Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 9.1
Temporal Changes in Average Crop Yields for the Republic of
Moldova and in the Selectia Long-Term Field Experiments
between 1962 and 2011
Yield Increase in
Long-Term Field
Experiments Relative
to National Average
National Average
for Republic of
Moldova
Selectia Long-Term
Field Experiments
± Relative
to Initial
± Relative
to Initial
Years
Mg/ha
Mg/ha
± Mg/ha
%
Winter Wheat (
Triticum aestivum
)
1962-1971
1.85
-
3.28
-
+1.43
77.3
1972-1981
3.60
+1.75
5.14
+1.86
+1.54
42.8
1982-1991
3.55
−0.05
5.43
+0.29
+1.88
53.0
1994-2003
2.35
−1.20
5.15
−0.28
+2.80
119.1
2004-2011
2.44
+0.09
5.03
−0.12
+2.59
106.1
Sugar Beet (
Beta vulgaris
)
1962-1971
23.65
-
40.06
-
+16.41
69.4
1972-1981
26.58
+3.20
45.79
+5.73
+18.94
70.5
1982-1991
27.58
+0.73
44.96
−0.83
+17.38
63.0
1994-2003
19.81
−7.77
44.04
−0.92
+24.23
122.3
2004-2011
26.97
+7.16
40.90
−3.14
+13.93
51.6
Maize (
Zea mays
) Grain Yield
1962-1971
3.17
-
5.60
-
+2.43
76.7
1972-1981
3.55
+0.38
6.78
+1.18
+3.23
91.0
1982-1991
3.96
+0.41
6.86
+0.08
+2.90
73.2
1994-2003
2.79
−1.17
5.84
−1.02
+3.05
109.3
2004-2011
2.94
+0.15
5.87
+0.03
+2.93
99.7
experimental yields are 60%-100% higher than the national average yields. The
stagnation or decline in crop yields are attributed to soil degradation, in particular
to continuing, uncompensated annual losses of SOM as a result of intensive tillage,
insufficient return of fresh OM, and accelerated soil erosion.
The simplistic approach to agricultural intensification has led to numerous adverse
consequences. Thus, there is a strong need for a paradigm shift toward a lesser depen-
dence on nonrenewable sources of energy and their derivates. The data from the
Selectia long-term field experiments are summarized in the following in terms of the
influence of each factor of agricultural intensification on crop yields and soil quality.
9.3.1 C
rop
r
otation
and
C
ontinuous
C
ultivation
The highest yields were obtained from crop rotation as opposed to continuous mono-
cropping, and from fertilized relative to unfertilized treatments. The responses of
