Technological methods for increasing the yield and fertility reproduction when growing zucchini on sod-podzolic light loamy soil in natural and climatic conditions of Republic of Belarus

Abstract

Relevance. To improve the quality of life and expand the taste preferences of the population of Belarus, it is necessary to expand the range of vegetable crops with high yields, marketability and product quality, adapted to the natural and climatic conditions of the republic. In this regard, improving technological methods for cultivating such a crop as zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) is of scientific and practical importance. Materials and Methods. The research was carried out on the territory of a private farm in the village of Chukhny, Smorgon district. Field and laboratory studies were carried out using generally accepted methods and guidelines. Results. Substantiated the feasibility of cultivating green manure crops in combination with the local application of thermoammonia-disinfected compost when growing zucchini in seedlings on sod-podzolic light loamy soils in the natural climatic conditions of Belarus. The developed technological methods ensure the reproduction of soil fertility, increased yield, and production of high quality products without the use of mineral fertilizers. When using green manure and disinfected compost, the nitrate content in zucchini cv. Bonus, grown without mineral fertilizers, was in the range of 280-320 mg/kg. To reproduce the fertility of soddy-podzolic light loamy soils when growing zucchini in the natural climatic conditions of Belarus, it is advisable to use oats, oilseed radish and peas as green manure fertilizers. This technological technique increases the content of organic matter in the soil by 0.8-1.3 %. Together with green manure, adding thermo-ammonia-disinfected compost into a hole when planting zucchini seedlings ensures an increase in organic matter content by 1.2-1.5 % in the compost localization zone. During the decomposition of organic matter of green manure crops and disinfected compost applied locally, nutrients are released in quantities sufficient to form a high yield of zucchini with a nitrate content below the maximum permissible concentration. Thus, when grown on soddy-podzolic light loamy soils in the natural climatic conditions of Belarus, the proposed technological methods make it possible to obtain high-quality products and significantly increase the yield of zucchini due to green manure in combination with the local application of disinfected compost without the use of mineral fertilizers.