Foliar fungicides are important management inputs for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in high-yielding areas of Europe, but their effectiveness may interact with cultivar selection and nitrogen (N) fertilization. No information is available on the potential use of fungicides in reducing yield losses from foliar diseases in Croatia, where wheat crop is extensively grown under low N inputs. Field experiments were conducted during 2000-02 to evaluate the agronomic responses of six winter wheat cultivars to fungicide application (tebuconazol around heading) compared with untreated plots at low (67 kg N ha )1 ) and high (194 kg N ha )1 ) N fertilization rates. Grain yields tended to increase in all years following fungicide treatment at high N rate by an average of 10.1 % (773 kg ha )1 ), but improved significantly in one year only at low N rate. When these occurred, yield increases were associated with larger grain weight per ear primarily due to heavier 1000-kernel weight. Cultivars differed in their responses to fungicide application across growing seasons and N fertilization rates. Under low disease pressure in 2000 and 2001, improved yields with fungicide use occurred for few susceptible cultivars only, whereas all cultivars significantly increased yields under higher disease severity in 2002 by an average of 383 kg ha )1 (5.0 %) at low N rate and 1443 kg ha )1 (19.0 %) at high N rate. Following fungicide application at high N rate, some susceptible cultivars outyielded resistant cultivars, whereas opposite responses occurred in untreated plots. High N fertilization rate consistently produced larger grain yields except under high disease severity and no fungicide sprayed in 2002, when it had no benefits at all over low N rate. Fungicide application showed limited importance for wheat performance at low N rate; however, cultivars significantly differed in yield responses as well as in rankings after fungicide use at high N fertilization rate.

Valorisation of grape pomace, a by-product of the winery industry, has been pushed into the spotlight in recent years since it can enable lower environmental impact, but it can also bring an added value to the wine production process by recovering several grape pomace biologically active compounds. The first step that allows for grape pomace reuse is its drying, which should be carefully performed in order to preserve the biologically active compounds’ stability. In this study, the effects of different drying methods on the stability of polyphenols, tannins and tartaric acid in grape pomace (Vitis vinifera) cv. Graševina were investigated. In particular, vacuum drying (at different temperatures: 35, 50 and 70 °C), conventional drying at 70 °C and open sun drying were performed and the drying kinetics was described using Peleg’s model. Considering the processing time and thermodynamics, vacuum drying at 70 °C was the most convenient processing method. Polyphenols were highly stable during drying, and slight degradation occurred during vacuum drying at 35 and 50 °C. Tannins and tartaric acid were more prone to degradation depending on the drying method applied and showed the greatest stability during vacuum drying at 70 °C.

Managing alfalfa silage in livestock production systems is an important issue in order to maintain the silage quality and achieve maximum profitable production of milk and meat. The aim of this study was to estimate effects of commercial bacterial inoculants on chemical composition and fermentation of alfalfa silage, under field conditions in the commercial dairy farm, during 2017. The silage mass was subdivided into five equal parts (control-silage without inoculant) and silages treated with commercial bacterial inoculants (PIO 1-Pioneer 11H50, PIO2-Pioneer 11AFT, SIL-Silko and BON-Bonsilage alfa) all ensiled in microsilos. After 90 days of ensiling, silages were analysed for chemical and nutritional composition and fermentation characteristics. Dry matter and crude protein value were higher, lactic acid and acetic acid value were significantly higher in silage treated with bacterial inoculant PIO1, PIO2, SIL and BON compared to control silage. Contrary, alfalfa silage treated with a bacterial inoculant PIO1, PIO2, SIL and BON had lower values of acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre and pH and significantly lower values butyric acid, alcohols and NH 3-N/total nitrogen compared to control silage. Results showed that bacterial inoculant PIO1, PIO2, SIL and BON increases silage quality compared to control silage.

Maize forage is poor in protein content which shows its low quality and nutritive value. Regarding to high feed costs of protein supplementations, legumes can be used in livestock nutrition for their high protein content and, thus, providing cost savings. Since legumes have low dry matter yield, acceptable forage yield and quality can obtained from intercropping cereals and legumes compared with their sole crops. In this study, maize (Zea mays L.) and climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were intercropped in different sowing densities and their monocropping equivalents were tested to determine the best intercropping system on forage yield and quality. Maize was cultivated alone (75 000 plants ha-1) and intercropped with bean as follows: 75 000 plants ha-1 of maize and 37 500 plants ha-1 of bean (MB1), 75 000 plants ha-1 of maize and 50 000 plants ha-1 of bean (MB2) and 75 000 plants ha-1 of maize and 75 000 plants ha-1 of bean (MB3), in rows alternating with maize. The highest dry matter yield was produced by MB3 (20.9 t ha-1), and the lowest by maize (16.9 t ha-1). All intercropped systems had higher crude protein contents, MB1 (92 g kg-1 DM), MB2 (99 g kg-1 DM) and MB3 (110 g kg-1 DM), than the maize (77 g kg-1 DM). Intercropping of maize with bean reduced neutral and acid detergent fiber, resulting in increased forage digestibility. Therefore, maize intercropping with bean could substantially increase forage quantity and quality, and decrease requirements for protein supplements as compared with maize.

Maize forage is poor in protein content which leads to low quality and nutritive value. Regarding the high feed costs of protein supplementations, legumes can be used in livestock nutrition for their high protein content, and thus, provide cost savings. In this study, maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were intercropped in different sowing densities and fertilization with clinoptilolite and their monocropping equivalents were tested to determine the best intercropping system on forage yield and quality. Maize was cultivated alone (75,000 plants•ha-1) and intercropped with cowpea as follows: 75,000 plants•ha-1 of maize and 37,500 plants•ha-1 of cowpea (MC 1), 75,000 plants•ha-1 of maize and 50,000 plants•ha-1 of cowpea (MC 2) and 75,000 plants•ha-1 of maize and 75,000 plants•ha-1 of cowpea (MC 3), in rows alternating with maize. The highest dry matter yield was produced by MC 3 (23.8 t•ha-1), and the lowest by SM (20.7 t•ha-1) in fertilization with clinoptilolite. All intercropped systems had higher crude protein contents, MC 1 (101 g•kg-1 DM), MC 2 (108 g•kg-1 DM) and MC 3 (117 g•kg-1 DM), than the monocrop maize (84 g•kg-1 DM) in fertilization with clinoptilolite. Intercropping of maize with cowpea and fertilization with clinoptilolite reduced neutral detergent fiber, resulting in increased forage digestibility. Therefore, maize intercropping with cowpea and fertilization with clinoptilolite could substantially increase forage quantity and quality, and decrease requirements for protein supplements as compared with maize monocrop.