Competitive ability of six summer catch crops (Brassica napus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Sinapis alba and Trifolium incarnatum) in volunteer winter wheat based on field trials was experimentally tested during the years 2004-2007 in central Bohemia (Czech Republic). The production of aboveground biomass and plant cover of sown catch crops, volunteers and weeds was assessed on experimental plots. General linear models revealed significant influence of catch crops, year and their interaction on dry-mass of the volunteers. The lowest average values of volunteer biomass at the end of growing season (average from [2004][2005][2006][2007] were recorded on plots sown with S. alba (124.7 kg/ha) and P. tanacetifolia (186.3 kg/ha). The average biomass of volunteer plants in stands of S. alba was significantly lower than the biomass of volunteers in stands of L. perenne, L. multiflorum and T. incarnatum. The lowest average biomass of weeds was recorded also in S. alba stands. In the context of our study, catch crop is a crop sown between seasons of regular plantings to make use of temporary idleness of the soil.

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HAKL, J., BRANT, V., MÁŠKOVÁ, K., NECKÁŘ, K., PIVEC, J.: The forage utilization of winter pea-cereal mixture in agriculture low-input system. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2011, LIX, No. 5, pp. 47-52 The aim of this paper is to evaluate the forage utilization of winter catch crop in relation to yield and mixture composition. In 2006-2009, the plot experiment with winter pea in mixtures with rye and triticale was conducted under completely randomized design with four replicates. The productivity of mixture was above 10 t.ha −1 whilst the signifi cantly lowest value was observed for pea monoculture. The rye represented the most productive component in mixture but it achieved lower forage quality in comparison with triticale. The ratio of pea varied from 7 to 38 % in dependence on year and companion cereal. The triticale mixture provided higher ratio in comparison with rye and signifi cant diff erences between rye varieties were also detected. The quality of mixture was depended mainly on ratio of crops in the mixture. The ratio of pea signifi cantly increased crude protein content in mixture according to linear regression where crude protein = 9.56 + 0.11* weight percentage pea ratio (P < 0.000, R 2 = 0.89). Quality of pea forage was also infl uenced by companion crop where pea in mixture with rye achieved signifi cantly lower quality. The amount of weeds was highest in the pea monoculture and lowest in mixture with rye.