Response of Crops to Conservation Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization under Different Agroecological Conditions

Irena Jug,Danijel Jug,Bojana Brozović,Vesna Vukadinović,Bojan Stipešević,Edward Wilczewski,Boris Đurđević

doi:10.3390/agronomy11112156

Irena Jug, Danijel Jug + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112156

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Abstract

Effects of soil tillage (CTconventional, SS-subsoiling, CH-chiselling, DH-disk-harrowing and NT-no-till) and nitrogen rate (reduced N1, optimal N2 and luxury N3) on yield and yield components of maize and winter wheat in two different agricultural subregions of Croatia (Magadenovac and Cacinci site), were studied in the years 2013–2014 as part of a long-term experiment. Maize yield and yield components were influenced by site properties, tillage and nitrogen treatments. The highest yields and yield components were recorded at the Magadenovac site with N2 and N3. The lowest values of the yield and yield components of maize were recorded on NT and were significantly lower than CT, SS, CH and DH, among which no significant differences were recorded. Winter wheat yield and yield components were affected by site properties and nitrogen rates while soil tillage treatments only had an influence on grain and straw yield and plant height. Winter wheat achieved maximum yield and yield components on a N3 and N2 and at the Magadenovac site. Winter wheat grain yield decreased in the following order: SS > DH > CH > NT > CT. The obtained results indicate the importance of optimal nitrogen fertilization and the possibility of the implementation of conservation tillage for maize and winter wheat production in different agroecological conditions.

Highlights

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) are crops with around 68% in the total cereal production within the European Union [1]
The results obtained in this research indicate a significant influence of site properties, tillage and nitrogen treatments on maize and winter yield and selected yield components
Ear weight, grain weight per cob, stalk weight, straw and grain yield were recorded on maize in agroecological conditions of the Magadenovac site compared to Cacinci site

Summary

Introduction

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) are crops with around 68% in the total cereal production within the European Union [1]. Grain yield is a complex trait that is highly influenced by many genetic and environmental factors [2] such as climatic conditions, soil properties, water ability [3,4] quantity and availability of plant nutrients, etc. The global climate change is affecting on all segments of human lives including food production. Climate change makes it difficult to predict weather conditions for accurate and successful agricultural production [5,6]. Soil and climate characteristics determine the “ecological framework” of plant cultivation through suitability or limitations, which can be temporary or permanent. Unfavorable soil properties are considered as temporary limitations, and unfavorable climate is considered to be permanent ones [8]

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