Winter wheat productivity and grain quality depending on forecrops and sowing dates using no-till technology in the unstable moisture region of the Stavropol territory

УРОЖАЙНІСТЬ ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД СИСТЕМ ОСНОВНОГО ОБРОБІТКУ ҐРУНТУ ТА УДОБРЕННЯ

Direct sowing of crops reduces the cost of soil cultivation for farmers, but significantly increases the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and new agricultural equipment. The problem of the economic feasibility of introducing increased doses of mineral fertilizers when sowing winter wheat and carrying out nitrogen fertilization in the no-till technology is of great relevance, but has been little studied. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the economic efficiency of winter wheat grain production in the direct sowing (no-till) technology with different methods and doses of mineral fertilizers in conditions of unstable moisture in the Stavropol Territory. The study was carried out in the trial on the fields of the North-Caucasus Federal Research Agricultural Center in 2017–2019. The variants for using fertilizers when sowing winter wheat were as follows: without fertilizers; with N6 Р26; with N12Р52; with N24Р104; with N52Р52; with N52Р52K52; with N52; with N104Р52K52. In the early spring period, on the background of fertilizers used when sowing the crop, there was carried out additional fertilizing with ammonium nitrate at a dose of N52. There was found that all doses of mineral fertilizers used when sowing winter wheat, reduced the unit cost of production on 1.8–19.8%, raised profits on 24.8–177.1% and improved profitability on 2.5–43.1%. The best economic indicators were established when using N52 and N104Р52К52, at which there was obtained the minimum cost price of 1 ton of grain (6216–6494 rubles), the highest profitability (77.1–85.0%) and profit (27 830–33 454 rubles/ha). Early spring additional fertilizing (N52) of winter wheat on the background of fertilizers used when sowing the crop after peas turned out to be an ineffective agrochemical method. As a result, the cost price of a production unit increased on 0.5–23.4%, and the level of production profitability reduced on 0.8–35.0%. In no-till technology, the use of higher doses of nitrogen fertilizers during winter wheat sowing provided not only a significant increase of grain productivity and quality, but also maximum economic benefits.

Topicality. Global warming requires the search for effective predecessors and doses of nitrogen fertilizers to obtain stable yields of high quality winter wheat grain. Purpose. To study the influence of the grain legume predecessor (peas) on the yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and establish the optimal dose of nitrogen fertilizers for the biologization of its cultivation. Methods. Long-term field and analytical. Results. The data of researches on the influence of legume predecessor (peas) and doses of nitrogen fertilizers on the productivity of winter wheat are given. It was found that the legume predecessor (peas) and nitrogen fertilizers significantly increased the yield and quality of winter wheat grain. It was defined that increasing the dose of nitrogen fertilizers for winter wheat from 40 to 80 kg/ha on both predecessors was effective. Conclusions. The application of N80P60K60 for winter wheat in the crop rotation link with peas provided the highest grain yield – 5.42 t/ha with an excess to the control without fertilizers by 1.02 t/ha. Under the predecessor (meadow fescue), the application of N80P60K60 decreased grain yield by 1.03 t/ha. It was found that an increase in the nitrogen fertilizer dose from 40 to 80 kg/ha for winter wheat was more effective in the peas link – grain yield increased by 0.56 t/ha, while in the meadow fescue link – by 0.38 t/ha. A clear correlation between dose of nitrogen fertilizers and winter wheat grain yield was established: with the coefficient of determination in the meadow fescue link – 0.9999, the peas link – 0.9966. The plowing of pea straw under winter wheat against the background of the dose of mineral fertilizers N60P60K60 was determined to be effective; the grain yield increased by 0.23 t/ha compared to the application of mineral fertilizers alone, with an absolute indicator of 5.36 t/ha. The application of mineral fertilizers in both links increased the growth of stem mass, ensuring the straw yield in the peas link by 0.4–0.7 t/ha higher than in the meadow fescue link. Under peas as a predecessor, the quality of winter wheat grain has significantly improved. In the control without fertilizers, the protein content in wheat grain after peas was 11.4 %, after meadow fescue – 11.0 %; for the application of a dose of N40P60K60 fertilizers – 11.8 % and 11.4 %, respectively; N60P60K60 – 12.0 % and 11.5 %, N90P60K60 – 12.1 % and 11.7 %. Due to the legume predecessor (peas), the protein content in the grain increased by 0.4–0.5 % compared to the meadow fescue as a predecessor. Key words: nitrogen, predecessor, peas, productivity, winter wheat

Winter wheat is the main grain crop in the Central Blackearth region. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the effect of basic tillage practices and doses of mineral fertilizers in crop rotations on the productivity, grain quality and economic efficiency of winter wheat grain production in the conditions of the Central Blackearth region. The study was carried out on the experimental field of the FSBSI “Kursk FARC” on the slope of the northern exposure in 2016–2020. The scheme of the trial included crop rotations (grain-fallow, grain-grass-fallow, graingrass), primary tillage methods (plowing, disking, non-moldboard plowing), mineral fertilizers (without fertilizers, single N20Р40К40 and double N40Р80К80 doses). As a result of the study, there has been established productivity advantage of the grain-fallow crop rotation over the grain-grass-fallow and grain-grass crop rotation. Winter wheat productivity in the grain-grass crop rotation has decreased on an average of 10.2 %, in the grain-grass it has reduced on 15.8 %, compared with the grain-fallow crop rotation. The minimization of primary tillage methods in most cases has contributed to a decrease of winter wheat productivity, content of gluten, protein, and grain nature weight, compared with plowing. The introduction of mineral fertilizers has contributed to the improvement of all indicators of winter wheat grain quality. The largest yield of 4.63 t/ha was obtained in a grain-fallow crop rotation when plowing the soil with a fertilizer dose of N40P80K80. Calculations of the economic efficiency of the applied technologies have shown that the cost price of winter wheat grain was lower (4.44 thousand rubles/t) when disking soil in a grain-grass crop rotation with the application of a fertilizer dose N20P40K40. At the same time, the profit has amounted to 19.85 thousand rubles/ha, the level of profitability was 125.2 %. The minimum cost price of winter wheat grain was found in the variant with a fertilizer dose of N32P64K64.

Resource conservation with respect to nitrogen (N) was compared in organic and conventional cultivation of winter and spring wheat. Sustainability was measured in the nitrogen use efficiency of plant‐available N. The amounts of N entering each system and the amounts removed in the harvested crop and remaining as unused mineral nitrogen in the soil at harvest were determined. Net surpluses and losses during the growing season were also monitored, and the environmental variables influencing N harvest in the different cultivation systems were identified. The study was carried out in three different cultivation systems: conventional animal production (CONV), organic animal production (ORG1), and organic cereal production (ORG2). On average for all years and sampling occasions in winter wheat, there were approximately 60 kg more mineral nitrogen left in the soil during the growing season in CONV than in ORG1, and coefficients of variation were higher in CONV. The maximum values were considerably higher in CONV than in ORG1 (p=0.06–0.09), which increased the risk of leaching in the former, particularly in winter wheat cultivation. Nitrogen use efficiency in winter and spring wheat cultivation was 74% in whole crop conventional winter wheat and 81% in organic. Nitrogen use efficiency in harvested winter wheat grain was 44% for CONV and 49% for ORG1. ORG1 spring wheat was as efficient as ORG1 winter wheat, whereas ORG2 spring wheat used 73% of N in the whole crop and 39% in grain. Multivariate regression analysis showed that climate affected CONV and ORG1 winter wheat differently. High temperature in May increased grain yields in ORG1, but the converse was true for CONV. Large unused mineral N reserves at harvest coincided with large N harvest in CONV winter wheat. Residual fertility effects from the preceding crop produced high yields in ORG1 winter and spring wheat but had no effect in CONV. Generally, an increase in N reserves between plant development stages 13 and 31 was positive for both CONV and ORG1 winter wheat. Both winter and spring wheat require most N during this period, so the potential for improvement seems to lie in increasing mineralization (e.g., by intensified weed harrowing early in stage 13 in winter wheat and between stages 13 and 31 in spring wheat). Cultivation of winter wheat in ORG1 was a more efficient use of nitrogen resources than CONV. CONV efficiency could be improved by precision fertilization on each individual field with the help of N analysis before spring tillage and sensor‐controlled fertilization.

The studies were conducted in 2012–2014 in OOO “Znamenskoe” in the Znamensky district of the Orlov region in order to determine the influence of forecrops on winter wheat productivity. Field trials have shown that the forecrops have a great effect on soil moisture. The use of weedfree fallow and oil radish as green manure crop provides 1.3–3% soil moisture increase in the 0–10 cm layer before winter wheat sowing compared with annual grasses. Sown in bare fallow, winter wheat infestation was on 17.6–18.8% less in the tillering phase compared with the use of oil radish oil as green manure crop and annual grasses for green mass. It was determined that the forecops had an effect on the height of winter wheat plants. In weedfree fallow it was the maximum (122.7–127.1 cm), depending on the fertilizing ratio, which was on 8.0–10.3 cm more than in other variants of the trial. It was established that winter wheat sown in bare fallow exceeded other variants by the number of productive stems, kernels per ear, 1000-kernel weight on 2.1–7.2; 1.7–4.4; 13.9–19.5% respectively. This ensured a higher productivity of winter wheat. It has been identified that the use of oil radish improves the winter wheat quality, namely protein and gluten content, grain unit on 2.0–2.2, 1.4–2.2; 11–12.5 g/l respectively. The norm of mineral fertilizers N98R64K64 in comparison with N66R32K32 in all forecrops provided an increase in protein and gluten content on 0.4–0.7% and 0.7–2.6% respectively. Thus, biological technologies provide productivity improvement of winter wheat.

The use of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as a dual‐purpose forage and grain crop is important to the agricultural economies of the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Planting date is an important management factor in determining the economic success of a dual‐purpose winter wheat enterprise. The overall objective of the research reported in this paper is to determine the economic optimal planting date for dual‐purpose winter wheat production. The specific objectives are to determine wheat fall–winter forage yield, wheat grain yield, and wheat test weight response to planting date for dual‐purpose winter wheat production. Field studies were conducted in north central Oklahoma from 1991–1992 through 1999–2000. The impact of alternative planting dates on dual‐purpose wheat fall–winter forage yield, grain yield, and test weight was estimated. Estimated response functions illustrate that delaying the planting date from 10 to 30 September resulted in an 18% increase in expected grain yield, a 68% decrease in expected fall–winter forage yield, and only a 0.5% increase in expected test weight. Optimal planting date is sensitive to the relative value of wheat fall–winter forage and wheat grain, but not sensitive to wheat test weight discount schedules. When the value of wheat forage is high relative to the value of grain, it is more profitable to plant early to increase expected forage yield. Alternatively, when the value of grain is high relative to the value of forage, later planting generates greater net returns.

The main difference in fodder qualities of winter rye, triticale and wheat grains is the content of anti-nutritive substances: water-soluble pentosans and, accordingly, the viscosity of the aqueous extract of grain. Lack of scientific information about the content of antinutrients in the grain of winter cereal crops determines the relevance of the research; and the possibility to develop ways of using it and volumes of production for fodder purposes determines study’s innovativeness. The paper was set out to make a comparative assessment of the winter rye, winter triticale and winter wheat grain quality. On average for three years, the protein content of winter wheat grain was 11.5%, winter triticale – 10.0% and winter rye – 8.5%. In terms of starch content, winter wheat grain differs significantly from winter rye grain (by 0.9 percentage points more); winter triticale (by 0.8 percentage points more). On average, over three years, phosphorus in winter rye grain was 0.02 percentage points less than in wheat grain and 0.03 percentage points less than in triticale grain. Winter triticale and wheat grains hardly vary in the content of arabinoxylans and the viscosity of the aqueous extract. The results can be used in fodder production and animal husbandry.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE PREDECESSOR AND SOWING DATES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEED INFECTION OF WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF UKRAINE

The subject of the study was the conditions of formation of high-protein winter wheat grain. The main goal of the research was to identify the relationships between the main agrotechnical practices, weather conditions in the early spring and protein content in winter wheat grain and to create methodological foundations for the development, implementation and adjustment of ecologically adaptive technologies for growing winter wheat in the northern Steppe of Ukraine. The research was conducted during 1986-2005 at Kirovohrad State Agricultural Experimental Station. The winter wheat was sown in three terms on 25 August, 17 September and 2 October after black fallow and non-fallow maize silage predecessor. The protein content of the grain was determined by conventional methods. The soils of the experimental plot are ordinary medium-humus heavy loamy deep chernozems. It has been substantiated that in the northern Steppe of Ukraine, winter wheat under black fallow provides a higher protein content in grain compared to its non-fallow predecessor. During the years of research, the protein content in the grain of winter wheat under black fallow was 13.94 compared to 13.0% after corn for silage. After both predecessors, both high and low amounts of protein can be accumulated in winter wheat grain at high yields. Shifting the sowing dates of winter wheat from 25 August to 2 October for black fallow, on average over the years of research, causes a decrease in the protein content of grain from 14.2 to 13.7%, and for corn for silage, on the contrary, an increase from 12.9 to 13.1%. However, this dependence can be clearly seen in 74% of years under black fallow and 47% of years after the non-fallow predecessor. In the conditions of the northern Steppe of Ukraine, the time of renewal of the spring vegetation of winter wheat plants affects the protein content of its grain. The average (third decade of March) time of spring vegetation recovery of winter wheat plants contributes to a higher protein content in the grain, which is 14.2% after black fallow and 13.37% after corn for silage. In years with an extra-early (third decade of February) renewal of spring vegetation, the lowest amount of protein is accumulated in winter wheat grain after both predecessors. The nature of the air temperature regime in the early spring period determines the protein content of winter wheat grain. When winter wheat is placed on black fallow, the highest protein content in winter wheat grain is observed in years when the average daily air temperature passes through 00C in the third decade of February and is 14.45%, and after the non-fallow predecessor – in the first decade of March – 14.16%. The highest amount of protein in winter wheat grain after both predecessors is accumulated in the years with a period from the time of transition of the average daily air temperature through 00C to active vegetation of plants from 20 to 30 days and after black fallow is 14.57%, and after non-fallow predecessor – 13.35%. In the years with the duration of this period exceeding 30 days, grain with the lowest amount of protein is formed. A sharp decrease in the protein content of winter wheat grain in the northern Steppe of Ukraine is observed in the years with an average daily air temperature during the period of ‘spring vegetation renewal – heading out’ above 110C. After black fallow, the protein content of grain decreases from 15.0 to 13.0%, and after corn for silage – from 14.3 to 13.3%. An increase in the duration of the period ‘restoration of spring vegetation – heading out’ increases the protein content in winter wheat grain. In the years with the duration of this period exceeding 35 days, the amount of protein in winter wheat grain for black fallow increases by 1.7%, and in corn for silage by 0.8% compared to the years with duration of this period not exceeding 25 days.

Southwestern Alberta has been the traditional winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production area in western Canada. In recent years, direct seeding of winter wheat into standing stubble has resulted in an extension of this production area to include most of the western Canadian prairies. This study was undertaken to assess the potential quality of winter wheat grown in one section of the expanded production area, namely, the north‐central part of the agricultural area of Saskatchewan. Three grain quality measurements—kernel hardness, mixograph peak time, and protein concentration—were utilized to evaluate the quality of nine winter wheat cultivars grown in 15 trials and of five winter and four spring wheat cultivars grown in six trials. The cultivars represented a wide range of winter and spring wheat quality classes. Cultivar differences and the cultivar by environment interactions were significant for all three measurements of quality. Environmental effects were also significant for all quality measurements except mixograph peak time. However, for kernel hardness and mixograph peak time, the variability due to those sources was usually small when compared to that due to cultivars, Variability due to sources other than cultivars was much greater for protein concentration and yield. Higher grain yield of winter wheat, together with apparent environmental limitations to protein production plus possible genetic differences, resulted in lower protein percentages for hard red winter as compared to hard red spring wheat cultivars. On the basis of these observations, no genetic or environmental restrictions are apparent for the production of winter wheat cultivars suitable for all except the highest protein, common wheat quality classes.

Sustainable agriculture aims to use biological resources to improve crop quality and productivity. This approach promotes alternatives, such as replacing synthetic pesticides with biological ones and substituting mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Field trials were conducted using two different factors: fertilizer treatments (ammonium nitrate and pig manure digestate) and plant protection treatments (pesticides, Artemisia dubia Wall biomass mulch, and strips). After harvesting the winter wheat, the productivity and quality (weight of 1000 grains, protein, gluten, starch, sedimentation of grains) were evaluated. The two-year studies showed that pig manure digestate positively affected winter wheat grain quality. Mugwort biomass outperformed other plant protection options in three key grain quality indicators (protein, gluten, and sedimentation). Furthermore, in 2023, the highest grain yield of 5798 ± 125 kg ha−1 was observed in the pesticides and pig manure digestate treatment. The quick impact and mode of action of vegetation pesticides were more easily felt over the two years of study, leading to the highest yield of wheat grains compared to other plant management measures. This study shows that mugwort biomass can positively influence wheat grain quality, a significant milestone in utilizing nonfood crops as alternatives for agricultural productivity.

Purpose. To establish the peculiarities of forming winter wheat yield and grain quality, depending on fertilizer system and main tillage in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical (correlation, dispersion) using computer programs Microsoft Office Excel and Statistica 6.0. The researches were carried out during 2011–2017 in the stationary field experiment on the experimental field of the Educational and Scientific-Innovative Center for Agrotechnologies of LLC “Agrofirma “Kolos” (Skvyra district, Kyiv region). Results. The most 1,000 kernel weight was recorded for mineral fertilizer system. Lower indices were observed for organic fertilizer system and in variants with no fertilizer. Test weight of grain under mineral and organomineral fertilizer systems corresponded to the second class of quality (according to the State Standard 3768-10 at least 740 g/l) and was 740.2–742.7 g/l. Tillage did not significantly affect the test weight of winter wheat grain. In the variant of shallow low-tillage significant decrease of grain vitreousness was noted, which is explained by decrease of agrophysical and agrochemical indices of soil fertility. It has been established increase in protein content (by 1.4–3.5 %) in winter wheat grains under mineral and organomineral fertilizer systems, but use of shallow low-tillage resulted in decrease of this index (by 4.3 %) as compared with the control. Under mineral fertilizer system, winter wheat grain was formed with higher gluten content than under organomineral and organic systems. In the case of shallow low-tillage gluten content in grain declined significantly as compared to control (by 4.7 %). Falling number for winter wheat grain in mineral and organomineral fertilizer systems was quite high (in the range of 225–231 s) that is significantly higher as compared to the control in differentiated and alternating deep and shallow tillage. Under organomineral fertilizer system winter wheat yield did not differ significantly from that of the mineral system. The yield of winter wheat significantly decreased compared to the control (by 0.8 t/ha) with shallow low-tillage. Conclusions. Winter wheat grain quality indices were better under mineral and organomineral fertilizer systems. Under organic system they were worse owing to nitrogen deficit. The application of shallow low-tillage significantly reduced the winter wheat grain quality indices. The highest yield of winter wheat was received under mineral fertilizer system (6.8 t/ha), significant decrease was observed under organic fertilizer system.

The results of the study of changes in winter wheat grain yield depending on the rotation length of crop rotations in the Lower Volga region are presented. As a result of 12 years of research (20082019) it was found that the maximum yield was obtained in four- and five-field crop rotations with the inclusion of leguminous crops - 2.73 and 2.79 t/ha, respectively. During the analysis of variance, different effects of growing conditions and rotation length on winter wheat yields were noted. The influence of vegetation conditions accounted for 98.6%. The effect of crop rotation was also significant (0.6%). Winter wheat grain yield significantly depended on the weather conditions, which allowed to fully evaluate the potential of winter wheat - fallow in crop rotations with a short rotation. When winter wheat was cultivated in four- and five-field crop rotations with the inclusion of leguminous crops, the yield increased both in wet and moderately wet years. With HTC greater than 0.9 in the five-field crop rotation the grain yield was 4.40 t/ha, in four-field - 4.31, in three-field - 4.02 t/ha. With HTC of 0.6 to 0.9 in four- and five-field crop rotations, the yield ranged from 2.78-2.84 t/ha, and in three-field crop rotations it was 2.52 t/ha. In dry years, no significant difference in winter wheat yield between crop rotations was found, which ranged from 0.98-1.07 t/ha. It can be concluded that winter wheat cultivation on the second field of short rotational crop rotations on fallow preceding crop in conditions of insufficient moisture is effective.

Studies to increase profitability and N use efficiency in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production are needed to develop more sustainable agricultural systems in the 480‐ to 650‐mm precipitation zone of northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Field experiments were conducted on Latahco silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, frigid Argiaquic Xeric Argialboll) soils east of Moscow, ID, during the 1982–1983, 1983–1984, 1985–1986 and 1986–1987 growing seasons. Fifteen different N placement‐source‐application timing treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Fertilizer placements were (i) surface broadcast, (ii) band 50 mm below the seed, and (iii) combinations of surface broadcast and banded below the seed placements. Times of application treatments were (i) fall, (ii) spring, and (iii) various fall‐spring splits. All treatments were evaluated with two N sources: NH4NO3 (AN) and urea (U). Parameters evaluated were (i) winter wheat stand counts, (ii) early‐season plant biomass, (iii) grain yield, and (iv) apparent N use efficiency (NUE). Placement, N source and time of application had minimal impacts on winter wheat stand counts and early season biomass production. Both winter wheat grain yield and apparent NUE were greatest when N applications were split between fall and spring. Splitting time of N application resulted in apparent NUE of 58 to 61%, compared with 52 to 55% and 51 to 53% for fall only and spring only N applications, respectively. Grain yield and apparent NUE differences attributable to N source and N placement were not significant. Based on this study, ideal N management in the 480‐ to 650‐mm precipitation zone would utilize AN, U, or comparable N sources and split N applications where as little as 25% of the N is banded below the seed or surface broadcast in the fall, with the remainder applied as a spring topdress prior to Zadoks growth stage 24. This proposed management will improve both profitability and water quality by increasing both grain yield and N use efficiency when compared with systems currently employed.