Productivity of winter wheat depending on sowing dates and fertilisation

Abstract

Modern varieties of winter wheat have high genetic productivity potential that can be realised through improved cultivation techniques, including sowing dates optimisation, fertiliser system optimisation, and the application of microelements, which determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the specific features of winter wheat productivity formation based on cultivation techniques in the Carpathian region. The research utilised field, laboratory (for grain quality determination), and statistical methods (for data reliability assessment). Field studies were conducted during 2021-2022 on grey forest surface-eroded soils. The growth and development characteristics of the Estafeta Myronivska, Dovira Odeska, and Akhim winter wheat varieties sown at different dates (September 20, October 5, October 20) were investigated. It was found that grain yield and individual productivity indicators of the studied winter wheat varieties varied depending on sowing dates, mineral fertilizer doses, foliar feeding, and varietal traits. The highest individual plant productivity indicators were achieved by the Estafeta Myronivska, Dovira Odeska, and Akhim varieties sown on October 5 with mineral fertiliser application N120P90K90 (including N30P90K90 applied during cultivation, N15 after soil thawing, N45 (in the BBCH 29-30 growth stage), N30 (BBCH 55-57) with dual application of micronutrients (Aidamin-complex foliar feeding). As a result of the studied factors, an increase in the number of productive stems, grains per stem, and grain weight per spike was observed. The highest grain yield among the studied varieties was achieved by the Estafeta Myronivska variety (5.65 t/ha) when sown on October 5 with N120P90K90 and Aidamin-complex foliar feeding. The research results can be used to adjust the cultivation techniques of winter wheat in production conditions to increase yield and grain quality