2021 Winter Wheat Cultivation Comparison Started

Between several rain fronts, the trial field team headed by Hendrik Wieligmann found a short time slot in the past week for sowing the cultivation comparison. The number of participants has increased to eleven. In addition to Danish, Swedish, Russian, Czech, Swiss and German participants, the University of Life and Environmental Sciences in Kiev (Ukraine) is now also taking part.

As was the case last time, it is not about the highest individual cost-free performance, but about demonstrating the strategy the participants have chosen themselves. This can be the deliberate decision not to use chemical plant protection or the special suitability of the crop for fattening chickens. In June we'll see and discuss with the field participants how well they have achieved their goals.

Even if there will be no clear ranking by dimensions and number, an exact test site cannot be dispensed with for checking the achievement of objectives! A great deal of conscientious, careful work lies ahead of the test field team at the DLG-Feldtage in order to carry out the individual inventory management measures exactly and on schedule according to the participants' specifications.

For the test site, the first thing to consider was the selected tilling method: Plough seed and mulch seed are divided into two blocks each and distributed randomly in the field (see drawing).

Overview

Four repetitions (columns A-D) ensure the significance of the later results. The 44 plots were then randomly assigned to the participants (randomisation). Here it is important that each ploughman's parcel appears in both blocks, and the same applies to the fans of mulch sowing.

This enables any existing soil differences to be detected better and, if necessary, taken into account in subsequent data analysis. There is a buffer strip between the mulch and plough seed plots, which is also tilled with wheat. These strips are also harvested precisely to determine potential soil gradients.

The demo plots are located on the left side of the field, where the participants will be available to answer your questions during the DLG-Feldtage. So the basis for a reliable comparison has been set down. Now it's up to the participants to convincingly present their strategy!