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Impact of different tillage systems on the yield parameters, protein, carbohydrate and oil content of different genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids
37-57Views:39The aim of our research is to investigate the effect of different tillage systems on maize parameters (yield, grain moisture content at harvest) and on the nutritional value parameters (starch, protein, oil content). The ploughing primary tillage of maize was compared with the tillage practices (disc tillage, straight knife tillage, strip tillage) that are beneficial for soil structure conservation. The study was carried out in two different crop years with two different rainfall distributions, 2020 and 2021, on mid-heavy meadow chernozem soil in the outskirts of Nádudvar, in a mesoparcel experiment with three hybrids of different maturity (FAO 380, FAO 420, FAO 490).
In 2020, pre-sowing rainfall was low in March and April, only 23% and 39% of the multi-year average, which did not favour spring-sown crops, including maize. In June and July, on the other hand, rainfall was 256% and 217% of the multi-year average. In April, only 52% of the multi-year average fell, while in May it was 144% of the multi-year average. The year as a whole was extremely dry compared to the multi-year average, especially in June and July, when rainfall was only 14% and 69% of the multi-year average, respectively.
The impact of the tillage method on yields was significant in both examined years. In 2020, the yield of ploughing (15.84 t ha-1) was higher than both strip and conservation tillage. In 2021, ploughing was also the highest (5.46 t ha-1), higher than all other tillage methods, but 10.37 t ha-1 lower than in 2020.
In 2020 and 2021, the ranking of hybrids by yield was different. The best yield in 2020 was achieved by the FAO 490 hybrid (16.18 t ha-1), significantly higher than the other two hybrids. In the dry season, the FAO 420 hybrid was able to achieve the highest yield (4.33 t ha-1). Content value analysis of maize grains showed different results in the two crop years. In 2020, the oil content was significantly higher in the reduced tillage of the four tillage methods, with no real difference in the other methods. The analysis of starch content showed no significant difference between ploughing, conservation tillage and strip tillage, and no measurable difference between reduced and strip tillage. The protein content in 2021 showed a difference, with ploughing and conservation tillage demonstrably lower than reduced tillage. Compared to 2020, protein content increased from 6% to 8% in 2021. There was also a significant difference in starch content, with 66% in 2020 and 62% in 2021. -
Evaluation of soil penetration resistance in different tillage systems
119-140Views:43In addition to traditional tillage systems, more biologically based farming systems have emerged. New tillage systems can be developed using various scientific results and technical technological possibilities. This research started six years ago and the results of the last two years are presented here. In the examination, four different tillage systems have been established on the same site. Measuring penetration resistance is a common technique for evaluating field effects and the effects of tillage systems on soil can be evaluated using this value.
The performed measurements show that conventional tillage systems based on ploughing develop a fundamentally different structure in the soil section up to 50 cm than the three different no-tillage systems examined. -
The effects of precision maize (Zea mays L.) sowing systems adapted to tillage systems on the emergence dynamics of maize
85-106Views:41Recent years have brought a change of approach to soil management. An increasing number of farmers are changing their approach from the conventional approach to a variety of no-tillage solutions. In many cases, these are only partial, depending on the previous crop and the given area. Often farms perceive the need for a different agro-technology, if they change tillage practices, they also have to change their sowing methods.
This research looks at different tillage systems and their effects on the environment. In this context, we will investigate conventional and multiple no-tillage systems, and the emergence time of maize hybrids under the environmental conditions created by different tillage systems. The studies were conducted in a multi-factorial, long-term tillage field experiment. We present the investigation of different sowing technology solutions. Three different sowing carriage loading systems were mounted on the same sowing machines. With these solutions, the same seed lot of the same maize hybrid was sown in several crop years. In addition to investigating the effects of environmental conditions, the effects of each system on emergence were recorded.
Our research results demonstrate that maize emergence under the influence of precision seeder loading systems, which can automatically and instantaneously adapt to environmental conditions, is significantly more uniform and faster than that of mechanical systems. -
Complex long-term tillage experiment
31-39Views:46The complex long-term tillage experiment (crop rotation × tillage × fertilisation × irrigation × plant density × genotype) was established in Debrecen in 1989 by Professor János Nagy on the proposal of Academician Béla Győrffy, and is unique in Europe.
The results of our research show that the effects of production factors (irrigation, tillage, plant density, fertilisation) are not independent of each other. We have shown that the interaction between irrigation × fertiliser and plant density × fertiliser is positive, and therefore all three factors should be changed simultaneously when choosing or changing the production level. The values for the main average of the experiment represent a medium (mid-tech) production level when the variance components are decomposed. When aiming for a lower (low-input) production level, it should be taken into account that a reduction in one of the production factors will also diminish the effect of the other two factors. Relatively higher inputs of the two factors will not be efficient. Our research has shown that whatever level of production is desired, the most favourable interaction between water, nutrient supply and plant number must be ensured at the same time. -
Analysis of the effect of agrotechnical parameters and crop year on maize (Zea mays L.) yield using polyfactorial yield trial data
77-100Views:42Field 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. -
Determination of the extent of maize stem base disease in different tillage systems
81-94Views:37In recent years, corn stem base rot has received less attention, primarily due to advancements in breeding activities. However, given the increasing climatic extremes and the intensification of cultivation technologies, it remains crucial to address this syndrome, as it significantly impacts yield. The inoculum persisting in the corn stalks left on the field poses a threat to subsequent crops in the crop rotation, increasing protection costs. The aim of our research was to rapidly and quantitatively assess the resistance of corn stalk rind under different tillage systems. Our results indicate that the severity of stem base infection varied across tillage practices. The lowest infection rate was observed in conventional tillage (12%), whereas strip-till systems exhibited significantly higher levels (24.5%). Although stalk breakage did not occur by the end of the growing season, plants affected by stem base rot produced 12.5% lower yields compared to healthy ones. -
Plant health studies based on multispectral images in autumn cereal crops
95-108Views:17The development of precision agriculture and digitalisation has brought significant changes in agricultural technology and data-driven decision-making. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and multispectral imaging technologies are effective tools for monitoring plant populations and detecting stress conditions (abiotic, biotic). Vegetation indices (NDVI, GNDVI, NDRE, LCI) provide detailed information about the physiological state of plants and the spatial distribution of stress factors. In the research conducted at the University of Debrecen, the ’MV Nádor’ winter wheat variety was examined in combinations of different tillage methods (autumn ploughing, strip tillage) and different nutrient supply treatments. During the multispectral data collection, high-resolution UAV images were used, which were analysed using the QGIS GIS software. The application of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and tillage methods had a significant impact on vegetation indices, which reflected the health status and homogeneity or heterogeneity of the plants. The results mean that higher nutrient levels showed more favorable growth and homogeneous plant stand. During the statistical analyses, we infer the spatial effects of stress factors based on the standard deviation and variance values. The values of NDVI and GNDVI indices showed an increasing trend with increasing nutrient levels, especially in the case of the 160 kg/ha nitrogen treatment, which ensures more uniform development. Based on the LCI and NDRE values, we obtained a much higher variance and SD value for the 160 kg N/ha treatment applied in autumn ploughing than for strip cultivation. Based on the data, precision technologies enable more sustainable and predictable crop production. -
Effect of the year on yield, grain moisture, and quality parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) (2020–2023)
51-68Views:41Maize (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. -
Evaluation of smart parameters based on results from maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids of different genotypes
5-28Views:14In Hungary, the efficiency of arable crop production is significantly determined by the quality of maize production practices. The comparative study of maize hybrids and the establishment of a field trial was initiated in 1977 by the KITE in Nádudvar at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the predecessor University of Agricultural Sciences in Debrecen. This is also the reason why the University of Debrecen, in a unique way in Europe, has all the conditions for field experiments (tillage × irrigation × fertilisation × plant number × hybrids × sowing date interactions) at its Látókép Experiment Site. The results of field experiments are suitable for the state-of-the-art development of precision farming technologies. The new scientific findings, in particular the reliable parameters measured in comparative experiments on maize hybrids, will serve the practical application and effectiveness of precision farming.
Using the results of field experiments, we evaluated the smart parameters of four maize hybrids of different genotypes. These parameters help in hybrid selection and adaptation of hybrid-specific precision farming technology. The examined maize hybrids showed excellent phenological traits, i.e. plant height: 320–340 cm, ear height: 138–151 cm, stalk diameter: 20.5–21.5 mm. Leaf area indices varied significantly (3.6–4.7 m2/m2). The highest yield was obtained by hybrid P 9985 (17.53 t/ha), which exceeded the other hybrids by 1.48–2.37 t/ha. The parameters SPAD, NDVI, grain number, thousand grain weight, grain moisture, grain number per ear and ear weight were studied in the experiment. The hybrids had excellent content values: protein content: 5.7–6.5%, starch content: 75.2–76.5%, oil content: 3.1–3.6%.
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