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The impact of irrigation and basal and top dressing fertilisation on the chlorophyll concentration and yield of maize hybrids in extreme dry years
7-30Views:103The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of irrigation and the amount and timing of application of nitrogen basal and top dressing fertilisation on the chlorophyll concentration (SPAD) and grain yield of maize hybrids of different genotypes on chernozem soil with lime deposits in an extreme dry year (2022). It was shown that moisture deficit impaired the uptake and utilisation of fertilisers by plants. The SPAD value was not affected by fertiliser application in the non-irrigated version, with the expection of the Fornad hybrid (V12180, p<0.05). In the irrigated version, all three hybrids reached the maximum value (p<0.05) under the A60 treatment. Chlorophyll concentration was extremely low at all developmental stages due to drought. The maximum SPAD value (p<0.05) (43.2–48.8) was reached at the V8 phenophase in both the non-irrigated and irrigated versions, and then decreased significantly (10.5–15.4) by the harvesting period. A difference in SPAD value was detected between the hybrids at the early vegetation period, between Armagnac and Merida (p<0.05), where Merida had higher SPAD values in both versions. Yield was increased (p<0.05) when N was applied as a basal fertiliser (A120) at 120 kg/ha, except for the non-irrigated version of the Merida hybrid, which is indicative of the drought tolerance of the hybrid (41.0 SPAD value, V6150 treatment, 10.060 t/ha). Chlorophyll content is sensitive to moisture deficit, so that chlorophyll degradation started early in the growing season, irrigation delayed this process, which was reflected in grain yield depending on genotype and fertiliser treatment. The effect of irrigation was greatest in the treatment V6150 (5.267 t/ha) of the Armagnac hybrid, V690 (4.075 t/ha) of the Fornad hybrid and A120 (4.160 t/ha) of the Merida hybrid. It was found that, under specific conditions (extreme drought), chlorophyll concentration is an effective aid in selecting drought tolerant hybrids. Furthermore, under natural rainfall conditions, in extreme drought years, the early maturity Merida (FAO 380) hybrid can be recommended for cultivation with the V6150 treatment, while the medium maturity Armagnac (FAO 490) hybrid can be recommended for cultivation by applying the A120 treatment, if irrigation is possible. The one-year results of the field experiment are not sufficient to make a definite conclusion, but such an extreme drought year has not occurred in Hungary for four decades. -
Analysis of the effect of agrotechnical parameters and crop year on maize (Zea mays L.) yield using polyfactorial yield trial data
77-100Views:159Field crop production is of paramount importance, the fundamental basis of food production and the source of our livelihood. Maize is one of the world's most important crops, essential for both food and energy security. The research was carried out in Hungary, at the University of Debrecen's Látókép Experimental Site, on calcareous chernozem soil in a complex tillage experiment, set up in 1989 by Prof. Dr. János Nagy. The analysis of the examined years (2015–2023) was carried out in a similar way as in the research of Gombos and Nagy (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024), i.e. we examined the deviation of the total precipitation and mean annual temperature of the given year from the 30-year (1981–2010) site average. RStudio and repeated measures model and LSD post hoc test are used to analyse the maize yield data.
Of the nine years studied, 2015 was the year with the third lowest significant maize yield (7.94 t/ha). The subsequent year 2016 yielded the second highest significant maize yield of the studied period (11.39 t/ha), The 2017 yield (8.64 t/ha) was significantly lower than the preceding year, while 2018 was more favourable for maize (9.18 t/ha). The 2019 harvest produced the statistically third highest maize yield (9.42 t/ha) in the studied period. The yield of 2020 (9.24 t/ha) was not significantly different from that of 2018, but was statistically different from all other years. The yield of maize in the unfavourable year 2021 (7.05 t/ha) was statistically the second lowest in the studied period. Of the nine studied years, the most unfavourable year for maize was the record drought year of 2022, when a yield of 2.52 t/ha was observed. The following year, 2023, recorded the highest maize yield of the studied period, 11.97 t/ha. The greatest impact on maize yield was exerted by the crop year with 73.5%, followed by fertilisation with 24.7%. The effect of tillage was 1%, because the different base crops performed differently depending on the crop year, thus neutralising the effect. -
Agrometeorological characteristics of the 2025 maize growing season in the Debrecen region
45-55Views:158In Hungary, soil drought, atmospheric drought, and extremely high temperatures often interact in complex ways to cause significant maize yield losses, so the issue of drought was also the focus of the agrometeorological study for 2025. As in previous years, the main meteorological factors determining crop yield were analysed and the weather in the Debrecen region was evaluated in relation to the individual phenological phases.
At the beginning of the growing season, the upper soil layers were saturated with water, but slightly less water than usual reached the deeper layers. April, which is favorable for maize (sowing and germination period), was followed by a particularly cool May, significantly slowing down plant development. Due to the very dry, very hot June, signs of water stress were already visible to the naked eye in the second half of the month (plant height, leaf condition), as a result of increasing soil drought and regular atmospheric drought during the daytime. July proved to be favorable with rainy and moderately warm weather, which was the main reason why the average maize yield was above average. In line with previous research results, this year's harvest proves that the seemingly extremely unfavorable weather in June does not in itself prevent above-average yields. -
Analysis of the yield parameters of super sweet maize (Zea mays L. convar saccharata Koern) in different crop years under irrigation
29-46Views:153The success of sweet maize production is mainly determined by the significant variation in the effects of the crop year. In Hungary, a large number of drought periods justify the use of irrigation. Without irrigation, cultivation is risky, and in a severely drought year, even the return on costs is uncertain. Our tests were carried out in three different years (2020, 2021, 2022). In the growing season (May-August), the rainfall was 138 mm more in 2020, 65 mm less in 2021 and 140 mm less in 2022 compared to the long-term average. The water requirements of sweet maize were met by drip irrigation throughout the period. Based on the experimental results, compared to the yield of 11,359 t/ha in the extreme dry year of 2022, the yield was 5,828 t/ha higher in 2020 and 7,127 t/ha higher in 2021. Based on the results of the scientific research, it has been concluded that sweet maize production without irrigation is risky, but in extreme drought years irrigation cannot fully compensate for the weather effect due to high heat stress. -
Correlation between quality and quantity of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in different crop years
103-118Views:75Winter wheat is one of the most popular arable crops in Hungary and worldwide. Its cultivation dates back thousands of years and it is one of the most versatile crops. Its most important role lies in human nutrition, as it is an important staple food for mankind. The global population boom has led to an increasing demand for food raw materials of sufficient quantity and quality. The most important quality parameters for winter wheat are protein content, gluten content, gluten content, starch content and Zeleny index.
In this comparative genotype experiment, the quality parameters and the relationship between the quantity and quality of winter wheat of different genotypes were investigated in two different rainfall years: a drought year (2021/2022) and a rainfall year (2022/2023). The obtained results show that in the rainy year, the genotypes had significantly higher yield averages and on average higher values for moisture and protein content. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the quantity and quality of yield for each genotype in both growing seasons and averaged over the two growing seasons. It was found that quality parameters were negatively correlated with yield quantity when averaged over the two examined years and genotypes. -
Effect of the year on yield, grain moisture, and quality parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) (2020–2023)
51-68Views:195Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important arable crops in Hungary, whose yield stability and quality have increasingly depended on annual and climatic conditions in recent years. The period between 2020 and 2023 clearly illustrates that variability in temperature and precipitation patterns fundamentally determines yield performance, grain moisture content, and quality parameters. While in 2020 balanced heat and water availability ensured high yields, favorable starch content, and an extended ripening period, in 2022 the extreme drought and record-high temperatures resulted in a drastic yield reduction, low grain moisture, and moderate starch content.
During critical phenological phases – particularly flowering and grain filling – heat stress and water shortage greatly influenced pollination success, dry matter accumulation, and thus overall crop quality. In unfavorable years, an increase in protein and oil content at the expense of starch was often observed, indicating an inverse relationship between quantitative and qualitative parameters. Although lower grain moisture at harvest can offer technological advantages, rapid water loss may lead to structural damage and an increased risk of mycotoxin contamination.
The results of the examined period highlight that extreme weather factors caused by climate change—heatwaves, drought periods, and precipitation deficits—not only limit yield potential but also alter quality traits. Therefore, in the future, adapting to year-to-year variations will play a key role: the use of stress-tolerant hybrids, optimization of sowing dates, adoption of water-conserving tillage practices, and targeted irrigation strategies can collectively enhance the stability of maize production under changing agroclimatic conditions. -
Possibilities of reducing drought stress through various foliar treatments in potato (Solanum tuberosum) during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons
97-136Views:83Increasing drought caused by climate change poses a significant challenge to potato production. In our experiment conducted in Sonkád (Hungary), different leaf treatments and irrigation regimens were tested over two growing seasons in a randomized block design using the Manitou variety. During the experiment, three irrigation rates (full, 50%, and dry control) were used, along with four foliar treatments – salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, silicon, and micronutrients – which were applied exclusively to the non-irrigated plots. A total of seven different treatments were carried out in four replicates. Based on the results from the two growing seasons, the silicon, hydrogen peroxide, microcomplex, and salicylic acid foliar treatments significantly increased the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) compared to the control and the irrigated treatments. On average over the two years, the NDVI value was significantly increased by the silicon, hydrogen peroxide, microcomplex, and salicylic acid foliar treatments compared to the control, and no statistical difference was observed in performance between the full-dose irrigation treatment and the listed treatments. NDVI measurements taken at various time points confirmed that treatments with the tested substances were able to slow chlorophyll degradation and maintain the integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus even during the critical post-flowering period. In the case of the leaf area index, the highest value was observed in the treatment irrigated with the full dose, but no significant difference was found compared to the performance of the silicon, hydrogen peroxide, microcomplex, and salicylic acid treatments. At the same time, the most important indicator in terms of yield was irrigation, which had a significant impact in both years. Although the foliar treatments mitigated stress and improved plant vitality, they did not result in a statistically significant increase in yield compared to the untreated control. -
The impact of drought on winter wheat yield under conventional and reduced tillage systems in the Nagykunság region
3-18Views:80In the present study, the effects of reduced and conventional tillage on the grain yield of winter wheat were investigated during the extremely dry 2021/2022 growing season in Karcag, Hungary. The research was conducted within the framework of the local long-term soil tillage experiment, where the reduced tillage plots have been managed since 1997 using non-inversion, loosening-based primary tillage and mulch farming. The soil of the experimental site is a clayey loam textured, deep-saline meadow chernozem. The experiment was carried out in four replications on meso-plots (1890 m²). For the evaluation of the results, key local meteorological data were considered, including precipitation totals, temperature data, and potential evapotranspiration (PET), from which the climatic water balance (CWB) was calculated. Descriptive statistical parameters were determined, and following a (positive) homogeneity test, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. Based on the results, reduced tillage achieved an experimental average of 4.45 (±0.10) t ha⁻¹, significantly outperforming (p<0.05) the conventional, moldboard ploughing-based tillage yield of 3.62 (±0.29) t ha⁻¹. The processing and evaluation of meteorological data revealed that the 2021/2022 growing season in Karcag was extremely dry for winter wheat production, particularly during the critical spring vegetative and especially the reproductive stages. This drought intensified the differences in soil water management between reduced and ploughing-based conventional tillage systems. Based on these findings, the previously described soil moisture-conserving effect of reduced tillage was confirmed, and it was concluded that significant yield surpluses can be achieved with reduced tillage in winter wheat production during drought years. -
Analysing the yield elements of sweet maize (Zea mays conv. saccharata Koern) in irrigation production
97-111Views:182The success of sweet maize cultivation is affected by a number of environmental and technological factors. In addition to choosing the appropriate genotypes to cope with stress effects, it is important to use precision farming techniques, nutrient supply and irrigation adapted to the genotype. Sweet maize is one of the most drought-sensitive crops in arable farming, therefore, the use of precision irrigation farming techniques is essential for successful management. Our experiments were carried out under controlled conditions in three different crop years (2020, 2021, 2022). In June and July, irrigation was carried out with drip irrigation. The raw grain weight per hectare of the GSS sweet maize hybrid differed significantly from year to year. In the unfavourable year 2022, the raw grain yield was 10.400 t/ha. In contrast, in 2021 and 2020, the grain yield was significantly higher, at 1.466 and 2.810 tonnes per hectare, respectively. We measured close, consistent relationships between rainfall and irrigation volume when analysing the combined water use. For 1 mm of water (from precipitation and irrigation), we measured 27.1 kg of grain weight in 2020; 25.6 kg in 2021; and 23.5 kg in the unfavourable growing year 2022.
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