Die Bedeutung der Saatgutqualität für Sortenvergleiche mit Sommergerste im ökologischen Landbau

Summary

The results show that thousand grain weight, protein content of seed, seed
contamination with fungi and seed emergence influenced yield potential of organically
produced seeds of spring barley in variety trials under organic farming conditions
during three years. Certified organic seed on average had smaller grains, lower
protein content and brought 5% less yield than conventionally produced seeds of the
same variety offered for trials by breeders. Different susceptibilities of the seeds for
contamination with fungi influenced the ranking of varieties and seed lots additionally.
The more of the previos seed quality parameters reached acceptable levels during
organic seed production, the better starting point for a better yield was obtained. The
results indicate that by comparing conventionally produced seeds of one variety with
organically produced seeds of another variety the probability will be three times higher
to handicap instead of favouring the variety tested with organic seed.