Grain Yield and Hectolitre Weight of Some Wheat Cultivars in Organic and Conventional Production Systems

Abstract

For organic agriculture, wheat cultivars with good and stable grain yield across years are needed. Grain yield and hectolitre weight of 10 cultivars were estimated in field trials for three years at conventionally and organically production systems under the central part of Oltenia, Romania conditions. Our research evidentiated that cultivar influenced significant only hectolitre weight; production system influenced significant the both grain yield and hectolitre weight, and interaction between cultivars x production system was non-significant for the both traits. On average for the study period, the grain yield from the organic production system was by 35% lower than that achieved from the conventional production system. Hectolitre weight was also, affected by production system showing in the organic system values by 2% lower than in the conventional system. The cultivar Miranda was more stable than the other studied cultivars in both conventional and organic production system. On average most cultivars fulfilled the requirements for Grades 2 and 3, but the percentage of cases below the 72 kg/hl limit (non bakery value) varied from 0 to 66.7% in both production systems.