Reduced tillage is considered as one of the main tools to save biological diversity; however, it increases pressure of diseases, including wheat leaf blotches. The aim of present study was to clarify the impact of reduced soil tillage on the development of winter wheat leaf blotches in different schemes of crop rotation. The impact of different growing technologies on the severity of winter wheat disease was evaluated in a two-factorial experiment: A – soil tillage system, and B – different combinations of wheat pre-pre-crop and pre-crop (wheat, oilseed rape, barley and faba beans). Diseases were assessed every 10 days approximately and total impact of diseases was evaluated by calculating AUDPC (Area under Diseases Progress Curve). Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis was dominated disease over the long period, regardless of meteorological conditions. Development of Septoria leaf blotch was not influenced by neither crop rotation nor soil tillage. The level of tan spot was essentially higher after wheat, regardless of the pre-pre-crop. Reduced soil tillage promoted severity of tan spot. Ploughing mitigated effect of previous crops and differences in tan spot level were insignificant. Despite many positive effects of conservation tillage, increasing of fungicide treatment could be necessary, in conditions, when the tan spot is most devastating and widespread wheat disease.

The objective of the study was to define the main opportunities and challenges for the commercialization of the new hulless barley variety ‘Kornelija’ arising from its biochemical and farming profile, and to present the evaluation for the approach to a new high protein-based payment system. Unlike the agricultural profile with both advantages and disadvantages, the variety shows distinctive grain quality and biochemical properties. Although there is a growing demand for high-nutrition and plant-based protein foods, farmers are focused on yield potential, not the nutritional value of cereals. By paying for the grains of ‘Kornelija’ the price that is equal or higher than winter wheat referenced break-even price, food processors would both motivate farmers to grow the variety and obtain grains with much higher protein content, and significantly higher β-glucans content than winter wheat to produce functional foods for a price that is close to the price of winter wheat.

Reduced tillage is considered as one of the main tools to save biological diversity; however, it increases pressure of diseases, including wheat leaf blotches. The aim of present study was to clarify the impact of reduced soil tillage on the development of winter wheat leaf blotches in different schemes of crop rotation. The impact of different growing technologies on the severity of winter wheat disease was evaluated in a two-factorial experiment: A – soil tillage system, and B – different combinations of wheat pre-pre-crop and pre-crop (wheat, oilseed rape, barley and faba beans). Diseases were assessed every 10 days approximately and total impact of diseases was evaluated by calculating AUDPC (Area under Diseases Progress Curve). Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis was dominated disease over the long period, regardless of meteorological conditions. Development of Septoria leaf blotch was not influenced by neither crop rotation nor soil tillage. The level of tan spot was essentially higher after wheat, regardless of the pre-pre-crop. Reduced soil tillage promoted severity of tan spot. Ploughing mitigated effect of previous crops and differences in tan spot level were insignificant. Despite many positive effects of conservation tillage, increasing of fungicide treatment could be necessary, in conditions, when the tan spot is most devastating and widespread wheat disease.

Nitrogen management strategy in plant growth period based on chlorophyll content evaluation in plant can improve nitrogen usage efficiency and reduce environmental contamination. This study is aimed to determine the impact of different nitrogen and sulphur fertilizers rates on dynamics of chlorophyll content in winter wheat during vegetative growth and to determine the relationship between nitrogen and chlorophyll content and grain yield of winter wheat. Field trial involving a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety ‘Kranich’ was conducted at the LUA Research and Study Farm Vecauce during a three-year period (2012-2015). The treatments were 0, 85, 153, 175+S21, 175 (in 2015), 187 N kg haE−1 and different nitrogen norms according to chlorophyll meter Yara N-tester (Konica Minolta Ltd.) data: 180, 150, 205 N kg haE−1 depending on the year. The results of the trial show that the maximum chlorophyll content in different plant parts was observed at the end of flowering stage. The chlorophyll content depended on the level of mineral fertilisation. The highest chlorophyll content in leaves, stems and ears was obtained by using additional sulphur in two trial years. Usage of chlorophyll meter Yara N-tester obtained the highest chlorophyll content in all analysed plant parts in one trial year. Chlorophyll content was significantly dependant on plant growth stage in stems in all trial years, in leaves in two trial years, and in ears in one year. Nitrogen fertilization significantly affected chlorophyll content in leaves and stems in one trial year. Close positive correlation was observed between grain yield and wheat plant chlorophyll content and average nitrogen concentration at the end of flowering stage in all three trial years.

The common control method of leaf blotches is the application of fungicides; however, the results of trials are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the fungicide treatment intensity on the severity of leaf blotches and to assess the correlation between the development of diseases and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield in 2018–2021. The development of diseases was evaluated regularly. In this study, the severity of leaf blotches at the medium milk ripening (GS 75–77) was used. Tan spot dominated in 2018, 2019, and 2021, but Septoria tritici blotch dominated in 2020. Fungicides significantly decreased the severity of tan spot and Septoria tritici blotch, but the efficacy of used fungicide treatment schemes differed during trial years – it was more pronounced under higher pressures of leaf blotches. In the year with a high severity of Septoria tritici blotch, the best efficacy was obtained when fungicide was used two times (at GS 32–33 and GS 55–59), but for tan spot – when the dose of fungicide was done in two or three applications. Usage of fungicides increased wheat yield only under high pressure of diseases. A strong significant correlation between the severity of Septoria tritici blotch at GS 75–77 and grain yields was established only in 2020, when the severity of the disease was higher.