Field studies in a winter wheat - maize - soybean crop rotation were conducted at Maksimir in 1996 and 1997 to determine the agronomic responses of winter wheat cultivars under intensive (IMS) and extensive (EMS) management systems. IMS consisted of ploughing at 30-32 cm, fertilisation with 194 kg N ha -1 including three top-dressing applications, 130 kg P ha -1, 130 kg K ha -1, and intensive crop protection (herbicide, fungicide and insecticide application). EMS consisted of ploughing at 20-22 cm, fertilisation with 59 kg N ha -1 including one top-dressing application, 104 kg P ha -1 and 104 kg K ha -1, less effective herbicide (2,4 D), and insecticide, but no fungicide, application. In each management system two factorial experiment with eight winter wheat cultivars at two sowing rates (440 and 770 seeds m -2 ) was arranged as a strip-plot design in five replications. Cultivars Sana and Darka, that outyielded other cultivars in IMS, had also the highest grain yield in EMS. Significant differences among cultivars were found for grain yield and yield components in both management systems. All cultivars increased ear number per square meter and grain yield at high sowing rate in both management systems. In two growing seasons some cultivars exert the different type of response for grain yield and ear number per square meter only in IMS. Test weight and 1000-grain weight were highly affected by growing season, cultivar and their interaction. Thousand grain weight decreased in IMS, and at high sowing rate for most cultivars in both management systems. Test weight showed the tendency to increase in IMS, and at high sowing rates in both management systems.

cultivar; management system; winter wheat; yield; yield components

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia