PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE AND BASIC CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE KRASNOYARSK FOREST STEPPE

Abstract

There was studied productivity of maize for grain and silage in hybrids Katerina SV, ROSS 191 MV, ROSS 140 SV bred in Russia; NK Kuler, NK Gitago, Delitop F 1 , Falcon F 1 bred abroad, under conditions of the Krasnoyarsk forest steppe. Data on the growing period length, yields of green mass and dry matter, chemical composition of green mass and cost-efficiency of cultivation were produced. Dependencies of green mass and dry matter yields in maize hybrids varying in ripeness on sowing dates, seeding rates and cultivation techniques at different harvesting times were revealed. The cultivation of maize hybrids Katerina SV, ROSS 191 MV, NK Kuler, NK Gitago, Delitop F 1 and Falcon F 1 under conditions of the East Siberian forest steppe ensured high biological yields of green and dry mass containing dry matter of not less than 20–21% as well as high nutritive value of green mass. The yields of green mass of hybrids bred in Russia were 580–684 centners per ha, those of foreign hybrids 663–930 centners per ha. The profitability of home hybrids cultivation made up 197–244%, that of foreign hybrids 288–296%. To obtain high and stable yields of green and dry mass with high feeding qualities, the hybrids ROSS 191 MV, NK Kuler and NK Gitago can be recommended. Under conditions of the Krasnoyarsk forest steppe, the early-ripening hybrid Katerina SV would be better sown during the second ten-day period of May, the mid-ripening hybrid ROSS 140 SV during the third ten-day period of May, or the first ten-day period of June, at 70 ths viable seeds per ha seeding rate that provides yields of up to 888 centners per ha of green mass, or 193 centners per ha of dry mass. The application of Gold Star herbicide in a dose of 0.2 L per ha contributed to reducing weeds down to 2% of the harvest with the yields of green mass harvested at the milk-wax and wax stages up to 579–671 centners per ha.