Traditionally, pink‐footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus wintering in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium have used the Danish sites only during mild winters, rapidly moving southwards in case of cold spells. Since the 1980s, an increasing number of geese have remained on the Danish wintering grounds despite cold spells, foraging on pastures and winter wheat Triticum aestivum fields. We compare the daily time and energy budgets and the food quality in the two habitats during winter. Winter wheat fields were increasingly used by the geese as temperatures dropped. At temperatures around 0°C, the geese foraged in both habitats, spending on average 83.8% and 74.9% of the daytime foraging in pastures and winter wheat, respectively. The estimated daily energy expenditure was slightly higher on pastures than on winter wheat fields (1,076 vs 1,057 kJ). The estimated daily food intake determined using the ‘marker substance’ method was 148 and 157 g ash free dry weight (AFDW) in geese feeding on pastures and winter wheat fields, respectively, equivalent to a daily net energy intake of 1,109 kJ and 1,145 kJ. Daily food intake, estimated on the basis of oesophagus contents of collected birds, was 170 g AFDW in pasture feeding geese and varied within 159–229 g AFDW in winter wheat feeding geese. In the mild winter, the protein content in winter wheat and Poa did not differ, whereas in the severe winter the protein content remained high in winter wheat but decreased in Poa. During the winters of 1994–1996, the abdominal profile index, API, in individually neck‐banded geese observed repeatedly, only changed significantly during late January 1996. Neither during cold spells was there any change in API. Since the 1980s, the area covered by winter wheat has increased markedly in Denmark. Because winter wheat represents a reliable and profitable food source even in severe winters, the recent change in agricultural practice has enhanced the development of a new wintering strategy of pink‐footed geese, allowing a northward expansion of their winter range. Potentially, this will increase the crop damage conflict and may lead to further population growth.

Data on species composition of Fusarium genus fungi found in vegetative organs of winter crops - wheat, rye, triticale are presented. At stock shooting stage of winter crops on vegetative organs of winter triticale 9 species of Fusarium genus fungi have been dicovered, for winter wheat -10 species, for winter rye -12 ones. At wax ripeness the specific diversity is changed by quality and quantity. The basis of Fusarium genus fungi complex is compound of the dominating species of F.oxysporum, F.Culmorum, F.Sporotrichiella

In stationary small plot field trial on Calcaro haplic Chernozem winter wheat in 1991/1992 and 1995/1996 was grown, with orientation to study possibilities of nutrition influence on yield and quality (variety SO-98 in 1991 and Ilona in 1995) farmed in two crop rotations (cereals and root crop rotation) at four fertilization treatments (unfertilized control, conventional fertilization and two ecological fertilization treatments). From mentioned is resulting that at the conventional fertilization during the experiment was created more favourable trend of soil nutrition, when compared to the ecological fertilization. Winter wheat grain yield was lower at ecological treatments with side production ploughed in about 22-29% in 1992 and 25-39% in 1996 when compared to conventional fertilization. The yield diminution was a bit milder at ecological treatments with farmyard manure application and side production ploughed in when compared to conventional fertilization. In both experimental years the yield diminution (without regard to crop rotations) was in range 19-23%. Winter wheat yields were increasing (at given content of another nutrients in the soil) especially by available potassium raising in the soil. After five year of experiment permanence (in 1996) winter wheat yields in cereal crop rotation were gradually higher when compared to row crop rotation, as a consequence of more favourable forecrop. Crop rotations had not more pronounced effect on the winter wheat quality. In the optimal moisture conditions during stalking and earing (ample precipitation), during harvest (minimum precipitation) in 1996 content of protein, gluten and sedimentation test value in winter wheat grain has been raised expressively in all treatments, particularly at conventional fertilization with regular farmyard manure dressing and NPK-fertilization. From the results evaluation it follows, that particularly the available phosphorus was party to the volume of gluten increasing as well as the value of sedimentation test in winter wheat grain (at given content of another nutrients in the soil). At conventional fertilization winter wheat came up to expectations for purchase in 1996 (content of protein was 12%, wet gluten 30% and sedimentation test value 45 ml). Quality of wheat grain from ecological treatments was worse also at growing in favourable moisture conditions. From the point of view of our results we recomend to prefere conventional winter wheat growing instead of ecological ones

Results of field experiments on studying the biological, economic efficiency of application of mixtures of herbicide Lintur, 70% w.g. with the adjuvants in winter wheat are presented. The influence of this combinations on the crop, weed species composition, productivity and structure of winter wheat yield is examined

Parameterization and validation of the dynamic crop growth CERES-Wheat model was done by the data obtained in a long-term field experiment (1975-1993) conducted in Kromeriz (240 m above the sea level) and Zabice (170 m). The weather input data were obtained by the stochastic weather generator in order to estimate the climate change impact on the wheat yield. Statistical parameters of the weather generator were based on the outputs of the observed series (the present state) and modified in accordance with the climate change scenarios based on the general circulation model ECHAM3/T42

The data from field experiments carried out during four years were used to calculate RUE (Radiation Use Efficiency) in winter wheat on different soils. Above-ground biomass and LAI were measured every 7-10 days from shooting to anthesis. Intercepted PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) was calculated from LAI and assumed radiation extinction coefficient (k=0.45) according to the Lambert-Beer law. It was assumed that the level of PAR was 0.5 of measured total solar radiation. RUE were estimated by fit a linear regression between cumulative biomass accumulation and cumulative radiation interception

Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) is widely used as a winter cover crop to conserve soil residual nitrogen (N) in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Cereal rye, however, has agronomic drawbacks that may make other winter small grain crops more desirable alternatives. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a small grain that could substitute for cereal rye as a cover crop because it would give growers the flexibility of using it as a cover crop or growing it to maturity. There is currently little information on early season N accumulation of winter wheat cultivars, which is critical for the success of a small grain cover crop. To determine the degree of variation in early season N accumulation and early season biomass yield in soft red winter wheat in the mid-Atlantic region, twenty-five commercially available cultivars were evaluated at Beltsville, MD in the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 growing seasons. A cereal rye cultivar ("Wheeler") was included as a cover crop control. Samples of plant tissue were taken at Feekes growth stage 5 and at physiological maturity each year. There were significant differences among cultivars for early season N accumulation and biomass yield. A large group of wheat cultivars had similar early season N accumulation and biomass yield as the cereal rye cover crop control. This suggests that some cultivars of winter wheat may be as effective as cereal rye as a winter cover crop. Early season N accumulation was highly correlated (r = 0.90***) with early season biomass yield rather than with plant N content. These results indicate that soft red winter wheat has potential as a dual grain and cover crop and could be considered an alternative to cereal rye as a winter cover crop for conserving residual soil nitrogen in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Report | Soil infestation by a new virus, wheat soilborne mosaic virus (WSBMV), was recently confirmed in a localized area of the Finger Lakes region. The virus has the potential to reduce significantly the yield of New York winter wheat. A NYS-IPM supported project was initiated in 2000 with objectives to assess the current range of occurrence of WSBMV in New York, to assess its effect on wheat yield, and to identify adapted winter wheat varieties that are resistant to both SBWMV and wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV), another soilborne virus that commonly infects New York wheat.

A two-factor experiment was conducted from 1986-90 at Elizowka near Lublin, (Poland). Two locations were the first factor: (a) on a south facing 15 slope (brown soil developed from loess, powerfully eroded), and (b) valley (Fluvisol). The second factor was diversified nitrogen fertilization - winter rape and winter wheat: 0 kg/ha and 140 kg/ha, and phosphorus-and-potassium treatment under lucerne 0 kg/ha K2O/ha + 120 kg/ha P2O3. Additionally, 30 t/ha was used yearly under the rape as well as 80 kg/ha K2O + 60 P2O5 and 100 kg/ha K2O+70 P2O5 under the winter wheat. The energy value of the main yield was determined using the method recommended by FAO. It assumed that 1 kg of wheat grain dry mass has the energy value 18 MJ, winter rape seeds 27.72 MJ and lucerne green mass 18 MJ. The greatest energy effectiveness was determined for lucerne cultivated in the second year both on the slope and in the catchment valley. Mean value of effectiveness index obtained for lucerne in the first year was 35 lower on the slope and 25 in the valley as compared to lucerne in the second year of utilization. Energy effectiveness index for winter wheat and winter rape exceeded the threshold value, four, when the plants were cultivated in the catchment valley, without nitrogen treatment and with a nitrogen dose of 80 N/ha under winter rape. The value of the energy effectiveness index was inversely proportional to the treatment dose