Durum Wheat Cultivation Research Articles

Dependence of soft wheat grain yield on unstable soil moisture

The purpose of the study is to establish the influence of precursors, fertilizers and reserves of productive moisture during the growing season on the yield of spring soft wheat in the arid conditions of the Southern Urals. Field experiments are conducted for the first time from 2002 to 2021 on nine sowing options (for hard, corn, millet, sorghum, peas) of soft wheat in crop rotations and permanent sowing on the chernozems of the southern Orenburg region. The research is conducted using the field, thermostatic-weight method and multiple regression analysis is used. In the fifth (millet) and seventh (pea) variants, the maximum amount of spring moisture is 44.4; 43.1 mm and 136.4; 142.7 mm in soil layers 0-30; 0-100 cm. The same highest yield is observed for millet and pea precursors on the background of 0.89 t with nitroammophos and 0.82 t/ha without fertilizers. The best grain gain from mineral fertilizers was obtained by 0.12 tons for durum wheat (the eighth option) in a double-field crop rotation. In the third variant (for durum wheat), the maximum effect of moisture on grain yield in the soil layer of 0-30, 0-100 cm is determined and ranges from 22.60 to 39.83% with a significance criterion of 0.002-0.03 units. Basically, the formation of soft wheat grains of 0.81 and 0.73 t / ha occurs due to moisture consumption of 28.8; 87.4 mm. The best influence of precursors, mineral fertilizers and productive moisture reserves on the yield of soft wheat grain after cultivation of durum wheat, millet and peas in crop rotations has been revealed.

Influence of planting period on the growth, development and productivity indicators of durum wheat

It is known that two varieties of wheat are grown in Uzbekistan. Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) are cultivated in the main part of wheat fields. Durum wheat varieties included in the State Register in Uzbekistan are mainly spring and duvarak. Considering this feature and the high quality of the grain, the purchase price is 30-50% more expensive than that of common wheat, they fully meet the needs of the ever-growing macaroni-confectionery industry. Durum wheat grain is the main raw material used in the preparation of pasta and pasta products, as well as in the confectionery industry. In this case, high technological quality of durum wheat grain is required. In the next two years, the purchase price of durum and common wheat grain in the world increased significantly. Therefore, expansion of durum wheat cultivation areas in different soil and climate conditions, improvement of agrotechnology of care, obtaining high and quality grain harvest are urgent issues.

Effect of Wheat Monoculture on Durum Wheat Yield under Rainfed Sub-Humid Mediterranean Climate of Tunisia

Cultivating cereals in monoculture systems contributes to the decrease in grain yield and quality. Currently, under Mediterranean climate conditions of Tunisia, wheat mono-cropping covers more than 70% of cereal areas. In order to reveal the impact of this practice on cereal productivity, five improved durum wheat cultivars (Karim, Khiar, Om Rabiaa, Razzek, and Maali) were conducted under two conditions of previous wheat crop: one-year wheat previous crop (W) and two successive years (W-W). Then, they were assessed for grain yield (GY), yield components (NKS, TKW, NS), straw yield, harvest index (SY, HI), and grain quality parameters during three consecutive cropping seasons (2017, 2018, and 2019). The results showed significant effects of cropping season for all measured parameters, except thousand kernel weight (TKW). A significant effect (p < 0.05) of Pre-Crop was observed on yield components. However, grain yield (GY) was improved after one-year wheat Pre-Crop (W) (4082.3 kg ha−1) more than after two years (W-W) (3277.3 kg ha−1). Our results show that, based on the three-year experiment, almost all yield related traits were significantly affected by the genotype except HI and NS. The highest GYs were recorded for Om Rabiaa (4010.4 kg ha−1) and Nasr (3765.76 kg ha−1). All grain quality was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by cropping season, but only gluten content (GC) and vitreousness aspect (Vit A) were affected by genotype. On the other hand, the Pre-Crop W-W decreased grain protein concentration (GPC) (12.13%) and GC (22.14%) but no significant effect was observed on the Vit A of grain in our study. Furthermore, GY was positively correlated with HI (r = 0.64), NKS (r = 0.59), SN (r = 0.49), GPC (r = 0.23), and GC (r = 0.23). According to stability analysis, the Karim cultivar is the most stable genotype in wheat mono-cropping for GY and straw yield (SY). Altogether, this study provides useful information for farmers on how to produce a satisfactory yield for durum wheat cultivation under mono-cropping wheat conditions in the sub-humid environment of the Mediterranean climate of Tunisia.

Global Changes in Cultivated Area and Breeding Activities of Durum Wheat from 1800 to Date: A Historical Review

Durum wheat is grown globally on 13.5 million ha in 2020/2021, which amounts to 6.2% of the wheat area. It is assumed that in the past it was more important, but the extent of that importance is unknown. In this work, a historical estimation of the durum wheat area globally was carried out, based on data of the main cultivating countries. Many of the data from the earliest period were based on percentage to all wheat. During the nineteenth century, the percentage of durum wheat to all wheat globally was around 14–16%. However, throughout the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, in America (USA, Canada, Argentina), Asia (Russia, China, India), and Australia, new land was sown with bread wheat, and therefore the percentage of durum wheat fell steadily to 7–9% from 1950 to 2005, and to 6–7% since then. For many years, Russia was the country with more durum wheat cultivation, with around six million ha in the period 1910–1940. Turkey, Italy, Algeria, and India were also big historical players regarding cultivation of this crop. Currently, Canada, Algeria, Italy, and Turkey have the largest durum wheat acreage. The main breeding activities and the future of durum wheat are discussed.

The Use of a Non-Invasive Electrical Method to Assess the Chemical Composition, Hardness, and Color of Durum Wheat Grain Cultivated in an Integrated System

Electrical properties are the least known and described among the physical properties of food products. The most widespread practical directions of their use include moisture measurements as well as dielectric and microwave heating. Less frequently, they are used to assess the physicochemical parameters of food products, including the technological features of cereal grains. Earlier research by the authors of this paper demonstrated the possibility of using an RCC substitute model of food products (conductivity and capacitance parameters) to identify the grain variety, geometric features, level of grain damage as well as grain moisture content. This model can also be used to distinguish cereal species as well as to assess the proximate chemical composition of their grain. The promising results obtained in this area encouraged us to expand the research with a material important from the food market perspective—durum wheat, obtained in the conditions of sustainable cultivation in north-eastern Europe (temperate climate). The study material was obtained from a proprietary sustainable production technology designed in a strict field experiment. The aim of this research was: (1) to assess the effect of an integrated cultivation system of native durum wheat (six variants), differentiated by a nitrogen fertilization dose (0, 80, 120 kg·ha−1) and with and without growth regulator (GR, WGR) on changes in selected quality parameters (protein, lipid, and starch contents; hardness; color) and electrical parameters (Z, Cp, Cs) of the grain; and (2) to determine the correlations between the examined quality traits and electrical properties of the grain to indicate the possibility of using a non-invasive electrical method to assess grain quality. The highest contents of starch and total lipids and the highest grain hardness were obtained in the cultivation variants GR + 0N and WGR + 0N, whereas the highest protein content—upon wheat fertilization with 120N. The study demonstrated a different strength of the correlations between the tested parameters depending on the cultivation method. In the WGR + 0N variant (environmentally friendly), the strongest correlation between grain quality traits and electrical properties was obtained for both the conductive (Z) and capacitive (Cp, Cs) parameters in the entire analyzed range of current frequencies. The cultivation of durum wheat in the integrated system, especially in the WGR variant, facilitates grain quality modeling and enables using a non-invasive electrical method for a rapid assessment of the quality traits of the grain while raising no concerns over natural environment safety. The growth regulator (GR) application during native durum wheat cultivation hampers the use of the analyzed electrical method to assess its grain quality.

Performance of fourteen genotypes of durum wheat under Eastern Mediterranean conditions

Durum wheat is used as raw material for many foods. Climate change might be responsible for larger or smaller changes in crop yields. For the combined assessment of climate and crop, growing degree days (GDDs) have a crucial role. Two experimental lines and twelve commercial wheat (Triticum durum) varieties from diverse backgrounds were cultivated to compare their crop properties, yield, and protein content in terms of GDDs. The experiment was established in typical Mediterranean environment, using a randomized complete block design with blocks of varieties and lines for two growing seasons. For all varieties, GDDs to head emergence was affected by factor year, whereas GDDs from head emergence to harvest were influenced by both varieties and year. Protein content (%) was not affected by genotypes. Factor of variety and interaction variety × year had an impact on vitreousness; it was ranged from 79.75 % (‘Makaras’ variety) to 44.00 % (‘Levante’ variety). Yield had no statistically significant difference among varieties/lines. In durum wheat cultivation, up to head emergence, when GDDs increased, yield would be declined in contrast to GDDs from emergence to harvest; with the increasing of GDDs to harvest, yield was climbed. Nowadays, the integrations of and interpretation of GDDs in the evaluation of crop performance seem vital.

The Genetic Potential of Spring Durum Wheat Grain Quality in the North of Kazakhstan

The paper presents information about the cultivation of spring durum wheat in the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. Methods for assessing the quality of grain and semolina in the breeding process are shown: SDS sedimentation, protein content according to Kjeldahl, content, and index of gluten using the Glutomatic 2200 system, vitreousness, hardness SKCS 4100, content of carotenoid pigments, measurements of the color of grain and semolina using a CR-colorimeter. 410, Konica Minolta, commodity and technical properties of pasta; the characteristics of durum wheat genotypes are given as well. Relationships between quality indicators based on correlation analysis are established; indicators of hardness and vitreousness are in close connection with the most significant features: Protein content, gluten, pasta color, and evaluation of pasta properties. The quality of the studied durum wheat genotypes was found to meet the requirements of importers of Kazakh grain: Protein content averaged 14.9%, bulk density averaged 80.5 kg/hL, and the b* value in the Lab color evaluation system was at the level of 26.78 on average for semolina genotypes, with the maximum values found in Damsinskaya 2017 (32.17). Among the Kazakh varieties with the highest quality characteristics, the varieties Lavina, Damsinskaya Yubileinaya, and Korona stand out: Protein content (14.86-15.22%), gluten content 33.2-36.2%, gluten index 50-65, b* value (yellowness index) 23.82-26.74, vitreousness 80-84%. All studied genotypes belonged to hard-grained forms (hard-grain index 67-75).

Is it Sustainable to Cultivate a Monoculture of Durum Wheat with Prolonged No-Tillage Management?

The prolonged effect of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) treatment on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), continuously grown in Southern Italy, has been evaluated in experimental fields for sixteen years (1994/95-2009/10) to ascertain whether the yields and quality of the grain as well as some soil characteristics had changed. The average grain yield in CT (2.70 ± 0.96 t ha-1) and NT (2.63 ± 0.74 t ha-1) treatment was not significant. CT treatment showed higher values of plant height and grain weight (74.2 cm and 43.2 g) than NT (71.0 cm and 41.8 g). Regarding to the semolina quality, the values of the gluten index and the dough strength (W parameter) as well as the protein content and the yellow index were not significantly different for the NT and CT treatments. As for soil moisture, the NT treatment stored in the soil profile, and over time, about 13% more water than the CT one. In the upper soil layer of the NT treatment the SOC value (16.0 ± 2.2 g kg-1) was 13.2% higher than CT one (14.2 ± 1.2 g kg-1) while the CT treatment (13.7 ± 0.5 g kg-1) showed in the lower soil layer a SOC value of 30.2% higher than the NT one (9.6 ± 1.9 g kg-1). Hence the prolonged no-tillage adoption in conditions of continuous durum wheat cultivation, even with slight losses in yield but not in the quality of grain or semolina, would seem sustainable.

Transcriptional Regulation of Metabolic and Cellular Processes in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) in the Face of Temperature Increasing.

The Yaqui Valley, Mexico, has been historically considered as an experimental field for semiarid regions worldwide since temperature is an important constraint affecting durum wheat cultivation. Here, we studied the transcriptional and morphometrical response of durum wheat at an increased temperature (+2 °C) for deciphering molecular mechanisms involved in the thermal adaptation by this crop. The morphometrical assay showed a significant decrease in almost all the evaluated traits (shoot/root length, biovolume index, and dry/shoot weight) except in the dry root weight and the root:shoot ratio. At the transcriptional level, 283 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained (False Discovery Rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05 and |log2 fold change| ≥ 1.3). From these, functional annotation with MapMan4 and a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis with GOSeq were carried out to obtain 27 GO terms significantly enriched (overrepresented FDR ≤ 0.05). Overrepresented and functionally annotated genes belonged to ontologies associated with photosynthetic acclimation, respiration, changes in carbon balance, lipid biosynthesis, the regulation of reactive oxygen species, and the acceleration of physiological progression. These findings are the first insight into the regulation of the mechanism influenced by a temperature increase in durum wheat.

Modelling the growth, development and yield of Triticum durum Desf under the changes of climatic conditions in north-eastern Europe

How agricultural ecosystems adapt to climate change is one of the most important issues facing agronomists at the turn of the century. Understanding agricultural ecosystem responses requires assessing the relative shift in climatic constraints on crop production at regional scales such as the temperate zone. In this work we propose an approach to modeling the growth, development and yield of Triticum durum Desf. under the climatic conditions of north-eastern Poland. The model implements 13 non-measurable parameters, including climate conditions, agronomic factors, physiological processes, biophysical parameters, yield components and biological yield (latent variables), which are described by 33 measurable predictors as well as grain and straw yield (manifest variables). The agronomic factors latent variable was correlated with nitrogen fertilization and sowing density, and biological yield was correlated with grain yield and straw yield. An analysis of the model parameters revealed that a one unit increase in agronomic factors increased biological yield by 0.575. In turn, biological yield was most effectively determined by climate conditions (score of 60–62) and biophysical parameters (score of 60–67) in the 2nd node detectable stage and at the end of heading. The modeled configuration of latent and manifest variables was responsible for less than 70% of potential biological yield, which indicates that the growth and development of durum wheat in north-eastern Europe can be further optimized to achieve high and stable yields. The proposed model accounts for local climate conditions and physiological processes in plants, and it can be implemented to optimize agronomic practices in the cultivation of durum wheat and, consequently, to expand the area under T. durum to regions with a temperate climate.

Productivity, quality and efficiency of spring durum wheat cultivation when treating crops with a biological product

The production experiments were carried out based on the farm “Yaroslav the Wise” of the Starooskol district of the Belgorod region. The article studies the effect of the biological product Biogor KM during the pre-sowing treatment of grain in combination with double spraying of growing plants of spring durum wheat Dar Chernozemya 2. One of the experiments provides for grain processing with the period of “germination-ripening” of its wheat plants reduced by 8 days. The second variant, in addition to processing the grain, had two sprayings carried out during the growing season. The second experiment lasted even less by 12 days in comparison with the control variant. The article establishes the positive influence of the biological product on the formation of the productivity structure of spring durum wheat plants. Grain processing in combination with spraying during the growing season led to the formation of the best productivity structure: plant height was 39% higher, the number of spikelets was 41.8% higher, the number of spikelets was higher by 35.3%, and the grain weight per spike was 39.2%. versus the control variant. The yield in the experiment was in direct proportion to the method of application of the biological product and the conditions of the growing season. The largest increase in yield - 0.40 t / ha or 14.5% was obtained in the variant with grain processing in combination with double spraying of plants during the growing season, the average yield for the studied period was 3.14 t / ha and was maximum, indicators of economic and bioenergy efficiency was also the best.

PSXI-23 Study of cadmium cumulation in agricultural products taking its geochemical distribution into account

Abstract One of the criteria for agricultural production is its biological safety for human health. The purpose of our study was to reveal a territorial relationship between the cadmium content in non-living objects and agricultural products. Water and soil samples, wheat, and biosubstrates of farm animals from various administrative zones of Orenburg region were used as objects of the study. A total of 525 samples were analyzed. The content of cadmium in the samples was determined by the methods of Inductively Coupled argon Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-AES, ICP-MS). The systemic analysis of cadmium distribution in non-living objects (water and soil) indicates a pronounced relationship between the content of the xenobiotics in geochemical zones with its increased level (maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) are within 0.75) in water 0.001–0.002 mg/kg and soil - 0.104–0.12 mg/kg. The researched zone belongs to areas with developed agriculture in particular plant science with the cultivation of durum wheat. In areas with the cadmium MAC less than 0.5, the concentration of this element in wheat is on average 0.007–0.008 mg/kg. The increase in the cadmium content to 0.75 directly proportionally increases its concentration up to 0.029-0.011 mg/kg. The maximum level of cadmium accumulation is observed in parenchymatous organs: the distribution of elements was 0.25–0.51 mg/kg in the kidneys, 0.25–0.41 mg/kg in the liver and 0.05–0.06 mg/kg in the heart. The content of the studied element in the muscle tissue has relatively low values ranging from 0.005 mg/kg to 0.01 mg/kg. The studies found a direct correlation between the distribution of the studied element in the food chain, and that a long contact between animals and cadmium leads to its accumulation, increasing the risk of chronic intoxication associated with the lesion of parenchymatous organs.

Features of the formation of spring wheat grain yield in the Volga region

The results of the study of five seeding rates (variants) in the cultivation of spring durum wheat Bezenchukskaya Niva with seed treatment with Scenic Combi preparation (1.4 l/t) in order to identify the optimal rate are presented. On ordinary chernozem for 2017-2020 in the arid conditions of the Volga region, it was found out that when growing a crop for winter wheat, a decrease in seeding rates contributed to an increase in the coefficient of total and productive bushiness, the weight of grain from the ear and plant, the number of grains from the ear. On average, over the years of research, the yield of spring wheat grain at seeding rates of 2.0-5.0 million/ha was 2.00-2.22 t / ha. Under favorable weather conditions, the yield advantage was the norm of 4.0-5.0 million/ha by 6.2-37 %, in the acutely arid 2.0-3.0 million / ha by 3.4-16.4 % more, compared to other options. Wheat yield was most affected by the air temperature during the growing season (r=-0.97* to -0.99*). Of the elements of the structure, the maximum conjugacy with the yield at the norms of 1.0-4.0 is noted with the number and weight of grain from the ear and plant, the height of the plants (r=0,97*-1,0**). On average, over the years of research, the highest net income was established on the variants with the norm of 3.0-4.0 million / ha-17100.4-17442.8 rubles / ha, which is 761.9-1704.7 rubles/ha (4.7-10.8 %) more than the variants with the norm of 2.0 and 5.0 million/ha. The maximum level of profitability was revealed at the rate of 1.0 million / ha-194.6 %, which is 9.6-41.3% more than the options with the rate of 2.0-4.0 million / ha. Based on the conducted research, the seeding rate of 2.0-4.0 million/ha is recommended for the cultivation of spring durum wheat for commercial purposes. In the original seed production – 1.0 and 2.0 million/ha, providing a multiplication factor of up to 57.8 kg/kg of grain.

The experience of durum wheat cultivation in the conditions of Kalmykia

In 2016–2020 in the Republic of Kalmykia the winter durum wheat area was sown by the variety ‘Kermen’ of joint development by the Kalmykia Research Agricultural Institute named after M.B. Narmaev, a branch of the “Pre-Kaspy Agricultural Federal Research Center RAS” (KRAI, a branch of the PkAFRC RAS) and the FSBSI “National Center of grain named after P.P. Lukyanenko”, and the variety ‘Kristella’ developed by the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The current paper has presented the study results of productivity and grain quality of the varieties ‘Kermen’ and ‘Kristella’ on the experimental plot of the KRAI, a branch of the PkAFRC RAS over the past five years. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the winter durum wheat varieties according to the traits of productivity and grain quality for giving recommendations and their further introduction into production. In the conditions of the experimental plot of the KRAI, a branch of the PkAFRC RAS, over five years the mean productivity of the variety ‘Kermen’ exceeded that of the variety ‘Kristella’ on 0.56 t/ha, or 14.2%. There should be noted that the variety ‘Kristella’ showed the maximum productivity (5.88 t/ha) in 2016, which was a reliable addition to the variety ‘Kermen’. The varieties ‘Kermen’ and ‘Kristella’ have formed grain with a sufficiently high percentage of protein and gluten, which according to GOST 9353-2016, meets the requirements of the 1st and 3rd class for winter durum wheat. There were identified higher quality indicators in the variety ‘Kristella’.

Response of cellulose-decomposing activity of microorganisms and nutrients to long-term cultivation of durum wheat

Determination of the main factors affecting the productivity of durum wheat is a prerequisite for studying the activity of soil microorganisms and the content of mobile forms of nutrients (NO3 −, P2O5, K2O) on the chernozems of the Cis-Ural region. The aim of the study is to detect the response of each studied factor separately to an increase in yield for different predecessors of crop rotations. Studies of these factors are conducted for the first time in the field and in the laboratory. In the research work the field, application, ionometric and Machigina methods of the experiment on durum wheat are used. Positive results for 19 years of observations are observed in the second variant of the experiment. They lead to an increase in the yield of durum wheat grain after black steam to 9.2 c from 1 ha. The dependence on the influence of the activity of microorganisms and the content of macronutrients of nutrition consists 51.62; 52.43; 35.27 and 36.80%. A decrease in the biological activity of the soil leads to a low yield level in the seventh variant of sowing, reaching up to 5.1 c per 1 ha, despite the response of nitrates 45.45%, mobile phosphorus 31.91 and exchangeable potassium 42.63%. The results of the study have a major importance in the field of soil science, farming and agriculture.

Behavior of Spanish durum wheat genotypes against Zymoseptoria tritici: resistance and susceptibility

Aim of study: Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici, is one of the most important wheat diseases worldwide, affecting both bread and durum wheat. The lack of knowledge about the interaction of durum wheat with Z. tritici, together with limited resources of resistant durum wheat material, have both led to a rising threat for durum wheat cultivation, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin. In Spain, STB has increased its incidence in the last few years, leading to higher costs of fungicide applications to control the disease. Therefore, identification of new sources of resistance through wheat breeding stands out as an efficient method of facing STB.Area of study: The experimental study was conducted in growth chambers at the IFAPA facilities in Córdoba (Spain).Material and methods: The percentage of necrotic leaf area, the disease severity, and the pycnidium development through image analysis were evaluated from 48 durum wheat Spanish accessions (breeding lines and commercial cultivars) in growth chambers against an isolate of Z. tritici from Córdoba.Main results: Two breeding lines and six commercial cultivars showed resistant responses by limiting STB development through the leaf or its reproduction ability, while the other 40 accessions presented a susceptible response.Research highlights: Provided these resources of resistance in Spanish durum wheat genotypes, future breeding programs could be developed, incorporating both agronomic traits and resistance to STB.

Improvement of cultivation technology of spring did wheat in the steppe zone of the South-ern Urals

The article is devoted to the study of the role of black and busy fallows in increasing the productivity of spring durum wheat and maintaining soil fertility in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals. The aim of the study was the effect of the systematic application of mineral fertilizers in crop rotations with various types of fallow on the productivity of spring durum wheat and the preservation of soil fertility. The article presents the average long-term data on the stocks of macronutrients in the soil during the sowing and harvesting of spring durum wheat, its productivity in black and soil-protective (occupied) fallows according to rotations of six-field crop rotations on two nutrition backgrounds. The drought indicator (DTC) of the months of the growing season was calculated on average for rotations of crop rotations, on the basis of which it can be seen that the most favorable period for field crops was in the first rotation (2003-2008). Cultivation of Sudanese grass in busy pairs is an effective soil-protective technique that allows you to increase the productivity of the link with durum wheat and crop rotation in general. The productivity of the link, on average, over 18 years of research, increases by 3.15 tons and 2.79 tons of feed units in comparison with the cultivation of durum wheat on black fallow.

Bioeconomic Approach to Hazelnut Crop's Assessment.

The analysis regards the simulation of conversion of the durum wheat cultivation into hazelnut. This research is based on a case study in the province of Viterbo (Italy), where the durum wheat production and the hazelnuts represent the primary cultures adopted in this area. The purpose of this study is to analyse the number of people employed in the production of hazelnuts and durum wheat to understand if the intensification of hazelnut production has a positive impact on social sustainability and if the conversion process from durum wheat to hazelnuts is socially sustainable, in order to fill a gap in the existing literature. The social impact analysis shows that the hypothesis would be positive for the agricultural occupation of the Municipalities of the Province of Viterbo considered. The results showed as the conversion from the cultivation of durum wheat in hazelnut has brought to a considerable increase in agricultural occupation. Finally, I analysed the effects of the pandemic’s crisis on the COVID-19 virus in the choices related to the conversion between durum wheat and hazelnuts.

ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО-БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПРИЗНАКИ НОВЫХ СОРТОВ ОЗИМОЙ ТВЕРДОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ ЯХОНТ И ЯНТАРИНА

In 2018 and 2020, two winter durum wheat varieties, ‘Yakhont’ and ‘Yantarina’, were included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements for the North Caucasus region. They were developed at the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” by the intraspecific stepwise hybridization using both varieties and lines created in the ARC “Donskoy” and from the other regions. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the new winter durum wheat varieties ‘Yakhont’ and ‘Yantarina’ according to productivity, resistance to abiotic and biotic stress factors, grain and pasta quality. The study was carried out in 2014–2020 in the ARC “Donskoy” located in the southern part of the Rostov region, which is favorable for winter durum wheat cultivation. The soil of the experimental plot – chernozem ordinary calcareous heavy loamy. The climate of the region is characterized by semi-arid hot summers and moderately mild winters. The sum of positive temperatures is more than 3400°С; Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) – 0.8; average annual air temperature – 9.7°С. The average annual precipitation is 450–600 mm. This paper presents the results of studying varieties according to the traits and properties mentioned above, points to their advantages compared to the standard variety ‘Donchanka’. On average, over seven years of competitive testing, the varieties ‘Yakhont’ and ‘Yantarina’ showed the following: productivity – 8.46 and 8.52 t/ha; 1000-grain weight – 40.8 and 43.5 g; drought tolerance – 4.5 points both; lodging resistance – 4.6 and 4.2 points; leaf rust resistance – 10–20% both. They excided the standard variety ‘Donchanka’ by 1.17 and 1.23 t/ha; 4.0 and 6.7 g; 0.5 points; 1.0 and 0.6 points; 3.0 %; 10%, respectively. The varieties ‘Yakhont’ and ‘Yantarina’ formed higher yields due to the increased number of productive stems per 1 m2 (591 and 542; the standard variety formed 498 productive stems), the productivity per head (1.52 and 1.68 g, the standard variety yielded 1.47 g). According to grain and pasta quality, ‘Yakhont’ and ‘Yantarina’ met not only the requirements of GOST R9353-2016 but also exceeded the standard variety ‘Donchanka’ in vitreousness (by 7.4 and 8.0%), grain nature (by 41 and 46 g/l), gluten content (by 2.0 and 0.70%), falling number (by 4 and 44 seconds), SDS-sedimentation (by 4 and 3 ml).

Sampled Soil Volume Effect on Soil Physical Quality Determination: A Case Study on Conventional Tillage and No-Tillage of the Soil under Winter Wheat

Sampled soil volume is a main experimental factor which must be properly considered to obtain a reliable estimation of soil physical quality (SPQ) and, thus, to obtain credible evaluation of the impact of a conservative-conventional soil management system on the soil air–water relationship. In this investigation, two ring sizes were used to sample two fine textured soils and soil management for durum wheat cultivation, namely, conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT). The soil water retention was determined; soil bulk density (BD), macroporosity (MACpor), air capacity (AC), and relative field capacity (RFC) were estimated to assess the soil physical quality indicators, in agreement with the guidelines suggested in the literature. The main results showed that the sampling volume of the soil affected the soil water retention estimation (θ) and, consequently, affected the SPQ estimation, given that (i) higher θ values (by a factor 1.11 as mean) were generally obtained with a large diameter than a small one; these differences decreased (by a factor 1.20, 1.10 and 1.03) as the imposed pressure head value decreased (respectively, at h = 0, −10 and −100 cm); (ii) among SPQ indicators considered, soil volume samples seemed to impact the BD–RFC estimation more than AC–MACpor, as statistical differences were identified only in the former case; iii) NT soil was significantly more compact, and had lower macroporosity or air capacity, when compared with CT; at the time of sampling, the mean SPQ was always poor for AC–RFC, or optimal for BD, regardless of soil management, and it was intermediate or poor when the MACpor was evaluated under CT or NT. This study contributes toward understanding the impact of soil management on soil physical properties in Mediterranean agro-environments.