Franc Bavec

Effects of plant population on leaf area index, cob characteristics and grain yield of early maturing maize cultivars (FAO 100–400)

Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) growth in non-typical maize growing regions has several limitations with respect to agronomic characteristics of cultivars, and their reactions on changes of production system in specific climate. Two long term field experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of plant populations (PP) on the leaf area index (LAI), grain yield and cob characteristics of maize cultivars in Maribor, Slovenia. In the first experiment, an increase of PP from 4.5 to 13.5 plants per m2 did not affect the LAI of four older maize cultivars at the 7–9-leaf stage, but significant differences between cultivars, years and PP appeared at brooming (from 1.58 to 7.07). In this stage, a strong correlation existed between LAI and grain yield (r=0.87**). Reduction of LAI from brooming to waxy maturity averaged 9.7%. PP explained 93–99% of the variation in grain yield depending on cultivars. Some cultivars lodged at the highest PP in some years. Increased PP significantly changed the following cob characteristics, weight of 1000 kernels, cob length, number of kernel rows, and number of kernels per row. In the second experiment, 11 recent cultivars expressed a relatively small trend of grain yield increases when PP was increased from 7 to 13 plants per m2. At high PP, the percent of plants decaying after emergence increased up to 27% during the vegetation period. Therefore, we conclude that the information on suitable PP for each maize cultivar is one of the key factors for planning maize production.

Organic Production and Use of Alternative Crops

INTRODUCTION What is Organic Agriculture? Organic Food Multifunctionality of Organic Agriculture Organic Crop Production Contribution of Organic Agriculture to the Conservation of Alternative Crops and their Utilization Development References CEREALS Spelt Einkorn Emmer Kamut Triticale Intermediate Wheatgrass References PSEUDOCEREALS (WITHOUT MILLETS) Buckwheat Quinoa Grain Amaranths Wild Rice References MILLETS Proso Millet Foxtail, Foxtail Millet Pearl Millet Finger Millet White Fonio Barnyard Millet Little Millet References ALTERNATIVE OIL PLANTS Oil (Seed) Pumpkins Camelina Safflower White Mustard (Garden) Poppy References ALTERNATIVE FIBER, ROOT, AND TUBER CROPS Industrial and Edible-Seed Hemp Flax Jerusalem Artichoke Sweet Potato References LEGUMES Chickpea Groundnut Soybean: Small Attention to the Important Crop Vigna: A Few Words about a Widely Spread Genus References SOME TRADITIONAL AND NEW KINDS OF FOOD FROM SOME ALTERNATIVE CROPS Homemade Food from Buckwheat Homemade Food from Amaranths Homemade Food from Millet References Index

The Use of Multi Criteria Models for Decision Support on Organic Farms

ABSTRACT The need for reliable information in the organic farm planning process dictates the use of modern decision support methods. The methodology of an integrated deterministic simulation system application for decision-making support on organic farms is described in this article. The deterministic simulation system KARSIM 1.0 consists of 74 deterministic production simulation models that enable different types of costs and financial feasibility calculations for organic production and food processing. The KARSIM 1.0 was applied on a sample organic farm for the simulation of five different business alternatives. The simulation model results are further evaluated with two multi-objective analysis methods: analytical hierarchical process (Expert Choice Decision Support System software) and DEX-i expert system (computer software for multi attribute decision making). Alternative 3 (spelt grain processing) results with the highest multi-objective decision evaluation (Expert Choice = 0.275 and DEX-i evaluation = very good). The combination of deterministic cost simulation model and multi criteria decision analysis with the emphasis on financial, technological, market and risk objective presents a powerful decision support tool for organic farms, however, further improvement and development of proposed methodology would be suggested.

Influence of Industrial and Alternative Farming Systems on Contents of Sugars, Organic Acids, Total Phenolic Content, and the Antioxidant Activity of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris Rote Kugel)

The contents of sugars, organic acids, total phenolic content, and the antioxidant activity were quantified in the flesh of red beet from conventional (CON), integrated (INT), organic (ORG), biodynamic (BD), and control farming systems using established methods. Significant differences were measured for malic acid, total phenolic content (TPC), and total antioxidant activity, where malic acid content ranged from 2.39 g kg(-1) FW (control) to 1.63 g kg(-1) FW (CON, ORG, and INT). The highest TPC was measured in BD and control samples (0.677 and 0.672 mg GAE g(-1), respectively), and the lowest in CON samples (0.511 mg GAE g(-1)). Antioxidant activity was positively correlated with TPC (r2=0.6187) and ranged from 0.823 μM TE g(-1) FW to 1.270 μM TE g(-1) FW in CON and BD samples, respectively, whereas total sugar content ranged from 21.03 g kg(-1) FW (CON) to 31.58 g kg(-1) FW (BD). The importance of sugars, organic acids, phenols, and antioxidants for human health, as well as for plant resilience and health, gained from this explorative study, is discussed and put into perspective.

Chlorophyll meter readings of winter wheat cultivars and grain yield prediction

Investigation of chlorophyll meter values of 13 winter wheat cultivars suggests that readings are dependent on cultivar (genotype), growth stage and years effects. Before 2nd top dressing at the stage EC 31/32 the average value varied from 445 to 568, and before 3rd top dressing at the stage EC 45/50 it varied from 487 to 580. At the stage EC 45/50 the statistically identical values of six cultivars varied from 515 to 553, with the rest the extreme readings were 487 or 580. At the stage EC 31/32 there was no strong correlation (r=0.134) between chlorophyll meter readings and grain yield, but there was stronger correlation between the chlorophyll meter values and grain yield (r=0.538, sig. at the 0.01 level) at the stage EC 45/50. On the basis of results at the stage EC 45/50 only it is possible to explain 37% effect of the chlorophyll meter readings on the grain yield with quadratic or cubic regression curve.

Ecological impact of wheat and spelt production under industrial and alternative farming systems

The Industrial Revolution and intensification of agriculture have, in some cases, led to economic activities that profoundly influenced the ecosystem to the point where environmental stability and geographic political security are jeopardized. The uncertainty about oil reserves, rising energy prices and the threat of harmful climate change effects has intensified the search for alternative farming systems that reduce negative environmental impact. This study reports the ecological impact of conventional (CON), integrated (INT), organic (ORG) and biodynamic (BD) farming systems calculated from data collected in a field trial at Maribor, Slovenia, and interpreted using the SPIonExcel tool. This tool is a member of the ecological footprint family and describes the area necessary to embed a human activity sustainably into the ecosphere. Three-year results show a markedly reduced ecological footprint of the ORG and BD systems in production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Antonius’) and spelt (Triticum spelta L. ‘Ebners rotkorn’), mainly due to the absence of external production factors. When yields were also considered, the ORG and BD systems again had a reduced overall footprint per product unit and increased ecological efficiency of production. Thus, ORG and BD farming systems present viable alternatives for reducing the impact of agriculture on environmental degradation and climate change. Nevertheless, room for improvement exists in the area of machinery use in all systems studied and yield improvement in the ORG farming system.

A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Framework Tool for the Selection of Farm Business Models on Organic Mountain Farms

Mountain regions are important producers of organic food. For them, reliable decision making regarding business planning necessitates different critical support methods. KARSIM 1.0 (DSM) is a methodology based on an integrated deterministic simulation system application for decision-making support, consisting of 74 deterministic production simulation models. DSM enables different types of cost and financial feasibility calculations for organic production and food processing. KARSIM 1.0 was used to simulate three specific business alternatives for mountain organic farms. (Alternative 1: spelt grain, fruit cider, wine and brandy, plum brandy, calves meat and sheep–soft cheese production, Alternative 2: spelt flour, pear and apple juice, plum brandy, veal and sheeps milk, Alternative 3: spelt grain, dried fruit, calves, soft and hard sheep cheese). Simulation model results were compared using two multi-objective analysis methods: the analytical hierarchical process (Expert Choice Decision Support System software) and DEX-i method. The results showed the highest multi-objective decision evaluation for alternative 2 (Expert Choice = 0.361 and DEX-i evaluation = excellent). We can conclude that the combination of a deterministic cost simulation model and multi-criteria decision analysis presents an acceptable decision support tool for mountain organic farms; however, further research is desirable.

Organic farming as a potential for the development of protected areas

The objectives of organic farming are consistent with the objectives of protected areas. In this paper, possibilities for development of organic farming in protected areas are analyzed against the background of the current state of organic farming in Slovenia, current legislation regarding farming in protected areas, and economic and demographic characteristics of the selected protected areas in that country. Organic farmers are important providers of healthy, locally produced food, which can be an important component of tourism. Low interconnections between farmers, insufficient supporting legislation, limiting natural factors, and aspects of demographic structure inhibit the development of organic farming in protected areas.

Growth Performance of Sweet Maize under Non-Typical Maize Growing Conditions

ABSTRACT The considerable increase in sweet maize production in Europe is a direct result of the increasing demand. This review shows a lack of investigations of non-typical maize growing conditions, and also different research results for sweet maize, especially in Europe. The most important limiting factors in growing sweet maize under non-typical climatic conditions are soil temperature and water supply. The negative impact of lower temperatures at sowing can be mitigated by choosing appropriate cultivars (early and mid-early) and sowing times (mid-end of May, depending on the region). In temperate climates different cultivation systems are effectively used to assure warmer soils in the spring. Furthermore, different rates of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization are advisable in different temperate climates for the highest yields, but > 120 kg N ha−1 has no significant effect. Requirements for N should be based more on soil Nmin analyses, green manures (especially with leguminous plants) and living mulch systems to prevent environmental pollution.

Growth performance, productivity and diseases susceptibility of barley varieties in Slovenia within the Cobra project's site comparison

Abstract Different plant genotypes react differently in different climates. A field experiment was carried out to estimate the growth performance, productivity and diseases susceptibility of spring barley varieties in the Slovenian climate. We received some varieties, mainly of Nordic origin, from the Technical University of Denmark, a COBRA project partner, which were previously tested in estimated future climate in RERAF phytotron. Varieties of the highest grain yield (3,993 kg ha-1 in ‘Evergreen’ to 5,146 kg ha-1 in ‘Sebastian’) were rather shorter (58.7 cm to 67.1 cm) and mostly had the highest specific grain weight (54.3 to 58.6 kg 100 L-1) and 1000-kernel weight (30.2 to 37.1 g). They developed 1,561 to 2,532 tillers m-2 and 515 to 840 ears m-2 and reached a heading stage between 13th and 25th of May. The tested varieties seem rather insusceptible to most common diseases, but susceptible to cereal leaf beetle attacks.