Abstracts

Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) is an ancient wheat species that holds an important place among alternative cereals and is increasingly attractive due to its highly favourable agronomic, nutritional and medicinal characteristics. This cereal should play a leading role in organic plant-based food production. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of sowing time and fertiliser type on the yield of the spelt varieties Nirvana and Ostro. The one-year study (2023/24) was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Research and Development Institute “Tamiš” in Pančevo, on a plot certified for organic production, using a split-plot design with four replications. Sowing time significantly affected the dynamics of phenophase occurrence and duration. The longest vegetation period during the study was achieved with sowing on 16 October (256 days), while the shortest was with sowing on 31 October (241 days). Sowing time had a notable impact on yield in both varieties: later sowing resulted in higher grain yield. This is explained by the milder winter compared to previous years and the later onset of cold periods, which allowed later-sown varieties to be better prepared. Organic fertilizers (Guanito) and microbiological fertilizers (Unimax and Slavol) influenced the number of spikelets: with top-dressing in any combination, the number of fertilized spikelets increased while unfertilized spikelets decreased. Spelt grain possesses high nutritional value and deserves much greater attention in the system of producing safe and healthy food.

Keywords

Spelt, Organic production, Sowing time, Organic and microbiological fertilizers, Yield

Acknowledgment

The paper was produced under the "Agreement on the implementation and financing of scientific research in 2025 between the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, contract registration number: 451-03-137/2025-03/200116".

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