Advanced technology of growing fodder beet seeds in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To improve the technology of growing fodder beets in the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine based on the study of agro-climatic indicators, patterns of plant growth and development.
 Methods. Laboratory and field, analytical, statistical.
 Results. The article is devoted to the theoretical and experimental substantiation of the parameters of the advanced technology of growing fodder beet seeds by spring sowing under the cover of corn. With this technology, seed bearing plants acquire new biological characteristics: before the onset of stable cooling, slightly larger woody roots with a high content of dry matter (20–22%) and sugar (16–17%) are formed with a well-developed leaf apparatus; due to the remaining stubble after harvesting cover crops (corn) increases the safety of plants in winter, which over the years of research was 89–96%, which provided a plant stand density at harvest of 177–180 thousand/ha, seed yield of 1.6–2.2 t/ha with a germination of 90–94%. Production testing of advanced technology has fully confirmed the field research. On average for two years the seed yield was 1.9 t/ha (control 1.5 t/ha), its cost decreased by 2.3 times compared to the control, the profit from the sale of seeds amounted to 7963 UAH/ha (control 2337 UAH/ha). The total profit on advanced technology, including due to the profit from the green mass of corn, amounted to 9133 UAH/ha, which is 3.9 times higher than in the control.
 Conclusions. In the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, it is expedient to grow fodder beet seeds according to an advanced technology, which stipulates row spacing of 60 cm, seeding rate of beet seeds per 1 m of a row 50–60 and corn 8–12; 2) harvesting corn before wintering at the time recommended for this area and depending on the purpose of use; 3) at the onset of stable cooling — hilling plants with simultaneous feeding (N40–50 P60–90 K30–50 kg/ha etc.) with paws-hillers of row cultivators (УСМК‑5.4Б, КОЗР‑5.4, etc.); 4) after overwintering — local application of nitrogen fertilizers (N80–120 kg/ha, etc.) + harrowing with heavy or medium harrows across the rows or diagonally; 5) in the stage of a well-developed rosette — application of inter-row (local) nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers (N20–30, P40–60 kg/ha, etc.) using МТЗ‑1025+УСМК‑5.4Б (КРН 56–02); 6) in the stage of mass stalking — removing of top foliage using МТЗ‑1025+КС‑2,1; 7) during flowering — two or three additional pollination.