Yield, yield formation, and blackleg disease of oilseed rape cultivated in high-intensity crop rotations. Issue 13 (10th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hegewald, Hannes; Koblenz, Barbara; Wensch-Dorendorf, Monika; Christen, Olaf
• Is Part Of: Archives of agronomy and soil science. Volume 63:Issue 13(2017)
• Page Start: 1785
• Page End: 1799
• Publication Date: 2017-11-10
• Subjects: Brassica napus L. -- crop rotation -- yield components -- Leptosphaeria maculans -- nitrogen fertilization; Horticulture -- Periodicals; Soils -- Periodicals; 630.5
• DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2017.1307508
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0365-0340

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The short-term economic benefit has in recent years prompted farmers to grow oilseed rape (OSR) ( Brassica napus L.) and thus the frequency of this crop increased in German crop rotations. Here, we investigate the impact of high-intensity OSR crop rotations on yield, yield formation, and blackleg disease ( Leptosphaeria maculans ) in a rotation experiment in the Hercynian dry region of Central Germany over two seasons (2014/2015 – 2015/2016). The preceding crop combinations compared were winter wheat (WW) ( Triticum aestivum L.)-WW, WW-OSR, OSR-OSR, and an OSR monoculture. Furthermore, the fertilizer treatments 120 kg N ha −1 and 180 kg N ha −1 were analyzed. Higher OSR cropping intensity decreased seed yields, however, with a variation among years and oil yield was highest when OSR was following WW-WW over both years. Minor differences were observed among the yield components, but significantly less pods per m 2 were developed in a long-term OSR monoculture. The disease assessment clearly showed an increased blackleg incidence and severity when OSR was grown successively. Results of our study emphasize that high-intensity OSR production will very likely be unsustainable over the long term associated with yield losses and increased infestation levels of blackleg disease.