Seed germination performance and storability are fundamental components of seed quality and critical for successful crop establishment. However, information on the impact of different crop production systems on the quality and storability of seed material is still limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of different crop production systems (ecological, integrated, conventional, and monoculture) on seed germination and predisposition for storage. The research was carried out on four varieties of winter wheat. Seed material was produced within a two-year period, during which different weather conditions occurred. Four germination-related traits were assessed: germination capacity NS (%), total germination (TG%), time to reach 50% germination (t50) and the area under the germination curve (AUC). The results demonstrated that the cultivar, the cultivation system and the year of study had a significant impact on germination characteristics. The ecological system ensured the highest germination rate in fresh seeds. However, in the CD test, the conventional system demonstrated the highest levels of stress resistance and stability, suggesting the best storage potential. The significant system x variety interaction demonstrates the importance of accurate matching of the genotype to the growing conditions to ensure optimal seed quality. Furthermore, the data demonstrated a strong influence of climatic conditions in the year of production, which is crucial for seed vigor.

Increased crop diversity in cereal-dominated rotations can enhance crop protection, nutrient use efficiency and climate change adaptation. Nevertheless, it is argued that replacing cereals in rotations diminishes food production, threatening food security. Here we compared outputs of calories and macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) for human consumption from cereal monocultures, cereal-only rotations and rotations including two or three functionally distinct crop types (cereals plus root and oil crops, legumes or ley) in 16 long-term experiments across Europe. Rotations with three functional types produced more calories and macronutrients than cereal monocultures and cereal-only rotations with forage crops used to produce milk. Carbohydrate gains depended on growing conditions and crop choice. Advantages increased over time but were lost with forage crops used for beef or biofuel. Functionally rich rotations provided macronutrient proportions closer to recommended human diets. Our analysis shows no trade-off between functionally rich rotations and food production or agricultural land expansion.

Lodging is one of the main factors influencing yield reduction in both organic and conventional systems. In the organic system, lodging is mainly controlled by selecting varieties with increased resistance to lodging, by regulating sowing density, or by cultivation of varieties of appropriate height. The present study aimed to compare ten varieties tested in the years 2020–2022 in organic trials in terms of plant height and resistance to lodging in two growth phases (milk and harvest). Depending on the analyzed trait, a linear or cumulative link linear mixed model was fitted on plot data. The analyses showed that variety Farmer was the most resistant to lodging in the two growth phases, whereas varieties KWS Vermont and Rubaszek were less resistant to lodging in two growth phases than Farmer, but only at the milk phase, the differences were significant. Furthermore, Radek was the tallest among the tested varieties, whereas Farmer was classified as mid-tall. According to Wricke’s ecovalence coefficient, Bente was the most stable, while Farmer ranked third. Therefore, varieties that are the most resistant to lodging and are the most stable in terms of height, should be promoted for cultivation.

Lodging is one of the main factors influencing yield reduction in both organic and conventional systems. In the organic system, lodging is mainly controlled by selecting varieties with increased resistance to lodging, by regulating sowing density, or by cultivation of varieties of appropriate height. The present study aimed to compare ten varieties tested in the years 2020-2022 in organic trials in terms of plant height and resistance to lodging in two growth phases (milk and harvest). Depending on the analyzed trait, a linear or cumulative link linear mixed model was fitted on plot data. The analyses showed that variety Farmer was the most resistant to lodging in the two growth phases, whereas varieties KWS Vermont and Rubaszek were less resistant to lodging in two growth phases than Farmer, but only at the milk phase, the differences were significant. Furthermore, Radek was the tallest among the tested varieties, whereas Farmer was classified as mid-tall. According to Wricke's ecovalence coefficient, Bente was the most stable, while Farmer ranked third. Therefore, varieties that are the most resistant to lodging and are the most stable in terms of height, should be promoted for cultivation.

Triticum aestivum L. subsp. spelta (cv. Rokosz) and common winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum (cv. Arktis, Belissa, Estivus, Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon, Linus, Markiza, Ostka Strzelecka, Pokusa) grown in an organic farming system were analyzed and compared. Furthermore, the productivity of four common wheat cultivars (cv. Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon) grown under four different (organic, conventional integrated, and monoculture) farming systems was compared. Using UPLC-DAD-MS, UPLC-PDA-MS/MS, and TLC-DPPH•, nine phenolic acids, nine alkylresorcinols, and their antiradical activity were identified and quantified. In the organic farming system, the highest yield was observed for T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum cv. Fidelius (4.17 t/ha). Infections of wheat cultivars were low or at a medium level. The highest resistance to Fusarium fungi was shown by cv. Fidelius, which also exhibited the highest alkylresorcinol content and antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic acid content was highest in cv. Rokosz (1302.3 µg/g), followed by common winter wheat cultivars cv. Linus (1135.1 µg/g) and cv. Markiza (1089.6 µg/g). The potential of winter wheat cultivars for human health and their suitability for cultivation in different production systems was determined, showing significant differences in bioactive compounds depending on cultivars, systems, and years.

This study investigates the impact of organic and conventional farming on the allergenic and bioactive properties of wheat. The primary aim was to assess the immunometric parameters and polyphenolic composition in four varieties of winter and four varieties of spring wheat cultivated under both farming systems. Immunometric assays focused on gluten content, the allergenic QQQPP peptide, and the panallergenic profilin Tri a 12. While gluten levels (15–20 g/kg) showed no clear dependence on farming type, organic wheat exhibited a mild yet significant increase in QQQPP-dependent immunoreactivity in five samples (>20 µg/g). However, all organic wheat samples demonstrated a notable reduction in profilin content (<0.6 µg/g), suggesting that the type of wheat cultivation could influence allergenic risk for individuals with wheat-related allergies. Polyphenolic profiling revealed that kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid were the predominant compounds, with organic wheat displaying slightly higher polyphenol levels on average. Despite these differences, the variations were insufficient to determine a superior cultivation method. These findings highlight the potential allergenic and nutritional implications of organic versus conventional wheat farming.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of different crop production systems (organic, integrated, and conventional) on the yields of several spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. A field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Osiny (Poland) in three consecutive growing seasons (2014, 2015, and 2016). Two factors were included in the experiment: the crop production system (organic, integrated, and conventional) and spring wheat cultivars (Kandela, Izera, Ostka Smolicka, and Waluta). The crop production system significantly differentiated the yield, health, and weed infestation of the spring wheat. Wheat yield in the conventional system (6.12 t·ha−1) was higher than in the organic system (3.68 t·ha−1) by 67%, whereas, in the integrated system (7.61 t·ha−1), it was greater than in the organic system by 109%. The lower yields in the organic system were mainly due to fewer ears per m2 and a smaller 1000-grain weight. In the organic system, we also observed a higher infestation of wheat by foliar fungal pathogens and weeds compared with the conventional and integrated systems. The spring wheat cultivars differed in yield structure and resistance to infestation by fungal pathogens. The Waluta and Izera cultivars performed well in all systems but yielded the best in the integrated and conventional ones. The Kandela cultivar was the most suitable for the organic system, as it achieved the highest yield (4.16 t·ha−1). This was mainly due to its ability to form a compact canopy with relatively high ear density, a large 1000-grain weight, and the highest resistance to fungal pathogens. The results for cultivars’ performance in the organic system may be useful for farmers in decreasing yield gaps in relation to integrated and conventional systems.

In the next few years, the demand for organic crops, including barley, will grow. Barley is one of the world’s most important crops cultivated for food and feed. With the forecasted increase in cropped area, there is a need for stable, well-adapted and high-yielding varieties. The aim of this study was to assess the yield stability of ten varieties tested in the Polish organic post-registration trials in the years 2020–2022. For this purpose, we fitted a linear mixed model on plot data. Additionally, for each variety, we calculated the probability of the yield falling to a certain threshold. It is shown that the Bente variety was the highest-yielding among the tested varieties. The Pilote variety was the most stable in terms of Shukla’s stability variance. Furthermore, for the three highest-yielding varieties, the lowest values of the simultaneous selection index and the probability of falling below a certain threshold were obtained. We can, therefore, conclude that the highest-yielding varieties should be promoted for cultivation. Moreover, new varieties suitable for organic farming can be bred from the highest-yielding and most stable varieties.

Diversified crop rotations have been suggested to reduce grain yield losses from the adverse climatic conditions increasingly common under climate change. Nevertheless, the potential for climate change adaptation of different crop rotational diversity (CRD) remains undetermined. We quantified how climatic conditions affect small grain and maize yields under different CRDs in 32 long-term (10-63 years) field experiments across Europe and North America. Species-diverse and functionally rich rotations more than compensated yield losses from anomalous warm conditions, long and warm dry spells, as well as from anomalous wet (for small grains) or dry (for maize) conditions. Adding a single functional group or crop species to monocultures counteracted yield losses from substantial changes in climatic conditions. The benefits of a further increase in CRD are comparable with those of improved climatic conditions. For instance, the maize yield benefits of adding three crop species to monocultures under detrimental climatic conditions exceeded the average yield of monocultures by up to 553 kg/ha under non-detrimental climatic conditions. Increased crop functional richness improved yields under high temperature, irrespective of precipitation. Conversely, yield benefits peaked at between two and four crop species in the rotation, depending on climatic conditions and crop, and declined at higher species diversity. Thus, crop species diversity could be adjusted to maximize yield benefits. Diversifying rotations with functionally distinct crops is an adaptation of cropping systems to global warming and changes in precipitation. Industrial agriculture often relies on one or few crop species grown in monocultures or short crop rotations, making them vulnerable to changes in climatic conditions. Using data from several agricultural experiments in Europe and North America, we show that including more crop species or crop types in rotation can mitigate cereal yield losses caused by increasingly common shifts in climatic conditions, such as increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation. Hence, increasing crop rotational diversity can support the climate adaptation of the way we produce our food.image

This study aimed to determine genotype and environment effects on the yield and selected quality traits of winter rye from organic production. The tested material was grain of two hybrid rye cultivars, Tur and KWS Dolaro, and five population cultivars of rye, Dańkowskie Hadron, Dańkowskie Granat, Dańkowskie Turkus, Dańkowskie Skand, and Piastowskie. Field trials were performed at two locations in Poland, Osiny and Grabów, in two growing seasons, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The grain yield, moisture content, falling number, thousand-grain weight, and hectoliter weight were determined. The content of basic nutrients, protein, minerals, lipids, carbohydrates, and dietary fibre, as well as the viscosity of aqueous extracts of grain, were also determined. This study revealed that environmental factors, such as harvest year and growing location, as well as the genotype factor, had the greatest effect on the viscosity of aqueous extracts and protein content. The study’s hybrid cultivars, Tur and KWS Dolaro, are characterized by significantly higher yield but lower dietary fibre and protein contents in rye grain and lower viscosity of aqueous compared to all study population cultivars. Of all the studied population cultivars of rye, the grain of the cultivar Dańkowskie Skand was found to be the most beneficial in terms of nutritional value because it was characterized by the highest viscosity of aqueous extracts.

Leaf rust and net blotch are two important fungal diseases of barley. Leaf rust is the most important rust disease of barley, whereas net blotch can result in significant yield losses and cause the deterioration of crop quality. The best and the most environmentally friendly method to control diseases is to cultivate resistant varieties. The aim of the current study was to identify barley varieties with an improved resistance to leaf rust and net blotch in Polish organic post-registration trials conducted in the years 2020–2022. For this purpose, the cumulative link mixed model with several variance components was applied to model resistance to leaf rust and net blotch. It was found that the reference variety Radek was the most resistant to leaf rust, whereas variety Avatar outperformed the reference variety in terms of resistance to net blotch, although the difference between the two varieties was non-significant. In the present study, the use of the cumulative link mixed model framework made it possible to calculate cumulative probabilities or the probability of a given score for each variety and disease, which might be useful for plant breeders and crop experts. Both, the method of analysis and resistant varieties may be used in the breeding process to derive new resistant varieties suitable for the organic farming system.

Diversifying agriculture by rotating a greater number of crop species in sequence is a promising practice to reduce negative impacts of crop production on the environment and maintain yields. However, it is unclear to what extent cereal yields change with crop rotation diversity and external nitrogen fertilization level over time, and which functional groups of crops provide the most yield benefit. Here, using grain yield data of small grain cereals and maize from 32 long-term (10–63 years) experiments across Europe and North America, we show that crop rotational diversity, measured as crop species diversity and functional richness, enhanced grain yields. This yield benefit increased over time. Only the yields of winter-sown small grain cereals showed a decline at the highest level of species diversity. Diversification was beneficial to all cereals with a low external nitrogen input, particularly maize, enabling a lower dependence on nitrogen fertilisers and ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen pollution. The results suggest that increasing crop functional richness rather than species diversity can be a strategy for supporting grain yields across many environments.

A change in agricultural policy in the European Union aims, among other things, to halve the use of pesticides and increase the share of organic farming to 25% by 2030. One of the challenges associated with this target will be the control of plant fungal diseases. The key methods in organic farming include the selection of less susceptible crop varieties. In order to test this method, a long-term trial of organic farming in Eastern Poland was established. In total, 41 different winter wheat varieties were grown from 2018 to 2022 and their resistance to fungal leaf diseases was monitored. Brown rust was found to be the disease causing the highest infestation towards the end of vegetation, often exceeding 80% of the flag leaf area. However, yield reductions were mainly related to the severe occurrence of leaf Septoria. Other leaf diseases such as tan spot, yellow rust, powdery mildew, and fusariosis were of little importance and only occurred at low infestations of Septoria and brown rust. The course of the weather was found to have a significant effect on disease incidence. Drought occurring in May and June significantly increased the incidence of brown rust and Septoria, while prolonged rains increased tan spot and Fusarium infestation. Greater overall infestation occurred in years with high average temperatures. Ten varieties with high resistance to foliar fungal diseases were selected and can be recommended for organic farming.

In the research carried out in 2018–2020 at the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, the vigor of seed potatoes from two production systems—organic and conventional—was examined. The characteristics of the tubers and the plants grown from them were assessed. It was found that seed potatoes from the organic system were characterized by features showing symptoms of weaker vigor, i.e., a shorter resting period, a smaller percentage of germinating eyes, a smaller mass of sprouts produced, and a shorter length of the longest sprout. The weaker vigor of seed potatoes from the organic system was reflected in the development and yield of the plants derived from them. It was expressed in weaker emergence, lower stem number, and smaller yield per plot. However, there were no differences in the yield structure. A large varietal differentiation was demonstrated for most of the studied traits. The differences in the vigor of individual cultivars were not related to the length of the growing season. The conditions prevailing in the research years had the greatest impact on the length of tuber dormancy, the percentage of germinating eyes, and the percentage of plant emergence.

In Poland, rapeseed production has been the fastest growing branch of plant production since 2000. Rapeseed yields have increased 2.5 times in the last 20 years. The main reason for this trend was the implementation of obligations resulting from legal acts by Member States relating to increasing the share of RES in the structure of primary energy production, and in particular relating to the share of biofuels in fuels used in transport. In Poland in the years 2010–2020, about 1.0–1.6 million tonnes of rape seeds were used for this purpose annually. Due to the fact that biofuel production competes for raw materials with the food economy, at the end of the first decade of the 21st century, many representatives of various circles intensified their voices, calling for withdrawal from the policy supporting the biofuel sector, which may have resulted in a decrease in oilseed plant cultivation areas. As a result of the research conducted here, it was determined that the place of oilseed rape in the sowing structure will be taken by rye, triticale and, on good soils, by wheat. Compared to rape, their production is characterised by lower income per 1 ha; in the years 2013–2019, these differences amounted to: wheat—8 EUR, triticale—102.3 EUR, and rye—168 EUR. This situation will deteriorate the value cereal cultivation sites and will result in a decrease in their yields. On the basis of the conducted research, the estimated value of rape as a forecrop for wheat, triticale, and rye was, respectively: 103.7; 64.6 and 46.7 EUR. An additional advantage of oilseed rape is that it is an excellent bee resource and is classified as a commodity crop, i.e., one from which significant amounts of honey can be obtained, with a net value of EUR 55 per hectare. In addition, in many agricultural holdings, as a result of forecasted changes in plant production, there will be an accumulation of field work during the harvest period, which will also affect the worse use of machinery and storage areas. The consequence of increasing the area under which cereal crops and their supply can grow may be the decline in production profitability and thus the income situation of farms, but this will be assessed at the next stage of research.

The paper presents the results of estimation of the possibility of using flour from the grain of 13 winter cultivars of common wheat (Akteur, Alcazar, Batuta, Bogatka, Boomer, Jantarka, Jenga, Kohelia, Legenda, Mateja, Natula, Ostka Strzelecka, Ostroga) cultivated under the conditions of organic farming as raw material for pasta production.The scope of the study covered the evaluation of dough susceptibility to darkening, pasta preparation, estimation of selected chemical components, and of the culinary and sensory quality of the pasta.It was found that a majority of pasta doughs were characterised by medium susceptibility to darkening, and none of the pasta doughs was classified in the group with low susceptibility to darkening.The requirements of the pasta industry regarding that parameter were not met in the case of flour from the grain of 4 wheat cultivars (Alcazar, Jenga, Legenda, Nateja).All the pastas were characterised by a low total protein content, typical for products from organic raw materials (8.3-9.8%DM), and a low content of minerals (0.49-0.61% DM).They were characterised by good culinary quality -pasta dry matter losses during cooking ranged from 3.1 to 6.5%, and the values of the weight increase index from 2.9 to 3.2.Based on the results obtained, flour from the grain of the cultivars Bogatka and Natula was selected as potential raw material for pasta production.K e y w o r d s: winter wheat, organic farming, pasta, culinary quality, sensory quality

The aim of the study was to compare 10 winter triticale varieties according to their traits useful for cultivation in organic farming. The study was carried out in the years 2014–2017 in the experimental organic farm of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation–State Research Institute in Pulawy (Poland). The highest-yielding varieties under organic conditions were Pizarro and Subito. Borowik cultivar showed the highest competitive ability against weeds. The highest number of weeds was found in the Leontyno cultivar, which was connected to the lowest plant density, the lowest weight of the above-ground parts of the canopy and smaller value of tillering coefficient. The most affected by the fungal pathogens Drechslera tritici-repentis (Died.) Shoem. and Puccinia striiformis Schwein. were Fredro and Algoso. Cluster analyses indicated that the most useful cultivars for cultivation in the organic system were: Borowik, Subito, and Tomko, which all showed higher yielding potential, bigger competitiveness against weeds, and average resistance against fungal pathogens. Pizarro, Tulus, and Twingo, which showed high resistance to fungal pathogens with lower competitiveness to weeds, were classified to the second group of usefulness. The least useful for the organic system were: Algoso, Fredro, Grenado, and Leontyno.

The aim of this paper was to evaluation functional diversity in rhizosphere soils of new quality varieties of winter wheat cultivation in organic farming. Field experiments were carried out in 2017 and 2018. Twelve commercial winter wheat varieties were selected for testing: Arktis, Bellisa, Estivus, Fidelius, Hondia, Jantarka, KWS Ozon, Linus, Markiza, Ostka Strzelecka, Pokusa, and Rokosz. Winter wheat cultivars were chosen for their high yielding potential and good tolerance to fungal diseases. In the plant production conducted in accordance with the principles of organic farming, the selection of the best quality varieties is a key element of agrotechnics. The samples of rhizosphere soils were collected each year in two seasons: spring and summer. The basic parameters of soil biological activities and microbial biodiversity indicators were determined. The high variability of biological activity and functional diversity of rhizosphere soils in the growing season between particular varieties of winter wheat was observed. The rhizosphere soils from varieties such as Bellisa, Arktis, Jantarka, Fidelius, Ostka Strzelecka, Pokusa, Rokosz and KWS Ozon were characterized by high biological activity and functional biodiversity. On the other hand, the soils collected from the varieties Estivus, Fidelius, Jantarkaand Hondia were characterized by medium and low biological activity and biodiversity indices. The highest yield was found in winter wheat varieties such as Bellisa, Fidelius and Jantarka. The results of these analyses allows for a more complete characterization of the yield potential of the tested varieties and their suitability for cultivation in the conditions of organic farming, taking into account the biological activity of soils.

Triticale is an important feed component. Like other cereals, it can be infected by potentially mycotoxin-forming fungi of the Fusarium spp. In the years 2015–2017, the occurrence of fusariosis of ears and fungi colonizing winter triticale grain on selected cultivars cultivated in the organic system in two regions of the country was determined. Weather conditions during the flowering phase were not conducive to the infection by Fusarium spp., therefore, the symptoms were slight or trace. However, significant seed colonization by the pathogens was found. It varied depending on the year, cereal variety and location of the research. During the researched period in Grabów it averaged between 1.3 and 8.6% and in Tarasków between 2.1 and 13.0%, but in individual years it reached up to 22.8%. Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium poae were most frequently isolated from grain. Pszenżyto jest ważnym komponentem pasz. Podobnie jak inne rośliny zbożowe, może być porażane przez grzyby potencjalnie mykotoksynotwórcze rodzaju Fusarium. W latach 2015–2017 określano występowanie fuzariozy kłosów i grzybów zasiedlających ziarno pszenżyta ozimego na wybranych odmianach uprawianych w systemie ekologicznym, w dwóch regionach kraju. Warunki pogodowe w fazie kwitnienia nie sprzyjały infekcji przez Fusarium spp., stąd objawy chorobowe były niewielkie bądź śladowe. Jednak stwierdzono znaczne zasiedlenie ziarna przez te patogeny. Było ono zróżnicowane w zależności od roku, odmiany i lokalizacji doświadczenia, średnio za okres badań wynosiło w Grabowie od 1,3 do 8,6%, a w Taraskowie od 2,1 do 13,0%, ale w poszczególnych latach dochodziło nawet do 22,8%. Z ziarna najczęściej izolowano Fusarium avenaceum i Fusarium poae.

Changes of soil biological activity and microbial diversity were assessed after application of biochar in different doses. The biochar doses were determined based on the initial carbon content in the soil, and they were increased to 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, and 100% in the experimental conditions. The experiment design also included a control condition, which was not treated with biochar. The basic biological activities in the soil, i.e., enzymatic activity and the content of carbon and nitrogen in the microbial biomass, were determined. Additionally, the functional biodiversity of soil microorganisms was assessed using the Biolog EcoPlates method. It was demonstrated that biochar added to the soil at the dose of 10 to 20% significantly increased soil biological activity and functional diversity. The biochar dose of 10 to 20% was the optimal dose for enhancement of soil biological activity. This dose induced a significant increase in the total carbon content in the microbial biomass, enzymatic activity, and the overall content of total and easily extractable glomalins. The highest values of the Shannon and AWCD indices were determined in soil supplemented with 5 to 20% of biochar.