Winter Wheat Grain Yield Research Articles

The contribution of stay green traits to the breeding progress of the pannonian wheat

The aim of the study was to examine the variation and breeding effects on the stay-green traits, and to identify the relationship between the different growing seasons and grain yield of the Pannonian winter wheat. The experiment was carried out with a historical set of 25 winter wheat cultivars during four growing seasons, in a typical Pannonian location at the experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. The results demonstrated a linear wheat grain yield progress at the rate of 45.7 kg ha −1 yr −1 , along with significant variations observed in most stay-green traits due to increased capability of modern wheat cultivars to retain prolonged crop greenness. Furthermore, significant positive correlations between the onset and mid senescence and grain yield in three out of four studied seasons showed that the prolonged senescence led to grain yield increase. Modern wheat cultivars showed an increase of crop greenness at anthesis, onset and mid senescence, and the stay-green interval, as well as a faster senescence rate. Moreover, the stay-green interval was positively correlated with grain yield in each growing season, while the senescence rate was significantly positively correlated with grain yield in the three growing seasons. Furthermore, all examined traits, except the endpoint of senescence (N10), were significantly negatively correlated with anthesis time during all growing seasons. Knowledge about the positive correlations between the prolonged stay-green traits and grain yield could be used for adjusting post-anthesis senescence traits and implemented in winter wheat breeding programs under the climate conditions of the Pannonian Plain. • Significant progress in grain yield over the year of cultivar release. • Modern cultivars have higher NDVI values and prolonged stay green duration compared to the older cultivars. • Close relationship between the stay-green duration indicators with grain yield. • Anthesis date is negatively related to the duration of senescence stages.

Nitrous Oxide Emission and Grain Yield in Chinese Winter Wheat–Summer Maize Rotation: A Meta-Analysis

A systematic understanding of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and grain yield in winter wheat–summer maize rotation, one of the most important cereal cropping systems in China, is still lacking. The primary aim of this study was to quantify the N2O emissions and grain yield, as well as responses to mitigation strategies, in this intensively managed agroecosystem. We conducted a pairwise meta-analysis by compiling a comprehensive dataset of annual N2O emissions (n = 530) and grain yields (n = 352) from peer−reviewed publications. The N2O emissions increased with nitrogen (N) fertilizer input rates following a linear model (r2 = 0.295, p < 0.001), giving a specific emission coefficient and background emission of 0.71% and 0.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The grain yields responded to the N input rates following a linear-plateau model (r2 = 0.478, p < 0.001), giving an optimal N input rate and maximum grain yield of 405 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 15.5 t ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The meta-analyses revealed that reducing N fertilizers (approximately 50% of the full N input), water-saving irrigation, reduced or no tillage, and applying enhanced efficiency fertilizers significantly decreased N2O emissions (range: −45% to −9%) and increased or did not impact grain yields (range: −1% to 3%). We recommend that reducing agricultural inputs (i.e., N fertilizers, irrigation, and tillage) is a feasible N2O mitigation strategy in the intensively managed winter wheat–summer maize rotation that can be employed without additional environmental risks.

Efficiency of early spring feeding of winter wheat complex fertilizers on light podzolic soil in Poland

Field experiments were carried out on sandy loamy podzolic soil in the Łdź Voivodship (Wieluń commune, Masłowice parish) at the Experimental Station of the Polish Research Variety Testing Center, to study the effect of various winter wheat feeding systems with an intensive cultivation system on yield and grain quality indicators. The soil before conducting the experiments was characterized by a neutral reaction of the soil environment, a very high level of mobile phosphorus, and an average content of mobile potassium in 2017 and 2019, and high availability in 2018. The initial level of nitrate nitrogen in the soil was medium in 2017 and high in 2018 and 2019. The podzolic soils of the region, with a light granulometric composition, often have a low supply of sulfur available to plants. With a low content of humus in such soils, there is a small reserve of sulfur in organic form, and therefore, variants with sulfur-containing fertilizers were included in the intensive technology of winter wheat cultivation. Weather conditions of the growing seasons 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 differed by an insufficient amount of atmospheric precipitation during the growth stages critical for grain formation. The yield of winter wheat grain in all years of research was maximum in variant 3 with the use of ammonium nitrate and complex sulfur-containing fertilizer Apaviva NPK(S) 15:15:15(10) as top dressing. The yield increase resulted from the autumn phosphorus-potassium application (double superphosphate and potassium chloride) was 25, 34 and 30 % in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The maximum grain yield of winter wheat in the experiment of 6.93 t/ha was obtained in variant 3 in 2019. Such a system of winter wheat top dressing provided a stable high additional income.

Improving Winter Wheat Photosynthesis, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Yield by Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilization.

Wheat is the third most producing crop in China after maize and rice. In order to enhance the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and grain yield of winter wheat, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different nitrogen ratios and doses at various development stages of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A total of five N doses (0, N75, N150, N225, and N300 kg ha−1) as main plots and two N ratios were applied in split doses (50%:50% and 60%:40%, referring to 50% at sowing time and 50% at jointing stage, 50% at sowing time + 50% at flowering stage, 50% at sowing time + 50% at grain filling stage, and 60% + 40% N ratio applied as a 60% at sowing time and 40% at jointing stage, 60% at sowing time and 40% at flowering stage, and 60% at sowing time and 40% at grain filling stage in subplots). The results of this study revealed that a nitrogen dose of 225 kg ha−1 significantly augmented the plant height by 27% and above ground biomass (ABG) by 24% at the grain filling stage, and the leaf area was enhanced by 149% at the flowering stage under 60 + 40% ratios. Furthermore, the N225 kg ha−1 significantly prompted the photosynthetic rate by 47% at the jointing and flowering stages followed by grain filling stage compared to the control. The correlation analysis exhibited the positive relationship between nitrogen uptake and nitrogen content, chlorophyll, and dry biomass, revealing that NUE enhanced and ultimately increased the winter wheat yield. In conclusion, our results depicted that optimizing the nitrogen dose (N225 kg/ha−1) with a 60% + 40% ratio at jointing stage increased the grain yield and nitrogen utilization rate.

Phenotyping winter wheat for early ground cover

The relationship between the early ground cover and the grain yield in winter wheat is not yet fully understood. In a winter wheat breeding programme, selection for early ground cover is traditionally made using visual scoring. Although visual scoring is preferred as a phenotypic screening tool by wheat breeders, its output may not be reliable, as it requires experience. A smartphone camera-based digital image technique can be recommended as a feasible, reliable, repeatable, affordable, and fast selection tool for early ground cover in wheat as an alternative to visual scoring. For this purpose, two wheat trials were conducted in the 2017–2018 and 2019–2020 seasons. In both seasons, 215 wheat genotypes in total, together with three checks from spring wheat, were tested under rain-fed conditions in the spring wheat zone in Turkey. All the tested wheat genotypes were grouped into spring, facultative, and winter growth habit using visual scoring. Simultaneously, photos were taken from each plot with a smartphone camera, and the early ground cover (%) was estimated using the smartphone camera-based digital image technique. The relationships between grain yield, visual scoring, and early ground cover could so be estimated. In both seasons, significant negative correlation between grain yield and visual scoring (r = −0.679** and r = −0.704**, respectively) and significant positive correlation between the grain yield and the early ground cover (r = 0.745** and r = 0.747**, respectively) were observed. The correlation between visual scoring and early ground cover were negative (r = −0.862** and r = −0.926**, respectively). The broad sense heritability estimates in both seasons were 0.51 and 0.85, respectively, for early ground cover, 0.91 and 0.94 for visual scoring, and 0.86 and 0.69 for grain yield. In this study, we revealed that testing winter wheat genotypes in the spring wheat zone rather than in the winter wheat zone could be a more effective way to unveil the positive relationship between the early ground cover and the grain yield. We have shown that the smartphone-based digital image technique is a useful selection tool for early ground cover in winter wheat.

Performance of soft winter wheat under the effect of growth regulators

Purpose. To study soft winter wheat's productivity formation under the growth regulators' effect.
 Methods. Laboratory, mathematical and statistical, physical and chemical.
 Results. The article presents research results of the formation of yield, protein, and gluten content in grain under the effect of plant growth regulators. On average, for three research years, pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano chemical provided an increase in grain yield to 7.20 t/ha or more by 0.84 t/ha compared to areas where seeds were not treated (6.36 t/ha). Single spraying of winter wheat plants with Grainactive-C growth regulator helped to increase the grain yield by 0.61 t/ha compared to the control. Double spraying of winter wheat plants with Grainactive-C growth regulator provided 0.73 t/ha of grain, which was10% higher compared to areas without treatment. The greatest impact on the protein content in winter wheat grain was the use of Grainactive-C chemical in tillering and shooting stages, which provides the formation of this indicator 13.4% and 11% higher, compared to areas without treatment. This indicator was least affected by pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano growth regulator and single plant spraying in the tillering stage with Grainactive-C chemical, as the protein content was 12.6%, which was 4% higher compared to the option without treatments. The gluten content in winter wheat grain increased from 23.6% in the control to 26.1% in the variant where Grainactive-C growth regulator was used in tillering and shooting stages. Pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano increased the gluten content to 24.5% (4%), and spraying with "Grainactive-C" growth regulator to 24.8% (5%). In terms of protein and gluten content, wheat grain grown without the use of chemical treatment in the experiment corresponds to the third class. The use of Sizam Nano and Grainactive-C provides a grain yield that corresponds to the second class. The application of such a pre-sowing treatment scenario provides an increase in grain yield by 1.07 t/ha, which belongs to the first class.
 Conclusions. The grain yield of soft winter wheat varies over the type and method of growth regulator application. Grain yield is most affected by pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano and double plant spraying with Grainactive-C growth regulator.

ЕКОЛОГО-ЕКОНОМІЧНА ТА БІОЕНЕРГЕТИЧНА ОЦІНКА ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ ВИРОЩУВАННЯ ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ ПІСЛЯ БОБОВИХ БАГАТОРІЧНИХ ТРАВ

Topicality. The economic crisis requires modern winter wheat cultivation technologies based on the principles of financial feasibility, energy saving and environmental safety. Issues. Changes in animal husbandry have led to the differentiation of fodder crops, which are used as predecessors of winter wheat. Now, other types of perennial legume grasses are grown along with its traditional predecessor meadow clover. However, it is necessary to carry out research and calculations due to the lack of results of the ecological, economic and bioenergy feasibility of non-traditional perennial legume grasses as predecessors of winter wheat. Aim. To investigate the indicators of ecological, economic and bioenergy efficiency of winter wheat cultivation after six species of perennial legume grasses as predecessors, such as meadow clover, alfalfa, sand esparcet, white sweet clover, bird's-foot-trefoil, eastern galega, and also after the maize for silage (control). Methods. Field studies with subsequent calculation of economic efficiency of winter wheat cultivation based on technological charts and costs, as well as the energy efficiency of the technologies under study according to the methods of O.K. Medvedovskyi, P.I. Ivanenko and VASKHNIL were conducted. Results. The highest grain yield was 6.52 t/ha when winter wheat was cultivated after maize for silage with high rates of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. When winter wheat was cultivated after perennial legume grasses, the rates of mineral fertilizers and pesticides were significantly lower. Accordingly, the grain yield of winter wheat grown after perennial legume grasses was by 11.1–38.2 % lower than after silage maize, and it was 4.03–5.80 t/ha. The highest grain yield was observed after meadow clover, and the lowest – after bird's-foot-trefoil. The highest level of profitability (90.7 %) is provided by the cultivation of winter wheat after the predecessor meadow clover. When winter wheat was grown after such predecessors as meadow clover, white sweet clover, sand esparcet and eastern galega with limited rates of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, the level of profitability was 5.7–46.8 % higher than indicator for winter wheat after silage maize with high rates of mineral fertilizers and pesticides At the same time, winter wheat profitability after bird's-foot-trefoil and alfalfa equaled to the indicator for silage maize. Conclusions. The technology of winter wheat cultivation after meadow clover, which provided the highest energy coefficient 4.96, is the most profitable and the least energy-intensive. Key words: economic assessment, bioenergy assessment, cultivation technology, winter wheat, predecessors.

Novel rock mineral fertiliser application with microbial consortium inoculant enhances growth, yield and grain protein content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in sandy soil

ABSTRACT Grain yield and protein concentration are critical traits determining wheat economic value and are dependent on nitrogen (N) supply and crop N status. However, application of N fertilisers is costly and has a large environmental footprint. We assessed the effect of slow-release rock mineral fertiliser (RMF) with or without microbial consortium inoculant (MI) on growth, grain yield and protein content of winter wheat grown in a low-fertility soil. The experiment was set up with three factors [RMF rates (0, 10 and 20 mg N kg−1 soil), MI (with and without) and two wheat genotypes] replicated four times and harvested twice (anthesis and maturity). The addition of MI increased root biomass at anthesis, but there was no effect at maturity. The shoot and grain nutrient content and protein yield were highest in plants treated with 20 mg N kg−1 soil. The plants treated with MI resulted in lower grain protein concentration than without MI. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation was higher in treatment with than without MI. The application of RMF at 20 mg N kg−1 soil produced higher plant growth, nutrient content, grain and protein yield compared to control in nutrient-poor sandy soil.

Warming Climate and Elevated CO2 Will Enhance Future Winter Wheat Yields in North China Region

The projected climate change substantially impacts agricultural productivity and global food security. The cropping system models (CSM) can help estimate the effects of the changing climate on current and future crop production. The current study evaluated the impact of a projected climate change under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) on the grain yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain by adopting the CSM-DSSAT CERES-Wheat model. The model was calibrated and evaluated using observed data of winter wheat experiments from 2015 to 2017 in which nitrogen fertigation was applied to various growth stages of winter wheat. Under the near-term (2021–2040), mid-term (2041–2060), and long-term (2081–2100) SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the future climate projections were based on five global climate models (GCMs) of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The GCMs projected an increase in grain yield with increasing temperature and precipitation in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term projections. In the mid-term, 13% more winter wheat grain yield is predicted under 1.3 °C, and a 33 mm increase in temperature and precipitation, respectively, compared with the baseline period (1995–2014). The increasing CO2 concentration trends projected an increase in average grain yield from 4 to 6%, 4 to 14%, and 2 to 34% in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term projections, respectively, compared to the baseline. The adaptive strategies were also analyzed, including three irrigation levels (200, 260, and 320 mm), three nitrogen fertilizer rates (275, 330, and 385 kg ha−1), and four sowing times (September 13, September 23, October 3, and October 13). An adaptive strategy experiments indicated that sowing winter wheat on October 3 (traditional planting time) and applying 275 kg ha−1 nitrogen fertilizer and 260 mm irrigation water could positively affect the grain yield in the North China Plain. These findings are beneficial in decision making to adopt and implement the best management practices to mitigate future climate change impacts on wheat grain yields.

Effects of Reducing Nitrogen Application Rate under Different Irrigation Methods on Grain Yield, Water and Nitrogen Utilization in Winter Wheat

We conducted a two-year field experiment on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from 2016–2018 to compare the effects of reducing nitrogen application rate in spring under three irrigation methods on grain yield (GY), water and nitrogen use efficiency in the North China Plain (NCP). Across the two years, GY of conventional irrigation (CI), micro-sprinkling irrigation (SI) and drip irrigation (DI) decreased by 6.35%, 9.84% and 6.83%, respectively, in the reduced nitrogen application rate (N45) than the recommended nitrogen application rate (N90). However, micro-irrigation (SI and DI) significantly increased GY relative to CI under the same nitrogen application rate, and no significant difference was observed in GY between SI and DI under N45, while SI obtained the highest GY under N90. The difference among different treatments in GY was mainly due to the variation in grain weight. The seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) in N45 was decreased more significantly than N90, and there was no significantly difference in ET among different irrigation methods under N45, but micro-irrigation significantly decreased the ET relative to CI under N90. Micro-irrigation significantly improved water use efficiency (WUE) compared to CI at the same nitrogen application rate. Under N45, compared with CI, WUE in SI and DI increased by 9.09% and 4.70%, respectively; however, the WUE increased by 15.9% and 7.23%, respectively, under N90. Reducing nitrogen application rate did not have a significant impact on WUE under CI, but it did have a substantial negative impact on SI and DI. Nitrogen accumulation in wheat plants at maturity (NAM) in N45 deceased significantly compared with N90 under the same irrigation method. Compared with CI under the same nitrogen application rate, micro-irrigation treatments significantly increased NAM, while SI was the largest. In comparison to N90, under three irrigation methods, N45 significantly increased nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency (NfUE). The highest NfUE was attained in SI, followed by DI, while CI was the lowest. Moreover, N45 significantly decreased soil NO3−-N accumulation (SNC) in three irrigation methods, and micro-irrigation significantly decreased the SNC in deep soil layers compared with CI when nitrogen is applied at the same level. Overall, micro-irrigation with a reduced nitrogen application rate in spring can achieve a relatively higher production of winter wheat while increasing the use efficiency of water and nitrogen and reducing soil NO3−-N leaching into deep soil layers in the NCP.

Maize straw mulching with uniconazole application increases the tillering capacity and grain yield of dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Improvements in wheat tillering in dry-land farming systems can be achieved by reducing soil water loss by straw mulching and enhancing the capability of wheat roots to capture soil water and N. However, the effects of the application of maize straw mulching in combination with uniconazole application on wheat tillering is not yet investigated. Field experiments were conducted during 2017–2018 (dry, 167 mm) and 2018–2019 (favorable, 222 mm) to investigate the combined effects of uniconazole (0 and 10 mg kg-1) and maize straw mulching (0 and 7500 kg ha-1) on soil water and root distribution, phytohormone signal transduction, total N uptake, plant N nutrition, tillering capability, and the expression of critical genes and metabolites in response to wheat tillering. Compared with no mulch control, straw mulching combined with uniconazole application increased soil moisture content and root length in the 0–20 cm soil layer and thereby increased total N uptake. Owing to allometric increases in aboveground N content and plant dry mass, uniconazole application combined with straw mulching increased the dry mass per kg N uptake and N nutrition index in the tillering and stem extension stages. Improved N nutrition index led to higher tiller emergence rate and tiller occurrence rate of first primary tillers and thus increased the number of fertile spikes and grain yield. Multi-omics integration analysis revealed that the increased tillering capability was associated with abscisic acid and gibberellic acid-mediated phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism because of their critical roles in lignin biosynthesis and the maintenance of cell membrane integrity in tiller node cells. The collective results indicate that maize straw mulching combined with uniconazole application improved the capability of wheat roots to capture soil moisture and N in addition to increasing lignin biosynthesis, ultimately enhancing tillering capability and grain yield of dryland winter wheat.

Predicting grain yield and protein content of winter wheat at different growth stages by hyperspectral data integrated with growth monitor index

Hyperspectral reflectance data can detect a great detail for predicting wheat’s grain yield (GY) and protein content (GPC). Based on different water and nitrogen rates, canopy spectral data and LAI and SPAD values were collected at four growth stages of wheat. The growth monitor index (GMI) was formulated by combining LAI and SPAD of wheat canopy with the variation coefficient method. Univariate models were constructed to predict GY and GPC in three forms, direct models predicted by spectral parameters, indirect models predicted with intermediate coefficient transmitted by GMI, and models predicted by GMI-treated spectral parameters. Multivariate models used single characteristic band and spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) of wheat canopy spectral reflectance. The results indicate that integrating GMI with canopy spectral data improves the prediction of spectral parameters for GY and GPC. The correlation coefficient between SAVIGMI and GY at the filling stage increased by 0.775 compared to SAVI; the correlation coefficient between SAVIGMI and GPC at the jointing stage is 0.645 higher than SAVI. By integrating GMI, the prediction model can explain over 90% of the variance in GY and 60% of the variance in GPC at the highest, the predictive performance is enhanced at some growth stages, maximally, R2 of the prediction based on GNDVIGMI for GY is 0.927 increased by 128%, and R2 of the prediction based on NDVIGMI for GPC is 0.532 increased by 130% relative to the original prediction at the filling stage. This study proposed the exploratory and experimental application of GMI to characterize canopy spectra.

The Effects of Weather and Fertilization on Grain Yield and Stability of Winter Wheat Growing on Orthic Luvisol-Analysis of Long-Term Field Experiment.

Based on a long-term experiment in Prague, established in 1954, we analyzed the effect of weather and seven fertilization treatments (mineral and manure treatments) on winter wheat grain yield (GY) and stability. In total, 23 seasons were analyzed, where a wheat crop followed a summer crop of potatoes. A regression analysis showed that, since the experiment started, there has been a significant increase in the annual daily maximum, average, and minimum temperature of 0.5 °C, and an increase in annual rainfall of 0.3 mm. Grain yield was positively associated with April precipitation, mean daily temperature in October, and daily maximum temperature in February. Yields were most stable between years with two fertilizer treatments that supplied a mean of 47 kg N ha−1yr−1, 54 kg P ha−1yr−1, and 108 kg K ha−1yr−1. The rate of N at which grain yield was optimized was determined according to the linear-plateau (LP) and quadratic response models as 44 kg N ha−1yr−1 for the long-strawed varieties and 87 kg N ha−1yr−1for short-strawed varieties.A gradual increase in yields was observed in all treatments, including the unfertilized control, which was attributed to improved varieties rather than to a changing climate.

Soil warming and straw return impacts on winter wheat phenology, photosynthesis, root growth, and grain yield in the North China Plain

Soil temperature rise caused by global warming is one of the most serious threats to crop physiology and production. Straw return is considered as a potential strategy to improve soil health and agricultural productivity. However, little is known about their interactive effects on wheat growth and production, which limits the development of strategies and technological innovations for future food security. Therefore, in the two wheat seasons from 2018 to 2020, with or without straw return, the heating cable was laid at a depth of 20 cm to increase the soil temperature by 3.8 ℃, and the phenology, photosynthesis, root growth, and grain yield of winter wheat were studied. Soil warming advanced the anthesis date by one week and promoted pre-anthesis wheat growth and dry matter transportation. However, soil warming decreased post-anthesis duration, leaf area index, SPAD, net photosynthesis, and spectral vegetation indexes. Therefore, post-anthesis dry matter accumulation and grain filling were inhibited, lowering the 1000-grain weight and harvest index. Furthermore, the post-anthesis root weight, length, surface area densities and root to shoot ratio were also decreased under soil warming. Finally, soil warming reduced the grain yield by 35.2% in the dry 2018–2019 year. However, the wheat growth characteristics were considerably higher and no difference in grain yield was detected among treatments in the wet 2019–2020 season, indicating that increased precipitation may offset the adverse effect of soil warming on wheat yield. Straw return increased aboveground biomass, but had no effect on wheat yield, probably because the positive effects were limited in the short experimental duration. The findings suggested that soil warming would promote pre-anthesis wheat growth but accelerate post-anthesis wheat senescence, affect dry matter transportation and accumulation, eventually reducing wheat yield in the NCP, especially under dry condition.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ БІОПРЕПАРАТІВ ДЛЯ ВИРОЩУВАННІ ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ

The aim of the work is to highlight the results of a field experiment on the effectiveness of the preparations "Pop up Plants Humate Potassium" and "Regoplant" in the cultivation of winter wheat. Methods. The field experiment was conducted in 2020/2021 on the lands of L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT (Kyiv agro-soil district of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe). Experience factors: factor A – tillage system (A1 – traditional, A2 – conservation, A3 – mulching, A4 – mini-till); Factor B – biological products "Potassium Humate + Regoplant" (B1 – control (without the use of preparations), B2 – the use of preparations for seed treatment and crop nutrition. When growing wheat, the traditional technology for the region was used, except for the elements of the experimental scheme. The effectiveness of the preparations was established by determining the biological yield of wheat and its structure compared to the control. Results. The use of humic preparations increased the weight of grain from the ear and the weight of 1000 seeds, which led to an increase in the biological yield of grain and the harvest index. The highest yield of wheat was observed in the traditional tillage system (A1), and the lowest – in the system of mini-till (A4). The largest increase in yield from the use of preparations (40 %) was observed in the version with a conservation tillage system (A2), and the smallest increase (20 %) – in the mulching tillage system version (A3). The experiment factors also influenced the growth of grain quality. In particular, the grain of the control variant contained 12.44 % of crude protein by weight of dry matter (seeds of the third class), and the grain of the experimental variant – 12.84 % of crude protein by weight of dry matter (seeds of the second class). There was also a decrease in the content of nitrogen-free extractive substances and crude ash. Conclusions. The use of "Pop up Plants Humate Potassium" and "Regoplant" had a positive effect on winter wheat yield and grain quality indicators. The average increase in the biological yield of winter wheat under different tillage systems was 30 % of the control. The superiority of the biological yield of winter wheat grain was noted in the variant with ploughing and biological fertilizers. The use of biological fertilizers also helped to improve grain quality indicators. Key words: Winter Wheat, Potassium Humate, Regoplant, Biological Yield, Tillage Systems.

Optimizing Nitrogen and Seed Rate Combination for Improving Grain Yield and Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency in Winter Wheat.

Nitrogen (N) supply and seed rate (SR) are two essential factors that affect the accumulation and partitioning of N and dry matter (DM) and, therefore, grain yield (GY) and N use efficiency (NUE). The objective of this experiment was to optimize N application and SR to regulate wheat growth and increase both GY and NUE. The results revealed that net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), chlorophyll content, and activities of metabolic enzymes (NR and GS) significantly increased with increasing of N levels while decreasing SR. Plant tillers, GY, DM before anthesis, and N translocation, N agronomic efficiency (NAE), N recovery efficiency (NRE), and N uptake efficiency (NUPE) were highest in a combined treatment of N235 and SR180. However, N levels beyond 235 kg ha−1 significantly decreased NAE, NRE, and NUPE. By increasing SR from 135 to 180 kg ha−1 an increase of 12.9 % and 9.1% GY and NUPE, respectively, was observed. Based on this result, we estimate that 1 kg N ha−1 might be replaced by an increase of approximately 0.6 kg ha−1 SR. Our study suggested that using a combination of N and SR (N235 + SR180) could attain maximum GY and improve NUE parameters.

Yield and Quality of Winter Durum Wheat Grain Depending on the Fertiliser System

At present, winter durum wheat is grown after its unpaired predecessors. Under such conditions, fertiliser is important. Therefore, the study of the yield formation and quality of winter durum wheat grain depending on the fertiliser system is relevant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the yield formation and quality of winter durum wheat grain under various fertiliser systems. The study was conducted in conditions of a stationary field experiment of the Uman National University of Horticulture, located in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine during 2020–2021. The experiment was founded in 2011. The following crops are grown in the four-course field crop rotation: winter wheat, corn, spring barley, soybeans. The experiment scheme includes 11 variants of combinations and separate application of mineral fertilisers, including the control option without fertiliser. Grain harvest was performed by direct combining, protein content and gluten content were determined by infrared spectroscopy using Infratek 1241. Statistical data processing was performed using the STATISTICA 10 software. Yield of winter durum wheat grain significantly increased from the fertiliser. However, the effectiveness of their use varied depending on the year of study. Thus, in 2020, it increased by 1.1–1.2 times (3.9-4.1 t hа-1) with long-term use of nitrogen fertilisers alone. Long-term use of complete mineral fertiliser (N150P60K80) significantly affected the grain yield (4.3 t hа-1) compared to variant N150. In 2021, grain yields increased 1.2–1.4 times, depending on the fertiliser system. Notably, the use of N150P60K40 and N150P30K80 in terms of impact on grain yield was at the level of the variant N150P60K80. Paired combinations of fertiliser application were effective at the level of long-term application of N150P30K40. Application of N75P30K40 provided the formation of only 4% lower grain yield compared to N150P30K40. The protein and gluten content was most affected by the nitrogen component of the complete mineral fertiliser. The conducted studies confirm the high reaction of durum wheat to the use of nitrogen fertilisers. The results obtained can be used to predict the productivity of durum winter wheat depending on soil fertility

Evaluating Sensor-Based Mechanical Weeding Combined with Pre- and Post-Emergence Herbicides for Integrated Weed Management in Cereals

Due to the increasing number of herbicide-resistant weed populations and the resulting yield losses, weed control must be given high priority to ensure food security. Integrated weed management (IWM) strategies, including reduced herbicide application, sensor-guided mechanical weed control and combinations thereof are indispensable to achieve this goal. Therefore, this study examined combinations of pre- and post-emergence herbicide applications with sensor-based harrowing and hoeing in cereals by conducting five field experiments at two locations in Southwestern Germany from 2019 to 2021. Each experiment contained an untreated control and a single post-emergence herbicide treatment as a comparison to these IWM treatments. The effects of the different IWM approaches on weed control efficacy (WCE), crop density, and grain yield were recorded. All experiments were set up in a randomized complete block design with four repetitions. Pre-emergence herbicide application combined with one-time harrowing and subsequent hoeing (Pre-Herb + Harr + Hoe) achieved the highest WCE (100%), followed by an approach of WCE (95%) for two-times hoeing. In contrast, a single pre-emergence herbicide application achieved the worst result with an average WCE of 25%. Grain yield was equal between all treatments in between 6 t ha−1 and 10 t ha−1, except for a single pre-emergence herbicide application, which achieved a 2.5 t ha−1 higher grain yield in winter wheat in 2021 that averaged 11 t ha−1, compared to the combination of Pre-Herb + Harr + Hoe that averaged 8.5 t ha−1. The results showed that it is possible to reduce and replace herbicides while achieving equivalent yield and WCE.

Night warming at the vegetative stage improves pre-anthesis photosynthesis and plant productivity involved in grain yield of winter wheat

We conducted pot experiments during the 2018–2020 growing seasons to study the effects of night warming at different growth stages of wheat on the photosynthetic performance; accumulation, transportation, and distribution of dry matter; and grain yield of winter wheat. Night warming at all the different growth stages resulted in an elevation of wheat yield by increasing the 1000-grain weight and the number of grains per ear. Night warming during the period from jointing to booting stage resulted in the greatest increase in wheat yield. It also increased the amount of overall dry matter and transferrable amount of dry matter in plants and increased the distribution of dry matter to grains to increase grain weight. Night warming treatments at three different growth stages enhanced pre-anthesis photosynthetic capacity by increasing flag leaf net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and photochemical efficiency of winter wheat at the early stage of grain filling, especially in the night warming treatment from jointing to booting stage. Night warming not only increased the stomatal density and stomatal index of wheat leaves but also increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in the early stage of grain filling, thus being conducive to the smooth progress of photosynthesis. In conclusion, night warming treatment at different growth stages increased the photosynthesis of flag leaves at the early stage of grain filling, and promoted the accumulation of dry matter in plants after anthesis, which was conducive to the grain yield of winter wheat.

AGROECONOMICAL EFFICIENCY OF WINTER WHEAT FERTILIZATION SYSTEMS ON HIGHLY CULTIVATED SOD-PODZOLIC LOAMY

In the field technological experience on highly cultivated sod-podzolic loamy soil, the agroeconomical efficiency of different fertilization systems of winter wheat, depending on the method of basic tillage, was studied. It was found that the sealing of straw without a compensating dose of nitrogen, both with traditional and surface tillage, did not have a negative effect on the uniformity of seedlings and the development of winter wheat plants. Due to the use of fertilizers in a block with traditional tillage, the yield of winter wheat grain increased by 31 % on average and the protein and gluten content significantly increased, i. e. fertilizers provided food grain along with an increase in yield. In the block with surface tillage, the yield was on average 4,6 c/ha higher compared to similar options in the block with traditional tillage.