Forest-Steppe Of Ukraine Research Articles

Pumpkin fruit selection of different types and varieties for the production of functional food products

Consumers in Ukraine and around the world are increasingly interested in healthy lifestyles and functional foods with high biological value. For the production of such foods, it is important to select raw materials that meet a range of quality requirements. Pumpkin fruits have a high content of nutrients, vitamins, essential amino acids, and minerals that largely meet these requirements. The research aims to comprehensively evaluate pumpkin fruits of eight varieties of different types: large-fruited (Cucurbita maxima Duch) and butternut (Cucurbita moschata Duchex Poir), grown in the forest-steppe of Ukraine, to identify the most suitable for drying and production of functional foods. The experimental method was used following the research plan, the laboratory method was used to determine biochemical, biometric, and organoleptic quality indicators, and the statistical method was used to conduct dispersion and correlation analyses of the studied indicators. It has been established that when large-fruited pumpkin varieties are used for convective drying, 16.1-20.3% of dry products with a sugar content of 48.6-51.6% and 11-14 and 34.5-40.2% of nutmeg varieties, respectively, can be obtained. For the production of functional food products with a β-carotene content of 40-41 mg/100 g (in terms of dry matter), it is advisable to use the fruits of nutmeg varieties Gilea and Divo, and vitamin C at the level of 28 mg% – large-fruited varieties Slavuta and Polyovychka. The study revealed that with the increase in fruit weight, the content of dry matter (r=-0.68), sugars (r=-0.67) and the yield of finished products (r=-0.74) significantly decreases. A significant direct relationship between the content of dry matter and sugars (r=0.98), as well as the content of dry matter and the yield of finished products (r=0.94), was established. The materials of the article are of practical value for breeders, vegetable growers, and specialists of processing enterprises when choosing a type and variety of pumpkin for the production of functional foods

Forage productivity of combined crops of seed oats, maize, and Sudanese sorghum with white lupine

Research aimed at the accumulation and effective use of nitrogen, its symbiotic fixation from the air by white lupine plants, by selecting the best cereal components, optimizing their ratio and methods of placement when growing in compatible crops under different fertilization systems in the Forest Steppe is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to establish the best cereal components, their ratio and methods of placement with white lupine when sowing in joint crops under different fertilizer systems to produce grass fodder in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The following methods were used: field, laboratory, mathematical-statistical, calculation-comparative. It was established that the highest productivity on the background without fertilizers (4.21-4.86 t∙ha–1 of dry matter) was provided by single-species crops of maize and white lupine, as well as their combined crops, which were formed by continuous row and strip methods, which by 2.60-3.17 t∙ha–1 of dry matter or 1.8-2.6 times more compared to crops of oats and its mixture with white lupine and by 1.13-1.58 t·ha-1 or 1.4-1.5 times more compared to crops of Sudanese sorghum and its mixture with white lupine. Through the accumulation and use of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, the productivity of lupine-oat mixtures increased from 1.90 to 2.70-3.21 t∙ha–1 of dry mass or 1.4-1.7 times, and that of lupine-sorghum – from 3.17 to 3.43-3.47 or 1.1 times. The most effective ratio of each cereal component to legume in binary intercropping was 25:75% of the sowing rate in single-species agrocenoses when dry biomass productivity was the greatest. Compared to the variant without fertilizers, the most significant (by 1.3-2.0 times) increase in the productivity of all fodder agrocenoses under study was ensured by the application of N45Р30K50, while the application of P30K50 or humigran organic fertilizer at a dose of 250 kg·ha–1 – only by 1.2-1.3 times. The research results can be used in the development of scientific and methodological recommendations and the education about the formation of highly productive agrophytocenoses for conveyor production of high-quality grass fodder for animal feeding

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

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.

Formation of spike length and number of spikelets in soft winter wheat varieties depending on the genotype and conditions of the year

The value of the variety in increasing the yield of soft winter wheat is undeniable. Therefore, the use of genetic patterns in breeding can improve the adaptability of modern varieties. In breeding and genetic studies, the formation of yield is considered as a complex characteristic due to many components. Studying the variability and stability of the main structural elements of productivity is an important task in the selection of soft winter wheat. The aim of the study was to investigate the peculiarities of the formation in soft winter wheat spike length and the number of spikelets in it depending on the genotype and the conditions of the year, and to select genotypes with a consistently high expression for involvement in the selection process. The research was carried out in the conditions of the experimental feld of the Educational and Production Center of the Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University in 2018–2020. The source material for the research was varieties of different ecological and geographical origin recommended for growing in Ukrainian forest-steppe. Arithmetic mean ( ), minimum and maximum value of features (min–max), standard deviation (s), coefcient of variation (V, %), homeostatic index (Hom) were determined. To characterize moisture availability, the hydrothermal coefcient was calculated. According to the research results, such varieties as Tobak, Bohemia, Kvitka poliov, Legenda bilotserkivska, Svitilo, Platin, Kolonia, Akratos formed the largest spike length, exceeding the standard variety Lisova pisnia by 1.6– 2.3 cm. A high homeostatic index was determined by this feature in varieties Kvitka poliov (758), Kolonia (343), Svitilo (334), Perlyna Lisostepu (204). The varieties Akratos, Favorite, Kolonia, Svitilo, Platin, Legenda Bilotserkivska, Tobak were selected according to the number of in the ear, which had indicators from 19.0 to 20.4 pcs., which is 2.1–3.5 pcs. more than the standard sort (16.9 pcs.). The highest homeostaticity, in terms of the number spikelets in the spike, was received in Skagen (930), Kolonia (826), Flower of the Fields (780), Akratos (682), and Forest Song (461). Key words: soft winter wheat, variety, spike length, number of spikelets in the spike, homeostatics, selection.

Content of sugar, titrated acids and biologically active substances in blackberries grown in the forest-steppe of Ukraine

Abstract For the first time was assessed the quality of fruits of four varieties of American blackberries and one of Swiss and Serbian selection, grown in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The limits of variation of fruit mass, content of dry soluble substances, sugars, titrated acids, ascorbic acid, polyphenols and anthocyanins were established. The mass of blackberries varied within a minimum of 6.6 g of Asterina variety and a maximum of 8.2 g – Chester Thornless, the amount of soluble dry substances varied in the range of 9.4 (Cacanska Bestrna) – 15.1% (Heaven Can Wait), and sugars from 7.82 to 12.72% Kiowa and Chester Thornless varieties. The highest content of bioactive substances, in particular ascorbic acid, was accumulated by fruits of Kiowa and Heaven Can Wait varieties, the last of these, among the studied varieties, had the highest amount of polyphenolic substances 845 mg.100 g−1, variability of which was very low, corresponding to 8%. According to the look of the fruit, and in particular its mass, as well as taste, ratio of sugar to acid, there were highlighted varieties that have the prospect of widespread cultivation in industrial plantations, such as Chester Thornless and Chief Joseph. In order to conduct the selection process for the creation of varieties, whose fruits will have excellent marketable, consumer and preventive qualities (apart from the above-mentioned varieties) should be also involved with others, namely Heaven Can Wait and Kiowa.

Fungicide protection of winter canola crops against the most common diseases

Goal. To investigate the effect of fungicides on limiting the development of the most common diseases of winter rapeseed in the Forest Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods. Field (setting up experiments, damage records, harvesting), phytopathological (identification of pathogens), information-analytical (collection and analysis of literary sources), mathematical-statistical (processing of research results). The work was carried out on the experimental fields of the Oleksandriya SE EB of the Belotserkiv district of the Kyiv region. Fungicides with different active substances were studied: azoxystrobin + cyproconazole, flutriafol + tebuconazole, boscalid + dimoxystrobin, metalaxyl-M + mancozeb, prothioconazole + tebuconazole, tebuconazole.
 Results. The weather conditions of the growing season during the research years were characterized by high average daily air temperature and insufficient rainfall and did not contribute to the widespread spread of rapeseed diseases. Alternaria caused by fungi of the Alternaria genus (A. brassicae (Berk.) Sacc., A. brassicicola Wilts. (Schw.), A. alternata (Fr.) Keissler) had the greatest spread and development during the years of research. In some years, downy mildew (the causative agent of the fungus Perenospora brassicae Gaeum) and fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht.) were detected on rapeseed crops with a small degree of spread and development. Treatment of crops with fungicides limited the development of rapeseed diseases during the growing season by 2.3—4.0 times. The technical efficiency of fungicides against Alternaria was on average 57.2—78.5%, against downy mildew — 69.5—73.9%. The highest effectiveness against Alternaria was provided by the Impact T fungicide, k.s. (flutriafol, 75 g/l + tebuconazole, 225 g/l), 1.0 l/ha, against downy mildew — Amistar Extra 280 SC (azoxystro­bin, 200 + cyproconazole, 80), 1.0 l/ha. Limiting the development of diseases helped to increase its yield. With the use of fungicides, the yield of rapeseed was at the level of 1.61—1.83 t/ha against 1.38 in the control, i.e. it was 16.7—32.6% higher.
 Conclusions. The most common diseases of winter rape during the years of research in the Right Bank Forest Steppe zone of Ukraine were Alternaria, Peronosporosis and Fusarium wilt. The dominant position in all years was occupied by Alternaria, the prevalence of which was 100%. The investigated fungicides had an effective effect on limiting the development of diseases and contributed to an increase in crop yield.

BARROW OF THE SCYTHIAN PERIOD NEAR MALYNIVTSI VILLAGE IN PODILLYA

During the Scythian Age the territory of Middle Dnister basin was occupied by the West-Podillia group of sites. It is characterized by the widespread use of burials under stone mounds. Burials were carried out both by cremation and inhumation burial rites. The group of barrows was excavated in 2003 by the expedition of the Kamianets-Podilskyi University with participation of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine near Malynivtsi village of Kamianets-Podilskyi district, Khmelnytskyi region. Nearby the settlement was discovered, the inhabitants of which could be buried at the necropolis.
 Burial 4 was located in the south part of the cemetery. The mound was almost completely plowed and stood out on the surface only by the outcrop of stone. Its probable diameter could be up to 5.7 m. Under the layer of black oil, the stone pavement ca. 4 Ч 4 m2 was discovered. It consisted mostly of small limestone. Larger stones were localized around the perimeter, forming the irregular outer ring, and in the center where the larger slabs lay. There were the traces of repeated robberies which caused the stones to be turned upside down in many places. The burials were discovered at the level of the ancient surface. They were made according to the rites of inhumation and cremation. Due to the robbery, the bones of the burieds and their grave goods were scattered. The finds are represented by glass beads, bronze pins and earrings. The set of ceramics was numerous, including up to 17 vessels. Most of them were molded: pots, scoops, cups, bowls, and a vessel like an amphora. However, a fragment of gray clay vessel was also found. The set of grave goods is typical for the sites of the West Podillia group. It has analogies in other Scythian antiquities from the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe. The findings allow us to date the barrow to the last third of the 7th — first half of the 6th century B.C. Comparison with other burial sites of the West Podillia group, their size and grave goods, shows that the burials in the barrow 4 near Malynivtsi could belong to ordinary representatives of the Middle Dnister communities of this time.

Redvyntsi — the Funeral and Memorial Complex of a Rider of the Scythian Period in Northern Podillia

In 1973, the archaeological expedition of Kamianets-Podilskyi Pedagogical Institute under the leadership of A. F. Hutsal and I. S. Vynokur investigated the mound no. 1 near Redvyntsi village in Khmelnytskyi District and Oblast, in the upper reaches of the Southern Buh basin. The graveyard of five mounds was located 0.5 km southwest from Redvyntsi, on the territory of the collective farm garden. The height of the embankments, located 50—60 m from each other, was 1.8—2.7 m, the diameter — 14—18 m. The height of the mound no. 1 (the biggest in the group), located in the eastern part of the burial ground, was 2.5 m, the diameter — 18 m. A burial and memorial complex was discovered under the mound: the cenotaph. It had a wooden structure with a diameter of 4.4 m. It was located on the top of the soil filling. In the centre of the layout there was a complex of items. On the side, traces of ritual hearths and ceramics near them were found. Among the finds, bridle items made of bronze should be noted. Moreover, there were plates that had the shape of a circle, a rosette and and a diamond. Buckles were found with them. Weapons include an iron spearhead and bronze three-bladed arrowheads. A glass bead was found among the jewellery. The finds have analogies in many areas of the Northern Black Sea region during the Scythian period: the Eastern Podillia group, the Dnipro River Right-bank forest-steppe region, the Ukrainian Left-bank forest-steppe, the Middle Don region and Steppe Scythia. Mound no. 1 in Redvyntsi, due to the lack of a burial, can be interpreted as a cenotaph: during the construction of which fire rituals took place, which have comparisons in the Ukrainian forest-steppe. According to analogies, the burial mounds in Redvyntsi can be dated by the 4th century BC. The significant size of the mound, as well as the rich inventory, indicate that it was built in the memory of an ancient warrior-horseman. The deceased, who could have died in a foreign land, probably belonged to the local nobility, and headed one of the communities of the Scythian period, which lived in the 4th century BC in the upper reaches of the Southern Buh.

Early Scythian Spearheads with a Socket

Spears were the second most widespread (after the bow and arrows) weapon of the Scythian warriors. Now more than 1,000 iron spearheads and shafts are known. Some spears were 3 m or more long, i.e. were combat weapons. Spears in Scythia, in contrast to the eastern nomads, the Sauro-Sarmatians and the Saka, were a popular weapon, among both ordinary warriors and the elite. Scythian spears, first of all, their tips, have been studied well. However, some of them have features that need to be explained. That is the presence of horizontal ridges around the ends of the sockets of the spearheads, which were not primarily intended for decoration. Few such tips have been found so far in the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe. They belong to the Scythian archaic period, and more precisely to the period from the second half of the 7th to the beginning of the 6th centuries BC. In author’s opinion, the ridges on spear sockets had a utilitarian purpose: they served to securely fasten tassels, possibly in the shape of horse tails, or special badges that were prototypes of future flags. A similar tradition arose among the nomads of Central Asia as early as the middle-second half of the 2nd millennium BC and then it had spread throughout the Eurasian region and during later periods. The spears with bunchuks in the shape of horse or wolf tails have undoubtedly experienced evolution: at first they were symbols of tribal and military unity, over time they began to play the role of a prestigious social marker – an attribute of military leaders of different levels. As a rule, notable Scythian warriors were buried in the graves where such spearheads were found. Apparently, spears with tassels indicate that their owners were the heads of certain military contingents. Given the synchronism of the mentioned burials with the period of the Scythian campaigns to the East, the appearance of similar spears with tassels among the Scythians due to the Assyrian influence cannot be ruled out. In any case, spears with tassels are attested on the reliefs of Assyria, although of an earlier time.

Analysis of the features of the realization of the productive potential among heterosis hybrids of pumpkins (Cucūrbita māxima)

Aim. To create a late-ripening heterosis hybrid of pumpkin with high yield and quality traits; to investigate the level of the adaptive potential of promising hybrid combinations in terms of commercial yield. Methods. Field, breeding, visual, measuring and weighing, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. The research was carried out during 2011–2020 at the Dnipropetrovsk research station of the Institute of Vegetables and Melons Growing of NAAS (Oleksandrivka village, Dnipro district, Dnipropetrovsk region), according to generally accepted methods in melons growing. Results. A new high-yielding, high-quality hybrid of the pumpkin Korol was created for the Steppe and Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Over the years of research, the new hybrid has shown significant advantages over analogues in productivity traits.The hybrid Korol provides a high level of total yield: 37.1 t/ha (+ 6.3–10.6 t/ha; + 20.5–40.0%). Due to the accelerated terms of ripening (123 days), the maximum marketability of the fruits was achieved (97%), with a yield of marketable products – 30.6 t/ha (+ 8.5–16.4 t/ha; + 30.9–83.6 %). The study of the influence of ecological factors on the realization of the productive potential of promising hybrid combinations made it possible to identify highly adapted (2), labile (2) and breeding-valuable (1) hybrids. The combination Yuvilei / Slavuta (Pharaon) guarantees the production of marketable pumpkin at the level of 36.8 t/ha. Conclusions. The expediency of using the phenomenon of heterosis to increase the marketable yield of pumpkin has been proven. The newly created hybrid Korol is characterized by high competitive heterosis for this trait, which makes it possible to recommend it for ensuring the high economic efficiency of pumpkin cultivation in the Steppe and Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Promising heheterotic hybrids of pumpkin were studied and the combination of Yuvilei / Slavuta (Pharaon) with the highest ability to stably form productive potential regardless of ecological features of the environment was selected.

Optimisation of crop rotations: A case study for corn growing practices in forest-steppe of Ukraine

The formation of optimal crop rotations is virtually unsolvable from the standpoint of the classical methodology of experimental research. Here, we deal with a mathematical model based on expert estimates of “predecessor-crop” pairs’ efficiency created for the conditions of irrigation in the forest-steppe of Ukraine. Solving the problem of incorporating uncertainty assessments into this model, we present new models of crop rotations’ economic efficiency taking into account irrigation, application of fertilisers, and the negative environmental effect of nitrogen fertilisers’ introduction into the soil. For the considered models we pose an optimisation problem and present an algorithm for its solution that combines a gradient method and a genetic algorithm. Using the proposed mathematical tools, for several possible scenarios of water, fertilisers, and purchase price variability, the efficiency of growing corn as a monoculture in Ukraine is simulated. The proposed models show a reduction of the profitability of such a practice when the purchase price of corn decreases below 0.81 EUR∙kg –1 and the price of irrigation water increases above 0.32 EUR∙m –3 and propose more flexible crop rotations. Mathematical tools developed in the paper can form a basis for the creation of decision support systems that recommend optimal crop rotation variations to farmers and help to achieve sustainable, profitable, and ecologically safe agricultural production. However, future works on the actualisation of the values of its parameters need to be performed to increase the accuracy.

Physiological and biochemical justification of second-crop potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The relevance of the conducted studies lies in the need to improve the technology of growing potatoes from freshly picked tubers in the conditions of summer planting to improve the quality of seed material. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of the physiological and biochemical state and varietal characteristics of potato plants on the ability of freshly harvested tubers to form high-quality seed material for second-crop potatoes in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Field, statistical, computational, analytical, and laboratory methods were used to conduct the study. It is identified that harvesting the first crop for planting with freshly picked tubers during the flowering phase and within two weeks after its completion is ineffective for some varieties. Therewith, the first crop averages 18.5 t/ha, and the second – 5.1 t/ha. Some varieties have a low germination rate from freshly picked tubers (from 4 to 76%) or are not formed at all. This is due to the accumulation of germination inhibitors (abscisic acid etc.) in maturing tubers, which causes deep natural dormancy of tubers. It is proposed to consider the activity of germination inhibitors in freshly harvested tubers using allelopathic testing, which allows for determining the optimal time for their collection and planting. This ensures germination rate at the level of 80-87%. Therewith, the first crop of tubers is from 10.1 to 15.0 t/ha, and the second – from 26.2 to 9.3 t/ha. The dependence of the content of abscisic acid with the accumulation of starch in tubers allows visually determining their suitability for germination by the chemical reaction of vegetable juice with an iodine solution. The practical value of the study lies in the possibility of obtaining two crops of seed potatoes per year, while the first crop is formed in 60-70 days, and the second – 90-100 days from planting. Despite the relatively low yield, the resulting seed material is physiologically young, free from diseases and has a high productivity potential. This allows for shortening the seed production scheme, increasing the reproduction rate of potatoes, and saving resources

ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТІ ЗЕРНА СОЇ В УМОВАХ ПОДІЛЛЯ

На території Степу і Лісостепу України, зокрема Лісостепу Правобережного, однією з найбільш рентабельних серед зернобобових культур є соя, яка має великий попит на внутрішньому та світовому ринках. Тому оптимізація технології вирощування сої з урахуванням біологічних вимог адаптованого сорту є актуальною науковою проблемою, вирішення якої дасть можливість підвищити продуктивність культури та ефективність її вирощування. За результатами наших досліджень розроблено сучасну модель технології вирощування нових сортів сої Аратта і Софія, яка відповідає їх біологічним вимогам та дає можливість максимально реалізувати врожайний потенціал цих сортів, підвищити якість насіння, зменшити витрати матеріальних ресурсів. Визначено нові варіанти високоефективного використання соєю природних ресурсів – води, сонячної енергії та поживних речовин ґрунту. Рекомендовано виробництву оптимальні норми висіву насіння для сортів сої нового покоління, на різних фонах живлення, застосування мінеральних і бактеріальних добрив для цих сортів та високоефективні регулятори росту рослин, що дає можливість одержувати врожайність насіння в межах 3,0-3,5 т/га, підвищити його якість та зменшити технологічні витрати на 10-12% порівняно з базовою технологією. Рекомендована технологія пройшла виробничу перевірку в господарствах Хмельницької, Чернівецької та Тернопільської областей. У даній роботі викладено результати досліджень впливу мінеральних і бактеріальних добрив, норм висіву насіння та регуляторів росту на формування вегетативної маси, репродуктивних органів та продуктивність інтенсивних сортів сої Аратта і Софія.

Combining ability and inheritance of yield-related traits in F1 of winter barley under conditions of Ukrainian Forest-Steppe

Purpose. To determine the peculiarities of the manifestation of combining ability and the mode of inheritance of yield-related traits in winter barley and to identify genetic sources and promising hybrid combinations for further breeding efforts under conditions of Ukrainian Forest-steppe. Methods. The research was conducted in 2018/19 and 2021/22 at the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of NAAS of Ukraine. In accordance with generally accepted methods, the degree of phenotypic dominance, heterobeltiosis and effects of general combining ability in the top-cross hybrids of winter barley for key yield components were determined. Results. The variability of the manifestation level of the studied traits in parental components and hybrids in different years were established. According to the indicator of the degree of phenotypic dominance, the variability of the character of inheritance was revealed depending on the traits, hybrid combinations and growing conditions. Hybrid combinations with positive overdominance and dominance of individual yield components were highlighted. In particular, according to plant productivity these combination are: ‘Scarpia’ / ‘MIP Darii’, ‘Scarpia’ / ‘MIP Korsar’, ‘Aborygen’ / ‘MIP Corsar’, ‘Titus’ / ‘MIP Status’, ‘MIP Yanus’ / ‘MIP Status’, ‘Titus’ / ‘Paladin Myronivskyi’, ‘Maybrit’ / ‘Paladin Myronivskyi’ ‘MIP Yanus’ / ‘Paladin Myronivskyi’. The varieties with increased effects of general combining ability for yield-related traits under different growing conditions were distinguished. As follows: productive tillering – ‘Scarpia’, ‘MIP Darii’; grain number per ear – ‘MIP Yanus’, ‘MIP Hladiator’, ‘MIP Status’; 1000 grain weight – ‘Titus’, ‘MIP Korsar’, ‘MIP Status’; grain weight per plant – ‘MIP Yanus’, ‘MIP Status’, ‘MIP Darii’. Conclusions. Selected hybrid combinations with positive overdominance and dominance are of practical value for further breeding to increase individual components and plant productivity in general. The varieties with increased effects of general combining ability are valuable genetic sources for involvement in crossing for improving the certain traits.

Taper equations for eight major forest tree species in flat land Ukraine

Abstract Stem taper equations are crucial for forest management allowing to reliably estimate merchantable wood volume. Their main benefit is the ability to predict stem diameters at a certain height of the stem. Ukraine has recently adopted European Union standards for round wood classification, which prompted the necessity to model stem taper and updates all reference data to conform with the new standards. This study is a systematic attempt to develop a set of taper equations for the most common forest tree species in the Polissia and Forest steppe of Ukraine. For this purpose, we used a data set of 1994 sample trees representing eight tree species collected on 238 sample plots. The Kozak A. (2004, My last words on taper equations. For. Chron. 80, 507–515) model was chosen to fit the taper equations. To characterize the variability in stem shape among tree species, mixed-effect models were calibrated for this equation. In this model, random-effect parameters were selected based on their coefficients of variation through a bootstrapping process. This is a novel feature we suggest for the process of calibrating taper models. The Kozak A. (2004, My last words on taper equations. For. Chron. 80, 507–515) equation showed a good performance in predicting diameters outside bark and estimating the total stem volume. Our mixed-effect modelling approach accurately characterizes the variation in stem form for different tree species based on adequately chosen random-effect parameters. The stem volumes derived from the developed taper models were compared with existing volume equations outputs (divergence up to 0.5 per cent). A deviation up to 5 per cent was found between the values of fitted and observed cylindrical form factors for the studied tree species. We expect that our taper equations will complement the future steps towards the development of reliable merchantable volume distribution models for the main tree species in the forests of flat land Ukraine, thus, contributing to transparency, reliability and sustainability of forest management and markets in Europe.

Adaptive potential of winter triticale breeding lines (×Triticosecale Wittmack) in Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Topicality. The requirements for modern winter triticale varieties include high grain yield and quality, as well as resistance to adverse environmental factors, i.e. high adaptability. Therefore, it remains important to develop varieties that combine the highest yield potential with genetic resistance to limiting factors. Purpose. To identify winter triticale breeding lines with high adaptability for use in breeding practice. Materials and Methods. The studies were carried out at the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat NAAS of Ukraine. As a standard, the Amur variety was used. We have examined 20 breeding lines. Accounting plot area was 10 m2, trial was repeated four times. In experiment, laboratory-field and mathematical-statistical methods were used. Results. In 2019/20-2021/22, contrasting meteorological conditions made it possible to evaluate and select breeding lines of winter triticale by adaptive potential. It was found that the yield, which actually characterises the genotype response to environmental growing conditions, was the highest (5.36 t/ha) in 2020/21 and the lowest (3.81 t/ha) in 2019/20. It was established that the breeding lines 22002 ( = 4.97 t/ha), 22008 ( = 4.88 t/ha), 22016 ( = 4.79 t /ha) had the best general adaptability in comparison with the Amur variety-standard, and they were included in the group with the highest indicators of maximum yield (ranks of 1–3). The coefficient of variation was characterized by an insignificant (7.24–7.66 %) and medium level of variability (12.54–16.65 %), which confirms a fairly high and stable genotypic component in the formation of plant productivity. Calculations of ecological plasticity made it possible to identify the lines 22015, 22004 (bi = 0.63), which significantly reduced the yield under limited growing con-ditions. It is explained by high resistance of these lines to adverse environmental factors. In terms of yield, the highest homeostaticity and breeding value were shown by lines 22004, 22015, and 22008. Conclusions. During the research, we have identified the breeding lines 22004, 22015, 22008, and 22002 with high adaptive potential, which can used as a source material for developing highly productive varieties in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Key words: winter triticale, breeding lines, adaptability, yield, meteorological conditions

Analysis of the taxonomic structure of the genus Ribes L. in connection with the introduction in the Right Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Analysis of the taxonomic structure of the genus Ribes L. in connection with the introduction in the Right Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Ecological Analysis of the Current State of Forest Resources in Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Ecological Analysis of the Current State of Forest Resources in Forest Steppe of Ukraine

The impact of sowing time and micro-fertilizers on soybean productivity in Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The impact of sowing time and micro-fertilizers on soybean productivity in Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Beneficial effects of silicon fertilizers on indicators of seed germination, grain yield of barley and soybean and silage corn biomass

The aim of the study was to determine the optimal doses and methods of the application of silicon fertilizer in barley, silage corn, and soybean under the climatic conditions of Ukraine. A series of laboratory and field experiments were carried out, as along with statistical and analytic data processing. The small-plot field experiment was conducted on chernozem podzolic soil at the NSC ?Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry Research named after O.N. Sokolovsky? (Kharkiv region, Forest-Steppe of Ukraine). The laboratory experiments were set up in Petri dishes using a preparative form of different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0%) of potassium silicate for their assessment of the germination indicators of barley and corn seeds. The significant stimulating effect of potassium silicate on the germination capacity and germination energy of barley and corn seeds was shown, and the optimal concentration of the solution for pre-sowing seed treatment was established. A high positive correlation was determined between the amount of SiO2 application and the yield of the studied crops (P < 0.01; R = 0,7479-0,8682). The optimal levels of the pre-sowing application of SiO2 into the soil were established to obtain maximum crop yields on chernozem podzolic soil (105 kg SiO2 ha-1 for barley, 92 kg SiO2ha-1 for silage corn, and 76 kg SiO2ha-1 for soybean). Also, for each of the studied crops, the most optimal methods of the application of silicon fertilizers were determined, which will improve their productivity on chernozem soils.