Production and qualitative parameters of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in integrated and low-input system

In 1999-2001 years, in the water-protected area, the stationary field experiment on the haplic chernozem was conducted. It was situated in the maize production zone of Danubian lowland (Slovak Republic) with four fourfield crop rotations. This territory has continental character of climate with mean annual precipitation 593 mm per year and 358 mm per vegetation period and with the temperature average 9.2 deg C per year and 15.5 deg C per vegetation period. During the three-year experiment two farming systems (low-input and integrated one) conjunction with two levels of nitrogen fertilization on the winter wheat grain and its qualitative parameters were observed. The experiment consisted of two growing systems: LS (low-input system) - it represents growing system using conventional tillage (stubble and clean plowing). IS (integrated system) - it represents no-till crop production with crop residues management, cover crop growing with integrated nutrition and pest management. In both farming systems the four-field crop rotation (pea - winter wheat + cover crop - maize for grain -spring barley) was used. The field experiment was situated in the water-protected area, the nitrogen fertilization was timed and limited with maximum nitrogen ratio 80 kg/ha. The pesticides application was made according to the standard rules. Both farming systems had two variants of nitrogen fertilization: N1 - the rate of nitrogen presented 50% from the ration of N2 variant, it means 40 kg/ha. The application of nitrogen was divided in two-times. The first one was in the phase DC-21 and the second one in the phase DC-31. N2 - maximum limited nitrogen for water-protected area it means 80 kg/ha. The application of nitrogen was divided in three times. The first one was in the phase DC-21 (37.5%), the second one in the phase DC-31 (37,5%) and the last one in the phase DC-59 (25%). The phosphorus and potassium fertilization presented a ration for intended winter wheat yield (7 t/ha). In the next years the rate of fertilizer was correct according to the real grain yield, which was obtained into previous year. The variety Astella was used at sowing rate of 450 emerging grains per square meter, at row distance of 0.190 m at integrated system and 0.125 m at low-input system. Sowing time was from 05 to 10 October (with smaller fluctuation). The grain yield, protein content, wet gluten content, sedimentation test and the portion of grain winter wheat over the sieve of 2.5 mm were observed. The lack of knowledge about the no till crop production inspired us to the field experiment which was established as a part of a grant no. 27-10 The research of agro-environmental systems with the respect to the biodiversity and the sustainability development, which was supported from financial sources of the Ministry of Land Management of the Slovak Republic. During the three-year trial period it was recorded that variability of winter wheat grain yield and grain quality were most affected by years. Higher grain yield, protein content and portion of grain over sieve 2.5 mm was obtained by using low-input system in comparison with the integrated one. The wet gluten content and sedimentation test was affected by higher rate of nitrogen. Variability of winter wheat yield, wet gluten content and portion of grain over sieve 2.5 mm was affected by interaction of farming system with years. Variability of all qualitative parameters was affected higher significantly by interaction of nitrogen fertilization with years.