Effect of Long-term Reduced Tillage on Grain Yield, Grain Quality and Weed Infestation of Spring Wheat

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This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of long-term reduced tillage on grain yield, grain quality, and weed infestation of spring wheat. The experimental variables were three tillage systems: (a) conventional tillage (CT): shallow ploughing (10-12 cm) and harrowing after harvest of the previous crop, ploughing (25-30 cm) in the autumn; (b) reduced tillage (RT): only a cultivator (10-15 cm) used after harvest of the previous crop; and (c) herbicide tillage (HT): only using Roundup 360 SL after harvest of the previous crop. In the spring, a cultivation set consisting of a cultivator, a string roller, and a harrow (10-12 cm) was used on all plots. Spring wheat of Brawura cultivar was cultivated after two types of previous crop: (1) pea, and (2) spring wheat. The yield of wheat was higher in CT and RT systems, compared to the HT system. Higher yields were also obtained after pea than after spring wheat. Reduced grain yield on the HT plots resulted from a lower number of wheat plants per m2 and their lower productivity than in the CT and RT systems. The HT system reduced the grain volume weight and increased ash content in the grain, compared to CT and RT systems, whereas it had no effect on protein and gluten contents in the grain. Greater weed infestation of spring wheat crop occurred on HT and RT plots than on the CT plot.