Re-Introduction of Ancient Wheat Cultivars into Organic Agriculture—Emmer and Einkorn Cultivation Experiences under Marginal Conditions

Szilvia Bencze, Marianna Makádi, Tibor J. Aranyos, Mihály Földi, Péter Hertelendy, Péter Mikó, Sara Bosi, Lorenzo Negri and Dóra Drexler
Additional contact information
Szilvia Bencze: ÖMKi, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 1033 Budapest, Hungary
Marianna Makádi: IAREF Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, University of Debrecen, 4400 Nyíregyháza, Hungary
Tibor J. Aranyos: IAREF Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, University of Debrecen, 4400 Nyíregyháza, Hungary
Mihály Földi: ÖMKi, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 1033 Budapest, Hungary
Péter Hertelendy: ÖMKi, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 1033 Budapest, Hungary
Péter Mikó: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, 2462 Martonvásár, Hungary
Sara Bosi: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Lorenzo Negri: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Dóra Drexler: ÖMKi, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 1033 Budapest, Hungary

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Modern agriculture depends on the production of very few crop species, which provide lower nutritive value for consumers. The present work summarizes the results of a three-year experiment on hulled wheat varieties as potential candidates for food system diversification. The organic field cultivation tests with 10 emmer and five einkorn landraces and varieties were conducted on ~10m 2 plots on sandy soil, and from 2017, under on-farm conditions in eastern Hungary. Most accessions adapted well to the marginal conditions, with some landraces even yielding higher than registered varieties—over 3 t per ha on average over three years. Compared to emmer, einkorn had higher maximum grain yields, but its yield performance varied more than that of emmer. Grain protein and the total phenolic content were high in both species. Compared to emmer, einkorn seeds exhibited a 3.8 times higher content of bound flavonoids and had 3.4 times higher antioxidant activity. Four einkorn accessions were resistant to leaf spot, as well as yellow and leaf rusts. Fusarium infected both species similarly. Our findings indicate that not only registered varieties of ancient wheat species but also their landraces can provide sustainable alternatives both for organic farmers and also for the diversification of agriculture.

Keywords: emmer; einkorn; landraces; organic; disease resistance; yield stability; grain quality; diversifood (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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