Lentil-barley mixed cropping with different lentil varieties and sowing dates

In den letzten 50 Jahren gab es nahezu keinen Linsenanbau mehr in Deutschland. Die Stickstofffixierung der Leguminose Linse, der Mischanbau und die hohe ernährungsphysiologische Wertigkeit machen den Linsenanbau attraktiv für den ökologischen Landbau. Anbautechnisch bereitet die Linse noch Probleme, z. B hinsichtlich geeigneter Sorten und optimaler Saatzeiten. Eine frühe Aussaat könnte die Vegetationsperiode verlängern und den Ertrag erhöhen, doch entfällt damit die Beikrautregulierung durch mehrfaches Abschleppen vor der Saat Auf der Versuchsstation für Ökologischen Landbau Kleinhohenheim der Universität Hohenheim wurden daher im Jahr 2009 vier Genotypen im Mischanbau mit Nacktgerste und drei Saatzeiten im Frühjahr geprüft. Linsen und die Stützfrucht Gerste erzielten den höchsten Ertrag (bis 3 t Trockenmasse (TM) ha-1 Linsen und rund 1 t TM ha-1 Gerste) bei frühestmöglichem Aussaattermin. Der Beikrautdruck war an diesem Termin mit rund 30 g TM m-2 signifikant niedriger als bei den späteren Saatterminen. Die im Versuch ertragreichste Sorte ist derzeit schon in Süddeutschland im Anbau, eine frühe Aussaat wäre in Erwägung zu ziehen

Entwicklung des Unkrautaufkommens bei unterschiedlicher Stoppelbearbeitung im Ausschnitt einer ökologischen Fruchtfolge

A long-term experiment at the Experimental Station for Organic Farming Kleinhohenheim should determine effects of stubble tillage on weed density and weed communities. The treatments were stubble tillage by a chisel plough (10 cm), a modified skimmer plough (7 cm), a rotary hoe (5 cm) and a control, previous to primary tillage by a mouldboard plough in autumn. The results presented here refer to the weed density of dicotyledonous-annual plants, monocotyledonous plants and lucerne volunteers in the years 8 and 9 of the experiment, i.e. the first two years after perennial lucerne grass. There were no significant differences found between the treatments for weeds, volunteers and crop yield of winter wheat and oats. These results confirm and continue the observations of the years 1999-2003 in the long run. Stubble tillage had no visible effect on the density of annual weeds in a diverse, 8-year organic crop rotation with focus on cereals if a plough was used for primary tillage

Screening von Senf-Genotypen zur Körnernutzung im ökologischen Anbau in Mitteleuropa

Information is rare about mustard (Sinapis alba, Brassica nigra, B. juncea) varieties and their characteristics for a suitable performance under organic conditions. 30 accessions were grown at the organic Research Station Kleinhohenheim in SW Germany in the year 2011. Highest grain yield was obtained by S. alba (10.5 g/plant) which was about four times the yield of B. nigra, and ten times the yield of B. juncea, mainly because of higher thousand kernel mass and high number of pods. B nigra and B. juncea were heavily damaged by pests so that only S. alba seems a suitable mustard species for German organic farming at the moment

Der Anbau von Linsen und Erbsen im Gemenge

In Germany, lentils (Lens culinaris) are traditionally grown in mixture with cereals to reduce lodging and weed pressure. To test semi-leafless pea (Pisum sativum) as an alternative companion crop instead of dwarf oat (Avena sativa), a field trial was conducted in 2015 at the organic research station of the University of Hohenheim, south-west Germany. The three crops were cultivated in pure stands and in ratios of 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 (lentil : pea or oat). Focus was on comparing lodging resistance, weed suppression, and grain yield. Lodging was low in all mixtures but high in lentil pure stands. Yields were very high for lentils and peas but rather low for oats (3.2 t ha-1, 4.9 t ha-1, and 3.2 t ha-1, in pure stands). Similarly, high lentil yields were achieved in the mixtures lentil-pea 3:1 (3.0 t ha-1), lentil-oat 3:1 (2.9 t ha-1), and lentil-oat 1:1 (2.7 t ha-1). Compared with pure stands, land use efficiency was up to 20 % higher in lentil-pea mixtures and up to 33 % higher in lentil-oat mixtures. When compared with lentil pure stands, weed biomass was up to 26 % (lentil-pea 1:3) lower in mixtures with pea and up to 61 % (lentil-oat 1:1) lower in mixtures with oat. Overall, semi-leafless pea is a good alternative to dwarf oat as a companion crop for lentils

Does conversion to conservation tillage really increase soil organic carbon stocks in organic arable farming?

Aggravation of weather extremes increases awareness of climate change consequences. Mitigation options are in demand which aim to reduce the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. Amongst others, conversion from ploughing to conservation tillage is argued to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Yet, main findings of reviews and meta-analyses comparing SOC stocks between tillage systems show different results: from a significant increase of SOC stocks to the question if there is any effect at all. Reasons are a sampling bias as in many campaigns only topsoil layers are assessed and horizons thickness is not considered adequately, different methods for SOC and bulk density determination, and the comparison of SOC stocks based on equivalent soil masses instead of equal sampling depths. In order to address these limitations, we initiated the SOCORT consortium (Soil Organic Carbon in Organic Reduced Tillage) – an international network of nine agronomical long-term trials. All trials represent common mixed organic farming systems of the respective region with organic fertilisation and crop rotations including leys. Climatic conditions are similar, but age and soil texture vary (7 to 21 years and sandy to clayey soils). A common sampling campaign was consequently elaborated to answer the question if the combination of conservation tillage and organic farming can really increase SOC stocks. Undisturbed soil cores were taken with driving hammer probes (8 cm in diameter) to a maximum depth of 100 cm. Each core was divided in the increments 0-30, 30-50, 50-70, 70-100 cm. The topsoil layer (0-30 cm) was further divided into the different tillage depths of the respective trial. All samples were analysed in the same laboratory for bulk density, organic carbon content, pH and texture. We compiled the yields for each trial to assess carbon inputs. The SOCORT consortium in combination with the common sampling campaign will entangle the driving factors of carbon sequestration through reduced tillage and add important knowledge on carbon dynamics in agro-ecosystems

Entwicklung von Anbausystemen für Linsen im ökologischen Landbau

After commercial cropping of lentils (Lens culinaris) expired in Germany 50 years ago, a revival was observed on a small regional scale. Several field trials aimed at the development of lentil cropping systems to make lentils a more popular crop in German organic farming. One of the trials was set up to identify suitable companion crops and cropping ratios for lentils in mixed cropping systems. Suitable cropping systems in terms of yield (up to 1.8 t ha-1) were combinations with barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) in a ratio of 180 : 60 seeds ha-1 (lentil:companion crop), and with wheat or oats (Avena sativa, 1 : 3) in terms of lodging. As lentil and wheat grains were difficult to separate after harvest, other varieties with shape and thousand grains mass more different from each other might allow the combination of wheat and lentils. According to the results of other trials, development of modern lentil cropping systems has to include the issues of sowing time (early sowing date), weed control, and varieties adapted to local conditions

Skin TLR7 triggering promotes accumulation of respiratory dendritic cells and natural killer cells.

The TLR7 agonist imiquimod has been used successfully as adjuvant for skin treatment of virus-associated warts and basal cell carcinoma. The effects of skin TLR7 triggering on respiratory leukocyte populations are unknown. In a placebo-controlled experimental animal study we have used multicolour flow cytometry to systematically analyze the modulation of respiratory leukocyte subsets after skin administration of imiquimod. Compared to placebo, skin administration of imiquimod significantly increased respiratory dendritic cells (DC) and natural killer cells, whereas total respiratory leukocyte, alveolar macrophages, classical CD4+ T helper and CD8+ T killer cell numbers were not or only moderately affected. DC subpopulation analyses revealed that elevation of respiratory DC was caused by an increase of respiratory monocytic DC and CD11b(hi) DC subsets. Lymphocyte subpopulation analyses indicated a marked elevation of respiratory natural killer cells and a significant reduction of B lymphocytes. Analysis of cytokine responses of respiratory leukocytes after stimulation with Klebsiella pneumonia indicated reduced IFN-γ and TNF-α expression and increased IL-10 and IL-12p70 production after 7 day low dose skin TLR7 triggering. Additionally, respiratory NK cytotoxic activity was increased after 7d skin TLR7 triggering. In contrast, lung histology and bronchoalveolar cell counts were not affected suggesting that skin TLR7 stimulation modulated respiratory leukocyte composition without inducing overt pulmonary inflammation. These data suggest the possibility to modulate respiratory leukocyte composition and respiratory cytokine responses against pathogens like Klebsiella pneumonia through skin administration of a clinically approved TLR7 ligand. Skin administration of synthetic TLR7 ligands may represent a novel, noninvasive means to modulate respiratory immunity

Einfluss von Intensität und Zeitpunkt der Bodenbearbeitung auf Ertragsbildung von Weizen und N-Dynamik in Wasserschutzgebieten

Water protection is controlled by specific regulations in the German Federal States, e.g. the SchALVO in Baden-Württemberg. An amendment of the SchALVO demands, amongst others, a changed timing and intensity of soil tillage directly after growing crops with high-nitrogen residues. As Organic Farming highly relies on soil tillage for weed control, there is concern about decrease of yield and increase of weed infesta-tion in water protection areas if tillage is restricted. Field experiments were performed on practical farms with three treatments according to SchALVO (rigid tine cultivator or mouldboard plough for primary tillage, used in October, December or February) and two treatments according to best management practice (mouldboard plough in Octo-ber or November). The treatments were combined with growing either winter wheat or spring wheat, depending on the date of tillage. There were no significant differences between the SchALVO and the practice-related treatments for yield, yield parameters, protein content and weed infestation, whereas there were differences between the winter crop and spring crop. The total Nmin in soil was slightly lower in the SchALVO treatments. Here, Nmin reached 39 – 42 kg Nmin ha-1 (mean of the experimental years), compared to the practice-related treatments with 42 or 43 kg Nmin ha-1 in the sub-experiment exemplarily presented in this paper. These differences were not significant at P ≤ 0.05. Mean Nmin was 38.5 kg ha-1 before starting the experiment. The lowest Nmin was found after using a cultivator in October. Since the one-time use of a cultiva-tor instead of the plough did not result in obvious disadvantages for the crop, the risk of yield reduction and increased weed infestation seems to be small. Nevertheless, if the initial number of perennial weeds, e.g. thistles, is high, a plough is supposed to be more effective for weed control than non-inversion tillage by cultivator

Reduzierte Bodenbearbeitung im Biolandbau – Klimaaspekte

Die Umstellung vom Pflug auf eine reduzierte Bodenbearbeitung wird als Möglichkeit zur Minderung des Klimawandels im Zusammenhang mit einer erhöhten Humusanreicherung diskutiert. Ob reduzierte Bodenbearbeitungssysteme im biologischen Landbau zu einer erhöhten Lachgas-Entwicklung (N2O) führen, wurde bisher nur wenig beleuchtet. Im Langzeit-Bodenbearbeitungsversuch des FiBL in Frick wurden daher N2O-Emissionen über zwei Jahre hinweg und die Humusvorräte dreizehn Jahre nach Versuchsbeginn bis in eine Tiefe von 50 cm gemessen und mit weiteren mitteleuropäischen Studien verglichen. Die kürzlich publizierte Studie von Krauss et al. (2017) zeigt, dass es bei den N2O-Emissionen in der Weizen- und Kunstwiesenperiode keine Unterschiede zwischen den Bodenbearbeitungsverfahren gab. Einschliesslich einer Gründüngung waren die N2O-Emissionen während des gesamten Beobachtungszeitraums von zwei Jahren im reduzierten Verfahren leicht erhöht. Nach 13 Jahren Versuchszeit wurde in Frick eine Kohlenstoffanreicherung von 7–8 % in der Profiltiefe 0–50 cm im reduzierten System nachgewiesen. Im Schnitt von fünf mitteleuropäischen Studien zur reduzierten Bodenbearbeitung im Biolandbau wurde hingegen nur eine nicht signifikante Kohlenstoffanreicherung von 3 % berechnet. In allen Untersuchungen wurde eine deutliche Humusumverteilung im Bodenprofil beobachtet. Im System mit reduzierter Bodenbearbeitung und organischer Düngung im Biolandbau wird also wie im konventionellen Direktsaatverfahren Humus an der Oberfläche angereichert, die Bodenschutzziele sind damit erreicht. Wurden im Frick-Versuch die N2O-Emissionen mit der Kohlenstoffanreicherung verrechnet, ergab sich gegenüber dem Pflugverfahren im Schnitt eine Kohlenstoff-Sequestrierleistung von 1,8 t CO2-eq. ha–1 a–1 im reduzierten System und damit eine leicht positive Wirkung in Sachen Klimaschutz

Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction with epilepsy, other heart defects, minor facial anomalies and new copy number variants

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is a cardiac abnormality of unknown etiology which has been described in children as well as in adults with and without chromosomal aberrations. LVHT has been reported in association with various cardiac and extracardiac abnormalities like epilepsy and facial dysmorphism. CASE PRESENTATION: A unique combination of LVHT, atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic stenosis, epilepsy and minor facial anomalies is presented in a 5.5 years old girl. Microarray-based genomic hybridization (array-CGH) detected six previously not described copy number variants (CNVs) inherited from a clinically unaffected father and minimally affected mother, thus, most likely, not clinically significant but rare benign variants. CONCLUSIONS: Despite this complex phenotype de novo microdeletions or microduplications were not detected by array CGH. Further investigations, such as whole exome sequencing, could reveal point mutations and small indels as the possible cause