Forest-Steppe Zone Of Ukraine Research Articles

Development of natural knowledge as a basis for the organization of agricultural research in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine (1st quarter of the 20th century)

Development of natural knowledge as a basis for the organization of agricultural research in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine (1st quarter of the 20th century)

The effect of climate change on the radial growth of Pinus sylvestris l. and Quercus robur l. in the stands of Kharkiv green zone

Purpose. To identify the characteristics of the reaction of the radial growth of Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) and Scots oak (Quercus robur L.) to climate change in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Methods. Dendrochronological, dendroclimatological, and statistical methods are applied. COFECHA and ARSTAN programs were used. Results. The study was conducted in 100-year-old stands of English oak and Scots pine in the Southern Forestry (Left-bank Forest-steppe). The reaction of the radial growth of trees to climate changes was compared for 1960-1987 and 1988-2016. For the dendroclimatic analysis, the de Martonne hydrothermal indices, the Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient, the forest aridity index, and the O1 hydrothermal coefficient were used. Relative humidity indicators, which are derived from temperature and precipitation, were also used. It was found that in the second period, the sensitivity of the reaction of the radial growth of trees to climate variations increased, which indicates a certain weakening of the stands due to the increase in temperature. Dendroclimatic analysis of Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L. showed that when comparing the response of the radial growth of trees to climate variations in 1960-1987 and 1988-2016, the condition of both pine and oak weakened, as evidenced by an increase in significant coefficients correlations between growth indices and climatic factors. Conclusions. Pine was found to be more sensitive to climate change compared to oak. At the same time, these species of these trees at this stage were able to adapt to climate change, as evidenced by tree-ring chronologies, which show stable growth during 2010-2016.

Assessment of the risk of contamination by heavy metals and correlation analysis of the content of toxicants in animal feed and organic waste

Pollution of agroecosystems by heavy metals posesa signifcant threat to agricultural production in various countries of the world, including Ukraine. In the postwar period, the environmental situation will be even more complicated. Timely assessment of environmental risk using the results of laboratory analysis of the feed of dairy cows and their organic waste for the content of ecotoxicants such as cadmium and lead obtained in scientific experiments is important. Correlation analysis is one of the methods of statistical data processing that, when properly applied using modern computer software, allows you to quickly establish the strength of the relationship between indicators and its statistical signifcance. Such research methods are used by scientists from the countries of the European Union, the USA, China, and other countries. Previous studies have focused directly on the concentrations of contamination with heavy metals Cd, Pb, and other animal feed and organic waste, but have not investigated the relationship between them. Scientifc and economic experiments were conducted on dairy cows with different types of feeding. The animals were selected by the method of analogues for live weight and productivity. The diet included feed with an excess of cadmium and lead. The high biological activity of pollutants influenced their transition from ration fodder to products and organic waste. The aim of the research was to analyze the correlation dependence between the content of Cd and Pb in cow feed and their organic waste with an assessment of the risk of soil contamination by hazardous toxicants in the area of activity of agro-enterprises producing milk after the introduction of organic waste as organic fertilizer. With the help of the STATISTICA version 10.0 computer program, the Shapiro-Wilk's W test, the conformity of the obtained data of laboratory analyzes of feed and organic waste with the concentration of heavy metals, the law of "normal" distribution (Gaussian), and then the non-parametric Spearman rank correlation coefcient necessary in this case is selected for calculation. The analysis established a high r=0.66-0.75 (Cd) (р<0.05), r=0.66-0.77 (Pb) (р<0.05) and a very high r=0.83 (Cd) (р<0.05), r=0.83 (Pb) (р<0.05) correlation dependence between the content of toxicants in feed and organic waste, which allows specialists to act quickly and efectively in production conditions, confdently use the method of environmental monitoring, forecast the environmental situation, assessenvironmental risks, including those related to organic and biological farming and avoid disturbing the ecological balance of agroecosystems. Further research is aimed at correlational and regression analysis, but on other important indicators of environmental safety in veterinary, zootechnical and ecological practice, with an assessment of the relevant risks of running the livestock industry in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Key words: feed, organic waste, organic fertilizers, heavy metals, cadmium, lead, correlation, ecological risk, dairy cows.

Ecological methods of weed control in paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa) plantations

Goal. To study the dynamics of weed infestation in young paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa) plantations and develop a weed control system that ensures the successful growth and development of paulownia plantations. To investigate the possibility of using environmentally friendly methods of weed control in the paulownia plantations in the Forest Steppe zone of Ukraine.
 Methods. Field methods were used in the experiment. The statistical processing of the experimental data was performed using Microsoft Office Excel.
 Results. The experiment was carried out to study weed control methods and ensure efficient use of soil water. The soil in the plant zone was mulched with straw (10 cm layer), covered with black polyethylene (25 mkm) film or spanbond (100 g/ m2). In the young paulownia plantations of the 10th year of cultivation, where no weed control measures were applied, the active growth of weeds was observed. The highest number of weeds was represented by Setaria glauca L. (17.5 plants/ m2), Echinochloa crus-galli (25.2 plants/ m2), Chenopodium album (15.1 plants/ m2), Elymus repens (21.2 plants/ m2), Sinapis arvensis (7.0 plants/ m2), Convolvulus arvensis (6.7 plants/ m2), and others.
 Conclusions. It was found that the mulching of young paulownia plantations with straw (10 cm layer) is an effective practice that ensures a high productivity of paulownia, with a plant height of 166 cm. The most effective method was covering the soil with black polyethylene film, with a plant height of 173 cm.

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ТЕХНІКО-ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНИХ РІШЕНЬ СМУГОВОГО ОБРОБІТКУ ГРУНТУ

The article presents the results of studies of the strip tillage system and crop sowing in the three-field crop rotation “corn-corn-soybean”, the principles of the technological process have been formed, the initial requirements for the parameters of the strips, the quality of sowing crops in the crop rotation (corn and soybeans) have been prepared, technical and technological methods have been improved the solution of sowing in strips with a significant content of plant residues and the technical and economic advantages of strip tillage are substantiated. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the expediency, to improve the technical and technological solutions and methods of implementation of the strip tillage technology in short-rotation grain crop rotation, and to determine their effectiveness. Methods and materials. The study of the effectiveness of strip tillage was carried out on the short-rotational crop rotation “corn-corn-soybean”, with a total area of 21 hectares at the scientific research ground of L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT. Agricultural machinery is generally accepted for the zone of the right-bank forest-steppe, except for the studied factors: A - tillage; B – mineral fertilizers; C is a predecessor culture. Field experiments, observations, and records were carried out according to the methods of B. Dospehov and V. Yeshchenko. The «Belarus MTZ 1025» tractor and the 4-row «STA-4» unit were used to form the strips, which allows for the arrangement of sections, their movement along the beam of the frame for cutting strips with a row spacing of 70 cm and 90 cm and applying fertilizers to each strip. Corn was sown with a row spacing of 70 cm along the path, and soybeans (with a row spacing of 45 cm) were sown on the sides of the deep loosener pass line with a step of 90 cm. Results. The short-rotation 3-field crop rotation “corn-corn-soybean” provides an increase in productivity with a narrow set of crops with a wide-row sowing method, which are combined in the crop rotation as good predecessors and belong to different taxonomic groups. The effectiveness of the proposed technical-technological solutions of strip tillage and sowing compared to traditional technology is determined by the reduction of used resources due to the smaller number of technological operations, fuel consumption, and increased productivity. Indicators of the structure of the biological yield of corn proved the advantage of strip cultivation over plowing: grain yield is higher by 17-21% (depending on the year). It is substantiated that the design parameters of the unit for forming strips should ensure the straightness of their cutting at a sufficient working speed and the preservation of unloosened strips for moving (without slipping) the wheels of the traction tractor; the seeder must ensure high-quality sowing of seeds on backgrounds with a large content of plant residues, the technological ability of conversion to the required width of rows, which is the basis for improving the progressive direction of growing corn and soybeans in short-rotation crop rotation. Conclusions. Grounded prospects for the implementation of strip tillage technology in short-rotation crop rotation and the feasibility of its implementation in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine using the example of corn and soybeans. Emphasis is placed on the sources of efficiency and the main recommendations for machine complexes for resource-saving technologies for growing grain crops in small and medium-sized farms are outlined. Keywords: crop short-rotation, strip tillage, technical and technological solutions, agricultural machines, soybean, corn, productivity, crop yield.

Improvement of agrotechnical conditions of growing paulownia in the Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to improve the agrotechnical conditions for growing paulownia and its artificially bred variety Clone in vitro 112 in the Forest Steppe zone of Ukraine.
 Methods. Field, laboratory, visual, measuring and weighing, mathematical and statistical.
 Results. The article presents the results of research on the improvement of agrotechnical growing conditions and establishment of indicators of growth and development of paulownia plants in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. The methods of planting, the optimal width between the rows, and the options for caring for the plantation of plants have been substantiated. It was established that in the first year of vegetation, the root system of paulownia plants is intensively formed. In order to obtain high-quality wood, after the first year of vegetation, it is necessary to make a technical cut at a height of 2–3 cm from the surface of the ground and remove young newly formed shoots (tillers). The highest trunk height of Clone in vitro 112 was formed in the first and second year of vegetation and reached 5–6 m. The optimal planting density is 625 plants per hectare. Conclusions. It was established that paulownia seedlings in vitro should undergo adaptation to the temperature conditions of the growing area for two to three weeks before planting in open ground.

FEATURES OF GROWING VEGETABLE BEANS IN THE OPEN GROUND

The cultivation of green beans is restrained, first of all, by the lack of adapted elements of cultivation technology. In order to realize the biological potential of green beans in the soil and climatic conditions of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine, the varietal characteristics of the plant and compliance with the elements of technology are important, namely: pre-sowing preparation of seed material, the timing of sowing in open ground, and the fight against pests. In the State register of plant varieties suitable for distribution in Ukraine, 68 varieties suitable for cultivation in open and closed soil are registered. All varieties are characterized by a high content of important biochemical compounds and are divided by the degree of ripeness into early, medium and late. Modern farms are interested in the use of promising varieties, and therefore there is a need for their brief detailing. In the forest-steppe zone of the right bank of Ukraine, the varieties Ros, Slavia, Galactica, Lastivka, and White Yas should be considered the most promising for growing green beans. The specified varieties contain a high protein content, and therefore their introduction into production can ensure the collection of protein at the level of 0.57-1.11 t/ha with a total yield of 2.0-4.0 t/ha, provided that the main elements of the technology are observed. Sowing dates are determined, first of all, by the temperature and humidity of the soil. The first term is established after the end of spring frosts, when the temperature of +10...+12 ºС is reached at a depth of 8-10 cm in the soil. In the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, beans are approximately sown on May 5-15, in Polissia - on May 5-20, in the steppe zone - on April 20-May 15. For rapid seed germination and intensive plant growth and development, the best soil moisture is 75-80% RH. With a lack of moisture, the seeds germinate slowly, seedlings will be uneven, the growth and development of plants slows down, and in dry weather, dwarf plants are formed. Obtaining high-quality products is possible with proper control of weeds, pests and diseases. The most common diseases of beans are anthracnose, root rot, fusarium, alternaria, and bacteriosis. The primary element in the fight against diseases is to observe crop rotation and sowing with high-quality seeds. If necessary, spraying is carried out during the growing season with preparations based on azoxystrobin or tebuconazole. Among the biofungicides, you can use FitoHelp or MycoHelp. The main pest of green beans is considered to be bean weevil, to prevent the spread of which crops should be treated with insecticides with the active substances lambda-cyhalothrin or bifenthrin at the beginning of flowering and after 8-10 days, or use bioinsecticides Actoverm formula or Actoverm 1.8%.

Peculiarities of plant growth, development, and chemical composition of the Paulownia biomass

Purpose. To establish the peculiarities of plant growth, development, and chemical composition of the paulownia biomass of two species in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, measuring and weighing, mathematical and statistical. Results. The biological properties of two Paulownia species, namely Clone in vitro-112 and Paulownia tomentosa, were studied. The maximum number of leaves per plant at the end of the vegetation season was 24–26 in Clone in vitro-112 and 22–24 in Paulownia tomentosa. Leaf area per plant was 5.0–5.5 m2 and 4.0–4.5 m2, respectively. The main period of wood accumulation falls during the first three years of vegetation, and during this period, biomass productivity indicators are the highest. Five-year wood yield per tree was about 0.35 m3 in Clone in vitro-112 and 0.24 m3 in Paulownia tomentosa. The research determined the optimal content of nutrients, the lack or excess of which negatively affects biomass quality. Nitrogen is mostly concentrated in leaves (2.3–2.6%) and petioles (0.67–1.1%). The content of phosphorus was quite low: 0.33–0.36% in leaves and 0.22–0.23% in petioles. Plants contain a significant amount of potassium in the leaves: 1.25% in Clone in vitro-112 and 0.75% in Paulownia tomentosa. Conclusions. Clone in vitro-112 can be recommended for cultivation in the Right Bank Forest Steppe Zone of Ukraine. One hectare can produce 200–250 m3 of industrial wood and the same amount of branch biomass for 5–6 years. Branches are suitable for the production of fuel pellets and chips with low ash content (0.8–1.5%). At the same time, leaves and petioles of paulownia have an increased ash content (3.9–7.1%) due to the higher content of nutrients, in particular nitrogen. Therefore, it is not advisable to use them as feedstock for the production of solid biofuel, but they are suitable for the production of biogas.

Effect of mineral fertilizers on the formation of the structure indicators of grain sorghum yield capacity

In the process of gradual warming, producers carry out the search of the crops, which develop high productivity of excellent quality grain in the difficult soil-climatic conditions. Grain sorghum is one of these crops. Similar to any other agricultural crop, its productivity depends on the effect of numerous factors including the elements of the cultivation technology. One of these elements is the application of mineral fertilizers. The purpose of the research was to study the effect of the plant mineral nutrition on the formation of the structure indicators of grain sorghum yield capacity in the conditions of the Right bank Forest steppe zone of Ukraine. The experiment was carried out in the zone of unstable humidity in 2016–2020. The trial scheme consisted in studying grain sorghum cultivars and various fertilizer rates; the trial was initiated with the method of regular replications, a fourfold replication was applied. Having analyzed the research results, it was found out that as the fertilizer rates increased, the element indicators of the yield structure also increased; in turn grain yield capacity of the studied cultivars was higher. However, the optimal fertilizer rate for the expected yield is the estimated one which will reduce the production cost of the output.

State of protective forest plantations in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine

This paper analyzes approaches of scholars to the interpretation of the essence of protective forest plantations (PFP) and provides the most appropriate definition. The most significant functions of PFP are analyzed, and their peculiarities in certain regions of Ukraine are highlighted. PFP play an important role in preserving the stability of landscapes, including agricultural ecosystems. They are important for soil improvement and perform significant ecological functions, contributing to the creation and improvement of microclimate in agro-landscapes: reducing wind speed and intensity of wind erosion in the summer, preventing the blowing of the upper, most fertile layer of soil; snow retention and reducing surface runoff, including both snowmelt and rainwater, which helps to preserve soil moisture and prevent water erosion. Existing protective forest plantations in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine are mainly formed from black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), common oak (Quercus robur L.), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), Canadian poplar (Populus canadensis Moench.), black poplar (Populus nigra L.), Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.), and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.). It is concluded that the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine is characterized by a rapid loss of protective forest plantations due to fires and military actions. During 11 months of the war with Russia, 425 cases of forest fires were recorded in PFP on a total area of 754 ha in the occupied Zaporizhia region and 287 ha in the Kherson region. This is three times more than during the same period in 2021, and the average area of one fire has increased by 16 times. Fires in the Forest-Steppe are characterized by the concept of temporary sterilization of the soil, during dry burning, as a result of which the death of worms, insects and microorganisms occurs in these areas. In the post-war period, the development of the forest industry requires scientific support for the implementation of the state policy on sustainable forest management, increasing the forest resource potential, as well as the forest cover of Ukraine to an optimal level, improving the efficiency of forest production through the application of modern scientifically-based methods for forest restoration and cultivation and rational use of forest resources, protecting forests from fires, illegal logging, pests, and diseases.

Diversification of entrepreneurial activities in the agricultural sector of Ukraine’s economy in the post-war period

In the context of modern development of agricultural producers, assessing the level of their activity efficiency and searching for an appropriate strategy for further development is essential. The aim of the article was to formulate a concept of sustainable development for agricultural producers based on identifying the most viable development strategy. The article’s methodological framework included the following methods of scientific inquiry: descriptive method, measurement and comparison methods, economic-mathematical modelling, induction, deduction, analysis and synthesis, system-structural analysis. The essence of diversification of activities in the agricultural sector was examined and revealed, defining their role in forming sustainable development. To achieve this, theoretical concepts of Ukrainian and foreign scholars, as well as the categories of “diversification” and “sustainable development,” were synthesized. Subsequently, an analysis and forecast of land use by agricultural enterprises were conducted. The dynamics of changes in the structure of cultivated areas from 1991 to 2021 were determined, as this period marked the implementation of agricultural reform aimed at finding effective agricultural product producers. Changes in the magnitude of costs for primary resources in farm enterprises of the Kyiv region on the eve of the war were defined, and the economic efficiency of cultivating major agricultural crops was analysed. Based on established data, a development strategy was modelled for an average farm in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine, considering the concept of diversification through the implementation and development of animal husbandry. Furthermore, directions for further development of agricultural entities were substantiated by deepening the diversification of activities through optimizing cultivated areas. The research outcomes could be considered in shaping the development strategy of entrepreneurial structures and evaluating their impact on sustainable development in the post-war period.

Characteristics of introduced lentil varieties (Lens culinaris Medik.) in the Southern Forest Steppe zone of Ukraine

Purpose. To evaluate the introduced lentil varieties (Lens culinaris Medik.) originating from Canada and Spain in the conditions of the Southern part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine according to a complex of indicators of productivity and adap­tability. Methods. During 2019–2021, in the conditions of the plant research station Ustymivka Experimental Station of Plant Production of the Plant Production Institute of the NAAS of Ukraine (Poltava Region, 49o18’21”N, 33o13’56”E), 26 new samples of lentils from Canada and Spain were studied. In the pod and seed ripening stage (BBCH 86–90), under field and laboratory conditions, indicators of yield, productivity, 1000 seed weight, early-ripening, plant height and height from the soil of the first pod, number of pods and seeds per plant, number of seeds in a pod, pod parameters. Results. In the process of studying the new lentil samples, it was found that their productivity varied from 127 to 258 g/m2, with the most productive varieties being ‘CDC Creenstar’, ‘CDC Cherie’ (Canada), ‘Angela’, ‘Amaya’ (Spain). Throughout the study period, the highest productivity, according to the indicator “seed weight per plant”, was shown by the plants of the following lentil varieties: ‘CDC Cherie’ (4.4 g), ‘CDC Creenstar’ (4.2 g), ‘CDC Greenland’ (4.5 g), ‘CDC Imigreen’ (4.4 g), ‘CDC QG-2’ (4.1 g), ‘CDC Impulse’ (4.0 g) (Canada), ‘Angela’ (4.6 g) (Spain). Plant productivity was high, both in terms of increased number of seeds and 1000 seed weight. The highest level of the indicator of the number of pods per plant was recorded in the lentil varieties ‘CDC Imax’ (64.4 pcs), ‘CDC Impala’ (65.5 pcs), ‘CDC QG-2’ (67.4 pcs), ‘CDC Creenstar’ (67.8 pcs), ‘CDC Cherie’ (75.2 pcs) (Canada), ‘Amaya’ (64.8 pcs), ‘Angela’ (75.1 pcs) (Spain). Almost all the examined samples were of medium ripeness (81–85 days) and optimal for the Southern Forest Steppe Zone of Ukraine. The Canadian varieties ‘CDC QG-2’, ‘CDC SB-2’, ‘CDC Impulse’, ‘CDC Imvincible’, ‘CDC Impact’ were the earliest (76 days). Varieties combining several valuable characteristics deserve special attention: ‘CDC Creenstar’, ‘CDC Greenland’, ‘CDC Impulse’, ‘CDC Impact’ (Canada), ‘Angela’ (Spain). Conclusions. The above mentioned varieties can be recommended as sources of valuable traits for practical use in breeding, and they are also suitable for cultivation in the Southern Forest Steppe Zone of Ukraine.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric characteristics of essential oils of plants of the genus Pycnanthemum (Lamiaceae) and peculiarities of their application in practice

Background. Not all plants are capable of producing essential oil (EO). There are 3.000 different plant EOs described in the world, but only 10 % of them are widely used by humans. In particular, perfumery and the food industry use the largest amount of natural EOs – 30 % and 40 % of the world production, respectively. A thorough study of EOs, knowledge of their components in both chemical and pharmacological sense will facilitate the improvement of the quality of human life. The purpose of our experimental study was to determine the EO potential of four species of the genus Pycnanthemum Michx. (Lamiaceae): P. montanum Michx., P. muticum (Michx.) Pers., P. tenuifolium Schrad., P. verticillatum var. pilosum (Nutt.) Cooperr. introduced in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The above plants are representatives of the flora of North America. Methods. The EOs were obtained in laboratory conditions by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. The raw material of the plants – a blended mass of leaves, inflorescences and the herbaceous part of the stem was used in an air-dry state. Harvesting of raw materials was carried out during the flowering phase of plants. The EOs content is given in terms of an absolute dry weight. The identification of compounds and their amount in each EO was determined by the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results. In the conditions of the forest-steppe of Ukraine, the introduced species of plants of the genus Pycnanthemum show a high level of EOs biosynthesis – 0.53–3.34 %. The dominant compounds common to the obtained essential oils are Pulegone, Isomenthone, and Isopinocamphone. The indicators of the content of pulegone exceed those of other compounds and reach 48.14–73.93 %. Pulegone is a controversial organic compound, since it exhibits a high biological activity and possesses pharmacological properties suitable for use in medical practice, but when cleaved, it forms toxic metabolites, in particular mentofuran. Conclusions. The obtained results indicate that plants of the genus Pycnanthemum, which are little known in Ukraine, have a high EO potential under the proposed growth conditions. Due to this, they are potential objects for use in domestic cultural phytocenoses. Considering the component composition of EOs with the dominant Pulegone, their consumption requires correct dosage.

Ensuring the ecological safety of agroecosystems in conditions of increased content of heavy metals in fodder and manure of cows

Environmental pollution with organic waste from livestock, especially cattle manure, is relevant for various countries of the world, including the United States of America and the countries of the European Union. Manure, which contains toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, copper and zinc, is a much greater threat to agroecosystems and, in particular, to the soil. In the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, a scientific and economic experiment was conducted on dairy cows for the production of ecologically safe milk. During the experiment, the research groups were fed a special mineral-vitamin premix and an injection of a biological preparation that enhanced the elimination of heavy metals with excrement. Experiments were conducted in four farms with different livestock. At the end of the experiment, 10 samples of manure mass were taken from each farm (total of 40 samples) and a chemical analysis of the concentration of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn was made using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (spectrophotometer AAS-30). It was established that as a result of the content in animal diets of fodder with exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations of heavy metals, they, passing through the gastrointestinal tract, fall together with excrement into manure. The average concentration of cadmium was 0.07-0.11 mg/ kg, lead 5.48-8.25 mg/kg, copper 37.71-47.42 mg/ kg, zinc 66.55-81.49 mg / kg. Litter manure is subsequently applied to agricultural land as an organic fertilizer. In order to prevent soil contamination with heavy metals, it is necessary to establish the expediency of applying organic fertilizers to vegetable and fodder crops in each specific case, especially those that are fed to dairy cows. In connection with the difficulty, in today's conditions, for farmers to purchase a sufficient amount of mineral fertilizers, to increase the use of organic fertilizers, if their quantity is sufficient in the farm, but their application to the soil should be controlled and standardized, taking into account the concentration of toxicants in the manure mass and the soil of agricultural lands with simultaneous improvement of grinding and uniformity of distribution over the field. The use of modern equipment for crushing and spreading manure, as well as scientifically based methods of its composting, growing vermiculture, synanthropic fly larvae or biogas production will contribute to the introduction of manure into the soil as an ecologically safe organic fertilizer, will positively affect its mechanical and physical chemical properties, will ensure a good economically effective yield of crops, ecological safety of agroecosystems, cows with ecologically safe feed.Keywords: average daily hopes, premix, bioprepared, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, contaminated feeds, antidote substances. Key words: manure, heavy metals, organic waste, ecological safety, agro-ecosystem, dairy cows.

Peculiarities of photosynthesis in spelt (Tríticum spélta L.) in the Forest Steppe Zone of Ukraine

UDC 633.111.5:631.547 Zaika, N. V., & Karpuk, L. M.* (2023). Peculiarities of photosynthesis in spelt (Tríticum spélta L.) in the Forest Steppe Zone of Ukraine. Advanced Agritechnologies, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.47414/na.11.1.2023.285496 [In Ukrainian] Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, 8/1 Soborna square, Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, 09100, Ukraine, *e‑mail: lesya_karpuk@ukr.net Purpose. To identify the influence of the elements of the cultivation technology on the yield structure of spelt. Methods. The research was carried out in the years 2019–2022 at the experimental field of the Scientific Research Center of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University (Kyiv region) located in the zone of unstable soil moisture of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Spelt varieties ‘Zoria Ukrainy’, ‘Europe’, and ‘Atterhauer Dinkel’ were grown with the application of foliar fertilizer potassium humate HK‑17 (400 g/ha) in the earing and milk ripeness stages, and Agriflex Amino growth regulator (200 g/ha) in the earing stage. Results. The best indicators of the 1000-kernel weight were obtained with the foliar application of potassium humate HK-17 in the earing stage repeated in the milk ripeness stage in combination with Agriflex Amino growth regulator in the earing stage. Under such conditions, the 1000-kernel weight of the variety ‘Zoria Ukrainy’ was 68.9 g, ‘Yevropa’ 67.5 g, and ‘Atterhauer Dinkel’ 79.0 g. In terms of the influence of factors on the formation of the number of grains per ear, the highest indicators were obtained in the case of foliar application of humate potassium in the earing stage repeated in the milk ripeness stage. Moreover, for the variety ‘Zoria Ukrainy’, the combination with the treatment of plants with the Agriflex Amino growth stimulator in the earing stage was unimportant: in both treatments, 1000-kernel weight of 1.07 g was obtained. ‘Yevropa’ variety produced 1.09 g of grains per ear and ‘Atterhauer Dinkel’ 0.85 g. Conclusions. The highest seed weight per plant was in the ‘Zoria Ukrainy’ variety: 1.28–1.29 g was provided in the case of foliar application of potassium humate HK-17 in the earing stage repeated in the milk ripeness stage. At the same time, with the combination of humates and growth regulator Agriflex Amino in the earing stage, the weight of grains per plant in the ‘Yevropa’ variety was 1.42 g, and in ‘Atterhauer Dinkel’ 1.36 g, which were the best results of the experiment.

Rare steppe plant communities in Ukraine: Status, threats and their minimization

Nowadays, the impact of anthropogenic activities on natural vegetation is constantly increasing, the level of threats is raised, and newer risk factors are emerging. Recent trends in the anthropogenic impact on plant communities are extremely pronounced, especially on those listed in the Green Book of Ukraine (GBU). Identifying such trends is required for the further development of strategic and tactical planning for the preservation and restoration of rare grass, shrub, and subshrub steppe, petrophyte and psammophyte plant communities of the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine. In addition to well-established threat factors that cause changes in the habitat of plant communities or mechanically affect plants, new specific threats occur. Today, the most important among them in Ukraine are as follows: climate change, military activity, growing population in the industrial cities, population poverty and government corruption, changes in forms of land ownership and the creation of a land market, lack of knowledge and effective policy, including lack of popular scientific information about the status of specific species and plant groupings, inadequate management of protected areas, uncoordinated environmental protection measures, ineffective sanctions, insufficient monitoring of the consumption of natural biological resources. The preservation of rare grass, shrubby and subshrubby communities in the steppe zone of Ukraine should be provided with proper support at the state level. There is a pressing need for a law of Ukraine “On the preservation of the steppes in Ukraine” and this will require mechanisms for its implementation. The issue of developing a strategy for the conservation and balanced use of steppe ecosystems in Ukraine, whose area is one of the largest in Europe, has long been raised. The main goal of the strategy is the actual preservation of steppe communities (most of which are currently rare) ensuring their restoration, minimizing degradation, and stopping biodiversity loss. In order to develop specific actions to eliminate threats or reduce their impact on rare plant groupings, it is required to investigate the causes of threats and assess their level and duration. This is required to preserve the landscape and biotic diversity in the steppe zone of Ukraine.

Forage characteristics of honey bees beha- vior in sunflower agrophytocenoses in the conditions of Poltava region

The article highlights the main results of assessing the sugar content and nectar content of hybrids of common sunflower (Heliánthus ánnuus L.) Duet, Yason and Avalon in the conditions of the Left Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine during pollination by honey bees of the Ukrainian steppe breed (Apis mellifera sossimai Engel) of the Gadyatsky type, the originator of which is the National Science Center «Institute of Beekeeping named after P.I. Prokopovich». The investigated sunflower hybrids are included in the State Register of plant varieties and are recommended for cultivation in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The investigated bee families of the Ukrainian steppe breed of the Hadyatskyi type met the requirements of the breed standard according to the results of the exterior evaluation. Their selection for research was carried out by the method of analogues, taking into account their equality in strength, number of offspring, feed reserves, origin and age of queens. The bee colonies were cared for uniformly. The dependence of nectar secretion on weather conditions is shown. The maximum values of nectar secretion of the investigated sunflower hybrids were recorded at an air tempera- ture of 28–30°С and a relative humidity of 67–70%. It is shown that under these conditions the maximum flight of bees was 182 pcs. and was observed in the morning until 12:00 without pollen and 51 pcs. with pollen (under the same conditions). The following nectar content values of sunflower hybrids were recorded: for the Yason hybrid, the nectar content values were 0.28–0.43 mg/day; Avalon — 0.47–0.59 mg/day; Duet — 0.40–0.47 mg/day. The sugar content of the Yason hybrid was 45.9–50.5%; Avalon — 35.9–39.7%; abStract 1512023 • No 1 • Агроекологічний журнАл Duet — 50.1–54.5%. It was shown that the visitation by forager bees of sunflower hybrid crops depends on their sugar content: the visitation by bees of Jason and Duet hybrid crops was higher than Avalon, due to the higher sugar content in the nectar of these two hybrids. Bees of the Ukrainian steppe breed of the Hadyatskyi type prefer plants with higher sugar content. Further studies of the productivity of sun- flower varieties and hybrids from bee pollination are necessary to ensure obtaining agricultural products of appropriate quality.

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.

Іnfluence of crop pollution on development i maize productivity

Goal. To study the reserves of weed seeds in the soil and to determine the influence of weediness of crops on the development and productivity of corn.
 Methods. Informational and analytical (collection of materials and analysis of literary sources), field and laboratory research (setting up experiments, soil analysis, monitoring plant development, determination of biometric indicators, accounting for the number of weeds, collection and determination of crop structure), mathematical and statistical (processing of research results). The design of the field experiment included weeded and weed-protected plots.
 Results. In the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, with intensive corn cultivation technology, the average number of weeds in the soil from emergence to row closure was at the level of 250—425 weeds/m2. Determining the number and species composition of segetal vegetation made it possible to establish that the corn crops are dominated by a mixed type of weediness with the dominance of annual dicotyledonous and grassy weeds. The number of dominant weeds at the beginning of the corn growing season in the experimental plots of NUBiP (Kyiv) was: Chenopodium album L. — 16 pcs./ m2, Amaranthus retroflexus L. — 23 pcs./m2, Portulaca oleracea L. — 78 pcs./ m2. In the fields of the agricultural station (Fastivskyi district), the dominant weeds were Polygonum convolvulus L., Setaria glauca L., Chenopodium album L., the number of which in the phase of 4—5 leaves was 32, 20 and 10 pcs./m2, respectively. Weeds significantly limited the growth of corn both in terms of plant height and development phases. In the phase of 9—10 leaves of corn in the weeded area, some types of weeds reached the height of the corn, accumulated a significant vegetative mass and began to form reproductive organs. The above-ground mass of weeds at the beginning of grain formation reached 995 g/m2. The pollution of the crops significantly affected the reduction of the corn yield and its structure.
 Conclusions. Significant reserves of weed seeds in corn crops cause the development of segetal vegetation during its growing season. The high competitiveness of weeds was manifested in the suppression of the growth and development of the culture and the formation of the crop. Weeds form a significant vegetative mass and reproductive organs at the beginning of the development of the corn grain. On weedy crops, the yield of corn decreased by an average of 32—35%.

Historical stages of creation of soft winter wheat varieties in NSC «Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences»

Aim. Solving the tasks of creating a variety of soft winter wheat at each stage of the historical development of the programs is impossible without an appropriate theoretical generalization of increasing yield, improving the resistance of the best candidate varieties to biotic and abiotic environmental factors, reproducing valuable economic traits and selecting plants with high performance grain quality. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. At each stage of the research, varieties with higher yield and economic value were created using different methods in the selection process. Selection and hybridization methods are characteristic for the I-II stage. From the III-VI stage, an unconventional method of injecting soft winter wheat grains with the endosperm of winter rye was started, as a result of which the Poliska 70 and Poliska 90 wheat varieties were created. The method of chemical mutagenesis was expanded. Included in the hybridization Wheat-sedge hybrid (PPG). Thanks to PPG, at the VIII stage, the varieties Pam’yati Girka, Spivanka Poliska were created. At the VII stage, ecological research was launched not only in the Polissia zone, but also in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine, and the method of thermal mutagenesis was used. At the VIII-IX stages, Romanivna and Zaotar varieties were created using this method. Pyryatinka, Lubito. With a combination of thermal mutagenesis and hybridization of Osyaina and Zemlerob varieties. The IX (military) stage is characterized by sowing without fertilizers and without the use of insecticides and fungicides. Conclusions. The best varieties of soft winter wheat of the competitive variety test according to yield in the selective crop rotation of the NSC «Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences» − Kraevyd, Myrolyubna, Krasunya Poliska, Kesaria Poliska, Efectna, Namysto, Merezhka, Vodogray, Presygna, Spivanka Poliska, Fortsia Poliska, Pyryatinka, Mokosha, Zemlerob, Lubito. On the breeding base Kopylyv proved themselves better − Polysyanka, Vodogray, Romanivna, Namisto, Kraevyd, Prestighna, Rusyava. At the Panfilsk research station – Myrolyubna, Kesaria Poliska, Merezhka, Pamiati Girka, Polysyanka, Kraevyd, Vodogray, Zmelerob. At the Cherkasy research station (the village of Kholodnyanske, Cherkasy district and the village of Drabovo-Boryatynske, Zolotonsky district) Poliska Fortress, Kesaria Poliska, Polysyanka, Kraevyd, Poliska Spivanka.