Oat-Sowing Methods on Drained Lands

Abstract

The article presents the results of research on oat-sowing methods on drained lands. The research was carried out on the experimental fields of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands (VNIIMZ). In experiments, ordinary row (SZ-3.6), surface-scattered, and comb-like band-scattered sowing methods were compared. It has been established that oats on desiccated lands should be grown on crests 40–80 mm high with local compaction of soil under the crest and pressing seeds into the soil. The yield increments with the comb method of sowing are 0.13–0.39 t/ha or 3.6–13.9% in relation to the existing sowing technology (SZ-3.6), and direct costs for the production of 1 t of grain are reduced by 2.9–10.5%. The yield of oats was increased, mainly due to an increase in the number of grains in a panicle by 4.2–9.8 pieces, and its total productivity was increased by 11.3–34.7%. Pressing seeds into the soil with the comb method of sowing increased the yield of oats against the background of cultivation by 0.21–0.28 t/ha, increased the safety of oat plants, increased the number of stems with a panicle at 9.2–11.5%, and the mass of the grain in a panicle by 1.9–6.5% due to the increase in the number of grains. A certain interest for the conditions of the northwest of the Nonchernozem zone, especially of small peasant holdings, is also represented by the scattered method of sowing oats without coulter. Labor productivity in sowing increases 1.5–3 times, labor costs per 1 hectare during sowing operations are reduced by 37.6–58.4%, and fuel consumption is reduced by 7.4–39.2%. When using trailed spreaders of mineral fertilizers for sowing seeds, there is no need for separate auxiliary operations, special loaders and transport for seed transportation. At the same time, the terms of field work are reduced, the adaptation of seeding technology to soil-meliorative conditions is increased, and the sealing effect of running systems of tractors and machines on soil is reduced (by 2–4 times).