Influence of Copper Pollution of Haplic Calcic Chernozem With Various Contents of Sand Fractions on Morphobiometric Indicators of Spring Barley

The growth and development of plants is one of the criteria for assessing the degree of soil pollution with heavy metals. Morphological and anatomical changes in test plants affected by pollutants, such as growth retardation, shoot bending, and decreased root length and mass, indicate the worsening of environmental conditions. The effect of various ratios of soil and sand polluted with copper (Cu) on morphobiometric parameters of spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum), Ratnik variety, was studied in a model vegetative experiment. Haplic calcic chernozem was used as a substrate with different ratios of soil/sand. It was determined that an addition of sand into the soil in the amounts of 25%, 50% and 75% of soil mass resulted in the alteration of the physical properties of the chernozem, which was reflected in the morphometric parameters of the plants. The most notable changes in the parameters were observed after pollution of soil-sand substrates with Cu(CH3COO)2 in the amounts of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg. The maximum growth and development retardation of the barley plants was found at the maximum content of sand and the maximum concentration of Cu. The pollutant reduced the root length and, to a lesser degree, the height of the aboveground components of the plant, which as a result, decreased the total plant biomass. Keywords: trace elements, soil, agricultural crops, particle size distribution

Influence of biopreparations on formation of elements of productivity of spring barley

Relevance. The strategy for the development of agriculture in Russia and its biologization determine the relevance of our research. Empirical studies are aimed at studying the effect of biological preparations on the formation of elements of the structure of the yield of spring barley. The data presented in the work continues the research carried out in 2016–2020 in the Rostov region.Methods. Studied biopreparations are: Biodux; Trainer; Artafite; Obereg; Fulvogumate. Control — water treatment. Spraying was carried out according to the recommendations for the use of preparations: 1st — in the tillering phase, 2nd — in the heading phase. The total area under the experiments is 600 m2, the area of each variant is 25 m2, the replication is 4 times. The link in the crop rotation is “sunflower — spring barley”. The soils of the experimental plot are ordinary chernozem. Used variety is Leon.Results. In 2021, full sprouting of barley was observed on the 8th day after sowing. This is due to sufficient warming up of the sowing layer of soil (+8 °C) and moisture 28 mm (in a layer of 0–10 cm). Studies have shown that field germination of barley was 88%. The use of biological products influenced the survival rate of plants to harvest which wasmore than 80%. In the variants with the use of Biodux and Obereg, this figure was 86 and 87%, respectively. Biopreparations stimulated the growth of productive stems, productive bushiness increased in comparison with the control (1,21) to 1,28–1,33. The mass of a thousand grains in the variants exceeded the control, especially with the use of Obereg — 45,6 g, which is 2,9 g more than the control. The number of grains in an ear ranged from 17,7 to 18 pieces, which is on average 1 piece more than in the control. The highest productivity was formed by barley plants under the influence of the biopreparations Obereg and Biodux. Thus, the increase in productivity under the influence of biological products due to all elements of the productivity of barley plants has been reliably proven.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF GRAIN VARIETIES OF SPRING BARLEY OF TATAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE SELECTION

Four varieties and 3 promising lines of spring barley breeding by Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture were studied for grain nutrition to identify the most promising ones. The work was conducted in 2015-2017 in Predkamye Republic of Tatarstan. Grey forest soil, humus content 3.35-3.52 % (GOST 26213-91), alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen 85.0...94.0 mg/kg (by A.H. Kornfield), mobile phosphorus 251...287 and exchangeable potassium 149...167 mg/kg (by Kirsanov; GOST 26207-91). The predecessor is winter rye, the repetition is fourfold, the standard grade is Raushan. It was found that line k-295-12, on average over 3 years, significantly exceeded the standard by 27.77 g in crude protein content; by 20.0 g in digestible protein content and by 7.35 g in digestible protein content per feeding unit. The variability of sugar content in varieties was 30.67 ... 47.0 g, significantly exceeded the standard by 13.33 g variety Tevkech (47.0 g) and by 13.0 g line k-23-13 (46.67 g). The fat content was formed in the standard 19.03 g, varieties Kamashevsky, Endan and lines k-23-23, k-561-13 and k-295-12 exceeded it by 7.47; 5.77; 11.47; 9.84 and 5.67 g, respectively. The exchange energy content in grain ranged from 14.42 MJ of the variety Raushan, to 14.72 MJ of the line k-295-12, with no significant differences between genotypes. In the dry year of 2015, the crude and digestible protein content was 148.0...165.0 and 110.74...118.8 g, respectively, and in 2016 it was 129.00...164.4 and 92.88...118.37 g, respectively. In favorable 2017, the content of crude and digestible protein were lower, the varieties Raushan and Tevkech were characterized by the greatest decrease in crude and digestible protein (65.7 and 67.4 % to the level of 2015). On average over 3 years, the best line was k-295-12 for the set of indicators of grain nutrition

Metabolic activity of Hordeum vulgare, Brassica napus and Vicia faba in Worm and Root type Biopore Sheaths

Aims Biopores offer favorable chemical, biological and physical properties for root growth in untilled soil layers. There they are considered as nutrient “hotspots” with preferential root growth. However, the literature lacks a quantification of metabolic activity due to nutrient acquisition of main crops while growing in the biopore sheath. Methods A pot experiment was performed to map the metabolic activity of roots, as indicated by pH change. The roots of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were growing through the biopore sheath influenced by an earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris L.) or a taproot (Cichorium intybus L.), in comparison to subsoil without a pore (bulk soil). pH sensitive planar optodes were applied in order to image a planar section of the sheath, while preserving an intact biopore sheath during the experiment. Results Roots were first found in the field of view in worm biopore then root biopore and bulk soil. At time of the first measurement the pH value was highest in worm biopore sheath (LS-Mean±SEM: 7.16a±0.11), followed by root biopore sheath (6.99ab±0.12) and bulk soil (6.61b±0.12). In spring oilseed rape a significant alkalization (+0.80 Δ pH) was found over time in bulk soil. Faba bean significantly acidified the root biopore sheath (-0.73 Δ pH). Spring barley showed no significant pH changes. Conclusions The results of the current study reveal a trend of faster root growth through biopores and a higher initial pH value in the biopore sheaths compared to the bulk soil. Biopores serve not only as an elongation path for roots, but their sheaths also provide an environment for root activity in the subsoil.

Application of photometry for diagnostics of nitrogen nutrition in spring barley

The article discusses a method for diagnosing nitrogen nutrition of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in different phases of the growing season using a photometric device (N-tester) Yara. The studies were carried out in the conditions of the Moscow region (Russia) on the Mikhailovsky spring barley variety on sod-podzolic medium loamy soils with a high and medium content of phosphorus and potassium and a low content of humus (1.9). The agrometeorological conditions of the growing season of spring barley were characterized by sharp fluctuations in air temperature and the amount of precipitation over decades of the month and in comparison with average long-term observations. Abundant and prolonged precipitation during the grain ripening phase led to lodging in most of the experiments, which affected the yield. To diagnose crops, a model experiment was laid with the introduction of increasing doses of nitrogen fertilizers into pre-sowing cultivation with a step of 30, at which the dose of nitrogen ranged from 30 to 150 kg/ha. Diagnostics was carried out in three phases of vegetation: tube emergence ((Z42), earing (Z55), milk ripeness of grain (Z73) with the Yara N-tester and with the help of stem diagnostics according to the modified method of V. Zerling. The results of photometric diagnostics in the stemming phase (Z42) have a strong correlation with the yield of spring barley grain and with the results of stem diagnostics (R = 0.85). Wherein, the N-tester readings in the earing phase (Z55) and milk ripeness of grain (Z73) with yield R = 0.23 and R = 0.17, respectively, have a weak correlation. This is possibly due to lodging of crops and a change in yield, not as a result of poor plant nutrition, but with difficult mechanized harvesting.

Accumulation of heavy metals in the grain of spring barley (Hordeum sativum) as affected by varietal characteristics and duration of storage

Purpose. Determine the content of heavy metals in the grain of spring barley varieties of different application as affected by the duration of storage. Methods. In the years 2018–2020, 11 spring barley varieties of different applications were studied: grain ‘Stalker’, ‘Vodohrai’, ‘Vzirets’, ‘Ahrarii’, ‘Shchedryk’; universal ‘Enei’; malting ‘Kozak’, ‘Dokuchaievskyi 15’, ‘Etyket’, ‘Helios’, ‘Sviatohor’. The content of chemical elements in the grain (cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, copper, zinc) was determined in the dynamics: immediately after harvest, after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Results. In the studied varieties of spring barley, the lead (Pb) content in the grain varied immediately after threshing and after 7 days ranged from 1.01 to 1.12 mg/kg. Reduction of the studied element after 14 days was observed in all varieties. In particular, the lead content was 1.03 mg/kg in ‘Shchedryk’, 1.01 mg/kg in ‘Stalker’, 1.00 mg/kg in ‘Vzirets’, 0,78 mg/kg (the lowest) in ‘Vodohrai’, and 1.12 mg/kg (the highest) in ‘Ahrarii’. Studies have shown that the most sensitive to cadmium (Cd) grain variety of spring barley was ‘Vzirets’ with the content of 0.09 mg/kg immediately after threshing and on the 7th day of storage; on the 14th, 21st and 28th days, the content was 0.08 mg/kg. The content of cadmium in malting barley grain immediately after threshing and after 7 days was 0.08 mg/kg in ‘Sviatohor’, and 0.09 mg/kg in all other varieties. On the 14th day, the accumulation remained unchanged in varieties ‘Dokuchaievskyi 15’, ‘Etyket’, ‘Helios’, ‘Sviatohor’; insignificant decrease was noted in ‘Kozak’ (0.07 mg/kg). After the storage for 21 and 28 days, the cadmium content was 0.07 mg/kg in ‘Sviatohor’ and ‘Kozak’, and 0.08 mg/kg in all others. Conclusions. The lowest cadmium content was determined in variety ‘Shchedryk’. Immediately after threshing and after 7 days of storage it was 0.05 mg/kg, and on the 14th, 21st and 28th days it decreased to 0.03 mg/kg. Immediately after threshing and after 7 days, the mercury content of the varieties varied from 0.07 to 0.03 mg/kg. After 14, 21 and 28 days, the following values were determined: in ‘Vodohrai’ 0.06 mg/kg, in ‘Stalker’ and ‘Vzirets’ 0.05 mg/kg, in ‘Ahrarii’ 0.04 mg/kg, ‘Shchedryk’ 0.3 mg/kg. Depending on the varietal characteristics and duration of storage, the highest content (14.05 mg/kg) was determined in ‘Ahrarii’, and the lowest (12.55 mg/kg) in ‘Shchedryk’. The study of the ‘Enei’ variety of spring barley of universal application allows us to note that the accumulation of heavy metals, as affected by the duration of storage, did not differ significantly from the grain varities.

Dynamics and control of cereal bugs in spring barley crops in conditions of Right-bank Forrest-steppe of Ukraine

Cereal bugs can reduce the yield of cereals, worsen the quality characteristics of grain, and reduce the sowing quality of seeds with intensive reproduction and nutrition. Of all the cereal bugs, Eurygaster integriceps Put is the most damaging. According to scientists, yield loss is typically estimated at 20–30 % in barley and 50–90 % in wheat. In addition to direct crop losses, insects also inject chemicals that dramatically reduce grain quality, with chemical pest control costing over $40 million annually. The aim of the research is to reveal data on the species diversity of cereal bugs in spring barley crops in the conditions of the Uman national university of horticulture and to control their numbers in order to preserve crop yields. Accounting and observations conducted in 2017–2020, in the training and production department of Uman National University of Horticulture. Analysis of the species composition of cereal bugs allowed to clarify the diversity of their species, establish their average number and identify species that are dangerous for cultures during the study period. It was established that five species of cereal bugs which were dangerous to culture were identified from a number of Hemiptera between 2017 and 2020. Four species of cereal bugs were constantly present in the agrocenosis of spring barley – Eurygaster integriceps Put., Aelia acuminata L., Lygus rugulipennis P. and Trigonotylus coelestialium Kirk.. The most dangerous pest for the culture was the species Eurygaster integriceps Put., Which accounted for 36 %, 28 %, 27 % and 24.5 % of the total number of bedbugs, and also exceeded the rate of harmful index. The use of insecticides reduced the number of Eurygaster integriceps Put. for a two-week period after spraying. Average data for 2018–2020 show high technical efficiency at the level of 90.0–92.9 % on the 3rd day after spraying. On the 7th day after the insecticides were applied, the technical efficiency was 85–85.8 %. Application of insecticide Decis Profi 25 WG, v.g. at a rate of 0.04 kg/ha, reduced the number of pests by 82.5 % on the 14th day after spraying.

Justification of the limit of expediency of using potash fertilizers

The issues of the recoupment of potash fertilizers are considered, which is one of the most controversial in agronomy, since it is precisely this that determines the need for fertilizers and the economic efficiency of their use. It is shown that the payback of fertilizers is a complex value and not constant in different crops. The increase in yield from fertilizers in kind is taken on the basis of field experiments with fertilizers carried out on podzolized chernozem in the Uman NUS. The cost of the increase in yield from the use of potash fertilizers was determined by the average actual sales prices of products prevailing on the market through various sales channels in the 6th quarter of 2021. collecting a yield increase from potash fertilizers. The cost of potash fertilizer was taken at the current price of 16000 UAH/t with the addition of a margin for their delivery to the farm. The costs for the use of fertilizers on the farm and for collecting the increase in yield were set calculated according to the accepted standards. The difference between the value of the yield increase (YI) and additional costs (AC) gives the net income received from the use of fertilizers. The ratio of the cost of increasing the yield to additional costs shows their payback. On the basis of comparing the indicators YI and AC, the boundaries of the economic efficiency of the use of fertilizers were determined: YI>AC (general expression of the task). The minimum necessary increase in yield from fertilizers and the limits of the increase in prices for potash fertilizers were also calculated. It has been established that at a price for potassium chloride of 16000 UAH /t and the cost of its use in optimal doses for field crops against the background of a balanced nitrogen-phosphorus nutrition, the cost of an increase in yield is 1164–14820 UAH/ ha. Payback (unprofitableness) of 1 kg. potash fertilizers vary in a wide range – from – UAH 18.6 to 104,0, depending on the crop. The limit of the unprofitable price per unit of the active substance of potash fertilizers at the optimal dose of application depends on the crop and is in the range of 6.9–129,5 UAH/ha. With the current disparity in prices for crop products and potassium chloride, its use is unprofitable for winter rye, spring barley, grain sorghum and sugar beet (when applied against a background of 40 t/ha of manure). This is due to the availability of podzolized chernozem with mobile potassium compounds, biological characteristics of crops and technologies for their cultivation.

Productivity indicators and correlations between them in spring barley cultivars of Uman National University of Horticulture

The study of crop formation processes by constituent elements revealed the dependence of the parameters of the number of grains in the ear and the weight of barley grain at the same level of grain yield on the number of productive stems per unit area. It is established that the increase in the number of productive shoots per 1 m2 is accompanied by a significant decrease in the productivity potential of the ear in terms of the number of grains and the parameters of the mass of one grain. The correlation dependence of these yield elements on the stem density of barley is strong. In the studies of 2018–2021, the number of productive stems, plant height, productivity of one ear and weight of 1000 grains of spring barley varieties Daniele, Gezine, Beatrix, Soldo, 5/18, Fabiola, Sangria, Utah, 9/19, Mompi 19, Lyuba and Champush. Correlation holidays between these indicators were also established. The number of productive stems of spring barley varieties on average for 2018–2021 amounted to 0.87–1.39 pieces/1 plant. The average biotype ranged from 0.89 in 2018 to 1.47 in 2021. There was a medium and strong variation in the number of productive stems depending on genotypes. In most collection specimens, the rate varied greatly depending on growing conditions. Collectible samples 5/18 is a semi-dwarf, other biotypes are dwarfs. The highest plants were in 2020. The plant height of most cultivars varied slightly over the years of research. The average productivity of one ear of the analyzed collection samples was 0.63–1.17 g. The lowest indicators were noted in 2018, the highest – in 2020. The average weight of 1000 grains was 45.2–53.5 g with the highest indicator in 2021 g. The correlation between plant height and ear weight per ear was positive medium and close; between the number of productive stems and plant height – positive average, weak and negative average; between the number of productive stems and the mass of grain from the ear – a weak positive and negative correlation; between the number of productive stems and the mass of 1000 grains – the average positive and weak negative; between the height of the plants and the mass of 1000 grains and between the mass of grains from the ear and the mass of 1000 grains – from the average positive to the average negative.

Accumulation of cadmium and zinc in barley regenerants on a provocative soil background with cadmium

Background. An effective way to obtain barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes stress-tolerant to cadmium, with a low level of toxic ion accumulation in grain, is the selection of cells in selective in vitro systems, based on somaclonal variability, which promotes the formation of specific and nonspecific adaptive mechanisms.Materials and methods. The object of the study was cv. ‘999-93’, developed by selection from a hybrid combination of spring barley (Luly × Conrad) × 2867-80, and its regenerated forms in seed reproductions of the 3–5th generation, induced in the process of cell selection on media with cadmium, aluminum and polyethylene glycol. The plants were grown under normal soil conditions and against a provocative background for cadmium.Results. The contribution of the environment-forming activity in the roots of the studied genotypes to inactivation of toxic ions appeared insignificant. The total removal of cadmium by plants against a provocative background increased 22.5 times, reaching 5.8–10.3 mg/kg of dry phytomass when distributed among organs: roots (91.9–93.4%) > stems (5.9–7.8%) > grain (0.5–0.8%). The amount of toxic metal in grain increased 11 times in the original form and 2.8–6.8 times in regenerants. The negative effect of excess cadmium in the soil on the accumulation of zinc in barley was shown. There was no gradation in the importance of organs for zinc accumulation or any presence of functional barriers preventing this. Regenerants induced on selective media with cadmium had the greatest adaptive advantages to stress: pronounced barrier functions of roots, minimal accumulation of toxic ions in aerial organs, and high seed productivity (they exceeded the original genotype by 35.5%). Adaptive reactions associated with the limitation of cadmium accumulation in plant tissues of regenerants, obtained by in vitro selections with aluminum and an osmotic, were shown to be weak.