The Influence of Solonetz Soil Limited Growth Conditions on Bread Wheat Yield

Abstract

The wheat yield variation on solonetz and chernozem soil in six environments was in study in order to obtain information for use of genetic variability and for building strategy in plant breeding for less productive and marginal environments. The sample of eight bread wheat varieties: Renesansa, Pobeda, Rapsodija, Dragana, Cipovka, Evropa 90, NSR-5 and Nevesinjka, which are characterized by tolerance to stressful growing conditions and broader adaptability, was selected for the study. The trial was established by Randomized Complete Block Design in three replications at two locations in the Pannonian Plain, Northern Serbia in two vegetation periods 2004/2005 and 2008/2009. Locations differed in a soil type, primarily. The tested locality was on solonetz, while control locality was on chernozem soil type. Additive Main and Multiplicative Interaction model (AMMI) grouped varieties that exhibited strong reaction to environmental improvement (Nevesinjka and Evropa 90), varieties showing fairly small GE interaction (Renesansa, Cipovka and Pobeda) and varieties having the ability for maximum use of less productive soil in better meteorological conditions (Dragana, Rapsodija and NSR-5). Meteorological conditions significantly influenced the effect of soil quality variation on grain yield in trial. Varieties have interacted differently with the environment, depending on their genetic background.