Complex Fertilizer Research Articles

Biological Efficiency of Tank Mixtures of Preparations for the Protection of Spring Wheat and Their Effect on Grain Quality

In relatively favorable humidification years, the loss of spring wheat grain harvest from fungal infections – brown leaf and stem rust, powdery mildew, etc., has increased significantly, reaching 25–30% or more of the gross grain harvest. The purpose of the study conducted in 2018–2021 is to improve protection measures against harmful leaf–stem diseases in the conditions of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. Main tasks: monitoring the phytosanitary situation, studying the biological effectiveness of chemical fungicides, biological preparations, growth regulator and tank mixtures, including with liquid complex fertilizer, in spring wheat crops, determining the effect of various preparations on grain yield and quality. The study was conducted in short-term multivariate field experiments. The plot area is 25 m2, the repetition is fourfold, the placement of options is randomized. The effectiveness of the drugs was compared with the control variant without protection from diseases. The use of chemical fungicides, tank mixtures of them with fertilizer, growth regulator in the sowing of spring wheat Omsk 36 provided a high level of biological effectiveness against leaf-stem diseases. The maximum efficiency indicators against brown leaf and stem rust were obtained with the use of tank mixtures of the drugs Soligor + Fast and Furious, Rex Plus + Larixin and Title Duo + Fast and Furious (98.4–99.7%). The best results of protection against powdery mildew were mixtures of drugs Rex Plus + Fast and Furious and Soligor + Larixin, respectively 78.8 and 81.2%. The greatest increases in grain yield to control were obtained in the variants of the use of the drugs Rex Plus + Larixin and Title Duo + Fast and Furious, respectively 1.80 and 1.89 t/ha. The level of economic efficiency in this case was more than 50%. The use of fungicides and tank mixtures significantly increased the nature and weight of 1000 grains. There was an increase in the gluten content from 1.2 to 5.1% in variants with the phytoregulator Larixin, protein – by 0.85–1.71%. In a field experiment similar to the scheme with Melody wheat, conducted in adverse weather conditions in 2020 and 2021, grain yield growth from the use of drugs was not obtained. The main reasons are the dry weather and, accordingly, the low incidence of diseases in the crop. Treatment with Larixin and its tank mixtures with Title Duo, Rex Plus and Soligor fungicides significantly increased the protein content in the grain by 0.80–1.50%, gluten – up to 2.0%. The obtained results testified to the high biological and economic efficiency of the use of modern fungicides and tank mixtures with a growth regulator and fertilizer in conditions of high infestation of spring wheat with leaf–stem diseases.

The Effect of Mineral Fertilizers on Soil Respiration in Urban Lawns

Application of mineral fertilizers to regulate microbial respiration and carbon dioxide emissions from urban lawn soils was evaluated due to the need to develop technologies for reducing CO2 emissions and for increasing the C-absorption capacity of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems. The studies were performed in the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University on Leninskie Hills in a small-plot experiment with the fractional application of four types of complex fertilizers (NPKS 27 : 6 : 6 : 2, NPKS 21 : 10 : 10 : 2, NPK 15 : 15 : 15 and NPK 18:18:18 + 3 MgO + trace elements (TE)) at the doses of 60 and 120 kg N/ha during the growing season. We studied the basal respiration (BR) of soils, carbon content of microbial biomass (Cmic) by substrate-induced respiration, and the CO2 emission from soils by the method of closed static chambers. Cmic in soil of the control plot in the summer period was 1300–1450 µg/g. Application of NPKS 21 : 10 : 10 : 2 and NPK 18 : 18 : 18 + 3 MgO + TE at a low dose increased Cmic by 12–35% within the first two weeks, and then it dropped. All types of fertilizers applied for a short period of time increased BR of soils and CO2 emission maximum on the sixth day. After two weeks and onwards, their growth decreased or their intensity dropped to the control values (500 mg CO2 m2/h–1 and 1.5 μg C–CO2 g/h, respectively) and lower. The lowest intensity of CO2 emission, a rise in basal respiration, and an increase in microbial biomass were recorded after the application of fertilizer NPKS 21 : 10 : 10 : 2. The change in the functioning of the soil microbial community detected by the maximal qCO2 was the greatest in case of NPKS 27 : 6 : 6 : 2 application. The dynamics of CO2 emission from the soils of the small-plot experiment from April to October correlated with the soil temperature (rS = 0.66, p < 0.05, n = 135). Emissions of CO2 were minimal for the plot with NPKS 21 : 10 : 10 : 2 in all periods of the study.

Формирование урожайности зерна люпина узколистного в зависимости от предпосевной обработки семян и нормы высева

To solve the problem of providing livestock with balanced feed, it is necessary to introduce into production the cultivation of leguminous crops that effectively use the bioclimatic potential of the zone. The aim of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-sowing seed treatment in the formation of agrocenoses of narrow-leaved lupine. The study was carried out in 2020-2022 on the experimental field of the educational, scientific and industrial complex "Agrotechnopark" of the Udmurt State Agrarian University in accordance with generally accepted methods and guidelines. The soil of the experimental plots is soddy-podzolic medium loamy with low and medium content of humus (1,8–2,3 %), mobile phosphorus - high (193-282 mg/kg), mobile potassium - high and very high (200-272 mg/kg ). The exchange acidity of the soil is from medium acid to close to neutral reaction (5,0-5,6). Be-fore sowing, the seeds were treated with the inoculant Rizotorfin (Rhizobium lupine) (1 l/t), plant growth regulator Melafen (5 ml/t), complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage (2 l/t), fungicide Maxim XL (0,4 l/t), complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage together with plant growth regulator Melafen, fungicide Maxim XL together with plant growth regulator Melafen, fungicide Maxim XL together with complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage. The untreated variant was taken as a control. The seeding rate is 1.0 million, 1.2 million, 1,4 million. Based on the experimental data obtained, the efficiency of pre-sowing seed treatment, which can be recommended to agricultural production to increase the productivity of narrow-leaved lupine, was revealed. Formation of the highest yield of narrow-leaved lupine 1,54-1.62 t/ha was obtained when pre-sowing seed treatment with complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage and its joint use with plant growth regulator Melafen and fungicide Maxim XL. The effectiveness of pre-sowing seed treatment is confirmed by a weak relationship between grain yield and root rot (r = -0,08±0,10). Keywords: NARROW-LEAVED LUPIN, PRE-SOWING TREATMENT OF SEEDS, SEEDING RATE, ROOT ROT, YIELD

THE EFFECT OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS ON SOIL RESPIRATION IN URBAN LAWNS

Due to the need to develop technologies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing the C-absorption capacity of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, the possibility of using mineral fertilizers to regulate microbial respiration and CO2 emissions from urban lawn soils was evaluated. The studies were carried out on the territory of the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University on the Lenin Hills in a small-plot experiment with the fractional application of four types of complex fertilizers (NPKS 27:6:6:2, NPKS 21:10:10:2, NPK 15:15:15 and NPK 18:18:18 + 3 MgO + trace elements (TE)) at doses of 60 and 120 kg N ha-1 during the growing season. The carbon content of microbial biomass (Cmic) using substrate-induced respiration was studied, the basal respiration (BR) of soils was estimated, and the emission of CO2 from soils using closed static chambers was determined. Тhe Cmic content in the soil of the control plot in the summer period varied within 1300–1450 μg·g-1. The application of NPKS 21:10:10:2 and NPK 18:18:18 + 3 MgO + TE at a low dose increased the Cmic content by 12–35% for two weeks, then it de-creased. The application of all fertilizers for a short period increased basal respiration of soils and CO2 emission, maximum on the 6th day. Aft er two weeks, the increase in the intensity of BR and CO2 emission decreased or it reached the control values (1,5 μg C-CO2·g-1·h-1 and 500 mg·CO2 ·m-2·h-1 respectively) or less. In the short term, the lowest intensity of CO2 emission and a surge in basal respiration, along with an increase in microbial biomass, were observed with the addition of fertilizer NPKS 21:10:10:2. The greatest change in the functioning of the soil microbial community, revealed by the maximum qCO2, occurred with the introduction of NPKS 27:6:6:2. Th e dy-namics of CO2 emission from the soils of the small-plot experiment from April to October correlated with the soil temperature (rS = 0.66, p&lt;0.05, n=135). In all periods of the study, the minimum CO2 emissions were noted for the plot with NPKS 21:10:10:2 fertilizer.

Metals Contained in Various Formulations of Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizers Determined Using Portable X-ray Fluorescence

According to the Scopus database, over the last five years, 91 scientific papers with the keyword “pXRF” (portable X-ray fluorescence) were published in indexed journals in the domain of environmental science and agricultural science, which indicates more frequent applications of this technique in scientific research. The pXRF method is characterized by speed, precision, accuracy, and the possibility of a simultaneous analysis of a large number of elements, albeit with higher limits of detection (LODs) as a major disadvantage. The presence of metals in certain phosphate fertilizers is well established, though not to the same extent as in mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The aim of this research was to determine the metal content (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Si, Sr, Th, U, Zn, Zr, and Y) in thirteen commercial mineral nitrogen fertilizers via the pXRF method. Six straight fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate nitrate, limestone ammonium, nitrate, and urea) and seven complex fertilizers (various NPK formulations), which are different even according to their production technology, produced in Croatia were analyzed using the handheld Vanta C (Olympus) XRF analyzer according to the loose powder method and “point and shoot” technique. Data quality control was performed by analyzing the reference fertilizer samples and certified and reference soil samples. The results revealed that the determined contents of Cd, Mn, and Th were relatively higher in the single-component fertilizers, while the contents of As, Cr, Fe, Ni, Si, Sr, Zn, Zr, Y, and U were relatively higher in the complex fertilizers. Due to the higher LODs of Co and Pb (3 mg/kg) and Mo (2 mg/kg), the pXRF method was not appropriate for the determination of these metals in the analyzed fertilizers. The quantified metal content in the analyzed fertilizers varied as follows: 2.0–8.0 mg As/kg; 11.5–31.3 mg Cd/kg; 29.8–118.5 mg Cr/kg; 7.8–26.3 mg Cu/kg; 16.5–2209 mg Fe/kg; 20.3–5290 mg Mn/kg; 6.2–27.8 mg Ni/kg; 1156–4581 mg Si/kg; 2.0–469.8 mg Sr/kg; 3.0–35.3 mg Th/kg; 2.0–82.8 mg U/kg; 1.4–166 mg Zn/kg; 9.7–15.3 mg Zr/kg; and 16.5–128.0 mg Y/kg. The results indicated that the pXRF method is particularly suitable for measurement and metal detection in complex nitrogen mineral fertilizers with higher amounts of metals, but it is not suitable for the detection and quantification of the lower amounts of As, Zr, Y, Cu, Ni, and Cr in single-component nitrogen fertilizers. Compared to all of the investigated fertilizers, the highest amounts of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, U, Zn, and Zr were quantified in the NPK 7-20-30 formulation.

Effect of Nano Carbon and Nano Calcium Carbonate Application on Soil Nutrient Dynamics in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

ABSTRACT The application of nanomaterials in agriculture has considerable advantages, but its impact on the dynamic change of soil nutrients is still unclear. In the two-year experiment, the effects of nanocarbon (NC) and nano calcium carbonate (NCC) on the dynamic changes of soil nutrients in the wheat field were studied by setting the ratio of different nanomaterials and fertilizers. All treatments with NC and NCC applications positively affected soil nutrient effectiveness at 0–35 d after wheat anthesis, and the effect of NC+NCC was more significant. At 35 days after anthesis, soil available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), organic matter (OM), and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (N) were elevated by 77.9%, 21.9%, 11.7%, and 7.0%, respectively, in the first year and 44.3%, 10.2%, 9.0%, and 7.6%, respectively, in the second year of treatment with 100% CF (complex fertilizer) + 50% NC + 50% NCC compared with control. The treatment with reduced fertilizer application also demonstrated a greater advantage. At 35 d after anthesis, 70% CF + 35% NC + 35% NCC had 54.3%, 11.5%, 8.4%, and 5.8% higher soil available P, available K, OM, and alkaline hydrolysis N, respectively, compared with the control, and 41.05%, 6.4%, 7.8%, and 5.4% higher the following year, respectively. In acidic soils, positively charged NC and NCC have a lasting effect on maintaining soil nutrients by adsorbing acid ions. Therefore, NC and NCC with compound fertilizer have favorable effects in maintaining soil nutrient content and improving fertilizer utilization.

Effectiveness of the Use of Fertilizers with Trace Elements on Spring Barley Crops in the Conditions of the Kursk Region

As a result of the research conducted in 2020–2022, the high efficiency and environmental feasibility of using complex fertilizers with microelements MicroFid Complex, MicroFid Zinc, microFid Boron with Zinc Chelate Reagent and Boron Chelate reagent in the cultivation of spring barley on chernozem soils of the Kursk region was established. The use of complex fertilizers MicroFid Complex, MicroFid Boron and MicroFid Zinc in the form of seed treatment and sowing in the phases “tillering” and “exit into the tube” provided an increase in the yield of spring barley – 0.29–0.45 t/ha (on 7.6–11.7%), protein growth in grain by 0.7–0.9%, grain size by 0.9–1.2%, relative to the control variant. The use of mono-fertilizers Zinc Chelate Reagent and Boron Chelate Reagent in comparison with complex micronutrients was less effective. The increase in the yield of spring barley from their use increased by 0.29–0.34 t/ha (7.6–8.9%), the amount of protein in the grain – by 0.1–0.2%, grain size – by 0.2–0.4%. There was a tendency of higher efficiency of microelement fertilizers containing boron: the yield of spring barley from the use of monoselate fertilizer Reakom-Boron Chelate was 0.05 t/ha higher than from fertilizer Reakom-Zinc Chelate, and complex fertilizer MicroFid Boron – 0.03 t/ha higher than MicroFid Zinc. The use of trace element fertilizers on spring barley crops was economically profitable and environmentally sound.

Optimization of Liquid Complex Fertilizer Formulations Using Phase Diagrams of Multicomponent Systems

The paper describes a method for the optimization of liquid complex fertilizer (LCF) formulations using phase diagrams of multicomponent water–salt systems. The chosen optimization criteria are the concentration of solution and the set of salts that provide the most concentrated fertilizer at the set ratio N : P2O5 : K2O. The opportunities of the method are shown for exemplary three- and four-component systems. The compositions of eutonic solutions and the ratios of nutrients calculated for them are given. Experimental data confirm the influence of the salt set and a solubilizer (urea) on the solution concentration. The number of optimal compositions becomes greater as the number of components in the system increases. Phase diagrams help to determine whether the liquid fertilizer composition belongs to the 15 homogeneous regions and thereby to guarantee its long-term storage stability.

Cultivation of white mustard under the conditions of the southern part of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia

White mustard (Sinapis alba L.) is an environmentally friendly and eff ective resource of organic matter to increase the fertility of poor soils. Its seeds contain 30–40 % oil, 25–32 % protein, up to 1,0 % essential (mustard) oil, which is used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is widely used as a feed crop, on pasture and in the form of green top dressing before fl owering, it is well eaten by pigs and slightly worse by cattle. The period of good eating does not exceed 15–18 days. It is possible to improve its digestibility when sowing together with peas, vetch, and chin. White mustard mown at the beginning of fl owering improves the quality of milk and butter, which acquires a pleasant yellow color. A by-product of white mustard is the presscake obtained from its seeds after oil extraction. The presscake contains a lot of protein and fat. The purpose of the research was to improve the technological methods of white mustard production based on the use of various liquid complex fertilizers, sowing dates and herbicides that ensure high seed yield under the conditions of the southern part of the Non–Chernozem zone of Russia. It was found as a result of the research that the use of leaf processing in agrocenoses of white mustard with complex microbiological fertilizers had a stimulating eff ect on the growth and development of plants. The variety of Lucia was characterized by the maximum indicators of the crop structure in the variant with the combined use of Azotovite + Phosphatovite + Rauactive. In this variant, the maximum indicators of standing density were revealed 167,8 pcs/m2, which was higher than the control by 16,9 pcs/m2, plant height was 81,5 cm or higher than the control by 17,1 cm, the number of pods 56,5 pcs. per plant, which exceeded the control by 11,3 pcs. Non-root fertilizing with liquid micro fertilizers contributed to an increase in the indicators of the crop structure, in all studied variants. The maximum indicators for the variety of Lucia and the combined use of Mono-Boron + Mono-Zinc: the density of plants before harvesting was 146,6 pcs./m2, the height of plants was 67,8 cm, which was 9,8 cm higher than the control, the number of pods was 55,1 pcs. per plant, which exceeded the control by 1,1 pcs. The most favorable sowing period for formation of mustard plant is the second decade of May in the variant of a mixture of herbicides Galion + Miura.

Selection of best compound fertilizer amended potting mixture for successful growth of black pepper (&lt;em&gt;Piper nigrum l.&lt;/em&gt;) hybrid (“Dingirala”) nursery plants

Black Pepper, Piper nigrum L.) is a perennial, evergreen, climbing vine and it is widely used as a spice and flavoring agent in the food industry and ayurvada medicine throughout the world. Therefore, continuous supply of pepper is important for the sustainability of these sectors. Pepper is usually propagated vegetatively using stem cuttings. Cuttings are planted in polythene bags filled with a mixture of equal parts of topsoil, cow dung, sand, and coir dust. Scarcity of cow dung and expensiveness resulted with huge demand are the limiting factors in commercial production of pepper. Incorporation of nitrogen and phosphorus containing fertilizers to potting mixture in the absence of cow dung may at least supply plant nutrients which highly essential for early growth of plants. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of different compound fertilizer for nursery plants of P. nigrum L, hybrid “Dingirala” in the absence of cow dung in the potting mixture. Four different levels (1, 2, 3, 4 g per pot) of four different compound fertilizers were taken as treatments such as T1- Yara Complex (N:P:K 12:11:18), T2- Yara Grower ( N:P:K 21:7:14), T3- NPK Balance (N:P:K 15:15:15) K as SOP, T4- NPK Balance (N:P:K 15:15:15) K as MOP and T5 a phosphate fertilizer Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) (N:P:K 18:46 :0). All were mixed into a modified potting mixture of topsoil: sand: coir dust 2:1:1 without cow dung. Control was the potting mixture already recommended by Department of Export Agriculture (top soil: sand: coir dust: cow dung, 2:1:1:1) without inorganic fertilizer. Each treatment contained three replicates per treatment. Complete Randomized Block Design (RCBD) was the experimental design and each block consisted with 50 plants. Two nodal cuttings of Black pepper hybrid Dingirala were planted and maintained in a propagator under a net house at central research station Matale (IM3a). After 105 days from establishment, survival percentage, growth parameters such as shoot length (cm), number of leaves and shoot dry weight (g) were measured. Soil parameters such as soil pH and EC and total N%, P% and K% of tissues were analyzed. Significantly highest (P&lt;0.05) survival rate (91%) was recorded from recommended potting mixture used as control in this experiment and cuttings treated with 1g of Di-ammonium phosphate. Significantly highest (P&lt;0.05) shoot length (39.1cm) was recorded from cuttings treated with 1g of Yara complex fertilizer (N:P:K 12:11:18) and Significantly highest (P&lt;0.05) number of leaves (9.0) was recorded from cuttings treated with 1g of DAP fertilizer.Therefore, cuttings planted with top soil: sand: coir dust: cow dung, 2:1:1:1 is the best potting mixture and in absence of cow dung with normal potting mixture with 1g of Di-ammonium phosphate excelled all compound fertilizers in terms of overall growth, soil and leaf nutrient parameters of Hybrid "Dingirala" pepper nursery plants over the first 105 days after establishment.

Response of Albizia (Albizia lebbeek) Seedlings Growth for Nano Fertilizers Application

A field experiment was conducted in the Department of Plant Production, Technical Agricultural College, Mosul, Iraq, in the spring of 2020 to examine the effects of two different types of nano fertilizers (complex fertilizer K 27% and S 13%, Zn 11.5%, Mn 6.5%, Fe 7.5%, and citric acid 3.5%). on albizia seedlings using three application techniques (spraying, adding to the soil, and spraying plus adding to the soil). On February 15th, the seeds were sown in plastic containers, and after the second true leaf, they were transferred to plastic bags. The Nano fertilizers were applying at 2 gm. L.−1 focus four times a month starting in the first of the year. May, after the plant has developed its fourth true leaf. A factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replicates was used to set up the treatments. Plant length, leaf count, Stem diameter, chlorophyll content (SPAD), fresh weight, and dry weight of vegetative growth and roots are all significantly increased after nano fertilizers are added via spraying and soil amendment. Also, when compared to K nano and the control group, all of the parameters show substantial increases after using Complex Nanofertilizer. All parameters show a significant effect from the treatments that involve interactions between nano fertilizers and applying methods.

Synthesis of artificial humic acid-urea complex improves nitrogen utilization

The inefficient use of conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizers leads to N enrichment in the soil, resulting in N loss via runoff, volatilization and leaching. While using artificial humic acid to prepare novel N fertilizer is a good choice to improve its efficiency, the high heterogeneity of artificial humic acid limits its structural analysis and utilization efficiency. To solve above problems, this work mainly carried out the fractionation experiments, melt penetration experiments and soil incubation experiments. The results revealed that four fractions with different aromatization degree and molecular weights were obtained by the newly proposed continuous dissolution method, particular in the extraction solution of pH = 3–4, which were extracted with the highest aromatization degree. Furthermore, artificial humic acid urea complex fertilizers prepared at pH = 3–4 significantly improved the release of NH4+-N by 38.32% on days 7 and NO3−-N by 10.30% on days 14, compared to urea application. The highly aromatic complex fertilizer with loading of urea-N was able to supply more inorganic N to the soil on days 3–14 (low molecular weight N) and to maintain a higher N content on days 70 (highly aromatized N). This can partially offset the mineralization of readily available organic N, buffering the immobilization of inorganic N from the soil when unstable organic compounds (e.g. conventional urea) were incorporated. A-HAU3-4 addition on days 70, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota were found to be the dominant phylum in the soil and the relative abundance of Endophytic bacteria was increased, which was conducive to the improvement of soil N utilization efficiency and soil N sequestration. Therefore, the preparation of artificial humic urea fertilizer with high aromatization degree or low molecular weight were an effective way to improve N utilization efficiency in the initial stages of soil incubation and maintain N fixation in the later stages of soil incubation. The future application of the strategy presented by this study would have an important ecological significance for alleviating agricultural N pollution.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СРЕДСТВ ХИМИЗАЦИИ НА ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ УРОЖАЯ ЗЕЛЕНОЙ МАССЫ КУКУРУЗЫ С ПОЧАТКАМИ МОЛОЧНО-ВОСКОВОЙ СПЕЛОСТИ

Corn is a valuable food and technical crop and almost all its parts are used in different branches of industry which cannot do without corn grains and pulp and paper mills use its leaves and stems. In addition, the crop has important agronomic importance in controlling field weeds. It is one of the most important cereal crops in world agriculture. As a high-yielding crop, it plays an important role in fodder production. A powerful reserve for increasing corn yields is mineral fertilizers, as well as the widespread introduction of new zoned varieties and hybrids of corn into production. This article presents the influence of organic and mineral fertilizers with macro-, micro-, complex fertilizers and growth regulators on corn yield and production. Sufficient nutrients are necessary to obtain high yields. Various growth-promoting substances are also used in modern agricultural practice. They improve seed germination and germination energy, accelerate plant growth, plant development and increase yield. Using special mixtures of fertilizers for corn concentrates all the necessary complexes of nutrients. The necessary complex of nutrients is applied in one step, which reduces the unevenness of fertilization. Spraying of combined fertilizers containing microelements and growth regulators before sowing increases plant resistance to adverse weather conditions. The use of combined compositions of NPK fertilizers allows the development of resource-saving systems and reduces the cost of fertilizers.

Цифровые следы в экологии: опыт эмпирического исследования

In addition to the environmental data (i.e., data that has been produced and collected by professional ecologists to solve certain environmental problems), other sources of open data can be used to study environmental problems. For example, data created by users for other purposes and extracted from social media can be used to study biodiversity, monitor environment and analyze environmental practices. The article represents a summary of such an empirical study that featured messages about air pollution in the city of Cherepovets published in the VKontakte social network. The study covered the period from January 01, 2020, to October 31, 2022. The methodology included the following steps: selecting relevant network communities; uploading and classifying the relevant messages; thematic modeling and content analysis. The sample included 48 messages that introduced the problem of air pollution in Cherepovets. The PolyAnalyst data analysis platform revealed the following most common phrases: polluting substance, atmospheric air, harmful substance, ammonia emission, liquid complex fertilizers, ammonia concentration. The article also contains a list of industrial enterprises mentioned as polluting agents. The results illustrate the opinions of social net users about the quality of air in Cherepovets. It can be concluded that social networks might help monitor the interest in environmental problems, because they shape the environmental agenda ahead of television and other information sources.

PURCHASE AND RESEARCH OF UREA-BASED PHOSPHORUS-CONTAINING LIQUID - COMPLEX FERTILIZERS

The urgency of the matter. In recent years, there has been a high demand for various types of complex NPK fertilizers in the world mineral fertilizer market. This situation is primarily related to their high agrochemical value, because such fertilizers allow to introduce all three most important nutrients into the soil at the same time - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.Plant growth, development and high yields are directly related to their nutrition. Fertilizers have a great role in providing plants with nutrients. They are important in increasing soil fertility, increasing the productivity of agricultural plants and improving the quality of the obtained product. As we know, fertilizers with nutrient elements should be applied separately to the soil¬¬copper has a number of disadvantages. All mineral fertilizers contain several chemical elements, some of which can harm plants. So, e.g. in the production of phosphorous fertilizers, CaSO4 obtained as a result of processing phosphates with sulfuric acid is introduced into the soil as a ballast. Also, a certain amount of fluorine is transferred to the soil with superphosphate. During the processing of phosphates with nitric acid, the active hydrogen ion is used to split the phosphates, while the anions remain as the desired nitrogen component in the finished product. However, a slightly higher dose of nitrogen fertilizer can lead to a decrease in soil fertility and contamination of food products¬¬causes Thus, in the obtained product, nitrates increase, vitamin "C", sugar decreases, the plant develops unilaterally, which lowers its biological value. Ka¬¬lium fertilizers are also very necessary for plants. However, most potash fertilizers contain ballast elements (CI, Na). When high doses of systematic fertilization are carried out, they accumulate in the soil and reduce fertility, ultimately not improving the quality of either the plant or the soil. Other metals contained in it (Cd, Hg, Pb, Al) can accumulate in living organisms and cause various poisonings by entering groundwater. In this regard, also with macro and micronutrients¬¬¬¬ha highly concentrated and agrochemically more effective liquid complex fertilizer¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬organization of the production of seeds, including NPK¬¬The production of complex fertilizers rich in trace elements is an actual problem of the modern era. The most interesting are concentrated NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) liquid-complex fertilizers. Nitrogen-based fertilizers use ammonium nitrate and urea, the nitrogen content of which is 35.0% and 46.7%, respectively. In the first case, the product is called nitroammophos, in the second - carboammophos. Keywords: NPK fertilizers, plants, raw materials

Productivity of giant miscanthus plantations depending on the applied elements of cultivation technology in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. To improve the technology of caring for giant miscanthus plantations, starting from the second year of the crop vegetation, and to establish the peculiarities of the formation of biomass yield with the use of different types of fertilizers. Methods. The research was carried out in the years 2020–2021 in the conditions of the Bila Tserkva Experimental and Breeding Station of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences located in the zone of unstable moisture of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. The design of the experiment involved the application of mineral fertilisers (ammonium nitrate N24 kg/ha a. i., ammonium nitrate + ammonium sulfate N24 + S6 kg/ha a. i.) in row in the spring, foliar application of humates (Vermisol, 8.0 l/ha, Humifield VR-18, 0.4 l/ha), and complex fertiliser with amino acids (Quantum Aminomax, 0.5 l/ha). Mineral fertilizers were applied locally in row before the emergence of miscanthus seedlings. Split foliar application of humates and amino acids was carried out in the five-leaf stage and two weeks later. Results. Productivity of miscanthus plants differed significantly over growing seasons, while the main regularities of the influence of the investigated elements of plantation care technology on the productivity formation were maintained. In the second year of vegetation (2020), each plant formed from 18 to 37 shoots and in the third year from 37 to 50 shoots. Four-year-old plants had 28–50 shoots each. The yield of raw biomass at the end of the growing season in 2020 varied from 14.5 to 43.5 t/ha. Compared to 2020, in 2021 the biomass yield increased 1.5–2 times – up to 31.0–74.6 t/ha. According to the experiment, the average yield of biomass for the fourth year of the growing was 17% lower compared to the respective indicators of 2021 and varied according to the experiment treatments from 25.3 to 67.1 t/ha. The yield of dry matter varied from 9.78 to 28.30 t/ha in 2020, from 17.50 to 37.85 t/ha in 2021, and from 12.11 to 32.46 t/ha in 2022. The estimated energy output from miscanthus biomass, depending on the influence of the experimental factors, was 174.8–509.6 GJ/ha in 2020, 315.5–683.2 GJ/ha in 2021, and in 2022 – 219.0–587.3 GJ/ha. Conclusions. The minimum values of all studied productivity indicators of miscanthus were obtained in the control treatment of the experiment. Application of ammonium nitrate (N24) and ammonium nitrate with ammonium sulfate (N24 + S6) in spring contributed to a significant increase in the number of shoots per plant, as well as biomass yield and estimated energy yield per hectare. Similarly, significant increase in all indicators of productivity was ensured by foliar application of humates (Humifield BP-18, 0.4 l/ha and Vermisol, 8,0 l/ha). In general, over the years of research, the maximum indicators of the number of shoots per plant, the yield of biomass and the estimated energy output from biomass were obtained under the combined application of mineral fertilisers [ammonium nitrate + ammonium sulfate (N24 + S6)] with two-time foliar application of humates (Vermisol, 8.0 l/ha or Humifield VR-18, 0.4 l/ha) and complex fertiliser Quantum Aminomax, 0.5 l/ha.

Effect of Norms of Complex Fertilizers on the Main Phases of Development and Dynamics of Growth of Corn

The article presents the results of experiments on the influence of the norms of complex fertilizers on the dynamics of corn development. It was revealed that the complex fertilizers used in the study area have a different effect on the beginning of the development phases of the corn plant, as well as on the height and development of the plant. When applying mineral fertilizers (NH4)2HPO4, the vegetation period is 104-105 days. In variants with different doses of fertilizer (NH4)2SO4+(NH4)2HPO4+K2SO4 — 98-100 days. The application of fertilizers in accordance with the phases of plant growth has a positive effect on all structural indicators. In the control variant without fertilizers, the height of the AGAU-80 corn variety was 295.8 cm, which is significantly lower than in the fertilized variant. Fertilizer (NH4)2HPO4 was applied in different doses, the height of the main stem in the phase of milky ripening was 349.4-374.6 cm, and (NH4)2SO4+(NH4)2HPO4+K2SO4 (in different doses) was 342.2-375.2 cm. In all cases, the green and dry weight of corn was significantly higher.

INFLUENCE OF SPRING BARLEY PLANT NUTRITION OPTIMIZATION ON YIELD FORMATION IN THE RIGHTBANK FORESTSTEPPE OF UKRAINE

This article presents the results of a study of the effect of complex fertilizers on the productivity of spring barley. As a result of the research, it was found that in the variants where three times of plant treatment with preparations were carried out in the most sensitive to nutrition phases of spring barley vegetation of the mid-season variety Modern, the maximum biometric parameters of plants were obtained. In the variants where spring barley plants were fertilized in the three phases of vegetation of tillering, emergence into the tube and at the beginning of earing with Humifriend potassium humate and Multicomplex StimOrganic, a significant increase in the number of productive stems by 265 pcs./m2 and 273 pcs./m2, respectively, was noted compared to the control. The use of the preparations stimulated plant growth and this had a positive effect on the formation of ears of spring barley, the length of which increased by 0,7 – 1,4 cm compared to the control. The highest number of grains in the ear was observed in the variants where three treatments with complex fertilizers were used, where this indicator increased by 2,6 – 3,7 pcs. compared to the control. Three times treatment of plants with preparations also contributed to an increase in grain weight per ear by 0,3 – 0,4 g compared to the control. For three times treatment of spring barley plants with Humifriend potassium humate, the weight of 1000 seeds increased by 2.4 g compared to the control, when using the preparation Multicomplex StimOrganic, this indicator increased by 3,8 g compared to the control, and when using Fulvigum, this indicator increased by 1,8 g compared to the control. An important indicator of productivity is the weight of the raw aboveground mass of plants, when calculating this indicator in the phase of earing, the highest values were obtained in the variants where preparations for fertilizing in two phases of vegetation were used, in particular when using Humifriend potassium humate, this indicator increased by 631 – 658 g/cm2 compared to the control, when using Multicomplex StimOrganic, this indicator increased by 728 – 735 g/cm2 compared to the control, and when using Fulvigum, this indicator increased by 435 – 436 g/cm2 compared to the control. The highest yield of spring barley grain was obtained in the variant where three treatments of plants with StimOrganic Multicomplex were applied, where the yield increased by 1,0 t/ha compared to the control, which is 42%, when using Humifriend potassium humate, the yield increased by 0,9 t/ha compared to the control, which is 38%, and when using Fulvigum, the yield increased by 0,7 t/ha compared to the control, which is 29%. The data obtained indicate that the use of complex fertilizers on spring barley crops contributed to the growth, development of plants and an increase in grain yield in proportion to the number of plant treatments.

The Impact of Foliar Fertilization on the Physiological Parameters, Yield, and Quality Indices of the Soybean Crop

Presented research was carried out in 2021 and 2022 on the Felix soybean variety at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, located in the Transylvanian Plain, Romania. In this experiment, complex fertilizer NPK 20:20:0 was applied as a basic fertilizer in a dose of 200 kg ha−1 at the sowing stage, to which foliar fertilizer Agro Argentum Forte treatment was added in different doses and at different application stages. The main purpose of the study was to identify the suitable stages of foliar application in soybean cultivation for effective vegetative development, yield, and quality purposes. The impacts of the fertilization system and the climatic conditions on the physiological parameters, assimilation, yield, and quality were evaluated. Technology showed that the physiological parameters were positively influenced, following the foliar fertilization with Agro Argentum Forte, with average assimilation values recorded above 23.0 μmol CO2 m−2s−1 in the year 2021 and 22.4 μmol CO2 m−2s−1 in the year 2022. Soybean crop was influenced by climatic conditions and the application of foliar fertilizers in different phases of growth and development, obtaining higher yields, as well as higher protein and oil content. The soybean yield and quality indices (protein, oil, and mass of a thousand seeds) were higher in 2021 than in 2022 for the variants treated with foliar fertilizers compared to the control, resulting in an improvement in seed quality in 2021 with a yield of 3560 kg ha−1, while 2022 saw a lower yield of 1805 kg ha−1. The application of basic mineral fertilizers in combination with foliar fertilization had a significantly positive impact on the quality indicators of soybean seeds. The highest yields were achieved when the foliar treatment was applied in the early pod formation stage.

Production and Quality of Biodiesel under the Influence of a Rapeseed Fertilization System

Compared to fossil fuels, biodiesel is a clean fuel, does not pollute the environment, and can be produced from inexhaustible natural sources. The objectives of our research are to study how increasing doses of complex fertilizers, applied to rapeseed oil culture, affect the production of rapeseeds and oil; the comparative study between the quality parameters of refined rapeseed oil (RRO) and fatty acids (FA); and the analysis of the quality of the biodiesel obtained from them (BRO and BFA). The experimental field is set-up in a Latin rectangle format and is placed on a total area of 400 m2 divided into 16 parcels, randomized for uniformity with four replications and four fertilizer graduations (N0P0K0—Control, N160P160K160, N320P320K320, N480P480K480). To obtain biodiesel form oil (BRO) and fatty acids (BFA), the processes of esterification, transesterification, refining, washing, sedimentation, and drying were applied. A comparison between biodiesel quality parameters from RRO and FAs were made, and we highlighted the differences in quality compared to samples from the experimental field. The use of large amounts of complex fertilizers leads to high yields of rapeseed (13.3–47.0 q ha−1) and oil (629.8–2130.8 L ha−1), which are statistically significant only for high doses (N320P320K320 and N480P480K480). For most of the qualitative parameters studied, the differences in values between BFA and BRO have positive values, which means a higher quality for BRO. Both BRO and BFA generally fall within the quality parameters imposed by European standards (ES). Although the quality of BRO is superior to BFA, it is produced on a smaller scale due to the nutritional importance of refined rapeseed oil. This study is of particular importance in the optimization of rapeseed fertilization, with a view to the efficient conversion of crude oil, a feedstock for chemical fertilizers and an environmentally friendly fuel.