Yield and quality of spelta grain (Tríticum spélta L.) in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

The article presents the results of research on the peculiarities of the spelled yield formation and the grain quality depending on humate and plant growth regulator use in conditions of unstable moisture in the Forest Steppe of Ukraine. The purpose of the research was to identify the influence of elements of the technology of growing spelled varieties on the productivity and quality of the grain. During 2019–2022, research was conducted at the experimental field of the educational and production centre of the Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University. It was found that the studied varieties differ in the biological manifestations of the grain yield formation, namely Zorya Ukrainy had a yield of 5.66 t/ha, Europe – 5.89 t/ha, and Atterhauer Dinkel – 4.85 t/ha. And according to the years of research, the best conditions were in 2021, when the average yield was 5.95 t/ha, and the worst in 2020 was 5.07 t/ha. Better productivity of spelled grain was observed in a multi-year perspective with the application of Humate potassium GK-17 in the earing phase and again in the milk ripeness phase by combining it with the introduction of Agriflex Amino in the earing phase. Under such conditions, the productivity of the Zorya variety of Ukraine was 5.90 t/ha, the Europa variety was 6.43 t/ha, and the Atterhauer Dinkel variety was 5.17 t/ha. As for the qualitative characteristics of wheat and spelled grain, the option of using Humate potassium GK-17 in the earing phase and again in the milk ripeness phase by combining it with the application of Agriflex Amino in the earing phase was determined. Under such conditions, the nature of the grain of the Zorya variety of Ukraine was 663 g/l, in the Europa variety 680 g/l, and in the Atterhauer Dinkel variety 758 g/l, the protein content was 18.55 %, 18.27 %, and 14.70 % and the crude gluten content is 48.8 %, 41.6 % and 33.0 %, respectively. These values were the best in the experiment and confirmed the high efficiency of the influence of the studied factors on the quality indicators of spelled grain. Key words: spelled wheat, variety, growth stimulator, potassium humate, productivity, protein content, gluten content, grain nature.