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.