The Performance of Oat-Vetch Mixtures in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

Abstract

The research aimed to compare the yields and yield components of mixtures of oats with common vetch grown for seeds in organic and conventional farming systems. Moreover, the selection of oat cultivars for the mixture and its performance in a crop rotation experiment in different growing years was analyzed. Additionally, the leaf area index (LAI) and the relative content of chlorophyll (SPAD) of the mixtures were assessed. The field experiment with four-field crop rotation in organic or conventional farming systems was carried out in 2012–2014 in southern Poland. Common vetch (Vicia sativa L., cv. ‘Hanka’) was mixed with one of two oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars, ‘Celer’ or ‘Grajcar.’ The effects of all of the factors on the mixtures’ canopy indices and yield were found. The canonical analysis revealed that the weather course, especially drought, had the largest effect on the oat-vetch mixtures’ performance. Moreover, the mixtures developed the highest LAI (5.28 m2∙m−2) and seed yield (4.57 t ha−1) in the conventional farming system. On the contrary, the share of vetch seeds in the mixtures was 24% higher in the organic system than in the conventional one. The selection of cv. ‘Grajcar’ oats for the mixture with vetch increased the share of vetch seeds in the yield by 16.5%. In summary, a balanced share of oat-vetch mixture components depends on the proper selection of the oat cultivar, especially for organic farming systems.

Productive and Ecological Aspects of Mixed Cropping System

“…Various species provide complimentary use of environmental resources in a mixture in contrast to pure stands. The recent findings confirmed the benefits of intercropping, such as increased nitrogen uptake by cereals cultivated in a mixture with legumes [1][2][3], and more efficient use of water and nutrients in soil profile [4]. Different species in the mixtures also use field space more effectively [5], i.e., in weather conditions unfavorable for the growth of one species, the companion crop usually grows better [6,7].…”

“…In the case of well-established mixtures, e.g., oats-common vetch, where cereal component is more competitive toward the legume one, a proper selection of oat cultivars may also significantly affect the quantity and quality of the mixture's yield, i.e., protein content [1]. The oats-common vetch mixtures develop higher LAI and give a higher seed yield in the conventional farming system; however, the share of vetch seeds in the mixtures is higher in the organic system than in the conventional one [2].…”

Agronomic potential of biofertilizers on growth, yields and nutritional quality of Oat- Triticale-Vetch intercrops

“…These results are similar to Sibi et al (2015) and Heydarzadeh et al (2022), who demonstrated the positive effect of these inoculum on the ash content for corn intercropping with green beans. It has been also published that inoculation with mycorrhizae increased ash content, given its beneficial role in promoting nutrient uptake, by adjusting pH or enzyme release (Puzynska et al, 2021). Furthermore, various inoculations resulted in a considerable increase in DM yield.…”