Alexandra Leonte

In addition to generating rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, climate change has contributed to the increasing instability in agricultural yields. Under these conditions, farmers are compelled to adopt more resilient crop species, and due to the traits inherited from its two parent species, triticale represents a promising option. Research conducted at ARDS Secuieni aims to adapt cultivation technologies to emerging climatic challenges. To assess the effects of the preceding crop and genotype on winter triticale grain yield, a field experiment was established at ARDS Secuieni over two growing seasons (2022–2024). This study employed a randomised block design with three replications and included two Romanian winter triticale genotypes (‘Haiduc’ and ‘Utrifun’), grown after three preceding crops: soybean (Glycine max L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Both genotype and preceding crop had significant effects on grain yield. The Utrifun genotype exhibited superior adaptability, achieving an average yield of 5941 kg/ha, compared to 5013 kg/ha for Haiduc. The highest yields were recorded following soybean (5929–6902 kg/ha), whereas sunflower as a preceding crop resulted in the lowest yields (4303–4554 kg/ha). These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate genotypes and preceding crops to optimise winter triticale productivity under the pedoclimatic conditions specific to the Secuieni region.

Soybean cultivation requires appropriate soil tillage and effective weed management to ensure high and stable yields of good quality. Therefore, identifying suitable methods of soil preparation and weed control represents an essential technological component in soybean production. A polifactorial experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Turda over two consecutive growing seasons (2024 and 2025), based on the split-plot design. The biological material studied was the soybean variety Felix, sown at 50 cm between rows and 55 g.g./m². The study aimed to assess the stability of yield, thousand kernel weight, and seed quality (oil content, protein content, and fatty acids) under two soil tillage systems (plowing and chisel) and different weed control methods (a control variant without treatment, pre- and post-emergent herbicides for monocots and dicots, as well as combinations with mechanical or manual hoeing). The results obtained in both experimental years indicate a high level of weeding, especially in the non-herbicidal variant. Average yields were higher in the plowing system, while chisel ensured more pronounced stability of yield. Average yields were higher in the plowing system, while the chisel system provided greater stability in yield capacity. The best results were obtained then chemical herbicide application with hoeing, confirming the effectiveness of integrated weed management. The maximum yield (2034 kg/ha) was achieved under plowing with chemical weed control, whereas in the untreated control, yields were 785 kg/ha for plowing and 500 kg/ha for chisel system. Thousand kernel weight was similar in both systems (130-145 g), slightly higher and more stable under the chisel system. Seed chemical composition was relatively consistent: the chisel system promoted higher oil content (21.06%) and oleic acid (26.44%), whereas plowing slightly increased protein content (33.93%) and linolenic acid (5.24%). Low coefficients of variation indicated high stability of seed quality traits. While the conservative chisel system provided stable yield and quality, plowing offered a higher productive potential, especially under favorable environmental conditions.

The paper presents the results obtained from an experiment with different tillage systems carried out in the period 2001-2021 on the Cambic Chernozem from Fundulea. The data reflect the influence of tillage on maize yields in 2020 and 2021, two very different years from a climatic point of view (2020 – very dry, while 2021 – a medium year). In the dry year, the highest yield (3828 kg/ha) was obtained in the plots worked with the chisel which ensured a better accumulation of water in the soil, and the lowest yield was obtained in the control plots. In 2021, the highest yield (7510 kg/ha) was obtained in the variants ploughed in autumn, and the lowest in the control plots (2036 kg/ha). In both years, spring ploughing provided distinct and very significant increases in production, but much lower than fall ploughing or chiseling. The agrochemical analyzes revealed the highest values for humus, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium contents, total cationic exchange capacity in the control plots, and the lowest values of these parameters in the autumn ploughed plots. The disking and spring ploughing ensured close values, but better for tillage with disks. Spring ploughing is not recommended, as it stimulates the loss of soil water and, by increasing soil aeration influences the humus decomposition. Therefore, it is recommended that spring ploughing should be replaced by tillage with disk. The short experimenting duration at Secuieni and the high soil resilience didn't allow highlighting statistically significant soil pH, humus, total nitrogen, mobile phosphorus and potassium contents changes under the influence of different soil working methods (ploughing at 20 and 30 cm, ploughing at 30 + 10 cm, chisel work at 20 cm, and discing at 12-15 cm, and combinations between them).

Existing information in the literature on the variation in tuber yield and their inulin content, depending on the variety and soil and climatic conditions of Helianthus tuberosus L., is limited. For this reason, in the pedoclimatic conditions from ARDS Secuieni (Center of Moldova) and from ARDS Caracal (Oltenia Plain) was conducted a study regarding this aspects. This study was conducted between 2018-2020, within an experiance with four genotype of Jerusalem artichoke and specifically: Dacic dwarf, Rareș, Olimpic and Dăbuleni population. The results obtained showed major differences between the cultivated genotypes and between the two agricultural areas, both in terms of tuber yield and tuber quality. Jerusalem artichoke is a species that has resistance to drought and high temperatures, achieving average yields of 21.3 to ha-1 in Secuieni and 24.0 to ha-1 in Caracal. The Oltenia Plain offered more favorable conditions for the growth and development of Jerusalem artichoke, but the species also successfully succeeded in Central of Moldova. Inulin was present in the tubers in a percentage between 48.35% and 58.38%, which confirms the high functional potential of the species and recommends the species as a “source of fiber”. Also, due to the high mineral content identified in the tubers, the mention of “iron source” and “magnesium source” may be issued.