Weed suppression and yield of thirteen spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties grown in an organic system

Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk,Krzysztof Jończyk

doi:10.5586/aa.1721

Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk, Krzysztof Jończyk

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.1721

Copy DOI

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between morphological features, canopy parameters, weed infestation, and grain yield of spring wheat varieties. The study was conducted in the period 2011–2013, on fields managed organically at the Experimental Station of The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, Osiny, Poland. Thirteen spring wheat varieties were sown in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Weed density and dry matter production were estimated as well biometric features of the wheat varieties at tillering (BBCH 22–24) and dough (BBCH 85–87) stages. The analyses of variance showed that the year had a stronger effect than varieties on the level of weed infestation. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that weed number was influenced by the height of wheat plants and their aboveground biomass at the tillering stage and additionally by number of tillers at the dough stage. A significant correlation (r = −0.328, siginfficant at p &lt; 0.05) was shown between the number of weeds and wheat grain yield. Different morphological features and canopy parameters influenced the competitive abilities of the spring wheat varieties tested. A cluster analysis detected one set of varieties with the largest (‘Bombona’, ‘Brawura’, ‘Hewilla’, ‘Kandela’, ‘Katoda’, ‘Łagwa’, and ‘Żura’) and another with the smallest (‘Monsun’, ‘Ostka Smolicka’, and ‘Parabola’) competitive abilities against weeds. The main outcome of the research is information for farmers as to which varieties are highly competitive against weeds and also high yielding. Among the varieties with the highest competitiveness, Triticum aestivum ‘Żura’ was the highest yielder (3.82 t ha−1 on average), whereas ‘Bombona’ yielded only at an average level (3.03 t ha−1). The suppressive ability of spring wheat varieties against weeds and yield potential should be both taken into account in the selection of varieties suitable for an organic farming system where weed control is absent.

Highlights

The area of agricultural lands dedicated to an organic farming system has shown continuous growth in a number of European countries [1]
Assessment of the competitiveness of spring wheat varieties at the tillering stage No significant differences were demonstrated in the number of weeds between the varieties tested (Tab. 2)
Assessment of the competitiveness of the spring wheat varieties at the dough stage At the dough stage, no significant differences between varieties were detected in the number of weeds, but were in their dry matter yield (Tab. 6)

Summary

Introduction

The area of agricultural lands dedicated to an organic farming system has shown continuous growth in a number of European countries [1] In this specific system, the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical plant protection measures are forbidden according to legal regulations [2]. The choice of cereal varieties suited to the specific conditions of organic agriculture requires a different approach to that used in a conventional, high input system [5,6]. This is because there are fewer opportunities in organic production to compensate for yield decrease caused by diseases, low nutrient levels, and weeds [7]. The lack of information on the performance of modern cereal varieties under organic conditions is a limitation for this production [9]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion