Joint International Conference on Long-term Experiments ...

Yield (t/ha) .
4,5
4,0
3,5
3,0
2,5
2,0
1,5
1,0
0,5
0,0
I V XI XIV
Crop rotation regime
Figure 1: Yield of rye in the Westsik’s crop rotation long-term experiment
2002 was the least favorable year for rye. The weather was unfavourable for tillering,
which resulted in a low number of spikes/m 2 . There was sufficient rain in the critical
period for flowering, but during grain development the water requirement of rye was
not met, and in addition, both periods were hotter than usual. The spikes were shorter
and the thousand grain weight was less than the average. As a result, rye yield was the
lowest of the years studied. It is also unfavourable for rye, if rainfall is in excess during
flowering and grain development, as it was the case in 2006. Even if the number of
spikes, spike length, and the thousand grain weight is around the average, yield tends to
be lower under such weather conditions.
If the weather is dry, but conditions are favourable for tillering, resulting in an
above-average number of spikes per unit area, then an average level of yield can be
expected even with shorter spikes and lower thousand grain weight, as it was the case in
2003. The highest rye yield can be expected in cases, when the weather is favourable for
tillering. When rain is abundant in autumn, there will be sufficient amount of water in
the soil after sowing, and if the weather is mild, the soil will not get frozen too early. In
this case, an above average number of spikes per unit area can be expected. It is
favourable if rain is abundant in spring and early summer, and also, if weather is cool
during flowering and grain development. This will result in longer spikes with higher
number of grains and higher thousand grain weight, which all will produce an
outstanding yield.
SUMMARY
The objective of the study was to determine the effects of the yearly rainfall and
temperature on the yield and yield components of rye under different regimes of organic
manure supply.
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2002
2003
2004
2005
2006