Influence of soil tillage, fertilizers and biostimulants on the yield of spring wheat in the forest-steppe of the Middle Volga

Abstract

A three-factor field experiment (tillage and fertilizer systems, biostimulants) was carried out in the Samara region in 2016 and 2017 on two experimental fields in crop rotation: bare fallow – winter wheat – spring wheat – sunflower. There were two main tillage systems: minimum tillage and No-Till; two soil fertilizer systems: without and with fertilizer (N12P52); liquid mineral fertilizer and biostimulants: control, Megamix N10, Aminocat 10% + Raykat Growth. In 2016, the yield of spring wheat on plots with No-Till was 10% higher, and in wet and cool 2017 it was 5% lower than in wheat crops with minimal tillage. In 2017 in experiments with soil fertilizer (N12P52) the grain number per spike increased by 37% (No-Till), and grain yield of spring wheat – by 23% (minimum tillage), in 2016 respectively by 13-15% and 14% (No-Till and minimum tillage) compared to plots without soil fertilizer. In 2017 (2016) in experiments with Megamix N10 the number of productive tillers per plant increased by 5 (2)%, thousand grain weight by 12 (2)%, grain yield by 12 (6)%; with Aminocat + Raykat Growth by 7 (10)%, 22 (4)% and 44 (14)%, respectively, compared to plots without their use. Minimum soil tillage and No-Till create favorable conditions for the development of weeds, diseases and pests in spring wheat crops. This necessitates the use of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides in its cultivation.