Response of spring barley varieties to the protection level in two systems of crop sequence

Abstract

In 3-year research (2011-2013) carried out in static field experiment on luvisol medium soil in Production and Experimental Plant Bałcyny near Ostróda town, the response of two varieties of spring barley (Conchita and Mercada) to a chemical protection against weeds (H), and combined protection from weeds and diseases (HF) was evaluated. The comparisons of responses were carried out in two following crop sequence systems: A) the cultivation of spring barley varieties in 6-field crop rotation: sugar beet-maize-spring barley-pea-winter rape-winter wheat and B) the cultivation in 45-47-year monoculture. The cultivation of barley without any protection (O) in both crop sequence systems was a control object. The research showed that the crop sequence system significantly differentiated the response of varieties to applied levels of a protection. Significantly higher increase of grain yield of spring barley varieties as a result of herbicides application as well as combined application of herbicides and fungicides was reported in the monoculture than in the crop rotation. In the both crop sequence systems the applied protection levels caused higher increase of yields for Mercada variety. In its case a significantly higher yield of grain was also achieved.