Maize For Grain Research Articles

Estimation of winter bread wheat varieties in the inter-station testing according to economically valuable traits

The purpose of the current study was to identify sources of economically valuable traits and properties of winter bread wheat for their purposeful introduction in breeding programs. The study was carried out in the inter-station testing in 2019–2021. The objects of the study were 66 winter bread wheat varieties of various ecological and geographical origin sown after maize for grain. Weather and climatic conditions during the years of the study were quite diverse, which made it possible to identify the most valuable varieties for their further introduction in breeding programs. There have been identified the following varieties which showed high frost resistance (75.1-89.5%), namely ‘Nasyp’ with 77.6% (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko), ‘Kapitan’ with 75.1%, ‘Volny Don’ with 75.2%, ‘Aksinya’ with 76.7%, ‘Izyuminka’ with 77.8%, ‘Ermak’ with 77.9%, ‘Zhavoronok’ with 79.6%, ‘Etyud’ with 80.1%, ‘Donskaya Step’ with 81.3%, ‘Asket’ with 89.5% (ARC “Donskoy”). According to early maturation, there have been identified three genotypes ‘Stanichnaya’, ‘Zhavoronok’ and ‘Etyud’ (ARC “Donskoy”), which formed heads on May 11–12. The height of the studied varieties varied from 66 to 96 cm, there have been identified such 5 sources of short stems with the indicator from 66 to 74 cm as ‘SO 911’ (France), ‘Grom’, ‘Rossyp’, ‘Gomer’, ‘Irda’ (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko). There has been determined a number of large-grain varieties from various research institutions, such as ‘Aksiniya’ (42.0 g), ‘Volnitsa’ (43.2 g), ‘Donskaya Step’ (43.5 g), ‘Etyud’ (44.7 g) (ARC “Donskoy”), ‘Barier’ (42.4 g) (NCFRAC), ‘Donmira’ (42.6 g) (FARC), ‘Iliada’ (43.0 g) (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko). According to productivity, the best varieties in 2019–2021 were ‘Donskaya step’ (7.64 t/ha), ‘Lilit’ (7.74 t/ha) (ARC “Donskoy”), ‘Gomer’ (7.73 t/ha), ‘Laureat’ (8.34 t/ha) (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko), ‘Armada’ (7.70 t/ha) (NCFRAC), ‘Donmira’ (7.72 t/ha) (FARC), ‘Chornyava’ (7.75 t/ha) (Ukraine). All identified sources can be used as useful initial material in the programs of winter bread wheat breeding.

Ecological and economic aspects of certain agricultural crops cultivation on sod-podzolic soil of Western Polissya of Ukraine

The influence of cultures in short-rotation crop rotation of Western Polissia on the ecological component of sod-podzolic cohesive-sandy soil by the analyzing the balances of nutrients and humus is shown and an economic assessment of their cultivation is given. The most accessibly and fairly objective a complex assessment of certain crops impact on the ecological state of the soil can be carried out by their contribution to the formation of balances of humus and nutrients. In article used the results of researches obtained in a field stationary experiment with winter wheat, maize for grand, spring barley and winter rape for 2012–2020 years. To assess the impact of cultures on the balances formation was chosen variant with the recommended rate of mineral fertilizers on the background of 1.0 Ha (hydrolytic acidity) dose of CaMg(CO3)2 (dolomite flour). It has studied that the supply of nutrients with plant biomass is a powerful source of their recycling. In particular, the highest content of nitrogen (3.56 and 2.75%) and phosphorus (0.95–0.99%) was obtained in rapeseed and winter wheat, while by-products showed the accumulation of potassium (1.52 and 1.39%) respectively. Taking into account the obtained results, the influence of growing crops on the formation of nutrient and humus balances was determined. It was established that by liming and fertilization with the return to the soil of by-products biomass of the studied crops was formed a positive balance of nitrogen in the range of 29.6–43.4 kg/ha, phosphorus 23.0–54.9 kg/ha, potassium 71.6–99.8 kg/ha. Only with the application of N120 under maize for grain was obtained nitrogen deficiency of –47.5 kg/ha. Due to crop residues and by-products of the studied crops, a positive balance of humus was determined: winter wheat 0.73 t/ha, corn for grain 2.17, spring barley 0.40 and winter rape 0.11 t/ha. The economic component of the technology of studied crops growing showed that the largest net profit was achieved for marginal crops: maize for grain (19.8 thousand UAH/ha) and winter oilseed rape (14.4 thousand UAH/ha). Due to the restrictive effect of other factors, primarily moisture supply, the system of fertilizing winter wheat and spring barley did not create conditions for the realization of the planned yield, which led to low profitability of their production.

ПРОДУКТИВНІСТЬ ЯЧМЕНЮ ЯРОГО В КОРОТКОРОТАЦІЙНІЙ СІВОЗМІНІ ЛІВОБЕРЕЖНОГО ЛІСОСТЕПУ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД СИСТЕМИ УДОБРЕННЯ

The article analyzed the research results for 2016–2020 in a long-term stationary experiment, which was established in 2001 on typical chernozems with unstable humidity of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, namely, on the Panfil research station National Science Center "Institute of Agriculture NAAS". The research results convincingly showed that 4-field crop rotations with 100 % saturation with grain crops (peas–winter wheat–maize for grain–spring barley) under different fertilization systems, such as control (without fertilizers), mineral (with the application of N60P60K60), organo-mineral (NPK + by-products of the predecessor), organic (by-products of the predecessor) fertilization systems, are most rational for highly specialized farms the in this area. The grain yield of spring barley, depending on the fertilization system, was in the range of 4.18–5.54 t/ha. Productivity of crop rotation area in a 4-field crop rotation for harvesting spring barley per 1 ha was: grain – 5.50–7.69 tons, fodder units – 7.48–10.47; digestible protein – 0.60–0.84 tons. The economic efficiency of growing spring barley in short-term crop rotation depending on the fertilization systems is: relatively net profit – 14.2–20.7 thousand UAH/ha, profitability – 122.6–197.0 %. Balanced short-term crop rotations with an optimal set and ratio of crops have been studied and introduced into production. Under market conditions, these crop rotations will ensure the production of competitive products and the preservation of soil fertility. Key words: crop rotation, rotation, fertilizers, productivity, yield, grain, fodder units, digestible protein, economic efficiency.

The study of rheological and physical dough properties of the winter wheat varieties

There have been represented the study results of flour quality of the winter bread wheat varieties of semi-intensive type of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The purpose of the current study was to estimate variability of the values of indicators that characterize physical and rheological dough properties, to identify the correlation between them, and to isolate genetic sources. The objects of study were 20 winter bread wheat varieties. Field trials were carried out in 2017–2019 in the fields of the department of winter wheat breeding and seed production, the forecrop was maize for grain. The variety ‘Don 107’ was used as a standard. The quality of grain and flour of the winter bread wheat varieties was assessed in the laboratory for biochemical estimation of breeding material and seed quality. There have been identified the varieties ‘Asket’ (26.9%), ‘Podarok Krymu’ (26.2%), ‘Zolotoy Kolos’ (25.5%) and ‘Izyuminka’ (25.5%) with the maximum gluten content in grain. It was determined that the trait ‘gluten deformation index’ varied from 62 u.v. to 77 u.v., all varieties corresponded to the 1st quality class. There have been identified the genotypes ‘Volny Don’, ‘Don 93’, ‘Premiera’, ‘Podarok Krymu’, ‘Ambar’, ‘Donskoy Surpriz’ and ‘Izyuminka’ with low values of the variation coefficient of the trait. There have been identified the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (6.7%), ‘Zhavoronok’ (6.8%) and ‘Asket’ (8.2%) with low values of the variation coefficient of the trait ‘specific work of dough deformation’. There have been identified the varieties ‘Don 93’, ‘Izyuminka’ and ‘Podarok Krymu’, which according to P/L corresponded to the class of strong wheat. It was found that the varieties ‘Zolotoy Kolos’ and ‘Volnitsa’ corresponded to the class of strong wheat according to the valorimetric assessment. Correlation analysis showed that the rheological dough properties were significantly influenced by gluten content in grain. There has been estimated the quantitative manifestation and variability of the traits, which characterize the rheological and physical dough properties. There have been identified the varieties with the smallest varietal variation of traits, which are recommended to use in the breeding process as sources of useful traits and properties. The selection according to the traits ‘delute of dough’ and ‘valorimetric assessment’ allow developing and introducing into production genotypes with good baking properties.

Summer Drought in 2019 on Polish Territory—A Case Study

The summer 2019 drought in Poland, i.e., the warmest year in observation history, was characterized. Meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and hydrogeological aspects were taken into account. Meteorological drought in the light of regionally differentiated days of low precipitation frequency lasted the longest, i.e., over 3 months in central-western Poland. In the period between June–August 2019, in the belt of South Baltic Lakes and Central Polish Lowlands, the lowest precipitation sums of 30–60% of the norm were recorded. The values of the climatic water balance (CWB) calculated by the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG) method for individual months of June–August for the Polish area were −129, −64, and −53 mm, respectively. The most threatened were fruit bushes, spring cereals, maize for grain and silage, and leguminous plants. In central-western and south-western Poland, the drought accelerated the date of the lowest flows by two months on average from the turn of September and October to the turn of July and August. In the lowland belt, where the drought was the most intensive, the average monthly groundwater level, both of free and tight groundwater table, was lower than the monthly averages for the whole hydrological year.

The new winter bread wheat variety of universal type ‘Donskaya Step’

Introduction and methodology. Wheat bread belongs to the greatest inventions of the mankind. Therefore, the study aimed at solving the issues of improving its productivity and quality, stabilizing the gross yield of wheat grain have always arisen a great interest of researchers and specialists in agricultural production. The most accessible source of improving yields and gross harvests is a variety.The purpose of the current study was to characterize the winter bread wheat variety ‘Donskaya Step’ according to the main economically valuable traits and properties. The study was carried out by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”” from 2016 to 2020 on the experimental plots of crop rotation belonging to the winter wheat department. The object of the study was the winter bread wheat variety ‘Donskaya Step’. The variety ‘Ermak’ was used as a standard variety. There were used four forecrops: maize for grain, peas, sunflower and green fallow. The trials were conducted in sixfold replications. The accounting area of the plot was 10 m2.Results. The variety was sent to the State Variety Testing in 2016. In 2020 it was introduced into the State List for the North Caucasus and Low Volga regions of the Russian Federation. This variety has a high potential for grain productivity. The maximum yield of 11.83 t/ha was obtained in 2017 when sown in weedfree fallow. The average yield through four years of the competitive variety testing (2016–2020) was 9.77 t/ha, which is on 0.96 t/ha higher than that of the standard variety ‘Ermak’. The variety ‘Donskaya Step’ is a middle-maturing variety that forms ears and ripens as the standard variety ‘Ermak’. The variety forms high and stable yields due to increased frost resistance, drought resistance and resistance to the main wheat leaf diseases.

The study of indices of the relative and absolute protein percentage in the winter bread wheat grain

The aim of the research was to evaluate the relative and absolute protein content in winter wheat grains, to determine the samples that have the maximum values of the studied traits, and to use the selected genotypes in breeding programs. The trials of the winter bread wheat varieties, sown after maize for grain were carried out in 2018-2020. The objects of the study were 13 winter bread wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) developed in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The current research established that when selecting parental varieties for crossing to improve grain quality of winter bread wheat varieties, there should be chosen the forms with the highest relative and absolute protein percentage in grain. These genotypes include Don 107, Ermak and Lidiya, whose relative protein percentage in grain was 12.96%, 13.01% and 13.06% respectively. The varieties Don 107, Ermak, Lidiya, Volnitsa and Zhavoronok were characterized by the maximum absolute protein percentage in grain with 5.43 g, 5.62 g, 5.57 g, 5.56 g and 5.54 g respectively. The 1000 grain weight of these varieties averaged 42.1 g (Don 107), 43.6 g (Ermak), 43.1 g (Lidiya), 43.5 g (Volnitsa) and 44.5 g (Zhavoronok).

Estimation of sedimentation and grain quality indicators of the winter bread wheat varieties

The current paper has presented the study results of SDS-sedimentation and grain quality indicators of the winter bread wheat varieties in an interstation variety testing from the research institutions of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and France. The research work was carried out in 2017–2019 in the field of the laboratory for breeding winter bread wheat, the forecrop was maize for grain. The purpose of the research was to estimate SDS-sedimentation, protein percentage in grain, quantity and quality of gluten in the winter bread wheat varieties of interstation variety testing, for the subsequent introduction of the best samples in the breeding process aimed at improving grain quality. Grain quality indicators of the winter bread wheat varieties were identified in the laboratory for biochemical estimation of breeding material and grain quality using IR spectroscopy on ‘SpektraStar 2200’ analyzer. There was established that according to the SDS-sedimentation most of the samples corresponded to strong wheat (50–63 ml). There have been identified the genotypes with the highest values of this trait, such as ‘Shef’ (58 ml), ‘Nakhodka’ (59 ml) and ‘Don 107’ (61 ml). The largest gluten content in grain was identified in the varieties ‘Don 107’, ‘Shef’, ‘Kavalerka’, ‘Timiryazevka 150’ and ‘Nakhodka’ (25.5–26.2%). The largest protein percentage in grain has been identified in the varieties ‘Don 107’, ‘Shef’, ‘Aksinya’, ‘Nakhodka’ and ‘Timiryazevka 150’ (12.5-12.8%). The varieties ‘Don 107’, ‘Shef’, ‘Nakhodka’ and ‘Timiryazevka 150’ were identified according to the studied traits and were recommended to be involved in the breeding process as parental forms.

Grain productivity and quality of the facultative barley variety ‘Marusya’ when sowing in winter and spring

The current study was carried out on ordinary blackearth (chernozem) in the southern part of the Rostov region in the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” (2017–2020 agricultural years). The purpose of the work was to identify the effect of autumn and spring sowing periods on grain productivity and quality of the facultative barley variety ‘Marusya’ according to various forecrops. There has been considered the dynamics of the productivity of the variety ‘Marusya’ depending on the sowing time when sown after maize for grain and sunflower. There has been established high adaptability of the variety ‘Marusya’ after nonfallow forecrops. It has formed a high productivity when sown in autumn at various times. There has been found out a positive reaction of the variety to sowing on September 10, 20 and 30, where the maximum productivity when sown after maize for grain was 6.76–6.91 t/ha. When sowing at later time, there was a slight decrease in productivity. When sown in spring, the highest protein percentage in grain was 11.0 and 11.6%. However, due to the highest productivity, the maximum protein yield was when sowing in autumn, up to 0.71 t/ha. The calculation of the economic efficiency of grain production showed that the highest profitability (214.1 and 214.4%) was obtained when the variety ‘Marusya’ was sown on September 10 and 20 after maize for grain. On average, over the years of study, the maximum conditional net income according to the forecrop, depending on the sowing time, was from 59658 to 84261 rubles/ha when sown in winter and from 48881 to 59170 rubles/ha in spring. The minimum profitability 62.1–75.2% was identified when sown in spring in 10 days after the soil was physically mature.

Protein and gluten content in grain of the winter bread wheat varieties, depending on the forecrop

One of the important tasks facing agriculture is to increase the production of high quality grain. It is known knowledge that the variety is a dynamic biological factor capable of realizing its genetic potential with a different combination of environmental factors and can act as a biological foundation for the production of high quality grain. The forecrop in modern agriculture acts as an independent factor in increasing grain yield and quality. The purpose of the current study was to estimate protein and gluten content in grain of winter bread wheat varieties of intensive type when sown after maize for grain and sunflower in the conditions of the Rostov region. The objects of the study were 9 winter bread wheat varieties of the intensive type developed in the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. The study was carried out in the fields of the department of winter wheat breeding and seed production in 2018–2020. There were identified the varieties that formed the largest percentage of protein in grain on average over the years of study. They were the varieties ‘Etyud’, ‘Yubiley Dona’ and ‘Shef’ (12.44–13.06%) sown after maize for grain, and the varieties ‘Rubin Dona’, ‘Shef’ and ‘Zodiak’ (14.09–14.33%) sown after sunflower. There have been identified the varieties ‘Zodiak’ and ‘Yubiley Dona’ with the largest amount of gluten in grain on average over the years of study. They produced 24.63%, 25.53%, respectively after maize for grain; after sunflower they produced 28.20%, 27.66%, respectively. The results of two-way analysis of variance proved a greater effect of the factor ‘forecrop’ on protein and gluten content in grain of winter bread wheat than the effect of the factor ‘variety’ and their correlation.

The new early-maturing winter bread wheat variety ‘Zhavoronok’

There has been presented the characteristics of the new early-maturing winter bread wheat variety ‘Zhavoronok’ according to economically valuable traits and properties. The development of early-maturing grain crop varieties is one of the main issues of grain production. The combination of a relatively short vegetation period with high productivity in one genotype helps to solve a number of agricultural concerns. This allows using techniques more systematic, reducing the intensity of harvesting and yield loss significantly, which occur when cultivating simultaneously maturing varieties on large areas. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the new early-maturing winter bread wheat variety ‘Zhavoronok’ on the basis of a set of economically valuable traits. The study was carried out in 2015–2019 with such forecrops as maize for grain, weedfree fallow, peas and sunflower. In the department of winter wheat breeding and seed production of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” a lot of work is being done on winter wheat breeding, and one of the important directions is the development of early-maturing varieties. The winter bread wheat variety ‘Zhavoronok’ has been included in the State List of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation since 2020 and approved for use the North Caucasus and Nizhne-Volga regions. According to the length of the growing period, it belongs to the early-maturing group. Its high and stable productivity with various forecrops is explained by a complex of positive economically valuable traits and properties, such as high productivity of a head, resistance to lodging and brown rust, high frost resistance (the same as that of the variety ‘Don 107’). The variety ‘Zhavoronok’ is capable of producing good yields and full grain in arid years, its early maturity allows it to ‘escape’ drought, disease and other unfavorable conditions.

УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ И БЕЛКОВО-КЛЕЙКОВИННЫЙ КОМПЛЕКС СОРТОВ ОЗИМОЙ МЯГКОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ

Wheat yield increase and grain quality indicators improvement is one of the primary tasks for the agro-industrial complex. The purpose of the current study was twofold: estimate the productivity and grain quality indicators of winter bread wheat varieties; identify the most valuable ones for further use in breeding programs. The surveys were carried out on the experimental field of SSE “Agricultural Research Center «Donskoy»” in 2018-2020. In the study area, the average annual precipitation was 582.4 mm, the average annual temperature – 9.7 °C. The object of the study – 23 winter bread wheat varieties of semi-intensive type developed in the ARC “Donskoy”. Variety ‘Don 107’ was used as a standard one. Forecrop – maize for grain. Winter wheat was planted at the optimum planting dates; seed placement depth – 4-6 cm. The experiment was replicated six times; The plot area – 10 m2. Varieties ‘Lilit’ (6.8 t/ha), ‘Polina’ (6.8 t/ha), ‘Zolotoy Kolos’ (6.8 t/ha), ‘Lidiya’ (6.9 t/ha), ‘Premyera’ (6.9 t/ha), ‘Volnitsa’ (7.0 t/ha), ‘Volny Don’ (7.0 t/ha), ‘Ayuta’ (7.2 t/ha) exceeded standard variety ‘Don 107’ by 0.4–0.8 t/ha. All varieties studied in the trial corresponded to the standards of the 1st class in terms of hectolitre weight (not less than 750 g/l) and vitreousness (not less than 60.0 %). The largest grain was formed by varieties ‘Zhavoronok’ (43.4 g), ‘Donskoy surpriz’ (43.6 g), ‘Ayuta’ (44.6 g), ‘Volnitsa’ (44.9 g), ‘Premyera’ (48.2 g). The largest values of protein in grain (13.1–13.4 %) were identified in varieties ‘Lidiya’, ‘Stanichnaya’ and ‘Podarok Krymu’. Varieties ‘Asket’ and ‘Podarok Krymu’ produced grain with the largest gluten content (28.6 % and 28.9 %, respectively). The results of two-way analysis of variance have proved the greater influence of the factor “year” on productivity (64.0 %), protein (72.0 %) and gluten (70.0 %) content in grain of winter bread wheat than that of the factor “genotype” and their correlation.

Evaluation of the competitiveness of corn for grain and rapeseed of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine

Purpose. The aim of the article is substantiation of the methodical approach to the calculation of the integrated index of product competitiveness and assessment of the level of competitiveness of corn for grain, winter rape seeds and colza of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine. Methodology of research. The following methods are used in the research process: analysis and synthesis - to study the indicators of cultivation and sale of corn for grain, winter rape and colza in agricultural enterprises of Ukraine; abstract and logical - for formulation of conclusions and generalizations; cartographic - to analyse the competitiveness index of maize for grain, winter rape and colza. Findings. A set of indicators for calculating the integrated index of competitiveness of the studied crops: yield, sales price of 1 quintal of production, total cost of production, sales, market share, profit per 1 quintal of sales, profit per 1 ha of sown area, marketability level, level profitability of production. The competitiveness of corn for grain, winter rape and colza grown by agricultural enterprises in the context of the regions of Ukraine was assessed. A scale for assessing the competitiveness of corn for grain, winter rape and colza was developed. Originality. A method for assessing the level of competitiveness of corn for grain, winter rape and colza, on the basis of which it is possible to form effective ways to increase it, is proposed. Practical value. The proposed methodological approach to assessing the competitiveness of corn for grain, winter rape and colza of agricultural enterprises allows to analyse and substantiate the results from large data sets, take into account the impact of stimulants and destimulators of selected traits on the final result, combine and use criteria and indicators . Key words: corn for grain, rapeseed, colza, assessment of product competitiveness, integrated competitiveness index, agricultural enterprises.

STUDYING THE EFFICIENCY OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS THAT ARE UNBALANCED IN NUTRITION ELEMENTS WHEN INTRODUCED TO MAIZE

The article sheds light on the efficiency of mineral fertilizers that are unbalanced in phosphorus to grow maize for grain. It has been determined that by introducing the full mineral fertilizer in the proportion N:P:K – 1:0.66:1 and 1:0.50:0.75 with 30 tons/hectare of manure the highest grain productivity of maize is achieved – 93.0-95.0 metric centner/hectare. Keywords Harvest, fertilizers, dose, grain, correlation of nutrition elements

Агрофізичні показники грунту за вирощування ячменю озимого в Закарпатті України

The article presents importance, objectives and results of different methods of basic tillage under different predecessors for its agrophysical properties for growing winter barley in Transcarpathia Ukraine. Soils of the experimental field are soddy podzolic gleyed, which contain on average 2.6% humus in the humus horizon. With depth, the amount of humus decreases gradually and at a depth of 100-130 cm it reaches another 1,0-1,7%. The soil is typical for the research area, on average provided with mobile forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Qualitative assessment of the surveyed soils showed that the soils require constant use of organic and mineral fertilizers, liming and crop rotation. Soil density is an important indicator of the physical properties of the soil, which affects not only on soil conditions, but also on its quality of cultivation, which ultimately effects on the yield and quality of the crop. During the sowing period of winter barley, the most favorable indicators of the bulk density of 0-10 cm of the soil layer were provided by all main tillage systems. The average soil density in the variants of the main cultivation ranged from 1.09 to 1.17 g/cm3, at HIP0,5 0.01 g/cm3. At a depth of 10-20 cm, the average volumetric mass of the soil during plowing was 1.14 g/cm3, during chisel cultivation it was without significant differences – 1.15 g/cm3. Conducting shallow tillage by 12-14 cm and surface by 6-8 cm was accompanied by an increase in bulk density to 1.16 and .1.19 g/cm3, respectively. Situation was similar in the soil layer 20-30 cm: for shallow tillage the average density was at the level of 1,24 g/cm3, and for surface - 1.25 g/cm3. Predecessors didn't significantly effect on the change in the density of the tillage layer of the soil. However, after maize for grain and sunflower, there is a tendency to increase the bulk density of the soil after shelfless shallow and surface tillage, especially in the lower layers of the soil. This soil density was at the level of 1.24-1.26 g/cm3, which didn’t exceed the optimum. Loosened in the process of mechanical tillage of the soil during the growing season under the influence of its own weight, moisture and drying self-compacts to equilibrium density. Therefore, during the period of earing and harvesting of winter barley, the soil was gradually compacted to natural values. In the 0-10 cm layer of soil the bulk density varied in the range of 1.20-1.27 g/cm3, in the soil layer 10-20 cm – 1.25-1.30 g/cm3 and 20-30 cm – 1.34-1.37 g/cm3. Density (porosity) is important for the effective activity of microorganisms, growth and development of the root system of plants and accumulation of moisture in the soil. It was found that long-term use of shelf and shelf-free tillage didn’t reduce the overall density below 50% of the structure of the treated layer, which ensured high productivity of cultivated plants. With shelf-free surface and shallow tillage, the total slit in the lower layers was up to 50% of the structure of the cultivation layer, and in some cases less than 47%. This structure of the cultivation layer negatively affected on the water and air regimes of the soil, the growth and development of the root system and, ultimately, the yield of winter barley. The highest yield of winter barley was obtained after buckwheat, winter rape and soybeans (6.0-6.3 t/ha) for selfless chisel tillage by 20-22 cm. After corn for grain and sunflower, the yield was 5.1-5.7 t/ha.

Продуктивність ячменю озимого залежно від попередників у Закарпатті України

Winter barley is a valuable food, fodder, and technical crop. Our research is aimed at obtaining economically and energy-efficient, adequate to the bioresource potential of winter barley grain yield, depending on the preceding crops in Transcarpathia of Ukraine. Research and balance calculations available soil moisture showed that the conditions of Transcarpathia it is negative and ranges from 250 to 1210 tons / ha or 25-121 mm. Accumulation and efficient use of available moisture in the soil depends on the amount of precipitation and their frequency of precipitation, crop rotation (preceding crops), tillage system, fertilization, and weediness of fields. The largest reserves of available moisture in the soil during the sowing of winter barley were after winter rape and buckwheat, the smallest – after sunflower and, especially, corn for grain. During the autumn-winter period, the reserves of available moisture in a meter layer of soil were replenished by 21-35%, but the influence of preceding crops remained. The critical period of winter barley in terms of moisture occurs during earing - grain filling. Preceding crops of early harvesting (winter oilseed rape and buckwheat) have a positive effect on the accumulation and retention of moisture in the soil. Late harvest preceding crops (maize for grain and sunflower) reduce the available moisture content and reserves by up to 18% compared to early harvest crops. On average over three years, the highest yield of winter barley was after buckwheat and amounted to 5.9 t / ha, the lowest - after corn for grain and was at 4.9 t / ha, which is 0.8 t / ha lower than the control variant.

Carbon Footprint and Life-Cycle Costs of Maize Production in Conventional and Non-Inversion Tillage Systems

Given the problem of climate change and the requirements laid down by the European Union in the field of gradual decarbonization of production, it is necessary to implement solutions of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into agricultural practice. This research paper aimed to evaluate the carbon footprint and life-cycle costs of grain maize production in various tillage systems. The material for the analyses was data from 2015–2017 collected on 15 farms located in the Wielkopolska region (Poland) and growing maize for grain in three tillage systems: conventional, reduced, and no-tillage. The life-cycle assessment and life-cycle costing methodologies were applied to assess the GHG emissions and costs associated with the grain maize production in the stages from “cradle-to-farm gate”, i.e., from obtaining raw materials and producing means for agricultural production, through the processes of maize cultivation to grain harvesting. The calculated values of the carbon footprint indicator for maize production in conventional, reduced, and no-tillage systems were 2347.4, 2353.4, and 1868.7 CO2 eq. ha−1, respectively. The largest source of GHG emissions was the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Non-inversion tillage with cover crops and leaving a large amount of crop residues in the field increased the sequestration of organic carbon and contributed to a significant reduction of the carbon footprint in maize production. The conventional tillage system demonstrated the highest overall life-cycle costs per hectare.

НОВЫЙ СОРТ ОЗИМОЙ ТВЕРДОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ ЮБИЛЯРКА

The developed varieties of winter durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) should combine potential productivity with high grain quality and resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental factors. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate a new winter durum wheat variety ‘Yubilyarka’ included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 2019 as permitted for use in the North Caucasus Region due to its productivity, resistance to stress factors and grain quality. The study of the variety was carried out at the test plot of the State Scientific Establishment “Agricultural research center “Donskoy” in 2013–2019. In the field trials (competitive variety testing), the winter durum wheat variety ‘Yubilyarka’ was sown after green fallow, peas, maize for grain, sunflower. Intraspecific step hybridization with a subsequent individual selection was the main method for creating variety ‘Yubilyarka’. The experimental part of the study was carried out according to the methods of the Commission for the Testing and Protection of Selection Achievements (Gossortcommission) and the methodology of field experiments. In the course of the research, the morphological, biological, and economically valuable traits of the variety ‘Yubilyarka’ were evaluated. During the study in the competitive variety testing, the yield increase, if compared to standard variety ‘Donchanka’, when sown after green fallow, was 0.99 t/ha. The new variety is more heat and drought tolerant (both in the initial phases of plant growth and development and in subsequent periods of active vegetation), is sufficiently winter hardy, and resistant to the main diseases in the region. The quality indicators of grain, groats, and pasta comply with the requirements of GOST RF 9353-2016 and existing standards for durum wheat. The grain vitreousness, on average, was 91 % and more, hectolitre weight – 784 g/l, protein content – 14.29 %, gluten content – 24.7 %, gluten quality (SDS test) – 33 ml, pasta color – 4.1 points. The introduction of the new variety into production will allow improving the gross yield of durum wheat both for the processing industry and for export use.

Is It Possible to Replace Part of the Mineral Nitrogen Dose in Maize for Grain by Using Growth Activators and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria?

The European Green Deal presented by the European Commission aims to reduce nutrient losses by at least 50% while preventing the deterioration of soil fertility and reducing the use of fertilizers by at least 20% by 2030. Farmers in the EU must prepare for this. Studies carried out in several locations in Poland in 2017–2019 tested the possibility of replacing 30–40% of the dose of mineral nitrogen by Penergetic (K + P) growth activators alone and in combination with Azoter containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in the cultivation of maize for grain. It was confirmed that the two combinations allowed a higher yield of maize grain by 2.9% and 8.8%, respectively, compared to the full nitrogen dose. Positive changes in the content of some assimilable macro- and microelements and soil organic carbon (SOC), and an increase in soil pH, were also observed.

Grain quality of the winter soft wheat varieties depending on the forecrops

The purpose of the current work was to assess the grain quality indicators of the half-intensive types of winter soft wheat based on the forecrops of peas and maize for grain. The objects of research were 7 winter soft wheat varieties of half-intensive type “Don 107”, “Kapitan”, “Kaprizulya”, “Lilit”, “Krasa Dona”, “Ermak”, “Zhavoronok” developed in the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. There has been established that the varieties grown after peas formed the grain nature weight and hardness at the level of the first quality class (according to the GOST requirements). The mass fraction of protein in the varieties “Kapitan”, “Kaprizulya” and “Ermak” corresponded to the second quality class (not less than 13.5%), and the rest of the samples belonged to the third class (not less than 12.0%). The amount of gluten in the grains of all varieties met the requirements for the third quality class (at least 23.0%). The samples “Kaprizulya” and “Zhavoronok” formed the largest amount, 25.6% and 25.7%, respectively. The falling number of all winter bread wheat varieties sown after peas and maize for grain corresponded to the standards of the first class (at least 200 s). Sown after maize for grain, the grain nature weight and hardness of the studied winter bread wheat varieties was at the level of the first quality class. The amount of protein in the grains of the most varieties met the requirements for the third quality class (at least 12.0%), except for the samples “Kaprizulya” (13.5%) and “Lilit” (13.5%), belonging to the second quality class. The amount of gluten of almost all samples met the GOST requirements for the forth quality class (not less than 18%), except for the variety “Zhavoronok”, whose grain corresponded to the third quality class (24.3%). There has been identified that peas was the best forecrop for obtaining winter bread wheat grain of half-intensive types at the level of I-III quality classes.