Physio-agronomic performance of spring cultivars T. aestivum and T. spelta grown in organic farming system

Abstract

<span>One of the goals of organic crop production is to grow species which combine<br /><span>traditional pro-healthy properties, innovative cultivation practices and harmony<br /><span>with the environment. Among the ancient species the spring spelt is especially<br /><span>predisposed for organic farming. In comparison with common wheat spring spelt<br /><span>has a relatively short research history on physiological analysis of growth and<br /><span>development. The objective of this study has been to compare the agronomic<br /><span>performance and growth characteristics of spring varieties of <span><em>Triticum spelta </em><span>L. and<br /><span><em>Triticum aestivum </em><span>L. cultivated in the organic farming system and sown on<br /><span>different dates. The basis for the research were data from field plot experiments<br /><span>arranged in completely randomized blocks carried out in 2010 and 2011. The<br /><span>factors were cultivars: two cultivars of <span><em>T. aestivum </em><span>(Trappe, Waluta) and two<br /><span>cultivars of <span><em>T. spelta </em><span>(Roter Sommerkolben, Speltz aus Tzaribrod) and sowing<br /><span>terms: optimal and postponed by two weeks. During the seasons there were<br /><span>assessed: weed infestation and disease resistance, leaf chlorophyll index, biometric<br /><span>measurements associated with plant morphology and yielding and nutritional value<br /><span>of grains. It was stated that cultivars of <span><em>T. spelta </em><span>are more tolerant to unfavorable<br /><span>environmental conditions than cultivars of <span><em>T. aestivum</em><span>, showing better adaptability<br /><span>to habitat conditions, when-due to the worse weather-the uptake of nutrients from<br /><span>soil can be limited, stronger competitiveness against weeds and higher tolerance to<br /><span>diseases of leaves and stems. The content of chlorophyll in spelt wheat grown in <span>organic cultivation as well as yields are very stable across years. Under<br /><span>unfavourable weather conditions during the season, spelt wheat can give yields<br /><span>which compare to yields of common wheat, but when in the favorable weather<br /><span>conditions common wheat varieties generate yields higher by 42% (cv. Trappe) up<br /><span>to 47% (cv. Waluta).</span></span></span></span><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>