Browsing by Subject "Viljelykierto"

Cropping conditions are changing also at northern areas due the climate change. Extreme weather conditions demand more buffering capability from the soil and adjusting ability from the plants. Crop rotation and tillage system are in essential role while the change proceeds, as they effect to productivity, pest control and soil health. This study studied the effects of crop rotation on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) yield and pests in two tillage methods, plowing and no-till. This long term (2005-2019) field experiment was arranged in Jokionen, southern Finland. In the experiment, there were two cropping systems: barley monoculture and five years crop rotation (pea – spring wheat – oats – turnip rape/rapeseed – spring barley). Both cropping systems were carried out in ploughed and no-till environment. This study examined the years 2009, 2014 and 2019, when the whole experimental area was on spring barley. In our study, crop rotation did not have considerable effect on barley yield, but tillage method had. Yields were bigger in the ploughed system than in the no-till system. Crop rotation reduced weeds in the plowing system and increased them on no-till. Crop rotation reduced the stem and root rot diseases in spring barley. Tillage method and crop rotation had also effect on leaf blotch severity, especially on scald (Rhynchosporium commune). Only a few insect violations appeared during the examination years, so the effects of crop rotation on occurrence of insects could not be evaluated. Long term crop rotation experiments give valuable information about the strengths and weaknesses of different rotations. Role of the diverse crop rotation will increase further in Finland. More attention needs to be paid to interaction between crops and tillage systems, avoiding soil compaction, focusing to improve soil health and structure so the plants would have good opportunities to use their whole yield potential.