Comparison of Cereals Grown Under High (Conventional) and Low (Reduced) Inputs Systems

Abstract

This long-term experiment, which commenced at Oak Park in September 1994, compared the effect of a high inputs system with a low inputs system on the yield and quality of winter wheat and winter barley grown (i) In a non-cereal break-crop rotation with spring barley (ii) In a continuous cereal break-crop rotation with winter oats, and (iii) Continuous cereals. The experimental site at Knockbeg consisted of a medium-heavy textured, freedraining grey-brown podzolic soil (Knockbeg Series). The objective of the experiment was to measure the effect of reduced inputs on grain yield, grain quality, production costs and the profitability of the important cereal crops grown in different rotations, so that the impact of a more environmentally-friendly inputs system could be assessed and compared with conventional production systems.