Search Results (8)

Since wheats used for use in brewing mainly belong to the winter red hard hybrid endosperm type, this paper examined the influence of different proportions of wheat of this type (seven varieties) in the ratio of 0–100% in the grist, both unmalted and as wheat malt. The quality of the starting wheats, the resulting malts and mashs with different added wheat proportions (100, 80, 60, 40, 20 and 0%) were examined. The obtained results show that the maximum shares of wheat/wheat malt in the infusion are significantly different between varieties of similar initial quality. However, they can differ considerably for the same variety when it is used as unmalted raw material and when it is used as wheat malt. Wheat malt can be added to the mixture in a significantly larger proportion compared to unmalted wheat. Furthermore, when an extended number of criteria (parameters) are applied, some varieties may be acceptable that otherwise would not be if the basic number of parameters were applied (total protein—TP, total soluble protein—TSP and viscosity—VIS) and vice versa. The inclusion of other parameters—filtration speed (FIL), saccharification time (SAC), color (COL), proportion of fine extract (EXT) and fermentability of pomace (FAL) (some of which have the character of so-called “cumulative parameters”)—complicates a clear classification into the aforementioned qualitative groups but also increases the number of varieties acceptable or conditionally acceptable for brewing. Full article

The research hypothesis assumes that Fusarium culmorum infection affects the baking value of wheat. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of the cultivar on the rheological properties of wheat dough in response to Fusarium culmorum infection of wheat. A two-factor experiment conducted during the 2018–2020 growing seasons in Osiny, Poland, was set up using the completely randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was winter wheat cultivars (six cultivars), while the second factor was inoculation (two levels—Fusarium culmorum and distilled water—control). The immunoenzymatic ELISA method was used to determine the content of deoxynivalenol (DON) in grain. The DON content in the grain varied between cultivars. Fusarium culmorum inoculation resulted in an increase in protein, ash content, and flour water absorption, changes in dough rheological properties, and a decrease in the sedimentation index. Inoculation also caused negative changes in starch properties. The observed interaction between Fusarium culmorum inoculation and cultivars in shaping the qualitative parameters and rheological properties of the dough indicates that there are wheat cultivars less susceptible to Fusarium infection, which do not show any significant changes as a result of infection. Full article

Reliable prediction of winter bread wheat grain yield (GY) and its qualitative parameters (crude protein (CP) and wet gluten (GL) content, wet gluten yield (GLY)) requires evaluation of the plant nutritional status in the Critical Cereal Window (CCW). The reliability of the forecast depends on the dedicated plant characteristics and the correct selection of the diagnostic plant parts. This hypothesis was verified in a one-factor field experiment carried out in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016 growing seasons. The field experiment included applying 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 kg N ha⁻¹. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu content in wheat was determined in two growth stages: (i) beginning of booting (BBCH 40) and (ii) full flowering (BBCH 65). The evaluated plant components included the leaves and stem for BBCH 40 and the flag leaf, leaves, stem, and ear of BBCH 65. Grain yields were very high, significantly responding to the increased rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N_f), with a maximum yield of 11.3 t ha⁻¹ achieved in 2014 (N rate of 209 kg N ha⁻¹), 13.7 t ha⁻¹ in 2015, and 8.6 t ha⁻¹ in 2016 (N rate of 240 kg N ha⁻¹). The CP and GL content also increased linearly in accordance with the N_f rates. At the beginning of the booting stage, the GY forecast based on the content of nutrients in the leaves or the stem was 94%. Meanwhile, a slightly higher yield prediction was obtained for leaves during the full flowering stage (95%). The key nutrients comprised K, Ca, and Mn, accounting for 93% of the GY variability. The accuracy of the GL prognosis at BBCH 40, regardless of the plant part, exceeded 99%. Three nutrients, namely, P, Mg, and Zn, explained 98% of the GL variability, and the GLY forecast was high (97%). Both wheat traits depended on Zn, which buffered the action of N and Mg. At the full flowering stage, the highest, yet slightly weaker, predictions of GL and GLY were obtained for leaves (95% and 92%, respectively). At this stage of winter wheat growth, the significant role of Zn and K and the buffering effect of Cu on the action of both nutrients was apparent. The obtained results unequivocally confirm that the game for winter wheat grain yield occurs within the Critical Cereal Window. In addition, the end result depends on the plant’s N supply during this period and the nutritional status of other nutrients. Application of 40–80 kg N ha⁻¹ fertilizer critically impacted the GY and technological quality. Moreover, micronutrients, including Zn and Cu, influence the GY, GL, and GLY considerably. At the beginning of the booting phase (BBCH 40), winter wheat leaves serve as a highly reliable plant component indicator for evaluating nutrient content and quantitative (GY, GLY) and qualitative (GL) characteristics of grain. Moreover, analysis conducted during BBCH 40 allows the farmer to correct the nutritional status of the wheat, taking into account N and other nutrients as necessary. Full article

This study had three main objectives. First, weather indices were listed and their derivations were described to show which weather parameters could be used to describe the influence on agricultural yields. Second, farmers and agricultural scientists should be given the opportunity to evaluate the weather of the observation years in the study region. Furthermore, significant fluctuations in winter wheat yields were compared with weather events. As weather variables, 45 meteorological indices were used, such as precipitation-, temperature-, precipitation-temperature-, growing-period-, and radiation-related indices. In the case of winter wheat, heat waves and dry periods were the most important factors that affected the yields. For the past 20 years, in particular, there have been recurrent spring and summer months with low precipitation and, in some cases, significantly too warm periods, such as in 2003 and 2018 (April to October 2003: +16% °C, 2018: +27% °C, 2003: −38% mm, 2018: −12% mm in relation to 1978 to 2020), which were associated with particularly high yield losses. The qualitative assessments illustrate that in the observation period, years with reduced yield compared with the multiannual trend were frequently well explainable by extreme weather events. Full article

Products must be cleaned or otherwise treated to keep them clean when they are prepared for further production or when they are supplied fresh to the consumer. Cereals have significantly lower settling losses than succulent agricultural products, but the risks that can arise from their hydrothermal treatment before milling—where the cereals are moistened and left to rest for 14 h (temperature 30 °C)—are often underestimated. This operation creates a favourable environment for the development of micro-organisms, which, if not destroyed, can continue throughout the processing stages and be passed on to the consumer. This study investigated the qualitative characteristics of winter wheat hydrothermally treated with ozonated water at a concentration of 1.51 ± 0.1 mg L⁻¹, such as the amount of mould in the grains and flour, as well as the grain protein, moisture, gluten, sedimentation, starch and weight per hectolitre. For the assessment of these parameters, the account was taken of the State standard, which provides the grain class and the type of grain. The reduction in mould fungi after the treatment of the winter wheat grain with ozonated water ranged between 440 and 950 CFU g⁻¹. The results of the microbiological analysis showed that the ozone treatment improved the mycological safety of the flour samples made from the grain from an average of 390 ± 110 CFU g⁻¹ to 29 ± 12 CFU g⁻¹. On the other hand, the treatment of kernels with ozonated water did not significantly affect the basic composition of the winter wheat grains. Full article

The granary weevil Sitophilus granarius L. is a pest causing substantial damage to stored wheat worldwide, against which the elaboration of sustainable control methods has recently been gaining importance. Our objective was to assess the efficacy of a rapid atmospheric convection heat transfer method against S. granarius under laboratory conditions. We examined the changes in adult mortality and progeny survival triggered by heat and the effect of this on the quality parameters of treated wheat items. The insecticidal efficacy, achieved by the treatment of infested grains, was also analyzed at 37, 47, 67, 87, and 107 °C for 5, 6, and 7 min under 40% and 60% rh exposure to atmospheric heating with the progeny production assessed 45 days after the treatment. The quality parameters of the treated wheat were analyzed by a germination test and NIR grain analysis. Our findings showed that adequate eradication of S. granarius was obtained at 107 °C for 5 min of exposure under suboptimal (40% rh) relative humidity values. At 60% relative humidity, mortality averages were more dispersed, and efficacies above the expected 95% occurred over longer exposures. The progeny-suppression effect from short-term heating was affirmed. The atmospheric convection heat transfer method, under the applied temperature and exposure time combinations, did not induce detectable changes in the quality parameters or the germination ability of the treated wheat. Overall, our findings indicated that the use of short-term heating for the post-harvest protection of cereals is feasible, which may contribute to the realization of residuum-free pest management and provide an effective and sustainable technique in integrated pest management. Full article

In agriculture, the farming system significantly affects chemical soil properties. The organic system, which is based among others on the use of natural (organic) fertilizers, promotes increased soil contents of humus, organic C, and micronutrients. The conventional system, in turn, may cause soil acidification if high rates of mineral (particularly nitrogen) fertilization are used. The crop plant species also modifies soil chemistry by providing different (quantitatively and qualitatively) crop residues. The study was conducted over the period 2013–2016 in Czesławice (Lublin Region, Poland). The aim of this study was to determine the content of some chemical components determining the quality of loess soil on which four plant species were grown under organic and conventional farming systems. This research involved the determination of some parameters of the chemical composition of the soil: soil pH, total sorption capacity, humus content, macronutrient (P, K, Mg) and micronutrient (B, Cu, Mn, Zn) content, organic carbon, and total nitrogen content. The content of different forms of nitrogen, N-NO₃ and N-NH₄, was also determined. The experimental design included two crop rotations (organic and conventional) in which identical plant species were grown: potato—winter wheat—field bean—spring barley. The experiment was established on loess soil with the grain size distribution of silt loam and classified as good wheat soil complex (soil class II). It was carried out as a split-plot design in three replicates, and the area of a single plot was 80 m². Soil samples were taken using a soil sampling tube from an area of 0.20 m² (from the 0–25 cm layer) in each plot at the end of the growing season of the specific crops grown. Over the four year study period, it was found that the organic system contributed to an increased soil content of magnesium, boron, copper, manganese, zinc, organic carbon, and total nitrogen. Moreover, organic cropping promoted more favorable soil pH and higher soil humus content. Organic cropping significantly improved the total sorption capacity of the soil compared to conventional cultivation. Moreover, the organic system contributed to a higher soil content of nitrogen in the form of N-NH₄ and its lower content in the form of N-NO₃. Under the conventional system, in turn, a higher soil phosphorus and potassium content was observed. To sum up, the study confirmed the assumed hypothesis that the organic farming system would contribute to an improvement in the chemical quality indicators of loess soil. Regardless of the cropping system, potato and field bean had the most beneficial effect on soil chemistry, whereas cereal crops showed the weakest effect. Winter wheat and spring barley had an effect on significantly lower total sorption capacity of the soil and a significantly lower soil content of N-NO₃ and N-NH₄. Full article

Cereal monoculture causes a series of unfavorable changes in field habitat, for example a decrease in technological quality and yield. This system can lead to a shortage of microelements in the diet of poor communities. Moreover, breeding of highly productive plants caused a significant “dilution effect” of the necessary nutrients, such as Zn and Fe. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of two strategies: crop rotation (after rapeseed and many years of monoculture of Galega orientalis Lam.) and foliar fertilization with microelements on the yield, yield elements, physical quality, and farinograph characteristics of winter wheat grain and flour. Results showed that pre-crop preparation and cultivation year have the highest effect on yield, yield components, and qualitative and farinographic characteristics of winter wheat. Foliar additional feeding favorably affected the yield and its components, although the particular fertilization treatment did not significantly increase the yield. Grain quality, its physical characteristics and the rheological parameters of flour were strongly modified by habitat conditions, including weather conditions. Dough obtained from wheat grown after galega showed significantly higher water absorption and prolonged consistency. Full article