Analysis of the variability of morphometric and physiological parameters of grain crops when using biofertilizers

Abstract

Currently, solving the problem of improving agricultural crops’ productivity is of great relevance. The parameters of photosynthetic activity play an important role in photosynthesis and ensure the efficient functioning of plants under various conditions. Understanding of these processes helps better understand the mechanisms of plant growth and development, as well as develop methods to increase productivity and resistance to stress conditions. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the effect of biofertilizers on the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and the variability of the area of leaf blades of agricultural grain crops (durum wheat, spring barley), and to establish the dependence of productivity on the ameliorant used. The objects of study were the spring barley variety ‘Anna’ and the durum wheat variety ‘Orenburgskaya’. The area of the leaf blade was measured by scanning using the APFill Ink&Toner Coverage Meter program. To determine the chlorophyll content, there was used a portable N-tester. There has been reliably established positive correlation between productivity increase and the size of the leaf blade of the experimental plants. The application of the studied biofertilizer has had a positive effect on chlorophyll increase in the barley leaf blades. This explains the possibility of changing the studied parameters by agricultural methods (fertilizer application). There has been found a significant correlation (at p˂0.05) between the height parameters with a number of seeds in a head (r = 0.63) and a leaf blade area (r = 0,69), a number of seeds in a head and productivity (r = 0.86). As a result of the study, there has been established a relationship between some quantitative parameters of the seed material (head length – number of seeds in a head), and a positive correlation was identified between a leaf area and a head length (r = 0.69). There has been obtained a significant dependence of barley productivity on the ameliorant used. At the same time, the productivity increase when using fertilizer compared to the control was 58.9 %.