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Cultivation of lentils had ended by mid-20th century in Germany, but a revival was initiated in the first decade of this millennium in Southwest Germany. However, knowledge of lentil cultivation was almost lost, and today’s yields are still low. To gain an overview of current farm practices and of factors that can help lentil cultivation thrive, 25 lentil farmers (21 organic, 4 conventional) from SW Germany answered questionnaires for agronomic data on lentil cultivation in the years 2015, 2016, and 2017. Eleven farmers took part in additional semi-structured interviews about their motivation and the most important factors (economic, ecological, and social) that encouraged them to grow lentils. Neither the lentil variety (Anicia, Späth’s Alblinse I and II), nor the companion crop for the usual mixed cropping (spring barley, oat, and camelina), significantly influenced lentil yield. If lentil cultivation is to further expand, data from more farmers could be evaluated and factors that contribute to crop thriving analyzed more clearly. The cultivation techniques currently practiced are diverse, and lentils integrate well into existing structures. Farmers appear motivated to grow lentils by good examples of colleagues, by availability of marketing channels, and by the desire to promote lentils’ ecological and social benefits.
Theresa Reif; Sabine Zikeli; Ann-Marleen Rieps; Carina Lang; Jens Hartung; Sabine Gruber. Reviving a Neglected Crop: A Case Study on Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) Cultivation in Germany. Sustainability 2020, 13, 133 .
AMA StyleTheresa Reif, Sabine Zikeli, Ann-Marleen Rieps, Carina Lang, Jens Hartung, Sabine Gruber. Reviving a Neglected Crop: A Case Study on Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) Cultivation in Germany. Sustainability. 2020; 13 (1):133.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTheresa Reif; Sabine Zikeli; Ann-Marleen Rieps; Carina Lang; Jens Hartung; Sabine Gruber. 2020. "Reviving a Neglected Crop: A Case Study on Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) Cultivation in Germany." Sustainability 13, no. 1: 133.
The cultivation area of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) is increasing in Germany as a way to ensure self-sufficiency through its use as feed and food. However, climatic conditions needed for soybean cultivation are not appropriate in all parts of the country. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation on soybean seed productivity and quality in central and south Germany. A multi-factorial field trial was carried out with three replicates at four locations in 2016 and five locations in 2017, testing 13 soybean varieties from the maturity groups MG 00 and MG 000. Considering all the tested factors, “variety” was highly significant concerning protein content (Ø 41.1% dry matter (DM)) and oil content (Ø 19.1% in DM), but not seed yield (Ø 40.5 dt ha−1).The broad sense heritability of protein content was H2 = 0.80 and of oil content H2 = 0.7. Protein and oil content were significantly negatively correlated (r = −0.82). Seed yield was significantly positively correlated with solar radiation (r = 0.32) and precipitation (r = 0.33), but significantly negatively with Crop Heat Units (CHU) (r = −0.42). Over both experimental years, varieties from maturity group MG 00 were less significantly correlated with the tested environmental factors than varieties from maturity group MG 000. None of the environmental factors tested significantly increased the protein or oil content of soybean. In growing areas with heat periods during ripening, protein content tended to be higher than in cooler areas; in areas with high solar radiation during flowering, protein content tended to be reduced.
Olena Sobko; Andreas Stahl; Volker Hahn; Sabine Zikeli; Wilhelm Claupein; Sabine Gruber. Environmental Effects on Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr) Production in Central and South Germany. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1847 .
AMA StyleOlena Sobko, Andreas Stahl, Volker Hahn, Sabine Zikeli, Wilhelm Claupein, Sabine Gruber. Environmental Effects on Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr) Production in Central and South Germany. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (12):1847.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOlena Sobko; Andreas Stahl; Volker Hahn; Sabine Zikeli; Wilhelm Claupein; Sabine Gruber. 2020. "Environmental Effects on Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr) Production in Central and South Germany." Agronomy 10, no. 12: 1847.
Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) is one of the most important crops worldwide. In several European countries such as Germany, soybean cultivation is not traditional and as such remains to be optimized. One option to increase soybean production is to adapt and improve the seeding system. To investigate the effects of different seeding systems on seed yield, seed protein, and oil content, plant characteristics were assessed using a two-factorial (two seeding systems and four cultivars) field trial over two years (2017–2018) at two locations in southeast Germany. The seeding systems were drill (row spacing 14 cm) and precision seeding (row spacing 28 cm), and the cultivars were Viola 000, Lissabon 000, ES Mentor 00, and Orion 00. Depending on the seeding system, a seed yield of 3.8 t ha−1 dry matter (DM), 40.9% protein content (DM), and 18.8% oil content (DM) was achieved by drilling, and 3.6 t ha−1 yield (DM), 40.1% protein content (DM), and 19.1% oil content (DM) with precision seeding (average across four cultivars, two locations, and two years). No significant effects of the seeding system on all seed and plant characteristics were observed. As drilling and precision seeding did not affect the seed yield, seed protein, oil contents, and plant characteristics of soybean in this study, farmers are able to choose the seeding system which fits best into their farms and is economically most viable.
Olena Sobko; Sabine Zikeli; Wilhelm Claupein; Sabine Gruber. Seed Yield, Seed Protein, Oil Content, and Agronomic Characteristics of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) Depending on Different Seeding Systems and Cultivars in Germany. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1020 .
AMA StyleOlena Sobko, Sabine Zikeli, Wilhelm Claupein, Sabine Gruber. Seed Yield, Seed Protein, Oil Content, and Agronomic Characteristics of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) Depending on Different Seeding Systems and Cultivars in Germany. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (7):1020.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOlena Sobko; Sabine Zikeli; Wilhelm Claupein; Sabine Gruber. 2020. "Seed Yield, Seed Protein, Oil Content, and Agronomic Characteristics of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) Depending on Different Seeding Systems and Cultivars in Germany." Agronomy 10, no. 7: 1020.
Biological and vegetarian raw food products, in particular based on legume sprouts, are an increasing food trend, due to their improved nutritional value when compared to seeds. Herein, protein and mineral profiles were studied in 12 lentil varieties, with varieties Du Puy, Kleine Schwarze, Rosana, Flora, Große Rote and Kleine Späths II demonstrating the highest protein percentages. After sprouting, protein percentages increased significantly in 10 of the 12 varieties, with the highest increases ranging between 20–23% in Dunkelgrün Marmorierte, Du Puy, Große Rote and Kleine Späths II varieties. While Fe concentration was significantly decreased in three varieties (Samos, Große Rote and Kleine Späths II), Zn and Mn were positively impacted by sprouting (p ≤ 0.05). Magnesium concentration was not affected by sprouting, while Ca and K had percentage increases between 41% and 58%, and 28% and 30%, respectively, in the best performing varieties (Kleine Schwarze, Dunkelgrün Marmorierte, Samos and Rosana). Regardless of the associated nutritional benefits, issues pertaining to sprouts microbiological safety must be ensured. The best results for the disinfection protocols were obtained when combining the seed treatment with SDS reagent followed by an Amukine application on the sprouts, which did not affect germination rates or sprout length. The increasing levels of sprout consumption throughout the world require efficient implementation of safety measures, as well as a knowledge-based selection for the nutritional quality of the seeds.
Carla S.Santos; Beatriz Silva; Luísa M.P.Valente; Sabine Gruber; Marta W.Vasconcelos. The Effect of Sprouting in Lentil (Lens culinaris) Nutritional and Microbiological Profile. Foods 2020, 9, 400 .
AMA StyleCarla S.Santos, Beatriz Silva, Luísa M.P.Valente, Sabine Gruber, Marta W.Vasconcelos. The Effect of Sprouting in Lentil (Lens culinaris) Nutritional and Microbiological Profile. Foods. 2020; 9 (4):400.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarla S.Santos; Beatriz Silva; Luísa M.P.Valente; Sabine Gruber; Marta W.Vasconcelos. 2020. "The Effect of Sprouting in Lentil (Lens culinaris) Nutritional and Microbiological Profile." Foods 9, no. 4: 400.
A joint assessment of two separate approaches investigated the occurrence of volunteer oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.; OSR) as affected by cultivar, field history and environment. Approach I comprised surveys for volunteers on >100 farmers’ fields in Germany in the years 2009 and 2010. Volunteers were assigned to the cultivars grown in previous years by inter-simple sequence repeat-PCR and cluster analysis. High-dormancy cultivars resulted in 0–7 and low-dormancy cultivars in 0–1.3 volunteers m−2. Highest numbers originated from the most recent harvests 2007 and 2006. Approach II was a meta-analysis based on 116 data sets from field trials and farmers’ fields in Germany to evaluate and to rank the impact of management factors on the soil seedbank and volunteers in following crops. Varietal disposition to seed dormancy turned out to be the significantly most relevant factor. The contribution of varietal dormancy to variation in the soil seedbank and of volunteers in the 1st and 2nd following crop was 1.2–2.3 times as great as the contribution of post-harvest tillage. Up to 45% of the variation in the observations originated from factors that can be controlled by human actions on a given location in a given year. The overall analysis confirmed the results from independent short-term trials and showed that both agronomists and breeders need to contribute to reducing OSR volunteers.
S Gruber; E A Weber; H Thole; J Mohring; A Dietz-Pfeilstetter; W Claupein. Impact of cultivar on survival of volunteer oilseed rape populations in fields is more important than field management. Weed Research 2018, 58, 89 -98.
AMA StyleS Gruber, E A Weber, H Thole, J Mohring, A Dietz-Pfeilstetter, W Claupein. Impact of cultivar on survival of volunteer oilseed rape populations in fields is more important than field management. Weed Research. 2018; 58 (2):89-98.
Chicago/Turabian StyleS Gruber; E A Weber; H Thole; J Mohring; A Dietz-Pfeilstetter; W Claupein. 2018. "Impact of cultivar on survival of volunteer oilseed rape populations in fields is more important than field management." Weed Research 58, no. 2: 89-98.
Only 34% of all German farms apply reduced tillage (RT), while approximately 1% of the arable land is under no-tillage (NT). Statistics for organic farming are not available, but the percentages are probably even lower. The development of German organic RT and NT has been strongly driven by pioneer farmers for 40 years, and supported by field trials since the 1990s. The main motive for conversion to RT is increased soil quality, followed by reduced labor costs. NT combined with high-residue cover crops plays only a very small role. Rather, German organic farmers resort to shallow ploughing, a reduced number of ploughing operations in the rotation and/or substitution of the ploughing with non-inversion tillage. In field trials, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields were reduced up to 67% by using RT methods compared to inversion tillage treatments due to reduced mineralization and increased weed pressure, both of which are major obstacles that impede the wider adoption of RT and NT by German organic farmers. Improvement of NT and RT (rotations, implements, timing) in organic farming is a task of both agricultural practice and science. A number of conventional farmers who have recently converted to organic farming are already familiar with RT. These farmers will act as a thriving factor to implement their experience after conversion and contribute to further innovations of RT in organic farming.
Sabine Zikeli; Sabine Gruber. Reduced Tillage and No-Till in Organic Farming Systems, Germany—Status Quo, Potentials and Challenges. Agriculture 2017, 7, 35 .
AMA StyleSabine Zikeli, Sabine Gruber. Reduced Tillage and No-Till in Organic Farming Systems, Germany—Status Quo, Potentials and Challenges. Agriculture. 2017; 7 (4):35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSabine Zikeli; Sabine Gruber. 2017. "Reduced Tillage and No-Till in Organic Farming Systems, Germany—Status Quo, Potentials and Challenges." Agriculture 7, no. 4: 35.
Lisa Pataczek; Antigoni Cheilari; Sabine Zikeli; Sonja Sturm; Hermann Stuppner; Sabine Gruber. Centaurium erythraea Cultivation Method for Optimal Yield and Product Quality. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants 2017, 26, 1 -23.
AMA StyleLisa Pataczek, Antigoni Cheilari, Sabine Zikeli, Sonja Sturm, Hermann Stuppner, Sabine Gruber. Centaurium erythraea Cultivation Method for Optimal Yield and Product Quality. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants. 2017; 26 (3):1-23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLisa Pataczek; Antigoni Cheilari; Sabine Zikeli; Sonja Sturm; Hermann Stuppner; Sabine Gruber. 2017. "Centaurium erythraea Cultivation Method for Optimal Yield and Product Quality." Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants 26, no. 3: 1-23.
Linseed contains substantial amounts of desired ingredients, such as omega-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid) and antioxidants, as well as undesired ingredients such as cyanogenic glycosides and cadmium. This paper presents and discusses the abiotic factors which influence quality and yield of linseed seeds in organic cropping systems. In temperate climates, conventional farmers can harvest more than 2.0 t seed ha−1, with oil contents ranging from 35 to 44 %. Organic trials usually had lower yields with up to approximately 1.8 t seed ha−1 in temperate, continental, and Mediterranean conditions. Cool climatic conditions in temperate regions lead to high shares (>60 %) of omega-3 fatty acids related to total oil content in organic farming as well as in conventional farming. Linseed achieved maximum yields of seeds and omega-3 fatty acids with a fertilization level of less than approximately 110 kg nitrogen ha−1. High levels of nitrogen fertilization did not benefit the content of omega-3 fatty acids; increasing the nitrogen fertilization from 52 to 260 kg ha−1 reduced the content of α-linolenic acid by 7.25 % in a trial. The content of cyanogenic compounds turned out to be positively correlated with the protein content of the seeds and the nitrogen fertilization; therefore, the usually moderate level of nitrogen supply in organic crop rotations could keep the content of cyanogenic glycosides on a comparatively low level, compared to cropping systems with higher nitrogen levels. Linseed is a hyper-accumulator of cadmium; the total cadmium content in the seeds is determined by the cadmium content of the soil and the linseed variety. Generally, the choice of linseed variety influences the quality of the seed, and respective varieties must be chosen to improve product quality. Harvest, post-harvest, and processing conditions additionally affect seed and oil quality. Heating can reduce the unwanted cyanogenic glycosides, but it also reduces the content of desired anti-oxidants and of omega-3 fatty acids. All in all, low overall nitrogen levels in organic cropping systems may offer the option to produce linseed seeds and oil with high levels of omega-3 fatty acid and low cyanogenic glycosides, with yields similar to conventional farming. In organic farming systems, the risk of elevated cadmium contents in linseed is low as synthetic P fertilizers are prohibited and raw phosphates are rarely used, thus minimizing the input of cadmium via fertilizers. As high product quality can be maintained or even improved by organic farming practices, linseed is suitable as an oil crop in organic farming that allows diversification of the crop rotation.
Jonas Klein; Sabine Zikeli; Wilhelm Claupein; Sabine Gruber. Linseed (Linum usitatissimum) as an oil crop in organic farming: abiotic impacts on seed ingredients and yield. Organic Agriculture 2016, 7, 1 -19.
AMA StyleJonas Klein, Sabine Zikeli, Wilhelm Claupein, Sabine Gruber. Linseed (Linum usitatissimum) as an oil crop in organic farming: abiotic impacts on seed ingredients and yield. Organic Agriculture. 2016; 7 (1):1-19.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonas Klein; Sabine Zikeli; Wilhelm Claupein; Sabine Gruber. 2016. "Linseed (Linum usitatissimum) as an oil crop in organic farming: abiotic impacts on seed ingredients and yield." Organic Agriculture 7, no. 1: 1-19.
A field experiment was performed in Southwest Germany to examine the effects of long-term reduced tillage (2000–2012). Tillage treatments were deep moldboard plow: DP, 25 cm; double-layer plow; DLP, 15 + 10 cm, shallow moldboard plow: SP, 15 cm and chisel plow: CP, 15 cm, each of them with or without preceding stubble tillage. The mean yields of a typical eight-year crop rotation were 22% lower with CP compared to DP, and 3% lower with SP and DLP. Stubble tillage increased yields by 11% across all treatments. Soil nutrients were high with all tillage strategies and amounted for 34–57 mg kg−1 P and 48–113 mg kg−1 K (0–60 cm soil depth). Humus budgets showed a high carbon input via crops but this was not reflected in the actual Corg content of the soil. Corg decreased as soil depth increased from 13.7 g kg−1 (0–20 cm) to 4.3 g kg−1 (40–60 cm) across all treatments. After 12 years of experiment, SP and CP resulted in significantly higher Corg content in 0–20 cm soil depth, compared to DP and DLP. Stubble tillage had no significant effect on Corg. Stubble tillage combined with reduced primary tillage can sustain yield levels without compromising beneficial effects from reduced tillage on Corg and available nutrient content.
Sabine Zikeli; Sabine Gruber; Claus-Felix Teufel; Karin Hartung; Wilhelm Claupein. Effects of Reduced Tillage on Crop Yield, Plant Available Nutrients and Soil Organic Matter in a 12-Year Long-Term Trial under Organic Management. Sustainability 2013, 5, 3876 -3894.
AMA StyleSabine Zikeli, Sabine Gruber, Claus-Felix Teufel, Karin Hartung, Wilhelm Claupein. Effects of Reduced Tillage on Crop Yield, Plant Available Nutrients and Soil Organic Matter in a 12-Year Long-Term Trial under Organic Management. Sustainability. 2013; 5 (9):3876-3894.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSabine Zikeli; Sabine Gruber; Claus-Felix Teufel; Karin Hartung; Wilhelm Claupein. 2013. "Effects of Reduced Tillage on Crop Yield, Plant Available Nutrients and Soil Organic Matter in a 12-Year Long-Term Trial under Organic Management." Sustainability 5, no. 9: 3876-3894.
The potential of oilseed rape seeds from harvest losses to persist in the soil and to emerge later as volunteers in following crops is mainly driven by the ability of the seeds to go into dormancy under certain soil conditions. Using low-dormant oilseed rape cultivars could reduce volunteer problems considerably, but up to now there are unanswered questions as to whether (1) the trait is heritable and robust in different environments and whether (2) the variability in dormancy between and within cultivars allows for the selection of low-dormancy lines. Three field trials and one greenhouse trial were conducted from 2008 to 2010 at two locations in South West and Northern Germany to assess the effect of cultivar, location and year on dormancy characteristics of open-pollinated winter oilseed rape cultivars. A simple selection was performed in the field and in the greenhouse for low-dormant individual plants, and the offspring of these plants (potential volunteers) were tested for the stability of the trait under field conditions. Dormancy was mainly influenced by cultivar, and to a lesser extent by location, year and their interactions. There was also variation between cultivars depending on location and year between 1% and 90%, with a heritability of the trait ‘dormancy’ of h2 = 0.96. The dormancy values of the seeds from cultivars at both locations in both years were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.93). Individual plants within nearly every cultivar also varied significantly in their dormancy potential. The offspring of low-dormant individual plants, which had been selected from different cultivars, also produced seeds with a level of dormancy < 5% under field conditions. In conclusion it seems feasible to use the trait ‘low dormancy’ in oilseed rape to successfully control volunteers in following crops in different environments. Variability of the dormancy trait between and within cultivars should enable breeders to select low-dormancy cultivars or individual plants to further develop low-dormant lines from nearly every open-pollinated cultivar.
Ernst Albrecht Weber; Sabine Gruber; Falko Stockmann; Wilhelm Claupein. Can low-dormancy oilseed rape (Brassica napus) genotypes be used to minimize volunteer problems? Field Crops Research 2013, 147, 32 -39.
AMA StyleErnst Albrecht Weber, Sabine Gruber, Falko Stockmann, Wilhelm Claupein. Can low-dormancy oilseed rape (Brassica napus) genotypes be used to minimize volunteer problems? Field Crops Research. 2013; 147 ():32-39.
Chicago/Turabian StyleErnst Albrecht Weber; Sabine Gruber; Falko Stockmann; Wilhelm Claupein. 2013. "Can low-dormancy oilseed rape (Brassica napus) genotypes be used to minimize volunteer problems?" Field Crops Research 147, no. : 32-39.
Power based on biomass, in particular biogas, is increasing, with a concomitant increase in the need for energy crop production. The objective of this study was to determine the profitability of biogas substrate production on a marginal site in southwestern Germany. The effects of crop rotation and nitrogen fertilization level were evaluated in a three-year filed experiment. Production costs for supply of biogas substrates and sales of produced electricity were assessed using five crop rotations (CR1: annual monoculture maize; CR2: perennial monoculture perennial ryegrass; CR3: perennial monoculture Jerusalem artichoke; CR4: three-course crop rotation of sorghum – winter triticale – clover grass; CR5: four-course crop rotation of catch crop – maize – winter wheat – winter triticale) and three nitrogen fertilization levels (zero, middle and high levels of nitrogen). The variables were production costs, dry matter yield, substrate costs, energy output, biomass energy supply price, biomass energy sales price and sale/supply ratio. Production costs increased in the order CR4 (1252 € ha−1 a−1) < CR2 (1256 € ha−1 a−1) < CR5 (1404 € ha−1 a−1) < CR3 (1462 € ha−1 a−1) < CR1 (1649 € ha−1 a−1) due to differing mechanical cultivation needs. Dry matter yields ranged from 10.8 t ha−1 a−1 (CR3) to 4.0 t ha−1 a−1 (CR2) and showed significantly higher yields with increasing fertilization levels. Accounting for all variables, the lowest biomass energy supply price was achieved with CR3 (6.6 ct kWh−1), and increased in the order CR1 < CR5 < CR4 < CR2 (12.4 ct kWh−1). It was determined that only CR3 and CR1 were effective for the production of biogas substrates on marginal sites. The biogas substrate costs of the remaining crop rotations were not compensated for by the sale of electricity.
Karin Wünsch; Sabine Gruber; Wilhelm Claupein. Profitability analysis of cropping systems for biogas production on marginal sites in southwestern Germany. Renewable Energy 2012, 45, 213 -220.
AMA StyleKarin Wünsch, Sabine Gruber, Wilhelm Claupein. Profitability analysis of cropping systems for biogas production on marginal sites in southwestern Germany. Renewable Energy. 2012; 45 ():213-220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKarin Wünsch; Sabine Gruber; Wilhelm Claupein. 2012. "Profitability analysis of cropping systems for biogas production on marginal sites in southwestern Germany." Renewable Energy 45, no. : 213-220.
Conventional tillage systems with high soil disturbance are being steadily replaced by tillage systems with low or no soil disturbance. An approach using three methodological steps (greenhouse, deliberate seed burial and field) revealed the long-term vertical distribution and losses of a soil seed bank as effects of different tillage operations. Seeds (oilseed rape; Brassica napus L.) and seed substitutes (plastic pellets) acted as models for a seed bank. (a) A pot experiment in the greenhouse showed that emergence rates were highest in soil depths of 1–5 cm. Germination and emergence was clearly reduced in depths of 0 and 7 cm, and emergence was completely inhibited at 12 cm. About 40–50% of seeds fell dormant in 0 and 12 cm depth, while almost no seeds fell dormant in 1–7 cm depth. (b) The high-dormancy variety Smart persisted to a high extent (60% of the initial seed number), but only 8% of seeds of the low-dormancy variety Express persisted over 4.5 years, after deliberate seed burial. Seed persistence was similar in all soil depths of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm. (c) The field experiment lasted from 2004 to 2009 and had different tillage treatments of inversion and non-inversion tillage: stubble tillage immediately after harvest combined with primary tillage by mouldboard plough (SP), chisel plough (SC), or rototiller (SRTT); primary tillage without stubble tillage by mouldboard plough (P), chisel plough (C); or no tillage (NT). The seed bank from an artificial seed rain of 20,000 seeds m−2 was significantly higher in all treatments with immediate stubble tillage, and clearly declined over time. However, seed bank depletion was slow once a seed bank had been established. The distribution of oilseed rape seeds and plastic pellets (7000 pellets m−2 broadcast) tended to equalise over the soil layers of 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm over the course of five years. Since seed bank depletion was not attributable to a specific soil depth, shallow and low disturbance tillage did not generally result in a high seed persistence. More important than the depth was the timing of tillage. Though no-till systems provided conditions for seeds to fall dormant at the soil surface to a small extent, the effect lasted only for a limited time. Seed substitutes can be well used in methodological approaches to picture movement of seeds in the soil in order to optimize tillage strategies in agricultural practice.
Sabine Gruber; Alexander Bühler; Jens Möhring; Wilhelm Claupein. Sleepers in the soil—Vertical distribution by tillage and long-term survival of oilseed rape seeds compared with plastic pellets. European Journal of Agronomy 2010, 33, 81 -88.
AMA StyleSabine Gruber, Alexander Bühler, Jens Möhring, Wilhelm Claupein. Sleepers in the soil—Vertical distribution by tillage and long-term survival of oilseed rape seeds compared with plastic pellets. European Journal of Agronomy. 2010; 33 (2):81-88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSabine Gruber; Alexander Bühler; Jens Möhring; Wilhelm Claupein. 2010. "Sleepers in the soil—Vertical distribution by tillage and long-term survival of oilseed rape seeds compared with plastic pellets." European Journal of Agronomy 33, no. 2: 81-88.