The influence of selected agronomic factors on the chemical composition of spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta L.) grain

Abstract

The increase of spelt crop area is a result of overproduction of the basic cereals and the introduction of environmentally-friendly cultivation methods. Due to high interest in healthy lifestyle, healthy food and intensive development of organic agriculture, it was necessary to thoroughly examine the newly-formed cereal strains in order to register the best ones as varieties in the future. The experimental factors included: two weed control methods (mechanical and chemical), two sizes of sowing rate (300 and 500 seeds m−2) and the strains of spelt: three new breeding strains (STH 28-4609, STH 28-4614, STH 28-4619) and Oberkulmer Rotkorn cultivar. The research did not show protein diversity depending on a genotype, mean protein content reached 13% in grain dry mass. The plants weeded mechanically showed the significantly highest crude fat content (2% dry matter (DM)). Mean value of crude fibre for all plants equalled 3.3% DM. The increase of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin fractions was directly proportional to the increase in crude fibre content, which is beneficial for civilisation diseases prophylaxis. The studied agronomic factors did not significantly influence the essential amino acids content or total amino acids. The harrowed plants had grain with significantly increased nutrient content (crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, acid detergent fibre (ADF), cellulose, sulphur amino acids, leucine, and sum of essential amino acids) which is very important for organic farming.