STUDIES INTO THE POSITION OF OATS IN THE CROP-ROTATION ON A CALCIC CHERNOZEM

A long-term crop rotation trial revealed a strong influence of weather on grain and straw yields and on crude protein content. Oats following a leaf crop outyielded oats grown in a pure cereal rotation including a summer catch crop. Crude protein content of the oats straw was also increased. Higher N application (two split dressings) boosted only the crude protein content of the grain, without affecting yields. There were no reciprocal effects of the position of oats in the rotation. Winter wheat following oats did not respond to the different preceding crops of oats (sugar beet. silage maize, red clover/alfalfa, annual).