Abstract
Three field trials were set up to measure the effect of previous crops or soil amendments on the yields of subsequent crops of cereals under a cool temperate maritime climate in arable crop land in the east of Scotland. Winter wheat and winter barley direct drilled into legume and cereal + legume stubble (pre-crop) gave substantial yield boost compared with other pre-crop cereals, but pre-crop effects of oats were similarly great. Restored rotation after continuous barley gave expected yield enhancement to subsequent winter and spring barley but not to subsequent wheat. Some diseases were reduced on restored rotation crops. Slurry effects on yield were generally small but beneficial and compost effects were greater. However, compost had effects on plant developmental speed and was difficult to compare directly with other treatments. NDRE measurements in the restored rotation and soil amendment trials indicated that yield gains were associated with improved crop health as indicated by leaf chlorophyll content. There were no clear cultivar interactions within crop type with treatments effects in any of these trials.
Highlights
The primary purposes of crop rotations are to maintain soil fertility and crop health the mechanisms whereby this is achieved are often not fully understood [1]
Winter wheat and winter barley direct drilled into legume and cereal + legume stubble gave substantial yield boost compared with other pre-crop cereals, but pre-crop effects of oats were great
Cultivar differences were highly significant for winter and spring barley (p < 0.001) and p = 0.013 for winter wheat
Summary
The primary purposes of crop rotations are to maintain soil fertility and crop health the mechanisms whereby this is achieved are often not fully understood [1]. It follows and is accepted that continuous cropping with the same crop species will lead to reduced yields and increased issues with pests and diseases. The relatively high value and profitability of some cash crops such as winter wheat for milling across extensive areas, or more niche crops such as spring barley for malt distilling, dictate that they are sometimes grown more-or-less con-. The break crops that might be used to maintain or restore soil are often far less profitable. The issues can be compounded by investment in machinery and facilities for the cash crop and degradation of the resource and infrastructure to grow alternative crops
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