Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The Suitability of Different Winter and Spring Wheat Varieties for Cultivation in Organic Farming
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58351
of spring wheat cultivated in organic system, cvs. Tybalt and Żura, were characterized by the
highest yield, while Bryza and Nawra had the smallest yield.
Analysis of correlation showed that grain yield of winter wheat and spring wheat was affected
by number and dry matter of weeds. These relations were stronger for winter wheat varieties
than for spring wheat varieties. Grain yield of winter wheat was also influenced by leaves
infestation by fungal pathogens. There was no correlation between grain yield of winter and
spring wheat in organic system and stem base diseases in the research period 2008-2010.
In the organic system weed infestation in cereals is generally greater than in the more intensive
crop production systems where herbicides are used [34, 35]. However, the application of
agricultural practices according to Good Agricultural Practices, proper crop rotation, delaying
sowing time, increasing the amount of seed, maintaining good soil structure, with a high
content of organic matter allows to keep the weeds at a level not causing a significant yield
decrease [22, 36]. The results show high efficacy of weed control in spring wheat in the organic
system by the interaction of 5-year crop rotation, successful undersown clover with grasses
and dense canopy of wheat with large ability to compete with weeds. The effectiveness of
mixed crops of cereals with legumes in reducing weed confirms the results of other authors
[36, 37].
The competitive ability against weeds of winter and spring wheat varieties differed due to
canopy parameters and morphological features. The level of weed infestation was influenced
by parameters of wheat canopy: density and dry matter of wheat, as well as the height. Among
modern varieties there are some with high competitive potential against weeds, for example
cv. Smuga, which also has a greater yielding potential than old varieties. The competitive
ability of spelt with weeds depends on the variety and habitat conditions [38]. Among spring
wheat varieties the greatest suppressive ability against weeds were cvs. Bombona and Raweta.
In organic system stem base diseases were unimportant, contrary to leaves diseases. The
dominant pathogens were:
Puccinia recondita
and
Septoria
spp. In case of spring wheat, greater
susceptibility to fungal pathogens characterized cv. Parabola, while a smaller - cv. Tybalt.
Among winter wheat varieties Kobra and Bogatka were the most resistant to fungal diseases
leaves in organic farming conditions.
The old varieties of winter wheat: Ostka Kazimierska, Kujawianka Więcławicka, Wysokoli‐
tewka Sztywnosłoma had big potential to weed suppress, but were not very useful for
cultivation in organic system, because they yielded 36% lower compare to modern varieties
and were also strongly damaged by stem and leaf fungal diseases [20].
Acknowledgements
The studies have been supported by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland
within the multi-annual program of Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation-State
Research Institute, task 3.2. Assessment of the directions and agricultural production systems
and the possibilities of their implementation in the regions and farms
