Crop rotation effects on yield of oilseed rape, wheat and barley and residual effects on the subsequent wheat

Abstract

Economic conditions are forcing farmers to grow crops with high revenue leading to cereal-dominated crop rotations with increasing risk due to unfavourable preceding crops or preceding crop combinations. Based on a long-term field trial (1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001) with 15 different rotations including winter oilseed rape (OSR), winter wheat, winter barley, spring peas and spring oats, the effects of different preceding crops, prepreceding crops and crop rotations on the grain yield of mainly OSR, winter wheat and winter barley were quantified. In the subsequent 2 years (2001/2002 and 2002/ 2003), winter wheat was grown on all plots in order to test the residual effects of the former crops (as preceding crops in 2002 and as pre-preceding crops in 2003) and crop rotations on growth, grain yield and yield components.Unfavourable preceding crops significantly decreased yield of OSR, wheat and barley by 10% on average, however, with a large year-to-year variation. In addition, break-crop benefits in both crops, wheat and OSR, persisted to the second year. Wheat as preceding crop mainly decreased the thousand grain weight, and to a lesser extent, the ear density of the subsequent wheat crop. The amount of wheat yield decrease negatively correlated with the simple water balance (rainfall minus evapotranspiration) in May-July. In 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, the preceding crop superimposed the crop rotation effects, thus resulting in similar effects as observed in 1988-2001. Our results clearly reveal the importance of a favourable preceding crop for the yield performance of a crop, especially wheat and OSR.

Biomass of Fish By-Products as a Component of Compost for Agricultural Use

“…The influence of variable organic fertilization on the crop yield of maize has been confirmed by the studies of Sieling, Christen [21], Ren et al [22] and Millar et al [23]. The crop yield of Brassica napus L. indicated a clear differentiation and was influenced by the type of compost (C 1 -C 6 ) as well as mineral fertilization (Fig.…”

Enhancing of Winter Wheat Productivity by the Introduction of Field Pea into Crop Rotation

“…Carr et al (2008) suggested that wheat grain yield was 524 to 739 kg/ha greater in the winter wheat-field pea rotation compared with winter wheat-winter wheat rotation from 2000 to 2003, depending on the year. Similarly, Sieling and Christen (2015) suggested that unfavourable preceding crops significantly decreased the yield of winter wheat by 10% on average, however, with a large year-to-year variation. In double-cropping system, in which cereals and legumes were associated, the winter wheat yield was reduced by 50% or more in comparison with control plots (Sarunaite et al 2013).…”

“…Average share of grains 2.8 + 2.5 mm sieve in years after both preceding crops -different literae -significant difference at the level α = 0.05; equal literae -insignificant difference at the level α = 0.05. cally significantly higher (51.2 g) than after preceding crop of winter barley (48.6 g). Sieling and Christen (2015) investigated the effects unfavourable preceding crops on the grain yield of winter oilseed rape, winter wheat and winter barley. Wheat as the preceding crop mainly decreased the 1,000 grain weight, and to a lesser extent, the ear density of the subsequent wheat crop.…”

“…Economic conditions are forcing farmers to grow crops that yield high revenue, leading to cereal-dominated crop rotations with increasing risk due to unfavourable preceding crops or preceding crop combinations (Sieling & Christen 2015). Crop rotations in Slovakia are constantly adapted to economic conditions and political intentions.…”

Do farmers in Germany exploit the potential yield and nitrogen benefits from preceding oilseed rape in winter wheat cultivation?

“…Thus, increased use of fertiliser and pesticide inputs may offset the effects on yield decline to some extent, but is simultaneously contrary to societal and political aims such as preservation of existing biodiversity, mitigation of climate change and protection of water bodies and drinking water sources (Geiger et al 2010;Richter et al 2013). It is well known in Germany and elsewhere that, unlike cereal monoculture, wheat grown after oilseed rape (OSR) yields more than wheat grown after cereals (Angus et al 2015;Sieling & Christen 2015). The mechanisms behind the break crop benefits (BCB) of OSR for wheat are improved soil structure, better weed control, suppression of propagation by typical cereal pathogens and avoidance of phytotoxic exudates released by harvest residues, which are suspected to inhibit development of juvenile wheat plants sown after wheat (Kirkegaard et al 2008).…”