Impact of zero tillage system on the nutrient content of grain and vegetative parts of cereals
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Instytut Uprawy Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Puławach
Abstract
Description
Evaluating differences in mineral composition of cereal
crops grown in zero and conventional tillage systems have
been performed with the use of the results of the experiments
carried out in experimental stations of IUNG-PIB in Jelcz-
Laskowice, near Wrocław (years 2002–2009) and Baborówko
near Poznań (2007–2009). the study covered results of various
one-year experiments with: winter wheat (9 experiments), maize
(4 exp.), spring barley (3 exp.), oats (3 exp.). Conventional tillage
consisted of a group of post-harvest tillage operations to a depth
of 10–15 cm, and then pre-plant plowing to a depth of 25 cm
and sowing cultivation with an active harrow. Zero tillage was
performed without using any mechanical tillage, with mulching
of the soil surface with shredded straw. The plant samples were
analyzed for contents of N and P by flow absorption spectrophotometry,
K – by flame emission spectrometry and Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn
and Zn by AAS. Also the mineral content of the so-called indicator
parts collected during the growing season were evaluated acc.
to Bergmann values, to determine if there were any shortages of
elements in the earlier phases of development, which could affect
the mineral composition of grain. In soil samples the content of
available P and K were determined by Egner-Riehm method, Mg
by Schachtschabel method and organic carbon by Tiurin method.
The evaluation of the significance of differences between the
studied farming systems in the mineral contents in grain and cereal
biomass was based on the analysis of variance for two independent
samples using the Tukey test (p<0.05).
Growing of cereals and maize in zero tillage systems, in the
conditions of light soils, did not cause differences in the concentration
of macro-and micronutrients in plants at the beginning of
the vegetation, nor did it bring about any deterioration of grain
quality in terms of content of the primary minerals, which is important
in assessing its value as a feed or foodstuff.
Keywords
zero-tillage system, cereals, maize, nutrient content
Citation
Polish Journal of Agronomy
2011, 4, 29–32