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Organic wheat production systems have lower yields compared with intensive conventional production and often do not achieve the grain protein content and quality thresholds set by millers and bakers. In contrast, organic production methods were reported to result in higher concentrations of nutritionally desirable micronutrients and lower concentrations of the toxic metal Cd in wheat grain and wholegrain flour. However, although N-availability and variety characteristics are known to affect both gain yields and bread-making quality, the exact reasons for the yield gap and differences in grain processing and nutritional quality between organic and conventional spring wheat production in the UK are poorly understood. The overall aim of this study was therefore to determine to what extent changes in variety choice and fertilization regimes may reduce the yield gap and improve processing quality without affecting nutritional quality in organic spring wheat production. To achieve this aim, we compared crop health, yield, grain processing, and nutritional quality parameters in spring wheat produced using (i) six contrasting spring wheat varieties grown with a standard fertilization regime and (ii) one variety widely used by organic farmers (Paragon) with nine different fertilization regimes in (iii) three UK sites/farms with contrasting pedoclimatic conditions. Significant differences in foliar disease severity, grain yield, and quality parameters were detected between six contrasting spring wheat varieties when grown under organic management regimes. Specifically, the varieties Paragon and Tybalt were identified as the best-performing varieties with respect to foliar disease resistance and grain yield under organic farming conditions and also produced high processing and nutritional quality across the three UK sites. However, the highest grain yields were obtained by Paragon at the Gilchester site and Tybalt at the Sheepdrove and Courtyard sites, while the highest protein contents were produced by Tybalt at the Gilchester site and Paragon at the Sheepdrove and Courtyard sites, which suggests that there is a need for site-specific wheat variety selection in the UK organic sector. Although organic fertilizer input type and level also affected wheat performance, differences between fertilization regimes were smaller than those observed between the five contrasting varieties, which suggests that improvements in spring wheat breeding/selection have a greater potential for increasing crop yield and quality in the organic sector compared with changes to fertilization practices. Overall, results suggest it is feasible to breed/select spring wheat varieties that combine high protein, vitamin E, and micronutrients with low toxic metal (Cd, Pb) concentrations when produced under organic farming conditions. These findings also support the hypothesis that differences in variety choice by organic and conventional farmers have contributed to the differences in nutritional quality between organic and conventional wheat products reported in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is a minor cereal with potential to support sustainable farming practices. This study evaluated the performance of four old and modern European open‐pollinated winter rye cultivars grown with different nitrogen (N) sources (cattle slurry, farmyard manure, biogas digestate, mineral N) at two rates of N 50 and 100 kg ha−1 in the United Kingdom and Estonia, in the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons. Grain yield in Estonia was higher than the United Kingdom (6.2 vs. 4.8 t ha−1), which was attributed to a higher ear density (409.4 vs. 249.7 ears m−2) and grain number per ear (50.2 vs. 43.2), although 1,000‐grain weight was higher in the United Kingdom. There were clear differences between sites in the response to N source with significant N source × year interactions. Biogas digestate and mineral N produced higher grain yield than farmyard manure and cattle slurry in the United Kingdom, whereas in Estonia cattle slurry had a lower grain yield than the other N sources. Foliar diseases were absent in Estonia and in the United Kingdom, and N source only affected powdery mildew and leaf blotch on Leaf 2. The response of grain quality to N source and variety was consistent across both sites. The modern variety Elias had the highest Hagberg falling number and specific weight but the lowest protein content, whereas the variety Schlägler had the highest protein content but lowest specific weight. The benefits of selecting cultivars for specific environments are shown by the interactions between genotype and environment. Core Ideas: The study evaluates the response of four different rye cultivars to rate and type of fertilizer.Biogas digestate showed value as a N fertilizer producing a yield similar to mineral N.High grain yields in Estonia were associated with higher ear number and grains per ear.Clear genotype × environment interactions can help target cultivars to suited environments.With low disease levels rye provides an opportunity for organic and low‐input growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study evaluates the response of different spelt varieties with variation in rate and type of fertiliser over 2 seasons. • Biogas digestate showed particular value producing a yield level similar to that of mineral N but with lower foliar disease. • The landrace Oberkulmer Rotkorn produced the highest yields in the UK and Filderstolz the modern (wheat x spelt cross) the lowest. • Clear G x E interactions show the benefits of selecting spelt cultivars suited to particular environments. • With increasing market demand spelt provides a clear opportunity for organic and low-input growers. Spelt (Triticum spelta) is an ancient wheat which is attracting renewed interest with an increasing demand for wholegrains and ancient cereals in the diet. This study evaluates the yield and quality performance of four contrasting European spelt varieties (both landraces and modern cultivars) grown with different fertiliser types (cattle slurry, farm yard manure, and biogas digestate in comparison with mineral N) and rates (50 and 100 kg N ha−1) in contrasting environments, i.e. the UK and CZ in the 2014−15 and 2015−16 seasons. Grain yield was similar in both seasons but was greater in CZ than the UK (4.9 vs 3.2 t ha−1) which was also supported by a much greater harvest index (HI) of 40.4 vs 31.3 % and all yield components measured. The yield differences were largely related to differences in climate and disease levels, i.e. leaf blotch (S. tritici) and yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis), which were much greater in the UK. Clear varietal differences were evident between the two sites especially in susceptibility to yellow rust. Leaf chlorophyll data showed that the uptake efficiency of the biogas digestate was similar to that of mineral N resulting in greater grain yield when averaged across sites and seasons. Significantly lower levels of yellow rust were observed under the biogas digestate treatment in the UK relative to the other fertiliser types. Clear genotype (G) x environment (E) interactions show the benefits of selecting spelt varieties suited to particular environments. Although yields of spelt are lower than common wheat, the crop benefits from lower inputs of fertiliser and the use of biogas digestate where available can provide a clear opportunity for organic and reduced input growers. The ability of the crop to produce a high grain protein content from low levels of fertiliser input shows the clear potential of spelt production systems whereby wheat in the UK struggles to achieve13 % protein from much greater rates of N fertiliser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent human cohort studies reported positive associations between organic food consumption and a lower incidence of obesity, cancer, and several other diseases. However, there are very few animal and human dietary intervention studies that provide supporting evidence or a mechanistic understanding of these associations. Here we report results from a two-generation, dietary intervention study with male Wistar rats to identify the effects of feeds made from organic and conventional crops on growth, hormonal, and immune system parameters that are known to affect the risk of a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases in animals and humans. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to separate the effects of contrasting crop protection methods (use or non-use of synthetic chemical pesticides) and fertilizers (mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers vs. manure use) applied in conventional and organic crop production. Conventional, pesticide-based crop protection resulted in significantly lower fiber, polyphenol, flavonoid, and lutein, but higher lipid, aldicarb, and diquat concentrations in animal feeds. Conventional, mineral NPK-based fertilization resulted in significantly lower polyphenol, but higher cadmium and protein concentrations in feeds. Feed composition differences resulting from the use of pesticides and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer had a significant effect on feed intake, weight gain, plasma hormone, and immunoglobulin concentrations, and lymphocyte proliferation in both generations of rats and in the second generation also on the body weight at weaning. Results suggest that relatively small changes in dietary intakes of (a) protein, lipids, and fiber, (b) toxic and/or endocrine-disrupting pesticides and metals, and (c) polyphenols and other antioxidants (resulting from pesticide and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer use) had complex and often interactive effects on endocrine, immune systems and growth parameters in rats. However, the physiological responses to contrasting feed composition/intake profiles differed substantially between the first and second generations of rats. This may indicate epigenetic programming and/or the generation of "adaptive" phenotypes and should be investigated further.