Abstract:
Leaf area index, normalized index of vegetation and yield are important traits affected by environmental factors. The
objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three different year on leaf area index, normalized index of
vegetation and its implication on the winter wheat yield cultivated in organic farming system. Twenty wheat cultivars
were sowing during 2016-2018 under rainfed conditions at National Agricultural Research and Development Institute
Fundulea, Romania, on a cambic chernozem soil. Climatic conditions and cultivars strongly influenced all studied traits
in this study. The highest leaf area index and NDVI were reached in 2016, while the lowest ones were recorded in
organic farming system for all cultivars in 2018. In conditions of 2018 year LAI ranged from 1.6 (Bezostaia) to 3.1
m2
/m2
(Glosa), reflecting less favorable conditions of water and nutrients supply than in 2016 when in the same
genotypes the LAI values were 0.35 and 0.54, respectively. The correlations between leaf area index, normalized index
of vegetation and yield obtained in experimental years, were very significantly positive, suggesting that a higher yield in
organic farming system can be associated with capacity of cultivar for a higher leaf area to achieve a good ground
cover.
