Muhammad Roman

Maize biomass production and quality are influenced by numerous factors, including fertilization, soil characteristics, and climatic conditions. The aim of our study was to evaluate how different fertilization treatments ((1) Control, (2) farmyard manure (FYM), (3) FYM with added mineral nitrogen (FYM + N), and (4) FYM with added NPK mineral fertilizers (FYM + NPK)) affect the biomass yield and quality parameters (crude protein (CP), fiber content (FC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), starch content (STR), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (DNDF)) of silage maize under various soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic (Caslav—degraded Chernozem, Ivanovice na Hané–Chernozem, Lukavec–Cambisol). The experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2023. Additionally, the study analyzed the effects of fertilization on soil chemical properties (pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, C, N). The highest average biomass yields were recorded in Ivanovice (23.8 t ha⁻¹, A), followed by Lukavec (19.7 t ha⁻¹, B) and Caslav (18.1 t ha⁻¹, B). Comparing fertilizer treatments, no significant differences were observed among FYM, FYM + N, and FYM + NPK; however, all three treatments significantly outperformed the Control at all sites. Conversely, fertilization did not affect the quality parameters. For silage maize, FYM represents the optimal fertilization strategy, providing yields and quality comparable to the combined application of mineral N, P, and K, which are more costly (in terms of purchase and application) and, under certain conditions, may negatively impact the environment. Nevertheless, the application of mineral fertilizers increased soil nutrient content, thereby improving conditions for subsequent crops.

Changes in climate patterns have a significant impact on agricultural production. A comprehensive understanding of weather changes in arable farming is essential to ensure practical and effective strategies for farmers. Our research aimed to investigate how different fertilization interacts with environmental factors, examine their effects on wheat yield and varietal response over time, minimize nitrogen (N) fertilizer using alfalfa as a proceeding crop, and recommend an optimum N dose based on the latest weather conditions. A long-term experiment including 15 seasons (1961–2022) was studied, where a wheat crop followed alfalfa with different N applications. Our results indicated that the average temperature in the Caslav region has increased by 0.045°C per year, more significantly since 1987. Moreover, precipitation slightly decreased by 0.247 mm, but not significantly. The average November temperatures are gradually rising, positively affecting wheat grain yield. July precipitation negatively impacted grain yield only in years with extraordinary rainfall. Additionally, new wheat varieties (Contra, Mulan, Julie) yielded statistically more than the old variety (Slavia). Effectively managing nitrogen under various climate conditions is essential for promoting plant growth and reducing environmental N losses. The optimal N dosage was determined at 65 kg/ha N, resulting in an average yield of 9.1 t/ha following alfalfa as a preceding crop. Alfalfa reduces the need for N fertilization and contributes to sustainable conventional agriculture. Our findings will serve as a foundation for designing future climate change adaptation strategies to sustain wheat production.

The stability and yield of barley grain are affected by several factors, such as climatic conditions, fertilisation, and the different barley varieties. In a long-term experiment in Prague, Czech Republic, established in 1955, we analysed the weather trends and how weather, fertilisation (10 treatments in total), and different barley varieties affected grain yield and stability. A total of 44 seasons were evaluated. Trends in mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures from 1953 to 2023, as well as sunshine duration from 1961 to 2022, showed statistically significant increases. The trend for annual precipitation from 1953 to 2023 was not significant, but changes in precipitation were recorded via seasonal precipitation concentration indexes. The unfertilised Control and farmyard manure (FYM) provided the lowest mean yields. Mineral fertilisers (NPK) and FYM+NPK increased grain yield, ranging from 4.9 t ha⁻¹ to 5.5 t ha⁻¹. Three notable correlations between weather conditions and yields were observed: (1) June precipitation (r = 0.4), (2) minimal temperature in July (r = 0.3), and (3) sunshine duration in May (r = −0.5). According to the linear–plateau response model, the reasonable N dose is 55 kg ha⁻¹, resulting in a mean yield of 6.7 t ha⁻¹ for the contemporarily used barley variety Sebastián.

In this paper, a sequence (1979–2022) of a long-term trial established in Lukavec in 1956 (Czech Republic) focusing on the effect of weather, various nitrogen (N) fertilization methods (control, PK, N1PK, N2PK, and N3PK) and preceding crops (cereals, legumes, and oil plants) on winter wheat grain yield is presented. The weather significantly changed at the site of the long-term trial. While the trend in the mean temperature significantly increased, precipitation did not change significantly over the long term. Four relationships between weather and grain yield were evaluated to be significant: (a) the mean temperature in February (r = −0.4) and the precipitation in (b) February (r = −0.4), (c) March (r = −0.4), and (d) May (r = 0.5). The yield trends for all the fertilizer treatments increased, including the unfertilized control. The N3PK treatment provided the highest mean grain yields, while the unfertilized control had the lowest yields. Comparing the preceding crops, the highest yields were harvested when the wheat followed the legumes. On the other hand, the cereals were evaluated as the least suitable preceding crop in terms of grain yield. According to the linear-plateau model, the optimal nitrogen (N) dose for modern wheat varieties, following legumes and under the trial’s soil climate conditions, was 131 kg ha⁻¹ N, corresponding to a mean grain yield of 8.2 t ha⁻¹.

Establishment of soil moisture model based on hyperspectral data and growth parameters of winter wheat