Plant Biometric Parameters Research Articles

The frequency and phenological stage of foliar application of nutrients and biostimulant can increase sugarcane yield and biomass and bioenergy productions

AbstractThe impacts of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) production include an extensive area of cultivation, high use of technology, and the generation of by‐products that must be utilized. Achieving higher productivity while reducing the expansion of cultivation is challenging. A potential strategy for increasing sugarcane yields and productivity is the foliar application of nutrients and biostimulants at different stages of sugarcane growth. The present study assessed the impact of the foliar application of nutrients (N, B, Cu, and Zn) and a growth regulator as biostimulant (indole butyric acid, gibberellic acid, and kinetin) on sugarcane metabolism, stalk and sugar production, and quality. Field experiments were performed at 17 sites during four growing seasons (2017–2018, 2018–2019, 2019–2020, and 2020–2021) using sugarcane with three harvest times (early, mid‐late, and late harvests). The treatments were as follows: (i) no foliar application of the biostimulant and nutrients (control), (ii) foliar application of the biostimulant and nutrients at the vegetative stage (VS) of sugarcane, (iii) foliar application of the biostimulant and nutrients at the maturation stage (MS) of sugarcane, and (iv) foliar application of the biostimulant and nutrients at both the vegetative and maturation stages (VMS). Foliar application did not increase ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase activity but increased phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. Peroxidase and catalase activities were higher, >100% and 45%, respectively, in VMS, whereas superoxide dismutase activity increased by 54% in MS compared with control. Consistent with these results, sugarcane had low hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents in VMS. In addition, the plant biometric parameters were highest in VMS, which sugarcane produced 105, 92, and 86 Mg stalk h−1 in early, mid‐late, and late harvest seasons, respectively. In summary, the foliar application of the biostimulant and nutrients efficiently promoted the growth, productivity, and quality of early, mid‐late, and late harvest seasons. The positive effects of foliar application on the enzymatic and physiological responses of sugarcane can be achieved when applications are performed in both the VMS in all harvest seasons.

Protection of winter wheat from diseases in the zone of unstable humidization of the Stavropol Territory

The study of new seed protectants and fungicides for treating crops, taking into account varieties and predecessors in certain natural and climatic zones, is relevant and of great importance in optimizing the phyto and sanitary condition and increasing the gross harvest of winter wheat in the Stavropol Territory. The purpose of the research was to improve the protection of winter wheat from diseases in the unstable moisture zone of the Stavropol Territory. During the research process, two experiments were carried out: experiment No. 1 “Determination of the eff ectiveness of seed protectants against a complex of harmful pathogens and their eff ect on the biometric parameters of plants and the yield of winter wheat.” The object of research was winter wheat of the variety Yuka winter wheat sown according to its predecessor winter wheat. Experiment No. 2 “Determination of the eff ectiveness of fungicides in the spring tillering phase against a complex of harmful pathogens and their infl uence on the biometric parameters of plants and the yield of winter wheat.” The object of research was winter wheat of the variety Tanya sown according to its predecessor sunfl ower. The best economic indicators were obtained in variants where winter wheat seeds were treated with Baritone, KS and Lamador Pro, KS. Thus, the net profi t from 1 hectare in them amounted to 39 009,7–40 102,9 rubles, the level of profi tability was 124,8–126,4 %, which was 73,8–75,4 abs.% more than in the option with using the drug Dividend Supreme, KS. When using the fungicide Abrusta, KS in winter wheat crops, the best economic indicators were also obtained. The net profi t per 1 hectare in them amounted to 47 711,5 rubles, the level of profi tability was 134,1 %, which was 64,9 abs.% more than in the control.

Enhancement of growth, yield and quality of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) in response to dual application of Azotobacter chrococcum (Azotobacter) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria) under Northern region

Medicinal plants are used in natural therapies and food additives, but chemical fertilizers can negatively impact plant growth. Using beneficial rhizosphere microbiota can improve plant production under both conventional and stressed conditions. The present investigation was was set up using a Randomized Block Design (RBD), with six treatments and three replications each, carried out during the rabi season of 2024. Treatments as T1 (Control), T2 (Vermicompost at 5 t/ha), T3 (Azotobacter at 15 g/kg seed + Vermicompost at 2.5 t / ha), T4 (PSB + Azotobacter at 15 g / kg seed), T5 (FYM at 10 t / ha), and T6 (FYM at 5 t / ha + Azotobacter + PSB at 15 g / kg seed) investigated the impact of bio-fertilizers on plant biometric parameters and crude protein content in fenugreek. The plant's total performance was greatly enhanced by applying both Azotobacter and PSB in addition to FYM. The results showed that the treatment T6 (FYM at 5 t / ha + Azotobacter + PSB at 15 g / kg seed) significantly increased plant height, number of branches, number of leaves and yield compared to the control at all time points (30 DAS, 60 DAS, and 90 DAS), followed by treatment T4 (PSB + Azotobacter at 15 g/kg seed). The treatment T6 yields the highest crude protein content, up to 21.94%, followed by the treatment T4 as a reasonably high protein content of 21.32%. The study revealed that Azotobacter and PSB, along with FYM, significantly improved plant performance, suggesting that beneficial microorganisms can enhance plant growth and development. Fertilizers such as FYM and vermicompost also had a positive impact on plant growth and quality in fenugreek.

BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND YIELD OF VARIETIES OF VEGETABLE PEAS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE FOREST STEPPE OF THE RIGHT BANK

Studies on the study of biological features and technology of growing pea plants showed the dependence of these indicators on the features of the variety. During the research, the influence of vegetable pea varieties on the biometric parameters of the plants was revealed. The largest number of leaves was noted in the Asana variety – 12.7 pcs/plant, which is more than the control by 1.7 pcs/plant. Accordingly, plants of the Alpha variety formed the fewest leaves – 11.0 pcs/plant. The Asana variety had the highest plant height, where the increase compared to the control was 6.1 cm. In general, all studied variants had a higher plant height compared to the control. The following biometric parameters of pea plants were performed in the phase of flowering and grain filling. It is noted that in this phase, the regularity between the studied indicators did not change in terms of the height of the plants and the number of leaves on them. In the flowering and grain-filling phase of pea plants, plants of the Asana variety had the largest number of leaves and plant height, which provided an increase compared to the control: flowering phase – 2.6 pcs/plant and 12.0 cm, in the grain-filling phase – 1.2 pcs/ plant and 10.9 cm. The growing season of all varieties lasted 46-60 days. This hybrid is the most precocious among the studied hybrids. The longest growing season was observed in the Avola variety – 61 days, which is 6 days longer compared to the control. Plants of the Asana variety formed the most beans – 8.6 pcs./plant, which exceeded the control by 1.0 pcs./plant, which in percentage ratio was 13.2%. Asana and Avola varieties prevailed in terms of the number of seeds per plant, which formed an average of 58.1 and 55.9 seeds per plant. The largest mass of grain was noted in the Asana variety – 9.8 g, which is more than the control variant by 2.8 g (40%), which is quite a significant difference. The increase in grain mass of the Sherwood and Avola varieties relative to the control amounted to 1.0 and 2.3 g, which is 14.3 and 32.9% more, respectively. The weight of 1000 seeds is one of the main economic indicators. It is calculated in order to correctly determine the grain sowing rate. The weight of 1000 seeds in the experimental variants was at the level of 161-169 g. The largest weight of 1000 seeds was in the Asana variety – 169 g, which is 8.0 g more than the control variant. The highest yield was provided by the Asana variety – 6.5 t/ha, which is 1.9 t/ha more than the control variant. This significant yield increase was confirmed by the results of variance analysis. The variety factor had a 96% influence on the yield. Sherwood and Avola varieties were also characterized by significantly higher productivity compared to the control variant (Alfa variety), where the increase was at the level of 0.7 and 1.5 t/ha, respectively.

Evaluation of the feasibility of using inorganic and organic acids for the extraction of amino acids from high-protein material (mealworm larvae) by chemical hydrolysis

High-protein mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) were treated with organic and inorganic acids in order to check the feasibility of applying acid hydrolyzates derived from them. Hydrolysis was optimized for the highest content of amino acids that have beneficial effects on plant development. The response surface method served the purpose of selecting optimal process conditions for such media as phosphoric acid, citric acid, acetic acid and mixtures of phosphoric and citric acids. The elemental composition of the best formulations and their amino acid profile was determined. Plant tests on cucumber (germination and pot tests) revealed the beneficial effect of the hydrolyzates on plant biometric parameters. By offering valuable insights into the relationship between fertilizer treatments and plant growth, our study contributes to developing sustainable agricultural practices and improved crop productivity.

ОЦЕНКА ВЛИЯНИЯ БИОПРЕПАРАТОВ НА ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ УРОЖАЯ ЯРОВОГО ЯЧМЕНЯ

The results of field researches on the experimental fields of the Agrobiotechnopark of KSAU conducted in 2020-2022 are given. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of double treatment during the growing season with various biological preparations on the formation of the crop and the quality of spring barley grain. The objectives of the research included studying the nature of changes in the biometric parameters of plants, leaf surface area, yield and protein content in grain when using a biofungicide and biofertilizer. The variety of spring two-row barley Kamashevsky was the object of research. Biopreparations were studied - biofungicide Orgamica S (biological agent - Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and biofertilizer Organit P (biological agent - Bacillus megaterium). The treatment was carried out twice during the growing season - in the tillering phase and in the earing phase with a working fluid flow rate of 200 l/ha. The preparations were used separately and as part of a tank mixture. The studies were carried out on a gray forest highly cultivated soil. The agro-climatic conditions of vegetation during the years of the study varied significantly. In 2021, soil-air drought was noted, and in 2020, and especially in 2022, the moisture conditions were favorable for the growth and development of spring barley plants. It has been established that the treatment of spring barley crops with biological preparations contributes to an increase in the length of the ear, stems and roots. This effect was especially significant when using a biofertilizer in the tillering phase, and a biofungicide during the heading of barley. The use of all treatment schemes with biological preparations showed an increase in the area of spring barley leaves and, at the same time, the development of root rots of the crop decreased by an average of 50%. The greatest increase in yield (by 0.56 t/ha), the maximum protein content in the grain and the best profitability indicators were obtained using a treatment scheme in which Organit biofertilizer was used during the tillering period, and Orgamica S biofungicide during the heading period. Especially significant positive effect from treatment with biological preparations was in the conditions of a well-moistened 2022, but even in the conditions of a drought in 2021, treatment with biological preparations showed high efficiency.

Grafting and Plant Density Influence Tomato Production in Organic Farming System

The tomato is a key crop cultivated worldwide for the fresh and processing markets. Only a small percentage of the tomatoes processed by industries were produced following the guidelines of the organic farming system. Potential reasons for the limited share of organic tomato production are probably related to the lower yield obtained in organic farming in comparison with conventional farming. In this study, the use of the cherry tomato genotype ‘Tomito’ as a rootstock and two different plant densities (2.5 and 1.25 plant m−2) were evaluated in order to improve the agronomic performances of the commercial processing tomato genotype ‘H3402′ cultivated in the organic farming system. Agronomic and quality parameters were assessed at harvest time. The plant density influenced the plant biometric parameters, mass and marketable yield, and fruit health and quality. The use of a rootstock improved the marketable yield per plant (more than 59%), with the quality of the fruit decreasing the number of sunburnt fruits (−27.7%). The use of the ‘Tomito’ as a rootstock and a plant density of 2.5 plant m−2 are the better choices to achieve good performances in optimal environmental conditions. However, further studies are required to validate these results both in other environments and using different scions.

Formation of the above-ground biomass of willow under the influence of varietal characteristics and the type of planting material

Purpose. To reveal the regularities of the formation of the energy willow above-ground biomass structure and evaluate the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the biomass components under the effect of varietal characteristics and the type of planting material.
 Methods. Field experiments were conducted at the experimental field of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet (Ksaverivka 2, Kyiv region) located in the zone of unstable moisture in the central part of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine in 2019–2022. Cuttings and shoots were harvested in autumn and stored in various ways until planting. In the spring, after planting the shoots in the open ground, the biometric parameters of plants were determined: plant height, stem diameter and the number of stems. The measurements were taken on the same day every month during the three years of the experiment. Two willow varieties were used in the experiment: Salix triandra L. variety 'Panfylska' and S. viminalis L. variety 'Zbruch'.
 Results. The intensity of growth of the above-ground biomass of willow, which also depends on the yield of planting material (cuttings or shoots), was determined by plant height, stem diameter and the number of stems. These indicators were higher in 'Zbruch' compared to 'Panfylska'. Thus, in the second year of vegetation, on the first date of measuring (in spring), the plant height of 'Panfylska' variety was 136.3 cm, while in autumn. on September 21, it was 242.8 cm. In 'Zbruch', the indicators were higher by 12.4 and 13.5 cm, respectively. A similar dependence was found when planting shoots. It should be noted that within one variety, no regular and reliable difference in plant height depending on the type of planting material was found. In the third year of vegetation, a similar dependence of plant height on varietal characteristics was obtained. On average, in 2021–2022, when planting willow cuttings of 'Zbruch' variety, plant height was 276.1 cm in the spring, while in 'Panfylska' it was 20 cm lower (256.1 cm). In autumn, plant height was higher in 'Zbruch' also by 20 cm. Depending on the year of vegetation, the increase in plant height was the greatest in the first year of vegetation compared to the second and third years. Weather conditions during the growing season affected the height of plants; However, in all years of the research it was higher when planting cuttings and shoots of 'Zbruch' compared to 'Panfylska'. No significant influence of variety and the type of planting material on the stem diameter and the number of stems was found in all years of the research.
 Conclusions. Plant height and diameter of stem in dynamics depended on varietal characteristics. In 'Zbruch' variety, when planting cuttings and shoots, the increase in plant height and stem diameter was higher compared to 'Panfylska' both at the beginning of the growing season and in autumn. During the three years of vegetation, varietal characteristics and the type of planting material (cuttings and shoots) showed no significant difference in the plant height, stem diameter and the number of stems.

USE OF MICROBIAL PREPARATIONS AND HUMICS FERTILIZER FOR EGGPLANT GROWING IN FILM GREENHOUSES

A promising direction of modern vegetable growing under organic cultivation approaches is the use of microbial preparations and humic fertilizers to optimize plant nutrition, stimulate growth processes and increase yields of high standardized quality. The purpose of the study is to establish the effect of using microbial preparations and humic fertilizers for growing eggplant in film greenhouses without additional heating. Methods. Field, computational and statistical. The results. The influence of microbial preparations of various directions and humic fertilizers on the biometric parameters of plants, productivity and yield of eggplant during its cultivation in the conditions of film greenhouses was investigated. A significant increase in leaf area was noted both in the phase of mass flowering and in the phase of mass fruiting with the use of all microbial preparations Phosphoenterin, Ecobacil, Bactopaslion and ABT. The greatest increase in the net productivity of photosynthesis of eggplant plants is provided by the use of the preparations Ecobacil and Bactopaslion (7,14-7,79 g/m2 per day). Conclusions. For the cultivation of eggplant in film greenhouses without heating, the use of microbial preparations Phosphoenterin, Ecobacillus, Bactopaslion and ABT is effective, which ensures an increase in leaf area by 17,5-48,6 %, photosynthetic productivity by 31,4-56,2 % and productivity by 0,98-3,26 kg/m2 or 16,1-47,7 % depending on the background of mineral nutrition. The use of humic fertilizers ("Nanoverm", "Gumifriend", "Gumifield") under foliar fertilization in 4 seasons led to a significant increase in plant height by 32,4-49,0 %, average fruit weight by 4,3-9,5 % and productivity by 0,87-1,73 kg/m2 or by 11,8-23,4 % relative to the control. A high level of productivity is indicated for the use of "Gumifriend" and "Gumifield" fertilizers.

The influence of basic soil tillage on the formation of plant biometric parameters and yield of chamomile in Polissya of Ukraine

The influence of basic soil tillage on the formation of plant biometric parameters and yield of chamomile in Polissya of Ukraine

Применение освещения различного спектрального диапазона при клональном микроразмножении лесных ягодных растений

Creation of plantations of the most popular species of forest berry plants with high nutritional and medicinal value is advisable in connection with the reduction of such natural resources and the increased demand for berry products, as well as for the biological reclamation of depleted peat deposits. The paper shows the research results of clonal micropropagation of forest berry plants (cranberry, American cranberry, half-high blueberry, Arctic bramble, lingonberry, Kamchatka bilberry) of promising cultivars and forms using various types of lighting (white LED lamps, LED lamps with a combination of white, red and blue spectra, as well as white fluorescent lamps). Plants were cultivated using WPM and MS nutrient media with the addition of cytokinins 2-iP and 6-BAP in various concentrations. The largest number (3.3–16.9 pcs) and the maximum total length (13.8–251.1 cm) of microshoots of cranberry (Dar Kostromy cultivar, hybrid form 1-15-635), American cranberry (Ben Lear cultivar, hybrid form 1-23-3), Arctic bramble (Anna cultivar, hybrid form K-1), lingonberry (Kostromskaya rozovaya and Rubin cultivars) and Kamchatka bilberry (Sakhalinskaya and Kurilskaya forms) were observed under lighting by LED lamps with a combination of white, red and blue spectra at the “proper micropropagation” stage. The formation of the largest number (13.1 pcs) and the maximum length (98.7 cm) of microshoots of half-high blueberry (Northblue cultivar, hybrid form 23-1-11) was observed under lighting by white fluorescent lamps. There were no significant differences in biometric parameters of plants under different types of lighting depending on cultivars and forms. The use of LED lamps with a combination of white, red and blue spectra has a significant effect on the formation of microshoots of forest berry plants during clonal micropropagation. For citation: Makarov S.S., Upadyshev M.T., Kuznetsova I.B., Zaushintsena A.V., Kulikova E.I., Surina E.A. The Use of Lighting of Various Spectral Ranges for Clonal Micropropagation of Forest Berry Plants. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2022, no. 6, pp. 82–93. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2022-6-82-93

Portable Microcontroller-Based Colorimeter For Determining Plant Development Stability

It was shown that the magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry can be used to assess the plant development stability. The shortcomings of the plant physiological state assessment were pointed out, both the visual one and that using the previously created colorimeter. (Research purpose) The study aimed to develop a device for determining the plant development stability by measuring the leaf color. (Materials and methods) The device was tested on cucumber plants grown under different spectra. The surface color was measured on the second and third leaves in the order of their emergence on the plant, to the left and right of the central vein: at the top of the leaf, at the bifurcation of the second veins of the second order, at the base of the leaf. During measurements, the device was brought to the leaf. The principle of the microcontroller-based colorimeter operation was described. (Results and discussion) The asymmetry of the values of the color coordinates of the symmetrical points on the cucumber leaf surface was found to be fluctuating and can be used to assess the plant development stability. The differences in the light environment quality, affecting the plant biometric parameters, are manifested in the asymmetry of the color coordinates of the symmetrical points on the leaf surface and the higher values of growth parameters (in plants under better light environment conditions) correspond to lower values of fluctuating asymmetry. (Conclusions) The developed colorimeter was proved to be compact and ergonomic, easy to manufacture, inexpensive, easy to operate and applicable to the field usage. The device enables to identify differences in the development stability of the plants grown under different light sources. The experimental conditions revealed that the fluctuating asymmetry values were 0.0301 relative units under LEDs and 0.0471 relative units under sodium lamps in the red range. In the green range they were 0.0228 and 0.0305, in the blue one 0.0253 and 0.0416 relative units, respectively.

Оценка эффективности применения Физиологически активных веществ и удобрений на озимой пшенице

The studies were carried out on winter wheat varieties Kazanskaya 560 for three years, of which two (2018, 2019) were characterized by periodically dry phenomena during the spring-summer growing season and one (2020) was with normal moisture. The aim of the work was to study the effectiveness of the use of the Melafen growth stimulator on winter wheat in the autumn period and double foliar feeding in the spring-summer period with the complex liquid fertilizer Metallocene Universal. The studies were carried out on gray forest soil using the recommended agricultural technology for the cultivation of winter wheat. In the course of the research, the influence of the studied preparations and their combinations on the biometric parameters of plants, the development of diseases, the productivity and quality characteristics of winter wheat seeds was studied. It was found that when using the autumn treatment of crops with the growth stimulator Melafen, there was an increase of 17.8% in plant density for harvesting, which is due to the positive effect of the stimulator on the overwintering of winter wheat. As a result, the yield in this variant increased by 0.48 t/ha. The use of only top dressing with Metallocene Universal led to an increase in the number of grains per spike and an increase in yield by 0.43 t/ha. The alternation of treatments (autumn spraying by Melafen; spring-summer spraying by Metalocene Universal) contributed to an increase in the number of grains per ear, an increase in the mass of 1000 seeds, which led to a significant (0.9 t/ha) increase in the yield of winter wheat. Double foliar feeding with Metallocene Universal contributes to some reduction in the infection of an ear of winter wheat with stagonospora blotch. In all experimental variants, there was no decrease in damage to the ear by "black head molds". The studied variants did not have a significant positive effect on the accumulation of protein in wheat grain.

The sweet potatoes new genotypes introduction in Ukraine

Aim: Conduct research on the collection of new genotypes of sweet potatoes introduced under growing conditions in the Kharkiv district of Ukraine. Results and discussion: In the conditions in the Kharkiv district of Ukraine, an assessment was made of 13 genotypes of sweet potato a domestic and foreign selection. The genotypes were very different in length of the growing season, biometric parameters of plants, and productivity. The studied genotypes were divided into three ripeness groups. Samples that characterized the three groups - early ripening: V-1, V-6, А-7, В-4; medium ripening: Оr-3, D-2, М-8; late-ripening: B-9, P-11, B-10, J-12, Е-5, Оk-14. A wide range of shapes was obtained along the length of the stem. All genotypes that entered the mid-ripening group formed long, climbing stems. So, plants of the genotype Or-3 formed long stems similar to vines, 214 cm long. The genotypes of the early ripening group were characterized by lengths from 144 cm (V-6) up to 153 cm (А-7). According to the “Quantity of additional shoots” attribute, the variability range was 4–8 cm, and the coefficient of variation was 17%. Significant variation was observed along the length of the internodes (V = 30%). The variability range was 4.39–9.97 cm. According to the “Quantity of leaves” characteristic, the variability range was 40–77 pcs. And the coefficient of variation was 20%. The genotypes of the middle ripening group that had the largest “Quantity of leaves” were 77 pcs./plant (Оr-3) and 71 pcs./plant (D-2). The smallest was 40 pcs./plant (B-10), 42 pcs./plant (B-9), 44 pcs./plant (P-11). The root tubers in genotype V-6 had an oval shape, smooth peel, and pink color. The flesh was a creamy solid color; it was a sample of sweet potato. The shoots were long, climbing, leaves of a dark green color without anthocyanin color, kidney-shaped. The genotype of sweet potato D-2 of Ukrainian selection was a dessert variety. The tubers of the genotype were elliptical, orange with a smooth peel; the flesh was firm and bright orange. The shoots of the plants were very long, very climbing, and light green. The shoots of the leaves were kidney-shaped, light green. The results showed that table genotypes are of greater value for dietary nutrition. Dessert genotypes are conducive to a variety of diets for people with diabetes. A list of genotypes that can be used by people who follow a diet has been provided. Conclusion: In the conditions in the Kharkiv district of Ukraine, 13 introduced genotypes of sweet potato domestic and foreign breeding were evaluated. They already discovered that the genotypes were different in the growing season by biometric parameters of plants and yields. By using clonal selection in vitro culture, two completely new promising genotypes of domestic selection of sweet potatoes V-6 and D-2 were obtained. Tubers of genotype V-6 were oval, skin smooth, and pink. The average weight of one was 351 g. The raw flesh was cream-colored. Long shoots were woven, their length was 144 cm; the leaves were dark green, and kidney-shaped. Another example of a domestic selection of sweet potato D-2 was a dessert type. The root tubers were elliptical and had an orange color with smooth skin. The average weight of the tubers was 410 g. The raw flesh was a solid bright orange color. Shoots were extremely long -198 cm, very creeping, and had a light green color. The leaves were kidney-shaped and light green.

ESTIMATION OF YIELD OF TABLE BEET FOR USE OF BIOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF THE RIGHT BANK OF UKRAINE

The results of researches of influence of biological preparations on biometric parameters of plants and productivity of table beet are resulted. The influence of biological preparations on the phases of growth and development of table beet plants, its yield and biometric parameters of products is established. Treatment of plants with the biological complex Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposomes accelerated the phenological phases of growth and development of table beet plants. As a result of measuring the height of plants, an increase in control over the treatment of plants with biological products was detected, in particular in the variety Red Ball Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam provided an increase of 1.0 cm relative to control. The increase in plant height in the Pablo F1 hybrid was 2.2 cm with the use of Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam. The largest number of leaves was observed for the treatment of plants Organic Balance + Nitrogen + Liposomes: in the variety Red Ball growth relative to the variant without treatment was 2.3 pcs / plant, in the hybrid Pablo F1 - 2.8 pcs / plant. Treatment of plants Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam contributed to an increase in leaf area by 0.09 dm2 / plant in the variety Red Ball, 0.22 dm2 / plant in the hybrid Pablo F1. The use of Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam also contributed to the increase of this indicator with an increase relative to the controls of 0.06 and 0.15 dm2 / plant, respectively. The influence of biological preparations on the biometric parameters of plants was established in the phase of intensive root growth. The largest biometric parameters in the phase of intensive root growth were recorded during the treatment of plants Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam. In particular, the height of plants treated with Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam increased by 2.2 and 3.1 cm compared to the untreated options. A slightly smaller increase in this indicator was recorded for treatments of plants Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam - 0.8 and 1.0 cm, respectively. The number of leaves also increased during the treatment of plants with biological products. In the Pablo F1 hybrid, this figure was higher than the Red Ball variety - 16.0 - 18.7 units / plant. The use of Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam provided an increase in the number of leaves by 2.8 pcs / plant relative to control, for the treatment of plants Humifrend + Azotophyte + Liposam increase was 1.8 pcs / plant. The positive effect of the use of biologicals was observed taking into account the area of leaves. With the use of Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam, this figure in the studied varieties and hybrids increased by 0.8-1.3 thousand m2 / ha, respectively, compared with the control. Slightly less growth of this indicator was observed for the treatment of plants Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam 0.3-0.7 thousand m2 / ha, respectively. The highest indicators of biometric parameters of plants were observed in the hybrid Pablo F1 for plant treatment Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam, where the increase in plant height was 0.7-1.2 cm, the number of leaves - 1.8-2.1 pcs / plant, leaf area - 0.8-1.1 thousand m2 / ha, respectively. The highest yields were recorded with the application of Organic Balance + Nitrogen + Liposomes: in the Red Ball variety the increase was 7.1 t / ha, in the Pablo F1 hybrid - 10.3 t / ha relative to control. A positive effect was also obtained with the application of Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam, where the increase was 4.9 and 8.4 t / ha, respectively. Treatment of plants with a complex of biological preparations Organic Balance + Azotophyte + Liposam provided an increase in root mass in the variety Red Ball - 45 g, in the hybrid Pablo F1 - 30 g, respectively. During the treatment of plants Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam the increase was 30 g - variety Red Ball and 25 g - hybrid Pablo F1. Indicators, the diameter of the root crop was in the range of 8.4 and 9.0 cm. 5 cm. The increase in root diameter with the use of Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam was slightly smaller and amounted to 0.1-0.3 cm. plants Humifrend + Azotofit + Liposam contributed to an increase in this indicator relative to control by 0.3-0.2 cm

Magnetic Treatment of Irrigation Water and its Influence on Radish (Raphanus sativus) crop: A Green Technology

Implementation of water treatment technologies for poor quality water may help reduce dependency on freshwater. One promising technology among water treatment technologies is magnetic water treatment (MWT). This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of bore water, hard water (1000 ppm) and saline water (electrical conductivity of 3 dS/m) on the plant biometric parameters and the yield of the radish. The water was treated in three stages: electrolysis, de-ionization and magnetization. In the pot culture experiment conducted, leaf length and leaf area index (LAI) was maximum under magnetized bore water treatment which was 22.7 cm and 6.2 compared to all other treatments respectively. The fresh weight (66.2 g) was highest in magnetically treated bore water, which was statistically significant over control. Among bore water treatments, the average yield per plant (48.5 t/ha) was maximum under magnetized bore water over control (43.9t/ha). Overall, the findings suggest that magnetically treated irrigation water positively influences plant growth parameters and the yield of radish.

Fertilization of purple coneflower (Echinacea Purpúrea L.) in the conditions of the Central chernozem region

The modern pharmaceutical industry uses Echinacea purpurea plants in the production of about 30% of all medicines. Many studies have been conducted to assess the effects of biological and immune activity of Echinacea purpurea on animals and humans (Sharayevskaya et al., 2010). Due to the small distribution area of this valuable crop, research aimed at its use as a double yielding crop is relevant. Plants are deficient in readily available forms of mineral elements after mowing. Studies were conducted to determine the effect of «AgroMaster» fertilizer grade 13-14-13 on the growth and development of Echinacea plants. We studied single and double application of the fertilizer at a dose of 2,0 and 4,0 kg per hectare. Growth and development processes of Echinacea purpurea plants were characterized by different intensity before and after cutting in experimental variants. The fertilizer had a significant impact on the biometric parameters of plants. In particular, the dynamics of plant growth in height had a positive trend in all variants with the use of fertilizer. At the same time, the optimum dose of fertilizer (2,0 kg per hectare) with double treatment of crops was revealed. Single treatment of crops with the minimum (2,0 kg per hectare) and maximum (4,0 kg per hectare) had no prolonging effect on Echinacea purpurea plants. Thus, the use of AgroMaster fertilizer of 13-14-13 grade in the crops of Echinacea purpurea is justified, with the advantage of double treatment of crops at a dose of 2,0 kg per hectare.

Nanoparticles as Potential Improvement for Conventional Fertilisation in the Cultivation of Raphanus sativus var. sativus

The use of nanoparticles in fertilisation has confirmed positive effects on plant growth and yield. Simultaneously, there is still little research into the effects of nanoparticles on the antioxidant system of plants. Due to the positive effect of nano zinc oxide on plants and the special property of nano zero-valent iron, these particles were selected for the research. The nano zero-valent iron is crucial for plants as it is present in agglomerations on the surface of roots where it increases the absorptive surface of the rhizosphere and causes elongation of the roots. The study aims to determine the influence of selected nanoparticles as a potential improvement for conventional fertilisation by magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). After the cultivation, the influence of nanoparticles on the accumulation of macronutrients in plant tissues, biometric parameters, and physiological response (chlorophyll and antioxidant system) of radish (Raphanus sativus) were assessed. The solution used in this study helped to increase the content of nitrates (V) in radish roots by 31.7–73.2% compared to conventional fertilisation. Nevertheless, nanoparticles supplementation resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of magnesium, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in plants. The high dose of used fertilisers increased the thickness and length of tubers by approximately 50.0%, compared to the control samples. The “Macro 2 + nano” variant caused an increase of plant biomass up to 70.0%. The analysis of the antioxidant system showed that the application of macronutrients with nanoparticles increased the concentration of polyphenols in plant tubers by 46.0–55.6%. Interestingly, while implemented conditions caused a 1.5-fold increase in CAT activity in leaves, at the same time the decrease in CAT activity in plant roots was observed. Based on the obtained results of the enzymatic antioxidant system and biometric parameters of plants, it can be concluded that (in laboratory conditions) nZVI and nanoZnO are efficient components of fertilisers. However, the effects on other organisms must be investigated before implementing a method for widespread use.

Radiochemical Evidence for the Contribution of Chemotyped Siderophore Producing Bacteria Towards Plant Iron Nutrition.

Fe deficiency is a major challenge that limits agricultural productivity and is a serious human health concern worldwide. Under iron-limiting conditions soil microorganisms produce siderophores, that chelates Fe3+ (ferric) and make it available to the plants. Selection of efficient siderophore producing bacteria and establishing their role in enhancing iron uptake is a strategic approach for improving plant nutrition. Hence 3 efficient isolates Pantoea agglomerans, Pseudomonas plecoglossida and Lactococcus lactis, selected from a repository of 154 bacteria, producing catecholate, hydroxamate and carboxylate siderophores, respectively, were assessed for Fe chelation efficiency using 59Fe and their role in plant biometric parameters, Fe uptake and antioxidant enzymes with tomato (Strategy I) and wheat (Strategy II) test plants under hydroponic system. Cell-free siderophore preparation (Sid) improved plant parameters and iron nutrition more efficiently than bacterial inoculants. Pantoea agglomerans was proven best as its 59Fe-bound siderophore complex showed the highest uptake of 4.25 and 1.59Bq plant-1 in wheat and tomato, respectively. Further, the Fe-starved plants (1µm Fe-EDTA) showed around two-fold higher 59Fe uptake than those raised under Fe-sufficient condition (100µm Fe-EDTA). Results indicated that probably the bacterial mediated iron translocation in plants is Strategy III, complementing both Strategy I and II by facilitating higher availability of chelated Fe to plant reductases directly and/or through ligand exchange with phytosiderophores, respectively. This study highlights the need for integration of siderophore based formulations in INM strategies for enhancing plant iron content to address the Fe deficiency challenge of the soil and human nutrition.

New technologies of cultivation of watermelon as a key to development of the melon industry

Relevance. The appearance on the market of water-soluble fertilizers, growth regulators, biological products requires a detailed study of these drugs to determine their effectiveness in increasing yields and optimizing costs. Therefore, the issue of developing environmentally friendly elements of the technology for growing varieties of table watermelon of different ripening periods with the use of new types and forms of water-soluble fertilizers becomes urgent.Materials and methods. The object of research is varieties of watermelon of domestic selection of early and medium ripening. The studies were carried out in 2018-2020 on the basis of the Bikovskaya cucurbits breeding experimental station (Bykovskiy district, Volgograd region). The methods of using the preparation Potassium Humate (liquid) were studied: Treatment of plants twice, Soaking the seeds before sowing. The passage of the main periods of plant growth and development, biometric parameters of plants, biochemical composition of fruits and productivity of table watermelon were determined. The purpose of the research: to determine the effectiveness of methods of using potassium humate (liquid) in increasing yields, to reveal their influence on the quality of table watermelon fruits of different ripening periods.Results. The experimental data obtained showed a fairly high efficiency of the use of humic fertilizer in the cultivation of table watermelon both in early-maturing varieties and in varieties of late ripening. The maximum yield of the late-ripening watermelon variety Ikar was obtained when using the preparation Potassium Humate for treating plants – 17.1 t/ha, which is 25.7% more than control. The same method of using the humic preparation was noted as the most promising in the early ripening variety of watermelon Triumph, where the yield exceeded the control values by 21.8% and the method of use was by 18.0% – soaking the seeds before sowing. Studies have determined that the use of the preparation Potassium Humate in the technology of growing table watermelon allows to obtain fruits of good quality with a content of nitrates significantly lower than the maximum permissible concentrations for this culture (MPC – 60 mg/kg).