A stationary field experiment of a reduced soil tillage was implemented at a Hypogley (Hypogleyic soils A–Gso–Gr soil horizon sequence) soil type of Eastern Croatia during three seasons and set up as a split-plot randomized block design in four repetitions. The tillage systems (TS) were as follows: 1) conventional tillage, i.e., plowing at 30 cm (CT), 2) disking up 10-12 cm (DT), 3) soil loosening up to 35 cm (LT), 4) no-tillage (NT). The experiment was designed to compare the penetration resistance (PR), soil moisture (SM), and bulk density (BD) at different TSs and soil depths. A cone penetrometer was used to measure the PR with 10 prods per TS, accompanied with a measurement of SM with a soil auger on every 10 cm, with four samples up to a 40-cm depth. The BD was determined by metal cylinders on every 10 cm up to a 30-cm depth, being weighed and dried thereafter to obtain an absolutely dry sample, and then calculated using absolutely a dry soil sample mass (m_s) and the soil volume (V). The PR and SM were significantly influenced by the TS and soil depth. The CT had the significantly lowest PR at all depths, while the DT has manifested a significantly higher PR at a soil depth amounting to 10 to 20 cm. The PR on NT were significantly diverse from the CT at all soil depths. The BD varied significantly concerning the TS and the soil depth. Subsequent to the three years, the CT had a significantly smaller BD at a depth amounting from 0 to 10 cm, and a significantly higher BD at 20- to 30-cm depth, compared to reduce the TS.

Eight different tillage systems were compared in soybean production on one experimental field (chernozem) located in the Baranya region of Croatia over a 4-year period (2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005). The dry conditions experienced in 2003 exacerbated the effects of NT and CWNS on the soybean yield. The most stable grain yield was obtained using CSNW and CSDW in all four experimental years. DH, CH and CWDS did not result in any significant reduction in crop yield compared to CT. There was no clear trend regarding the applied tillage systems and grain yield components. The greatest effects on soybean yield and yield components were due to climatic conditions. Different tillage systems had a significant effect on the soybean grain yield and yield components in the four experimental years. The largest differences in stem height were determined between CSNW and NT. The number of pods per plant, the hectolitre mass and the grain yield were significantly lower under NT than under the other tillage systems. The number of fertile nodes of soybean and the number of branches per plant in the experimental years had approximately the same values for all the tillage systems. To sum up, the results achieved with DH, CH, CSDW, CWDS and CSNW were on par with each other and slightly better than CT, and these systems could represent adequate replacements for conventional tillage. No tillage could not be considered as the most favourable for soybean growing.

Original scientific paper The influence of technical spraying factors on vertical distribution of liquid and air velocity was observed and measured with vertical patternator device. In research, Lechler yellow (TR 8002C) and red (TR 8004C) nozzles are used with two different sets of fan rotor blades (two different air velocities) at 540 rpm of PTO. The research was set as controlled three -factorial experiment (without the influence of weather factors) with 8 treatments in 4 repetitions, for each side of Agromehanika AGP 440 axial fan sprayer. Technical spraying factors (ISO nozzle number, settings of fan blades and spraying height) have a high significant impact (**) on the main properties of the research (vertical distribution of liquid and air velocity). By decreasing the ISO nozzle number and air velocity the increase of liquid deposit is found on vertical patternator and with the increase of measuring height a non-uniform distribution of liquid and air velocity is found. In addition, a non-uniform distribution of liquid and air velocity is established between the left and right sides of the machine. With regression analysis between the vertical distribution of liquid and air velocity on both sides of the machine, a statistically significant coherence is determined (left side of the machine: r = 0,96; p < 0,01; right side of the machine: r = 0,97; p < 0,01). Keywords: air velocity; axial fan sprayer; nozzle; vertical liquid distribution; vertical patternator Utjecaj tehničkih čimbenika raspršivanja na vertikalnu raspodjelu tekućine s raspršivačem Agromehanika AGP 440Izvorni znanstveni članak Istražuje se utjecaj tehničkih čimbenika raspršivanja na vertikalnu raspodjelu tekućine i brzine zraka, mjerenu s uređajem vertikalnim peternatorom. Koriste se žute (TR 8002C) i crvene (TR 8004C) Lechler mlaznice te dva različito podešena zakošenja lopatica rotora ventilatora (dvije različite brzine zračne struje) pri 540 o/min PVT-a. Istraživanje se postavlja kao kontrolirani trofaktorijalni pokus (bez utjecaja vremenskih čimbenika) sa 8 tretmana u 4 ponavljanja, za obje strane nošenog aksijalnog raspršivača Agromehanika AGP 440. Tehnički čimbenici raspršivanja (ISO broj mlaznice, podešavanje lopatica ventilatora i visina raspršivanja) ostvaruju vrlo značajan utjecaj (**) na glavna svojstva istraživanja (vertikalna distribucija tekućine i brzine zračne struje). Smanjivanjem ISO broja mlaznice i smanjivanjem brzine zračne struje povećava se količina tekućine deponirana na vertikalnom paternatoru, te povećavanjem visine mjerenja na vertikalnom paternatoru dolazi do neuniformne raspodjele tekućine i brzine zračne struje. Uz navedeno, utvrđuje se neuniformna raspodjela količine tekućine i brzine zračne struje između lijeve i desne strane stroja. Regresijskom analizom između vertikalne raspodjele količine tekućine i brzine zraka s obje strane stroja utvrđuje se visoka statistički značajna povezanost (lijeva strana stroja: r = 0,96; p < 0,01; desna strana stroja: r = 0,97; p < 0,01).

Research was carried out on mountain Kopaonik, on two associations Danthonietum calycinae (1000 and 1500 m above sea level), in the period from year 2003 to 2004. Production of grassland depending on the fertilization (1. no fertilization, 2. N 60 P 30 K 30 , 3. N 80 P 30 K 30 , 4. N 100 P 30 K 30), and cutting schedule (I forming of panicles, II beginning of spike forming and III full spike forming) was monitored. Production of grassland and floristic composition demonstrated dynamic changes depending on the year, cutting schedule and applied fertilization treatments. The greatest production of grassland dry mass and crude proteins on both locations was obtained in late cutting, i.e. in the stage of full spike forming of dominant species and in fertilization treatment with N 80 P 30 K 30. Grassland was transformed by fertilization from ass. Danthonietum calycinae into ass. Festucetum rubrae on both locations.

The aim of this study was to analyze the yield components of winter oilseed rape depending on the plant population in 2017/2018 growing season. Three plant populatios were considered in the study: 20, 40 and 60 plants m -2 . At harvest several yield components were determined: plant height (cm), plant mass (g), height of the first fertile branch (cm), number of fertile lateral branches, number of pods per plant, length of the pod (cm), number of seeds per pod, mass of seeds per pod (g), number of seeds per plant, 1000 grain mass (g) and yield of seeds per plant (g). At the plant population of 40 plants m -2 the plants were the highest (153.4 cm), with the highest plant mass (295.3 g) and the number of lateral fertile branches (5.6 branches per plant). Furthermore, the plants from 40 plants m -2 had the highest number of pods per plant (716 pieces), the longest pods (6.5 cm) with the largest number of seeds per pod (21.0) and the number of seeds per plant (15 036 seeds). The highest and significant correlation coeficient was found between number of pods per plant and plant mass (r=0.890***) and than between the number of lateral branches and number of pods per plant (r=0.850***). Linear regression showed that for every centimeter increment of pod length the number of seeds increase for 4.8 seeds at 20 and 40 plants m -2 and for 5.5 seeds per pod at 60 plants m -2 . Furthermore, regression analysis showed that for every centimeter pod length increment the seeds mass per pod increase on average of all plant population for 0.02 g.

After harvesting of wheat the great surfaces of land remain unused although they are suitable both for growing forage crops and production of voluminous animal feeds. The greatest importance in the production system of animal feeds is attributed to annual leguminous and grasses species which can be grown either as clear crops or mixtures. Their growing is conditioned by suitable irrigation system since in the time of seeding the temperatures are rather high and precipitations uncertain. In that sense this research has been conducted in which productivity of sorghum and soybean in after crop sowing grown both as clear and mixed crops with decreased density of both species by ? in relation to clean crops has been observed. Sorghum had greater yield than that of soybean. The greatest yield was formed by mixture of sorghum and soybean (5587 kg ha-1), what is very significant in relation to clean soybean (4563 kg ha-1). The yield in mixtures was 6% and 11% greater in relation to the expected one, that is 6 or 11% greater land surface with clean crops is needed in order to obtain corresponding yield in mixed crops. Soybean contains considerably greater quantity of crude protein, crude fat, calcium and magnesium in relation to sorghum what resulted in fact that mixtures also had greater quantities of the same nutritive substances in comparison with sorghum. The highest net energy value in the production of milk and meat was realized by soybean (5.70 and 5.67 MJkg-1 SM). Mixtures realized higher production of NEL and NEM per surface unit. By the combination of crops more favourable ratio of energy and proteins is realized what besides greater yield means that by mixtures the higher production of meat and milk per surface unit is possible.

The trial with different side-dressing fertilizations for winter wheat has been conducted at Vetovo site, Croatia, in vegetation seasons 2007/08 and 2008/09. The five side-dressing fertilizations has been tested (Control - no sidedressing, KAN - 100 kg KAN ha-1 in tillering and jointing stages; M1 - 8 l of foliar NPK fertilizer 'Profert Mara' ha-1; M2 - 16 l ha-1 of foliar fertilizer, and; M3 - 24 ha-1 of foliar fertilizer) at four winter wheat cultivars (Anika, Fiesta, Gabi and Rapsodija), with previously applied 400 kg NPK 7:20:30 ha-1 for all treatments. Results showed that all foliar side-dressing treatments gave winter wheat grain yield higher than the control, and that M1 treatment showed equal in comparison with KAN side-dressing. Treatments M2 and M3 had, in comparison with the control, KAN and M1 treatments, higher yields which leads toward conclusion that foliar treatments can be recommended for side-dressing for given agroecological conditions

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