Weight variability of miscanthus rhizomes as affected by the application of absorbent at planting

Abstract

Purpose. To find out the peculiarities of the mother roots formation and variability of their weight as affected by elements of growing technology. Methods. Field, laboratory, visual, measuring and weighing, mathematical-statistical. Results. It was found that at the time of vegetation ceasing, more root weight increase for both planting dates was recorded in the treatment with absorbent as compared with the control one. On the average over three years, a gain of weight by small rhizomes for the first planting date was significantly higher compared to the control and varied from 78.4 to 433.6 g as affected by the type of absorbent. When planting large rhizomes, increase in the rhizome weight was significantly greater than in the control and small rhizomes. For the second date of planting, a similar dependence was observed. Initial rhizome weight had a significant effect on the weight increase. On average over three years, for the first planting timing of large rhizomes (60–90 g) the weight of roots as compared to control was 1.6 times higher than for small rhizomes. A similar increase in rhizome weight was obtained by using absorbent for both planting dates. The variability of the weight of mother rhizomes in the years of the experiment represented the phenotypic nature of this sign. Specifically, 36.4 % large rhizomes planted at the first planting date weighted up to 600 g, 18.2% had their weight varied between 600 and 700 g, 13.6% between 701 and 800 g, 18.2% between 801 and 900 g, and only 13.6 % between 901 and 1500 g. There were no rhizomes more than 1501 g. Average weight of rhizomes varied between 531 and 869 g. Joint application of gel and granules of absorbent provided root weight of 901–1500 g for 59.1% mother roots and more than 1501 g for 40.9% mother roots, with the weight range from 1237.7 to 2191 g and the average weight value of 1653.5 g.Conclusions. For both timings of planting small rhizomes, application of absorbent provided a significantly greater increase in root weight at the end of growth period compared to the control. Planting of large rhizomes provided significantly higher weight gain as compared to the control and planting small rhizomes. For both planting timings, dynamics of weight increase was significantly affected by the initial weight of rhizomes. The variability of rhizome weight represents the phenotypic nature of this feature, depending on the weight of rhizomes, application of absorbent and the timing of planting.