Effects of different growing systems on the grain yield of winter wheat

Abstract

The examination of the effects of different growing systems on the grain yield of winter wheat was conducted at the research and study field "Radmilovac" of Faculty of Agriculture (44o45’ N, 20o 35’ E Serbia, 130 m above mean see level). Investigations was conducted in 2016/17 and 2017/18 year on the luvic chernozem soil type, in completely randomized blocks with three repetitions. Conventional growing system (CGS) was aimed to achieve high grain yields and included ploughing using a mouldboard plough at 25 cm and pre-sowing tillage using a disc harrow and a harrow, basic fertilization in autumn with 600 kg ha-1 NPK (15:15:15) and top dressing in spring with high N dose (120 kg ha-1 N). In intergrated growing system (IGS), based on low inputs, tillage was performed using a chisel plough at 25 cm with ≥30% of maize crop residues retaining on the soil surface and the pre sowing tillage using a disc harrow and a harrow, basic fertilization in autumn with 600 kg ha-1 NPK (15:15:15) and top dressing in spring with 60 kg ha-1 N. In both growing systems grew two common winter wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare) Ilina and Zvezdana. Statistical analysis confirmed that year, growing system and genotype have a significantly greater impact on wheat productivity than their interactions. More favorable meteorological conditions in the first year led to obtaining statistically significantly higher grain yields in both growing systems (7,840 and 6,450 kg ha-1). A higher yield per unit area (7,470 kg ha-1) was found in the conventional compared to the integrated growing system (6,150 kg ha-1). In both growing systems, the Ilina variety had higher yields compared to the Zvezdana variety. An integrated cultivation system on heavier soils has less positive effects than on soils with more favorable characteristics, especially in the short term.