Winter Wheat Grain Research Articles

Influence of mineral fertilizers and liming on the dynamics of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, crop yield and quality of crop products of crop rotation link

In the field experiment was investigated the effect of repeated lime application on CO2 emissions from the soil, yield and quality of plant products against the background of mineral fertilizers N90P90K90, on dark gray forest heavy loamy soil. As a result of liming and improvement of the acid regime in the soil, prerequisites are created to enhance the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms in the experiment. It was revealed that an increase in biological activity (carbon dioxide emissions) against the background of the application of mineral fertilizers N90P90K90 and CaCO3 ensures high yield and product quality, contributes to favorable conditions for preserving soil fertility and to a greater extent stimulates the development of microorganisms using mineral forms of nitrate nitrogen. With the systematic use of mineral fertilizers N90P90K90 at the stage of crop rotation, an increase in the quality of cultivated crops was noted (the nutritional value of the green mass of clover; the content of crude protein, protein, gluten, starch in barley grain; the nature of grain in winter wheat). In different years of research, according to weather conditions, grain with a high content of crude gluten, protein, nature in winter wheat grain, starch in barley, ash nutrition elements in clover was obtained. The best option turned out to be using dolomite flour and (N90P90K90). All the considered quality indicators of winter wheat improved under the influence of fertilizers and lime, and the difference with the control was: protein – 0,64–1,78%; crude gluten – 1,6–4,3%; grain nature – 11–26 g/l. The highest productivity was obtained when applying mineral fertilizers and lime: barley – 3,53 t/ha, clover hay of the first year of use – 77,53 t/ha, winter wheat – 7,89 t/ha, compared with the control without the use of fertilizers.

Quantifying the rainfall variability effects on crop growth and production in the intensified annual forage - winter wheat rotation systems in a semiarid region of China

Replacing summer fallow period (July to September, SF) with annual short-season forages in the traditional fallow-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system may maintain grain yield and improve productivity in the semi-arid environments. But the uneven and variability rainfall led to instable productivity of the annual forage–winter wheat cropping system. The aims of this study were to 1) quantifying rainfall variability effects on annual forage–winter wheat system crop growing process and productivity; 2) determine the optimal annual forage–winter wheat production system that will response better to future climate change. A four-year (2016–2020) field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of replacing summer fallow period with annual forages including oat (FO, Avena sativa L.), soybean (SB, Glycine max L.), and vetch (FV, Vicia sativa L.) on plant height (H), leaf area index (LAI), and above-ground biomass (AByield) growth index dynamics under three different levels of rainfall manipulation i.e. 30 % of ambient rainfall exclusion (R-30 %), natural rainfall (CK), and 30 % of ambient rainfall increase (R+30 %). Additionally, we assessed the correlations between forage and winter wheat production with growing season precipitation across 12 rainfall scenarios. Average forage biomass values of oat, soybean, and vetch were 5.50, 4.29, and 2.82 t ha−1, respectively during summer fallow period. The average winter wheat grain yield values in SF, FO, SB, and FV were 3.78, 3.12, 4.02, and 3.18 t ha−1, respectively. Integrating oat into fallow period had negative effects on wheat growth and production, and the H, LAI, and AByield for FO were 63.7 %, 50.9 %, and 29.9 % lower than SF in dry year, but the wheat grain yield in SB were 18.2 % and 24.8 % greater than SF in normal and wet years. Across the four growing seasons, the forage and wheat yields were shown to be strongly related to precipitation, and increasing precipitation significantly enhanced the production. In 2016–2017 growing season, LAI of wheat in SF, FO, SB, and FV with R+30 % scenario was increased by 30.2 %, 21.7 %, 32.7 %, and 19.8 % and that with R-30 % scenario decreased by 23.2 %, 17.8 %, 24.7 %, 16.5 % compared CK, respectively. The traditional summer fallow practice had advantage for maintaining stability in wheat gain production, especially under dry years. In consideration of forage and wheat production to rainfall variability, integrating soybean into fallow season may be an efficient option to maintain wheat yield and produce high forage amount under future climate change on the Loess Plateau and similar semi-arid regions.

Influence of Artemisia dubia Wall and Pig Manual Digestate on Winter Wheat Productivity and Grain Quality

Sustainable agriculture aims to use biological resources to improve crop quality and productivity. This approach promotes alternatives, such as replacing synthetic pesticides with biological ones and substituting mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Field trials were conducted using two different factors: fertilizer treatments (ammonium nitrate and pig manure digestate) and plant protection treatments (pesticides, Artemisia dubia Wall biomass mulch, and strips). After harvesting the winter wheat, the productivity and quality (weight of 1000 grains, protein, gluten, starch, sedimentation of grains) were evaluated. The two-year studies showed that pig manure digestate positively affected winter wheat grain quality. Mugwort biomass outperformed other plant protection options in three key grain quality indicators (protein, gluten, and sedimentation). Furthermore, in 2023, the highest grain yield of 5798 ± 125 kg ha−1 was observed in the pesticides and pig manure digestate treatment. The quick impact and mode of action of vegetation pesticides were more easily felt over the two years of study, leading to the highest yield of wheat grains compared to other plant management measures. This study shows that mugwort biomass can positively influence wheat grain quality, a significant milestone in utilizing nonfood crops as alternatives for agricultural productivity.

Combination of nitrogen and organic fertilizers reduce N2O emissions while increasing winter wheat grain yields and quality in China

Wheat grain yields, quality, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were controlled through the type and application rate of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Here, we investigated the optimal management of N fertilization by examining the combined effects of organic and N fertilizers on wheat yields, quality, and N2O emissions. Field trials under six treatments were located on campus farms at Anhui Science and Technology University, including farmer’s common practice (270 kg N ha-1, N270), 2/3 reduction in N270 (90 kg N ha-1, N90), organic fertilizer with equal N270 (OF270), 2/3 reduction in OF270 (OF90), 4/5 reduction OF270 + 1/5 reduction N270 (20% OF270 + 80% N270), and 4/5 reduction OF90 + 1/5 reduction N90 (20% OF90 + 80% N90) were applied to winter wheat. The plots were arranged in a randomized complete block experimental design. The N2O emissions were quantified under different fertilization measures in the peak wheat growing season during sowing, jointing, and grain filling stages, respectively. Compared with N270 and N90 treatments, N2O emissions were significantly decreased by 18.6% and 27.2%, respectively, under 20% OF270 + 80% N270% and 20% OF90 + 80% N90 (p < 0.05). Further, N2O emissions in N270 were increased by 50.8% relative to N90. Wheat yields increased significantly under 20% OF90 + 80% N90 by 27.6% (N270) and 16.4% (N90), and were considerably enhanced under 20% OF270 + 80% N270 by 40.6% (N270) and 12.7% (N90) in contrast to OF270 and N270 (p < 0.05). Compared with N90, the content of wet gluten, protein and starch under 20% OF90 + 80% N90 treatment significantly increased by 7.7%, 13.8% and 7.9%, and enhanced by 7.6%, 4.8%, 8.0% relative to OF90, respectively (p < 0.05). The starch content increased significantly by 2.0%, whereas the settlement value decreased considerably by 2.9% under 20% OF270 + 80% N270 (p < 0.05), and there was no notable difference in the wet gluten and protein contents (p > 0.05). Our findings indicated that organic fertilizer mixed with N fertilizer can effectively reduce N2O emissions, increase both the grain yields and quality in wheat field compared with N fertilizer alone.

A Mixture of Summer Legume and Nonlegume Cover Crops Enhances Winter Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Balance

Cover crops protecting soil erosion during the summer fallow in the monsoon weather may enhance dryland winter wheat yield and N relations. We examined the effects of four summer cover crops (soybean (Glycine max L., SB), sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense {Piper} Stapf, SG), soybean and sudangrass mixture (SS), and no cover crop (CK)) and three N fertilization rates (0, 60, and 120 kg N ha−1) on winter wheat yield, quality, and N relations from 2017–2018 to 2020–2021 in the Loess Plateau of China. Cover crop biomass and N accumulation, soil mineral N, and winter wheat yield, protein concentration, and N uptake were greater for SB and SS than other cover crops at most N fertilization rates and years. The N fertilization rate had variable effects on these parameters. Winter wheat aboveground biomass and grain N productivities were greater for CK than other cover crops at all N fertilization rates and years. Nitrogen balance was greater for SS than other cover crops at 60 and 120 kg N ha−1 in all years. The SS with 120 kg N ha−1 can enhance soil mineral N, winter wheat yield and quality, and N balance compared to CK and SG with or without N fertilization rates.

Evaluation of Federal Crop Insurance Corporation methods to estimate soft winter wheat grain yield in the Eastern United States

Evaluation of Federal Crop Insurance Corporation methods to estimate soft winter wheat grain yield in the Eastern United States

Problems and effectiveness of breeding of winter wheat varieties with increased environmental stability

Aim. The search of adaptive response peculiarities to adverse environmental factors is an important condition of development of varietal technologies and control of adaptive potential of winter wheat varieties. Methods. The studies were carried out in accordance with the field test methodology. The wheat varieties of different types of growing, different genetic and ecological origins were studied. Results. The alternative variety Clarisa and the new universal varieties of winter wheat Perlyna, Askaniyska, Askaniyska Bereginya were characterized by the highest yield at different times of spring vegetation recovery. Thus, on average over the years of research, they exceeded the standard variety of Kherson Bezosta by 0.51–1.27 t/ha in terms of yield, and under unfavorable conditions of the late recovery of spring vegetation, their advantage was at the level of 0.58–1.34 t/ha. Conclusions. For stable production of high-yielding winter soft wheat grain, use new varieties of the universal type Askaniyska, Askaniyska Bereginya, Perlyna and alternative types Clarissa, Solomia for different agrophones for late sowing periods according to different predecessors.

Effects of Organic Manure on Wheat Yield and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in a Soil—Wheat System

The application of organic manure is an effective way to develop sustainable agriculture. However, the application of organic manure may be associated with a potential risk of heavy metal pollution for soil and crops. In this study, the effects of organic cow manure (T1) (as base fertilizer), organic pig manure (T2) (as base fertilizer) and chemical fertilizer (T3) on winter wheat grain yields, grain quality, heavy metal concentrations and heavy metal bioconcentration factors (BCFs) in a soil–wheat system were studied from November 2021 to June 2023. The results showed that the winter wheat grain yields in the T1 and T2 treatments were lower than those in the T3 treatment by 2.57–38.0% and 10.5–25%, respectively. There were no significant differences in quality indexes of winter wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. The concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil and winter wheat were 0.12–76.11 μg/g and 0.01–43.25 μg/g, respectively. The BCFs of heavy mental in the soil–wheat grain system was 0–2.92. In general, there were no significant differences in heavy metals’ concentrations in topsoil and wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. In summary, compared with chemical fertilizer, the short-term application of organic manures had no significant effect on heavy metals concentrations in topsoil and wheat.

The 500-meter long-term winter wheat grain protein content dataset for China from multi-source data

In China, the exigency for precise wheat grain protein content (GPC) data rises with growing food consumption demands and global market competition. However, due to the lack of extensive, prolonged high-resolution benchmark data, previous GPC studies have primarily focused on experimental fields, small geographic units, and limited temporal scopes. Additionally, the diverse geographical terrain in China exacerbates the challenges of large-scale GPC estimation. To address this challenge and the data gap, the first 500-meter spatial resolution, long-term winter wheat dataset covering major planting regions in China (CNWheatGPC-500) was created by integrating multi-source data from ERA5 and MODIS. The results demonstrate that the GPC estimation model based on hierarchical linear model significantly outperformed other conventional models. The validation dataset exhibited an R2 of 0.45 and an RMSE of 0.96%. In cross-validation, the RMSE values ranged from 0.90% in Gansu to 1.32% in Anhui. For leave-one-year-out cross-validation, the RMSE values ranged from 0.77% to 1.11%. CNWheatGPC-500 offers valuable insights for enhancing wheat production, quality control, and agricultural decision-making.

Application of hydrogel polymers and fertilizers for increasing winter wheat grain yield in conditions of rain-fed agriculture

This study aims to address the critical issue of water scarcity, which is being intensified by climate change and presents significant challenges to rain-fed agriculture, especially in arid regions. The research focuses on enhancing winter wheat grain yield productivity under rain-fed conditions through the utilization of locally produced, environmentally friendly hydrogel polymers. The methodology involved a field experiment conducted in the Spitak community, Armenia, from 2022 to 2023, covering an area of 630 m². Along with control groups, the study had 21 experimental treatments that used Aquasource and Van polymers in different ways, with and without nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer. The findings indicated that the application of Aquasource and Van polymers at doses of 50-100 kg ha⁻¹ and 750-1000 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, without fertilizers significantly increased soil moisture absorption during the tillering and heading stages by 11.5-12.5% and 5.5-7.5%, compared to the controls. On the other hand, using these polymers with NPK fertilizer (N50P50K50 and N100P100K100) together made it harder for plants to absorb water, especially when more polymers were used. Soil moisture levels had a substantial impact on winter wheat grain yield metrics during these growth stages, demonstrating a strong correlation (R = 0.71-0.91). Enhanced moisture absorption resulting from polymer application led to a 22-24% increase in winter wheat grain yield. The practical implications of this study lie in its identification of key factors that influence winter wheat yield in rain-fed agriculture, particularly regarding locally sourced polymer dosage and application methods, both independently and in conjunction with fertilizers.

Soil Mineral Nitrogen and Mobile Organic Carbon as Affected by Winter Wheat Strip Tillage and Forage Legume Intercropping

Diversifying crop rotations by incorporating legumes is recommended to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems against environmental stresses and optimize nitrogen utilization. Nonetheless, ploughing forage legumes or grass-legumes poses a significant risk of nitrate leaching. The study aimed to assess the impact of strip tillage intercropping management on soil mineral nitrogen, water-extractable organic carbon, mobile humic substances content, and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield compared to forage legume and winter wheat monocropping with conventional tillage. In the intercropping systems, the following bicrops were used: black medick (Medicago lupulina L.) with winter wheat, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) with winter wheat, and Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) with winter wheat. Research was conducted in two experiments. The results indicated that after implementing strip tillage and winter wheat intercropping, the soil mineral nitrogen content was similar to or lower than that observed in conventional tillage and winter wheat sowing after forage legumes. Winter wheat grain yield in intercrops decreased compared to the legumes monocultures that were ploughed before winter wheat sowing. The highest amount of water- extractable organic carbon was in intercropping growing white clover and winter wheat bicrops or in all fields (except Egyptian clover and winter wheat bicrops) after applying strip tillage. During the research period, the quantities of mobile humic substances and mobile humic acids exhibited similar changes. Their content increased substantially in fields with white clover and Egyptian clover, regardless of whether the legumes were ploughed or grown with winter wheat.

Mulching drive changes in soil microbial community assembly processes and networks across aggregate fractions

Soil microbial community assembly processes and networks in croplands have been widely explored; however, their dynamics and how they regulate winter wheat yield across distinct soil aggregate fractions under the combined effects of mulching and soil horizons have not been comprehensively understood. Therefore, based on a 9-y field experiment, the responses of soil bacterial and fungal community assembly processes and interkingdom association networks to mulching were specifically investigated at the soil aggregation level. Soil properties and microbial biomass were separated into distinct mulching in the topsoil (0–10 cm), and soil water content was considered the most critical factor. The soil bacterial community was affected mainly by mulching and soil horizon compared with the fungal community in microaggregates (<0.25 mm). Notably, the bacterial community displayed more robust stochastic processes than the fungal one, and microbial interkingdom association networks were more complex and stable in micro-than macroaggregates. Soil potential carbon mineralization, pH, and total nitrogen were the dominant properties regulating winter wheat grain yield in combination with microbial community composition, assembly processes, and networks in each soil aggregate class. Wheat yield decreased under straw mulching and was mainly regulated by bacterial community composition and assembly processes. Thus, this study enhanced our understanding of the regulations for wheat yield, which could facilitate soil microbial community management at the aggregation level for sustainable crop production in mulching conservation agroecosystems.

Fungal pathogens of mold of winter wheat grains in Rostov region

Long-term monitoring of the colonization of winter wheat grain by fungal mold pathogens that negatively affect the quality of grain during storage, reducing the quality of seed material, food grains and forage, showed that a high level of occurrence on the grain ofRostov winter wheat samples for the period 2014–2021 was manifested by mold fungiMucorspp.,Aspergillusniger,Aspergillusglaucus,Aspergillus flavus, species of the genusPenicillium.Relatively low occurrence was observed inRhizopus nigricansandCladosporium herbarumspecies.Mold pathogens are producers of the most dangerous mycotoxins: ochratoxinA(species ofPenicillium,Aspergillus niger,A. glaucus), aflotoxinB1 (A.flavus), rhizonins (Rhizopusspp.), etc.In the regions ofSouthernRussia, with severe drought in the soil and on the lower parts of plants, the accumulation of the fungusPenicillium purpureogenumis often noted, for some time it could become dominant.When restoring the level of moisture supply, a decrease in the occurrence ofP. purpureogenumwas observed, often to zero, and an increase in the occurrence of mucor fungi (Fusarium solani,F.semitectum), non-circulatingMycelia sterilia fungi, etc., a noticeable increase in the total density of fungal colonies.The highest level of external infection of grain was due to colonization of grain by fungi from thePenicilliumgroup, as well asA. glaucusandA. niger, the highest level of internal infection was caused by thePenicilliumgroup,Rhizopus nigricans,A. niger.The dominance of external infection over internal infection was observed during colonization by penicilli and aspergillus, the dominance of internal over external infection by rhizopus and cladosporium.

Influence of sowing dates and fertilisation on yield and quality of winter wheat grain

New wheat varieties exhibit a high adaptive potential for productivity. The question of improving cultivation technologies, specifically sowing dates, optimised fertilisation systems, and micronutrient application, remains relevant to fully realise the genetic potential of these varieties under specific soil and climatic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sowing dates, fertilisation, and foliar application of micronutrients on the yield and quality parameters of winter wheat grown in the Western Forest-Steppe zone. A field experiment was conducted on grey forest surface-gleyed soils during 2021-2023. The study evaluated the yield formation parameters and quality indicators of the winter wheat varieties Estafeta myronivska, Dovira odeska, and Akhim under sowing dates of 20 September, 5 October, and 20 October. It was determined that the yield and grain quality of the studied wheat varieties varied under the influence of sowing dates, fertilisation, and foliar micronutrient application. Sowing winter wheat on 5 October resulted in the highest yields over the years of the study: on average, 5.29 t/ha for the Estafeta myronivska, 4.78 t/ha for Dovira odeska, and 5.05 t/ha for Akhim. The highest productivity (5.83 t/ ha) was achieved by sowing Estafeta myronivska with N120P90K90 fertilisation and foliar application of the Aidamin complex. Across all wheat varieties, protein content, gluten content, and vitreousness increased from the earliest to the latest sowing dates. The findings of this study can be applied to enhance the productivity of winter wheat agroecosystems and produce high-quality grain under production conditions

Soil mineral nitrogen and winter wheat nitrogen productivity influenced by summer cover crop and nitrogen fertilization

Cover crops and nitrogen (N) fertilization may affect soil mineral N, N uptake, and N productivity (grain yield per unit plant available N) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We evaluated the effect of summer cover crops and N fertilization rates on soil mineral N and winter wheat grain yield, N uptake, and N productivity in the Loess Plateau of China. We measured cover crop aboveground biomass N, soil mineral N (0-20 cm), and winter wheat yield, N uptake, and N productivity for four seasons from 2017-2018 to 2020-2021. Cover crops were soybean (Glycine max L., SB), sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense [Piper] Stapf, SG], soybean and sudangrass mixture (SS), and no cover crop (CK) and N fertilization rates were 0, 60, and 120 kg N ha−1 applied to wheat. The SB increased cover crop biomass N and soil mineral N by 15 to 65%, but SS increased winter wheat yield, protein concentration, and N uptake by 25 to 55% compared to SG and CK at most N fertilization rates and years. Nitrogen fertilization rate had a variable effect on cover crop and wheat parameters. Wheat N productivity was 55 to 85% greater with CK than cover crops, but decreased with increased N fertilization rates. The N fertilizer equivalence of cover crops for wheat yield and N uptake ranged from 31 kg N ha−1 for SG to 150 kg N ha−1 for SS. Overall, SS with 60 kg N ha−1 can sustain winter wheat N uptake and N productivity compared to SG or CK with or without N fertilization.

Variation of winter wheat grain quality traits in the Steppe zone of the Rostov region

Variation of winter wheat grain quality traits in the Steppe zone of the Rostov region

The effect of green manure on the agrochemical properties of soil in winter wheat crops, yield and grain quality

The effect of green manure on the agrochemical properties of soil in winter wheat crops, yield and grain quality

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LIME RATES ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF WINTER WHEAT UNDER MINERAL FERTILIZATION ON A SOD-PODZOLIC SOIL

Stable productivity, essential for winter wheat as a strategic crop, can only be achieved by meeting its growth and development requirements, especially nutrition. Soddy-podzolic soils, typically highly acidic in their natural state, are unsuitable for realizing winter wheat's full yield potential. Combined fertilizer and lime application is a key factor for grain yield and quality. While lime (CaCO3) is widely used to reclaim acidic soils, determining the optimal application rate, particularly in combination with mineral fertilizers, is crucial. This research investigated the effect of applying 0,5-2,0 lime norms based on soil hydrolytic acidity (Hh, mmol/100 g) combined with a moderate norm of N60P60K60 mineral fertilizers on winter wheat grain yield and quality. The soil had an initial pHKCl of 4.8 and a hydrolytic acidity of 2,3 mmol/100 g of soil. Field, laboratory, calculation, statistical, and generalization methods were employed. The experiment revealed the lowest grain yield in the control and N60P60K60 treatments without liming. Lime application at various rates with N60P60K60 increased grain yield by 0,74-0,89 t/ha compared to the control, with the 1,5 CaCO3 norm by Hh achieving the best results. The application of 2,0 norms of CaCO3 led to a statistical decrease in yield by 0,14 t/ha (p≤0,05) due to a reduction in available nutrient compounds in the soil. Liming also affected the main indicators of grain quality of winter wheat. An increase to the control was found for the weight of 1000 grains and protein content, while the actual weight of the grain decreased. As the most optimal treatment, regarding grain quality, was found out the option of 1,0 CaCO3 norm based on soil hydrolytic acidity in combination with N60P60K60, with the winter wheat grain yield of 3,54 t/ha and an increase in the protein content in it by 6,8% to the background

WSTĘPNE OKREŚLENIE MOŻLIWOŚCI REDUKCJI NAWOŻENIA AZOTOWEGO POD WPŁYWEM PREPARATÓW BAKTERYJNYCH W UPRAWIE TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.

The use of microorganisms in agriculture is attracting increasing interest. Thus, the state of knowledge on this issue and biotechnological advances are significantly increasing. A field research was conducted during the 2022–2023 growing season to evaluate the influence of the combined application of bacterial formulation and mineral nitrogen fertilization on grain and straw yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the structure of the obtained yield. The factors of the conducted field experiment were bacterial formulations: control (no application of bacterial formulations), I – Azotobacter and Arthrobacter, II – Bacillus subtillis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus azotofixans, III – Bacillus azotofixans; B – mineral nitrogen fertilization: control (no mineral nitrogen fertilization), 43 kg N·ha−1, 86 kg N·ha−1, 130 kg N·ha−1. Research was conducted demonstrating the most favorable effects after applying a bacterial formulation containing Azotobacter and Arthrobacter bacteria. It was statistically significant increase in grain yield by an average of 17%, number of ears per m2 by 15%, ear length by 5% and thousand grain weight by 3% The application of other formulations also caused an increase in the analyzed traits, but they were lower than those given for Azotobacter and Arthrobacter bacteria. A gradual increase in the level of mineral nitrogen fertilization also had a positive effect on the analyzed traits. The research conducted in the field found a possible reduction in mineral nitrogen fertilization under the conditions of the conducted experiment by about 33% without yield losses when using a bacterial formulation containing Azotobacter and Arthrobacter. Thus, it is appropriate to recommend the use of these bacteria in winter wheat cultivation, but due to the possible variable effectiveness of application under different soil and climatic conditions, the presented research should be continued in different areas both in wheat and other crops.

Impact of Various Essential Oils on the Development of Pathogens of the Fusarium Genus and on Health and Germination Parameters of Winter Wheat and Maize.

Currently, researchers are looking for ways to replace synthetic pesticides with substances of natural origin. Essential oils are produced by plants, among other things, to protect against pathogens, which is why there is interest in their use as fungicides. This experiment assessed the composition of essential oils from a commercial source, their impact on the development of mycelium of pathogens of the Fusarium genus, and the possibility of using them as a pre-sowing treatment. Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) were inoculated with a suspension of mycelium and spores of fungi of the Fusarium genus and then soaked in solutions containing oils of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). The obtained results indicate that thyme essential oil had the strongest effect on limiting the development of Fusarium pathogens and seedling infection, but at the same time it had an adverse effect on the level of germination and seedling development of the tested plants. The remaining essential oils influenced the mentioned parameters to varying degrees. Selected essential oils can be an alternative to synthetic fungicides, but they must be selected appropriately.