The importance of a crop rotation on maize productivity

Abstract

One of important measures in agriculture is a crop rotation. It is known that a crop rotation is associated with high yields, and suppressing of pathogens and weeds. It is a cheap measure – only decision is needed. On the other hand, a crop rotation gives possibility to use different crops and different pesticides (herbicides), what could be beneficial in anti-resistant strategy. The aim of this work was to evaluate maize growing in a crop rotation with winter wheat and maize monoculture. The field trial was set up in 2009 on an experimental field of the Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje” in Serbia. This paper presents the results from 2017– after eight years of growing maize in monoculture and after four maize-winter wheat rotations. Maize hybrids ZP 677 and ZP 606 were tested in the experiment. Herbicide combination of isoxaflutole and s-metolachlor was applied (in recommended and ½ of recommended dose) for weed control. The effects of the crop rotation on maize were evaluated by observing the leaf area and plant height (at the anthesis stage), as well as the grain yield. In the crop rotation treatments the leaf area and plant height were significantly higher when compared to maize grown in monoculture. Irrespective to unfavourable meteorological conditions, both hybrids had higher yields when grown in rotations with winter wheat, in comparison to monoculture.