Same results were obtained for sugar yield in both rotations which illustrates the stability of the above-mentioned traits. Except for sugar content, significant difference was observed among other traits in both rotations. We show for the first time the effect of completing two rotation sequences on sugar beet performance and quality for decision making into a continual expansion/development of crop cultivation.

One of the major challenges in agriculture is how climate change influences crop production, for different environmental (soil type, topography, groundwater depth, etc.) and agronomic management conditions. Through systems modelling, this study aims to quantify the impact of future climate on yield risk of winter wheat for two common soil types of Eastern Denmark. The agro-ecosystem model DAISY was used to simulate arable, conventional cropping systems (CSs) and the study focused on the three main management factors: cropping sequence, usage of catch crops and cereal straw management. For the case region of Eastern Denmark, the future yield risk of wheat does not necessarily increase under climate change mainly due to lower water stress in the projections; rather, it depends on appropriate management and each CS design. Major management factors affecting the yield risk of wheat were N supply and the amount of organic material added during rotations. If a CS is characterized by straw removal and no catch crop within the rotation, an increased wheat yield risk must be expected in the future. In contrast, more favourable CSs, including catch crops and straw incorporation, maintain their capacity and result in a decreasing yield risk over time. Higher soil organic matter content, higher net nitrogen mineralization rate and higher soil organic nitrogen content were the main underlying causes for these positive effects. Furthermore, the simulation results showed better N recycling and reduced nitrate leaching for the more favourable CSs, which provide benefits for environment-friendly and sustainable crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the experiment, conducted in 2005-2011, was to make an assessment of the influence of spring spring barley sowing technology (pure and with companion crops) in crop rotation sequences with 25, 50 and 75% shares of spring spring barley on chemical changes in the 0-20 cm soil horizon. In 2011, spring spring barley (pure sowing) on a stand where spring barley preceded spring barley in a crop rotation system with a 50% spring barley share was found to cause a decline in soil pH and a rise in the soil content of organic carbon (C org.) in comparison with the treatments where companion crops were undersown. Spring barley with the companion crop of Italian ryegrass on a spring barley after spring barley stand raised the pool of C org. in soil relative to the period before the experiment, but the opposite effect was observed when spring barley was undersown with red clover on a stand after potato. In the pure stand, after seven years of the experiment, the highest increase in the soil phosphorus (P) content was noted under the spring barley field following spring wheat, whereas on the plots with the Italian ryegrass companion crop in a sequence of spring barley after spring barley repeated twice the soil was richer in P than prior to the experiment. Once the experiment was terminated in 2011, more potassium (K) was determined in soil under pure spring barley than under spring barley with companion crops. Spring barley with Italian ryegress as a companion crop raised the content of K in soil, but a reverse situation was observed on plots with red clover undersown on a stand of spring barley after potato in comparison with the crop rotation sequences of spring barley after spring wheat and after spring barley. In the case of the soli pH and phosphorus, a positive correlation was noted in the sequence of spring barley undersown with red clover on a stand after spring barley in the crop rotation system with a 75% of spring barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar beet and sugarcane are two major crops for sugar extraction throughout the world. However, the sugar beet importance is not just about sugar production but it also plays an important role in crop rotation and increased productivity in various industries as well as livestock feed. In this study the long-term (2009-16) field trial effect of alfalfa (4 years)-winter wheat (1 year)–fallow (1year)-sugar beet rotation on yield and quality parameters of sugar beet were evaluated for two consecutive rotations. The field trials were carried out at single location in Karaj, Iran, using randomized complete block design with four replications. Analysis of variance showed that the seasonal factors influenced different traits. In the first and second rotations, the root yield ranged from about 56.5 to 83.2 and 61.4 to 77.8 t ha-1, respectively with significant difference among cultivars in the first rotation. However, no significant difference was observed among both rotations in terms of root yield. Same results were obtained for sugar yield in both rotations which illustrates the stability of the abovementioned traits. Except for sugar content, significant difference was observed among other traits in both rotations. We show for the first time the effect of completing two rotation sequences on sugar beet performance and quality for decision making into a continual expansion/development of crop cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field experiments were conducted during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons at the experimental farm of the Agricultural Research Station, Agric. Res. Center, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt (Lat. 30° 35' 30" N, Long. 32° 14' 50" E, 10 m ASL), to evaluate the effect of fallow (control), clover and fodder maize as a preceding crops and foliar application of some micronutrients on yield and yield components of wheat cv. Gemmiza 11. The experimental design was split plot with three replications. Main plots were allocated by preceding crops and sub plots were occupied by three micronutrients salts FeSO4, ZnSO4 and MnSO4, in seven combinations of micronutrients foliar application T1: (Fe +Zn + Mn), T2: (Fe +Zn), T3: (Fe + Mn), T4: Fe, T5: (Zn + Mn), T6: Zn and T7: Mn. Micronutrients were sprayed three times at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. Results showed that wheat significantly affected by the preceding summer crops. Clover as a preceding crop left good residual effect on wheat plant which gave the highest values for all studied characters e.g. plant height, number of spikes/m2, No. of spikelets/spike, No. of grains/spike, 1000 grain weight and grain yield as well as straw and grain contents from Fe, Mn and Zn in the two seasons. With respect to micronutrients, the results showed that the differences between these treatments had significant effect on each of plant height, number of spikes/m2, No. of spikelets/spike, No. of grains/spike, 1000 grain weight and grain yield. The foliar application of mixture nutrients (Fe + Mn + Zn) produced the highest values of yield and its components during both seasons. Moreover, the foliar spray of Fe, Mn and Zn (alone or together and all three nutrients) has significant effect on wheat straw and grain-Fe, Mn and Zn concentration during the two seasons. Also, the results indicated that the interaction between preceding crops and micronutrients treatments had insignificant effect on all studied characters, except 1000 grain weight in the first season and number of spikelets/spike in the second one. In conclusion growing wheat following to clover and foliar application by mixture of Fe+Mn+Zn produced the maximum net income valued 2186 and 2098 LE.fad-1 during two seasons, respectively, compared to the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current study is based on a long-term field experiment that was conducted at the Rauischholzhausen field station of the University of Giessen (Germany). It includes six different crop rotation systems (CRSs), three mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization treatments and the varying annual weather conditions (AWCs) over 25 years (1993-2017). To ensure new insight into wheat cropping systems that have high yield stability, the dataset was assessed using different methods of stability analysis, including eco-valence, biplot and risk analysis. The results show that the factors which influence grain yield variation in winter wheat can be ranked in the following order: (1) N fertilization; (2) AWC; and (3) CRS. Compared to winter rye as the preceding cereal crop, field bean as the preceding legume crop had a clearly positive effect on the grain yield stability of winter wheat. Furthermore, the higher N fertilization level led to more stable grain yields of winter wheat for all investigated CRSs. Overall, in this study, crop rotation and N fertilization had a high impact on the yield stability of winter wheat. These are important factors to consider in agronomic management decisions under the increasingly difficult environmental conditions caused by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of our study was to find out the influence of different preceding crops and weather in particular years on the production ability of winter wheat in crop rotation with 80% share of cereals. The long-term field trial with 40, 60 and 80% share of cereals and two levels of fertilisation (H1 mineral fertilisation + organic manure Veget®; H2 mineral fertilisation only) was carried out in the very warm and dry area of continental climate on Luvi-Haplic Chernozem. In crop rotation with 80% share of cereals, winter wheat was sown after two preceding crops: pea and winter barley. In the years 2013–2015, the weight of 1,000 grains, bulk density, share of grains over 2.8 + 2.5 mm sieve, grain yield and straw yield were investigated. In crop rotation with 80% share of cereals, the significantly higher grain yield of winter wheat was recorded after preceding crop of field pea (6.18 t/ha) by comparison with winter barley as preceding crop (5.19 t/ha). The statistically significantly higher straw yield of winter wheat was observed after field pea (8.38 t/ha)in comparison to winter barley (7.29 t/ha). The weight of 1,000 grains, bulk density, share of grains over 2.8 + 2.5 mm sieve were statistically significantly higher after field pea in comparison to winter barley. The winter wheat grain yield can be increased by the preceding crop pea and the combination of mineral and organic fertilisation in substantial degree.

In Europe, the framework for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production was subject to considerable changes and for the future it is expected that sugar beet cultivation might concentrate around the sugar factories for economic reasons. Based on data from a national sugar beet farmers’ survey and multi-year crop rotation trials, the effects of cropping interval (number of years in between two subsequent sugar beet crops) and of preceding crops on sugar yield were elucidated under current Central European management conditions. The dominating sugar beet cropping interval was ≥4 years in the farm survey with pronounced differences between regions. However, the cropping intervals 2, 3, and ≥4 years did not affect the sugar yield. Therefore, significant differences in sugar yield between regions were assumed to be caused by multiple interactions between year, site, and farmers’ skills. Throughout Germany, the dominating preceding crops in sugar beet cultivation were winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In the field trials, the sugar yield was 5% higher after pea (Pisum sativum L.) compared to maize (Zea mays L.) as preceding crop, while differences between the preceding crops pea and winter wheat, and wheat and maize were not significant. Repeated measurements of canopy development and leaf color during the growing season revealed a higher N-availability after pea as preceding crop. However, decreased growth after maize was not completely compensated for by high N-fertilizer doses. Overall, the causes for the differences in sugar yield between the preceding crops remained open. The results do not support concerns about substantial yield losses in sugar beet production due to a reduction in the cropping interval from 3 to 2 years. Nevertheless, short rotations with maize and sugar beet might increase the risk of Rhizoctonia solani crown and root rot infestation. Leguminous crops such as pea offer the potential for higher sugar beet yield with lower N-fertilizer doses.

The aim of our study is to find out the influence of different share of cereals and various fertilisation on the grain yield and quality of winter wheat. The long-term field trial with 40, 60 and 80% share of the cereals and two levels of fertilisation (H1 mineral fertilisation + organic manure Veget®; H2 mineral fertilisation only) were carried out in the very warm and dry area of continental weather on luvi-haplic chernozem. In the years 2010–2013, the grain yield, the wet gluten content, gluten index, the falling number and sedimentation index of winter wheat according to Zeleny were investigated. The significantly higher grain yield of winter wheat was recorded after preceding crop of common pea. The yield of cereals in crop rotation with 60% share of cereals (7.00 t/ha) was significantly higher than in crop rotation with 80% share of cereals (6.78 t/ha).The statistically higher wet gluten content after pea fore-crop was found out when the mineral fertilisation and organic fertiliser Veget® were applied (33.4%) with comparison to the treatment with mineral fertilisation only (30.08%).

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Julius-Kühn-Archiv is the property of Julius Kuehn Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We evaluated how the cultivation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) host (wheat) and non-host (rapeseed) crops affects the subsequent soybean crop by assessing AMF spore density and AMF colonization, phosphorus (P) uptake by soybean and yields of soybean over a 4-year period. Every year wheat or rapeseed was cultivated from autumn to spring and soybean from spring to autumn. From the first to fourth year, AMF spore density was higher in the plot after the cultivation of wheat (wheat plot) than in the rapeseed plot. From the second to fourth year, the AMF colonization ratio was higher in the wheat plot than in the rapeseed plot. In the first year, there was no difference in the AMF colonization ratio, growth, and P uptake by soybean plants between the rapeseed plot and wheat plot. However, from the second to fourth year, AMF colonization ratio, plant growth, and P uptake by soybean in the wheat plot were higher than those in the rapeseed plot. The soybean yields in both plots gradually decreased from the first to fourth year, but, in the second and the fourth year, soybean yields were higher in the wheat plot than in the rapeseed plot. Soybean yield was significantly correlated with the AMF colonization ratio, but not with AMF spore density. Therefore, we concluded that AMF colonization is not determined by AMF spore density alone, and other factors influence the AMF colonization in subsequent soybean plants. It is important to increase the AMF colonization ratio to increase soybean yield.

Copyright of Listy Cukrovarnicke a Reparske is the property of VUC Praha a.s. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Crop simulation models are commonly used to forecast the performance of cropping systems under different hypotheses of change. Their use on a regional scale is generally constrained, however, by a lack of information on the spatial and temporal variability of environment-related input variables (e.g., soil) and agricultural practices (e.g., sowing dates) that influence crop yields. Satellite remote sensing data can shed light on such variability by providing timely information on crop dynamics and conditions over large areas. This paper proposes a method for analyzing time series of MODIS satellite data in order to estimate the inter-annual variability of winter wheat sowing dates. A rule-based method was developed to automatically identify a reliable sample of winter wheat field time series, and to infer the corresponding sowing dates. The method was designed for a case study in the Camargue region (France), where winter wheat is characterized by vernalization, as in other temperate regions. The detection criteria were chosen on the grounds of agronomic expertise and by analyzing high-confidence time-series vegetation index profiles for winter wheat. This automatic method identified the target crop on more than 56% (four-year average) of the cultivated areas, with low commission errors (11%). It also captured the seasonal variability in sowing dates with errors of ±8 and ±16 days in 46% and 66% of cases, respectively. Extending the analysis to the years 2002–2012 showed that sowing in the Camargue was usually done on or around November 1st (±4 days). Comparing inter-annual sowing date variability with the main local agro-climatic drivers showed that the type of preceding crop and the weather conditions during the summer season before the wheat sowing had a prominent role in influencing winter wheat sowing dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture in 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 cropping seasons to investigate the effects of cowpea varieties on succeeding of maize crop. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design and the treatment replicated three times. The main plot treatment was sprayed and unsprayed cowpea (Vigna unguculata L.) while variety constituted the subplot treatment (IT90K-76, IT90K-277-2, Drum, Olo, Oloyin, Mallam and Sokoto varieties). Maize variety cv TZESR-W was planted as the test crop in the early cropping season of 2005, 2006 and 2007 on each subplot of the preceding cowpea. The biomass of cowpea in the spray plots were higher than those of unsprayed at 8, 10 WAP in 2004. Olo variety had significantly lower biomass compared to others in 2004. The grain yield of cowpea from the sprayed plots was significantly higher than the unsprayed plots in all the years. IT90K-76 variety had the highest grain yield whereas Mallam and Drum had the lowest in all the years. Maize grain yields from the preceding cowpea plots were significantly higher than that of 0 N kg/ha. The fertilizer equivalent of the preceding varieties of cowpea ranges between 24 and 38 N kg/ha. Thus, preceding cowpea enhances the performance of succeeding maize.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different intercrops and row ratio on the growth, yield and quality of hybrid Bt cotton and effect of preceding intercrops in Bt cotton on the productivity of succeeding wheat crop and total system productivity. The results showed that different yield attributes, grain and straw yield of wheat were not significantly affected by different intercrops, though numerically higher wheat yield was obtained, where it was sown after legume intercrops viz. Bt cotton + cowpea fodder or Bt cotton + summer moong intercropping systems, as compared to that after sole Bt cotton and Bt cotton intercropped with other non legume intercrops viz. maize fodder, Bajra fodder and long melon etc. During 2010-11 crop season, all the intercropping systems except Bt cotton+ Bajra fodder-wheat and Bt cotton + long melon-wheat system recorded significantly higher total system productivity as compared to sole Bt cotton-wheat system. However, during 2011-12 crop season, intercropping systems like Bt cotton + maize fodder-wheat and Bt cotton + cowpea fodder-wheat system recorded significantly higher total system productivity as compared to sole Bt cotton-wheat system, Bt cotton + summer moong-wheat, Bt cotton + Bajra fodder-wheat and Bt cotton+ long melon-wheat systems. The land use efficiency in Bt cotton-wheat and Bt cotton based intercropping system-wheat varied from 93 to 96 percent as compared to 59-63 percent in sole crop-wheat based systems. With the introduction of legumes as sole or intercrop component, soil N status either improved or it remained same as initial status of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the results regarding the yield and the yield components we have obtained at two triticale varieties studied under different preceding crops, different soil tillage conditions, and different nitrogen application conditions. In this respect, two triticale varieties (Tulus and Gorun 1) were studied under the following technological conditions: two preceding crop (sunflower and maize), two soil tillage (ploughing and harrowing), and six nitrogen application variants (0+0+0 kg.ha -1 , 40+40+40 kg.ha -1 , 40+80+0 kg.ha -1 , 0+40+80 kg.ha -1 , 0+80+40 kg.ha -1 , and 0+120+0 kg.ha -1 , respectively first application in autumn, before seedbed preparation, second application in spring, in the tillering growing stage, and third application in spring, in the two nodes growing stage). Researches were performed in a field experiment under rainfed conditions in the agricultural year 2013-2014. The field experiment was located on a reddish preluvosoil within the Experimental Farm Moara Domneasca (44° 29’44” North latitude and 26° 15’28.5” East longitude) belonging to the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. There were determined the yield at 14% moisture content, the number of ears per square meter, the yield components of the ears (ear length; number of fertile spikelets per ear; number of sterile spikelets per ear; number of grains per ear; number of grains per spikelet; grain weight per ear), and the yield quality (thousand grain weight, hectoliter weight, protein contend and starch content of the grains). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield components and the grain yield are influenced by several factors, either they are environmental or technological. Among the environmental factors there is counting as one of the most important the water supply, while among the technological factors there are counting the preceding crop and fertilization strategy. In this respect, the aim of this paper is to present the results regarding the yield components and the grain yields obtained at two maize hybrids studied under the drought specific conditions of 2015 in South Romanian and under different preceding crops and fertilization conditions. In this respect, a field experiment was performed in 2015 on a reddish preluvosoil in South Romania under rainfed conditions. Two maize hybrids were studied under three preceding crops (triticale, sorghum and maize) and three fertilization conditions (N 40+0 P 40 , N 40+40 P 40 , N 40+80 P 40 ). In the fully ripe stage of the maize plants, the cobs from one square meter and from each experimental variant were collected and analyzed in laboratory. The yield components of the cob were determined and the grain yield was calculated in tons.ha -1 and reported at moisture content of 14%. The obtained data were statistically processed by analysis of variance. In our study, the highest values of the yield components (cob length, number of kernels per cob, cob weight, and kernel weight on cob, except thousand grain weight) were registered in the case of maize as preceding crop and fertilization conditions of N 40+80 P 40 , which leaded to the highest values of the grain yield. Nitrogen application in the growth stage of five leaves increased the values of the yield component (except thousand grain weight) and of the grain yield, but according to the preceding crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to present the biomass yields at maize under different technological conditions (two soil tillage, respectively ploughing and harrowing, and two preceding crops, respectively maize and sunflower) in the specific growing conditions from South Romania. In this respect, researches were performed in field experiments located in South Romania (44°29' N latitude and 26°15' E longitude), under rainfed conditions in the year 2014. Six maize hybrids were studied under two soil tillage (ploughing and harrowing) and under two preceding crops (maize and sunflower). The biomass determinations were performed in the early dough-dough plant growth stage, respectively in the growth stage when the maize biomass is of importance to be used as substrate for producing biogas. The results revealed that ploughing and maize as preceding crop have determined the highest fresh and dry biomass yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased knowledge on how to use organic amendments will increase crop productivity in organic farming. The effect of autumn and spring application of organic fertilisers on the yield of organic winter oilseed rape (WOR) with various preceding crops was studied at eight organic farm sites in southern Sweden in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, in a two-factor experiment. Autumn N fertilisation ( F 1) comprised Biofer, applied at 0 and 50 kg N ha −1 , and spring N fertilisation ( F 2) comprised increasing rates of Vinasse (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kg N ha −1 ). How soil mineral N, N uptake in late autumn and early spring, plant-available soil N during spring and summer (SoilN plant ) and yield level was associated with economically optimum N fertilisation rate (OptN) in spring was investigated. Autumn N application (Biofer) only increased yield by 140–410 kg ha −1 at three sites, when there was a risk of low plant-available soil N during spring and summer, due to dry weather conditions or N immobilisation in soil caused by residues of previous grass ley crops. Nitrogen fertilisation during autumn cannot be recommended due to the high levels of soil mineral N in late autumn and risk for N leaching. Spring N fertilisation (Vinasse) can be recommended when the preceding crop is a grass ley, as yield increases were the highest, 820–1400 kg ha −1 . Spring N fertilisation had no impact on yield and cannot be recommended when the preceding crop is pasture or clover, providing that N uptake during autumn is great and/or if N availability in soil during spring and summer is not likely to be limited by e.g. dry weather conditions and weeds. Regression analysis confirmed that plant-available soil N was associated with OptN rate in spring and showed that factors such as soil mineral N, N uptake in late autumn, SoilN plant and yield level must be considered when estimating spring N fertilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited information is available on the effect of preceding crop on phytoavailability of zinc (Zn) in soil. This pot experiment examined the effect of four preceding crops including clover, sunflower, safflower, and sorghum residues on shoot and grain Zn uptake by two wheat genotypes differing in Zn-deficiency tolerance Back Cross and Kavir in a calcareous Zn-deficient soil. Incorporation of all preceding crop residues into the soil significantly increased organic matter (OM) content, dissolved organic C (DOC), and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Zn concentration in the soil. Residues of safflower and clover had the greatest effect on increasing DOC. Shoot and grain Zn concentrations were increased by incorporating all pre-crop residues into the soil although this increase was greater at safflower and clover treatments. Incorporation of sorghum residues into the soil had a negative effect on shoot and grain dry matter yield of wheat. Incorporation of safflower and clover residues into the soil increased Zn uptake by wheat shoot and grain. There was a positive significant correlation between shoot and grain Zn concentration with DOC in soil solution. It shows that DOC, produced from decomposition of crop residues, has facilitated Zn uptake by roots of wheat plants and particularly its transfer to grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]