Seed productivity and sowing properties of alfalfa seeds depending on the action of lime, mineral and water-soluble fertilizers

Abstract

Purpose. To study the regularities of influence of fertilization system on alfalfa seed crops under the use of mineral, lime and various types of water-soluble fertilizers on a chelate basis in conditions of increased soil acidity in order to form maximum seed productivity. To establish the features of formation of the sowing properties of seeds, in particular, the germination energy, germination capacity, the number of hard seeds and the mass of 1000 seeds, their variability, and on this basis to develop ways to improve them. Methods. Measuring, visual, quantitative, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. As a result of scientific research, the possibilities of increasing the seed productivity of alfalfa in conditions of excessive acidity of gray forest soils of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine were discovered. It has been established that the introduction of lime, mineral and water-soluble fertilizers on a chelate basis in different phases of growth and development of alfalfa reduces the negative impact of the lack of basic nutrients for seed plants, especially calcium, and promotes increase in seed productivity by 124-236%, the weight of 1000 seeds – by 10-17%, germination – by 1-5%. Conclusions. Optimal conditions have been established for the formation of the Sinyukha variety alfalfa seeds yield on gray forest soils with increased soil acidity (pH 4.8-5.2) by liming alfalfa with a fastacting calcium fertilizer (Ca(OH)2 – slaked lime) – 0.5 norm up to hydrolytic acidity in combination with the use of mineral fertilizers (N30P90K90). The most effective is the use of “Raykat Start” growth and development regulator at the beginning of regrowth and “Raykat Grow” at the beginning of flowering alfalfa in a dose of 125 ml per 100 l/ha of water in combination with the introduction of water-soluble fertilizer Plantafol (1 kg/ha), boric ( 1 kg/ha) and molybdenum fertilizers (0.3 kg/ha) against the background of the main fertilization with mineral and lime fertilizers, which provided, on average, over the years of research, the formation of the highest seed yield – 235-264 kg/ha, 1000 seeds weight – 1.86 g, seed germination – 95%.