Influence of Silicon-Containing Agro-Ore (Diatomite) on the Yield of Agricultural Crops and the Quality of Crop Production

Abstract

In the soil and climatic conditions of the forest-steppe of the Middle Volga region, the effect and aftereffect of various doses of silicon-containing agro-ore (diatomite) and its combinations with bird droppings on the productivity of agricultural crops has been scientifically substantiated and experimentally proven. The highest effect on the productivity of corn, spring wheat, annual grasses was provided by the complex action and aftereffect of silicon-containing agricultural ore together with bird droppings. The yield of corn grain in these variants varied from 5.48 to 5.92, spring wheat – from 3.12 to 3.33, hay of annual grasses – from 9.15 to 10.2 t/ha. The total productivity of crops of the grain-to-crop rotation link when using silicon-containing agricultural ore (diatomite) mixed with bird droppings varied in the range from 13.0 to 14.1 tons of grain/ha, exceeding the control by 3.36–4.44 tons of grain/ha, or by 34.8–45.9%.