Yield and grain quality of oat (Avena sativa L.) varieties grown on typical chernozems

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the yield potential and grain qua­lity of varieties of oat (Avena sativa L.) as a function of the nutritional and climatic conditions. Methods. Field, laboratory (grain quality determination) and statistical methods were used in the research. Results. Using different fertilization systems, seven oat varieties were studied, of which the most productive were ‘Ayvori’, ‘Lehin Nosivskyi’ and ‘Zakat’. The greatest increase in yield due to the use of fertilizers in 2022–2023 (1.24–2.73 t/ha with average increases of 0.32–2.83 t/ha) was observed for the cultivation of the ‘Ayvori’ variety. Additional increases due to the introduction of sulphur, compared to the options where only nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were used, were observed for the varieties ‘Neptun’ – 0. 26–0.39 t/ha; ‘Lehin Nosivskyi’ – 0.47–0.49; ‘Svitanok’ – 0.23–0.66; ‘Zakat’ – 0.39–0.64; ‘Zubr’ – 0.41–0.54; ‘Albatros’ – 0.58–0.78; ‘Ayvori’ – 0.34–0.66 t/ha. The average yield of the control varieties in 2021–2023 was as follows 2.28 t/ha – ‘Neptun’; 2.64 – ‘Lehin Nosivskyi’; 2.50 – ‘Svitanok’; 2.70 – ‘Zakat’; 2.71 – ‘Zubr’; 2.60 – ‘Albatros’; 2.81 t/ha – ‘Ayvori’. Increasing the rate of nutrient application to the soil helped to improve grain quality. Thus, with the addition of N30P30K30 + N30 BBCH32, the protein content in the grain was within 10.2–10.8%; N60P60K60 + N30 ВВСН32 – 10.4–11.2; N90P90K90 + N30 ВВСН32 – 11.0–11.8; N120P120K120 + N30 BBCH32 – 11.4–12.4%. The addition of sulphur to the fertilization system resulted in a more efficient use of nitrogen and therefore an increase in the protein content of the grain of 1.3–1.8% compared to the options where the rate of macronutrients was the same for all varieties. The content of albumins and globulins was higher in the grain of the control variant (17.0–19.3 and 20.1–21.6% respectively) and did not vary significantly between varieties. The amount of reserve proteins – prolamins and glutelins – increased (from 28.4–30.2 to 34.8–36.2%) with an increase in fertilizer rate, especially with the introduction of N120P120K120S45 + N30. Conclusions. All investigated oat varieties are highly productive and give yields in the range of 3.33–5.54 t/ha, depending on the fertilizer rate. The variety ‘Neptun’ is slightly lower in yield than the others, but has grain with a significant content of biologically valuable protein fractions. The application of sulphur­containing fertilizers increases yield, improves grain quality and allows a more efficient use of nitrogen, which makes it possible to reduce the basic rate of addition of macronutrients to the soil.