Durum wheat

Regarding soil type, durum wheat requires the same conditions as standard winter wheat, preferring humus-rich soils with a deep profile and ample water retention. 

Ideal prerequisites include: 
- crops that vacate the field early,
- nitrogen-fixing crops, and those that leave the soil fertile.

 
Appropriate preceding crops are: legumes, oilseed rape, early soybeans, flax, poppy, and early potatoes. 
Sunflowers and sugar beets are moderately suitable as preceding fodder crops. It is advisable to avoid monoculture with wheat and other cereals. Maize is a less preferred preceding crop due to its association with frequent fusarium wilt.

The ideal sowing period is between October 10th and 25th. A sowing density of approximately 500-550 germinated grains per square meter is recommended (for Kapsur and Leondur, which have larger grains, the rate is about 250-270 kg/ha). Hard wheat varieties typically exhibit lower germination rates, necessitating precise sowing techniques. Should sowing occur outside the optimal window, the sowing density should be increased by 10-20%, relative to the extent of deviation from the ideal timing. The recommended sowing depth is around 4 cm.

To achieve a yield of 1 ton of grain along with the associated vegetative mass and roots of durum wheat, it is necessary to ensure the following conditions are met: 

When incorporating the harvest residues of meadows into the soil, it's essential to apply a base NPK fertilizer at a rate of approximately 200-300 kg/ha, based on soil analysis results. One-third of the nitrogen should be introduced in autumn before planting to hasten the decomposition of fodder residues and to promote better plant establishment. The remaining two-thirds of nitrogen should be administered as top dressing in two applications: the first application at the start of the growing season with about 40-60 kgN/ha, and the second when leafing begins within the plant, also at 40-60 kg N/ha. If urea is used for the initial application, it should be applied before vegetation starts to ensure its conversion into a form assimilable by the plant.

For effective treatment, it is crucial to adhere to specific external conditions. During spraying, the daytime temperature must not exceed 15°C, and the following night should not drop below 10°C. Subsequently, for a period of 7 days, the temperature must remain above 5°C both day and night. These are the optimal conditions for the translocation of fungicides.

To ensure the crop's health, three fungicidal treatments are necessary:

T1: This is the initial fungicidal treatment applied during the budding phase, which also includes herbicide application to keep the crop weed-free.

T2: The second treatment is an intermediate fungicidal application during the phase of intensive growth, from the second node, to protect the crop up to the onset of flowering. This period may see the emergence of rust and/or septoria; therefore, preventive treatments are advised. An anti-aphid insecticide may also be applied at this stage.

T3: The final fungicidal treatment is administered at the start of flowering to shield the spikes from fusarium head blight, which is spread by rain splash. This treatment also serves to prevent rust infections. For durum wheat, this T3 treatment is essential and obligatory to ensure the health of the crop, which is critical for commercial sale.

The quality parameters for durum wheat are set at 17-18% grain moisture; however, the optimal moisture content for starting harvest is 14%. Durum grains, true to their name as hard wheat, have a tough outer layer. Therefore, it's crucial to adjust the harvester to prevent any breakage during harvest. If fully ripe grains become wet, even a small amount of moisture, 5-10 mm, can significantly degrade their quality, particularly if there is a cold spell just before harvesting. Similar to other cereals, heavy rainfall can initiate the germination process in the grains, activating the alpha-amylase enzyme, which leads to quality deterioration and a sharp decrease in the falling number.