• Authors:
    • Golinowska, M.
  • Source: Journal of Research and Applications in Agricultural Engineering
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In early 2010, in Lower Silesia, there were 1,025 organic farms, including 47% of households had a status of "inconversion". Most of them, up to 23% of organic farms were located in the county Kodzko and 16% in the district of Wroclaw. The diversity of organic farms in various districts of Lower Silesia was high and ranged from 1 (Strzelin district) to 235 (Kodzko district). Lot of factors had an influence on such a large diversity of organic farms deployment and the most important included the quality of agricultural production surface. A characteristic feature of organic farms of Lower Silesia is that about 80% of the main type of organic production are meadows and pastures (package 58A) and fodder crops for animal feed (pack 50A to 57A). Cereal Organic-grown consisted of wheat and spelled (from 3% to 30% of producers) quite a lot consisted of more than 20% rye, oats, from 7.5% to 28.6% and buckwheat. Production of vegetables and fruits is listed only in a few percent of the farms. Due to the possibility of high subsidies for orchards planted with walnut, this package (A 67) has become the direction of production of several agricultural producers. Organic farms of Lower Silesia are mainly focused on plant production. Only in about 20% of organic farms production is carried out by organic livestock, which provides cow's milk, goat cheese, veal, beef and eggs. In tourist areas the equines were bred in many organic farms for recreational purposes.
  • Authors:
    • Bobrecka-Jamro, D.
    • Jarecki, W.
  • Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In years 2000-2004 the statistics included only the sale of selected crop protection products allowed for use hence their maximum sale in commodity mass amounted to 26578 tones in 2002. Since 2005 full research concerning the sale of pesticides was started. As a result their recorded sale in commodity mass increased to 53347 tones. It will only be possible to specify the long time trend of the sale of crop protection products after the analysis of full statistics of subsequent years. In Poland in years 2000-2009 selling of certified seeds of wheat, barley, rye and oat and potato seedlings dropped considerably. The level of dropping varied. Only in case of triticale the increase of certified sale was noticed. It was considered necessary to widespread the information concerning the benefits resulting from the exchange of seed material. In agricultural practice it will allow to use variety progress and to secure financial means (license fees) for further creative research in planting.
  • Authors:
    • Jaskulska, I.
    • Jaskulski, D.
  • Source: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B-Soil and Plant Science
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The Kujawy and Pomorze Province with 127 rural and municipal-and-rural communes in 19 districts is a typical agricultural region, with the highest plant farming intensity in Poland. The diversity and dominance of crop plantations in the agroecosystems in communes were calculated based on percentage share of 21 kinds of crops in the cropland structure. The algorithms applied in ecological research of biodiversity were used: the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') and Simpson's dominance index (lambda). The diversity (H′) of crops in arable land in the Kujawy and Pomorze Province ranges from 1.68 to 2.54. The diversity of crop plantations in the region was bigger in the communes in which there are: better soil, a higher share of arable land in the agricultural acreage and cropland in the arable land as well as with a higher share of barley, corn for grain and sugar beet in the cropland structure. The highest dominance index (lambda) for crops in the whole province is 0.291. The index of dominance of agricultural crops in this region increases with an increase in the share of: woodland in the total area, meadows and pasture in the agricultural acreage and rye in the cropland structure.
  • Authors:
    • Matysiak, K.
    • Kaczmarek, S.
    • Kardasz, P.
  • Source: Biuletyn Instytutu Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roslin
  • Issue: 260/261
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiments were carried out in 2005-2007 in the Experimental Station at Winna Gora, belonging to the Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute in Poznan. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the herbicide mixtures tritosulfuron+dicamba (Mocarz 75 WG) in spring wheat variety Bryza, spring barley var. Antek and oat var. Cwa, sown separately and in cereal mixtures. Mocarz 75 WG herbicide was applied at a dose of 0.2 kg.ha -1 in the 3-5 leaf stage of cereals, using knapsack sprayer Gloria. Analysis of weed infestation of cereals were made by volume-weight assessment, twice during the growing season (3-4 weeks after herbicide application and 7-8 weeks after application). The efficacy of the herbicide in the cereal mixtures was compared with its effectiveness in the individual species. Analyses indicated that the barley-oat mixtures were the slightest and wheat-oat mixtures were the most infested by weeds. It was confirmed that a mixture of wheat and barley, wheat and oat and barley with oat reduced the influence of weed infestation. The higher efficacy of the mixture tritosulfuron+dicamba in cereal mixtures compared to the individual components was also indicated. Grain yields of cereals in mixtures with wheat as a component were significantly higher than in pure stands of wheat, while the yields of barley and oat mixture yielded higher than the two species sown alone.
  • Authors:
    • Deveikyte, I.
    • Sarunaite, L.
    • Kadziuliene, Z.
  • Source: Ratarstvo i Povrtarstvo
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The advantage of intercropping is beneficial biological interactions between crops and their different use of growth resources. Our experiment aimed at investigating the effects of pea intercropping with cereals on the improvement of cereal supply with nitrogen and protein content in grain on a loamy soil in organic farming conditions. It was carried out during 2007-2009 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in Dotnuva. Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), oats ( Arena sativa L.), and triticale (* Triticosecale Wittm.) were sown as intercrops 50:50 or as a sole crop. The results obtained during the experimental years showed that the productivity and quality of spring cereal sole crops or intercrops depended on the species of cereals and varied between different year's cultivation conditions. Grain productivity in some cases was estimated to be higher in the intercrops, however it was not stable in three experimental years. The protein content and yield in the grain of cereals grown in intercrops was positively affected by pea intercrops.
  • Authors:
    • Kovacs, V.
    • Boldizsar, A.
    • Szalai, G.
    • Soltesz, A.
    • Pal, M.
    • Kocsy, G.
    • Janda, T.
  • Source: Acta Agronomica Hungarica
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Low temperature stress results in significant yield losses in cereals. Cereals of subtropical origin like maize and rice are severely damaged at temperatures below 10°C and are killed at subzero temperatures. This stress effect is called chilling. In contrast, cereals originating from the temperate zone (wheat, barley, rye and oat) may survive short periods even between -10 and -20°C, depending on the species and varieties, so they are freezing-tolerant to various extents. For the winter type of these cereals a gradual decrease in temperature up to -4°C results in cold acclimation, which increases their freezing tolerance. In addition, it fulfils their vernalization requirement, which is necessary for the correct timing of the vegetative to generative transition. During both chilling and freezing, oxidative stress is induced. Although the accumulation of high concentrations of reactive oxygen species may be lethal, a moderate increase in their level may activate various defence mechanisms. In this review the role of reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, carbohydrates, free amino acids, polyamines and hormones in the response to low temperature stress in cereals will be described. The effect of light and the use of the model plant Brachypodium distachyon L. to reveal the biochemical and molecular biological background of this response will also be discussed.
  • Authors:
    • Hyovela, M.
    • Hurme, T.
    • Niskanen, M.
    • Laine, A.
    • Kontturi, M.
    • Peltonen-Sainio, P.
  • Source: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B-Soil and Plant Science
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Locally produced crop protein is urgently needed in Europe. Pea is a good protein source and is well adapted to northern conditions. Pea can fix nitrogen that the following crop in rotation can benefit from. In cereal-dominated cropping systems pea is a break crop disrupting the life cycle of cereal diseases, leading to less fungicide application and thereby minimizing off farm inputs and benefiting the environment. Grain legumes provide animals with protein and energy, and the seeds of pulse crops are complementary to those of cereals. Field peas can be cultivated in most parts of Scandinavia and interest in peas has increased for inclusion in organic farming. Growing pea as a sole crop is a challenge since its stem is prone to lodging thereby resulting in harvesting difficulties, reduced yield and decreased profits. Intercropping of pea with oat could minimize the above listed problems but to our knowledge proportion of seeds mixture of the two crops and selection of pea cultivars without compromising the pea yield, especially protein production, at high latitudes conditions is limited. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate performance of sole cropped pea (Karita, Perttu, Hulda) and oat (seed proportions 7.5% and 15%) and their intercrop combinations and establish an appropriate seed mixture for a pea-oat intercropping systems that prevents lodging without markedly reducing pea yield. Field experiments were conducted at three locations (Jokioinen, Mietoinen, Ylistaro) of the Agrifood Research Finland in 2002-2004. Intercropping peas with oats prevented peas from lodging and made their harvest easier. Optimal numbers of oats in pea intercrops were difficult to determine, varying according to pea cultivar and local growth conditions. Excess oats in the seed mixture or conditions favouring oat growth prevented peas from lodging but pea yield was decreased.
  • Authors:
    • Blaha, L.
    • Huda, P.
    • Stehno, Z.
    • Capouchova, I.
    • Konvalina, P.
    • Moudry, J.
    • Moudry, J.
  • Source: Lucrari Stiintifice, Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole Si Medicina Veterinara "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" Iasi, Seria Agronomie
  • Volume: 54
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007, and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 889/2008, are the most important European legislative instructions on organic farming (OF). They lay down a permit to use just organic seeds (OS) for establishment of organi c crop stands. Such seeds have to originate from the plants being grown in compliance with OF rules for at least one generation. Organic farmers are obliged, in compliance with the above-mentioned legislation, to use seeds originating from organic production when establishing crop stands. Otherwise, they are allowed to use their own seeds or they may apply for an exception to a relevant public authority in order to use conventional untreated seeds. There are 3,517 organic farmers in the Czech Republic (CZ) and they manage their farms on the total surface of 448,202 ha, which represent 10.55% of the agriculture land surface in CZ. Arable land represents 12.26% (54,937 ha) of the total organic land surface. Cereals were considered as the main market crops and grown on the surface of 22,762 ha in 2009. Deficiency of certified good-quality OS in CZ is one of the factors limiting the organic cereals growing there. Crop stands are currently established from certified OS (6%), conventional untreated seeds (37%) and farm seeds (57%) in CZ. They are usually established from "uncontrolled" farm seeds originating from repeated reseeding. As restrictions on conventional untreated seeds are being imposed, seed growers have to be motivated to provide a sufficient supply of certified OS. Current deficiency of approved seeds is also caused by a complexity of the reproduction process and small amount of approved seeds originating from the approved reproduction processes. Identical requirements for conventional and OS have been imposed but organic farming is not so highly intensive as conventional farming. It is one of the reasons of the current OS deficiency.
  • Authors:
    • Jastrzebska, M.
    • Wanic, M.
    • Kostrzewska, M.
    • Nowicki, J.
  • Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The studies were conducted in the closed static field experiment established in 1990 at the Production-Experimental Enterprise in Bacyny. The experiment was established on the medium typical grey-brown podzolic soil. The paper presents the results of 3 years of studies (2002-2004) on the role of Italian ryegrass in development of the communities of weeds in spring barley sown after different previous crops (potato, spring wheat, spring barley). Every year at the stage of tillering and before harvest of spring barley the composition of species in the community and density of individual species as well as additionally, during that later period, the biomass of weeds were determined. The number of species and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index were assumed as parameters for evaluation of the diversity of the weeds community. Additionally, the Simpson domination index was determined. Comparisons of communities were conducted applying the Sorensen similarity index. The intercrop of Italian ryegrass had minor influence on limiting the weeds in spring barley by reducing their numbers and biomass of the weeds. Its positive influence was more pronounced in case of cultivating spring barley after spring barley and after potato than after spring wheat. The communities of weeds in spring barley consisted of similar numbers of species and their share in the total population or biomass of phytocenoses was subject to only minor diversifications under the influence of the experimental factors. The population of Chenopodium album was characterised by the largest population and dry mass among the weeds. Additionally, in the spring, numerous sprouts of Thlaspi arvense and at the end of spring barley vegetation a significant density of Fallopia convolvulus were recorded. On the other hand, as concerns "shapeliness" Fallopia convolvulus, Stellaria media and Sonchus arvensis were the complementary taxa. Before spring barley harvest the domination indexes were higher than in the spring and the diversity indexes lower. Presence of Italian ryegrass and choice of previous crop had minor influence on changes in the values of indexes at the analysed times of evaluation of weeds in spring barley. The communities of weeds were more similar in their composition of species and populations of individual species than in their dry mass.
  • Authors:
    • Jaskowska, I.
    • Lubowicki, R.
    • Kowieska, A.
  • Source: Acta Scientiarum Polonorum - Zootechnica
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: An analysis chemical composition of 33 samples of five cereal grains harvested in one year led to a conclusion that the greatest variations and statistically significant differences (P≤0.01) among cereals existed in their content of crude protein, crude fibre and the following fractions of dietary fibre: NDF, ADF, TDF, IDF and SDF. Analyzed winter wheat and winter rye varieties differ significantly (P≤0.01) from other cereal grains in their content of magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and show a statistically significant difference (P≤0.05) in the content of calcium and copper. The average total content of amino acids was highest in wheat and lowest in winter barley. Lysine was found to be the first amino acid limiting (CS) the quality of protein in all analyzed varieties of cereal grains, with the exception of rye, while tryptophan was found to be such an amino acid for animals (WE). The high content of essential amino acids (EAA) was reflected in EAAI, which for WH ranged from 71% (spring barley) to 84% (winter triticale), and for WE from 51% (winter barley) to 60% (winter triticale).