Sowing methods of maise for hay in the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia

The authors showed the results of studies of productivity parameters of different early maturing maise hybrids depending on the method of sowing. Experiment included 5 variants: single- seeded hybrids Kubansky 101 and Kubansky 500, Kubansky 101 + Kubansky 500 (50 + 50% of the full seeding rate), Kubansky 101 + Kubansky 500 (25 + 75%) and Kubansky 101 + Kubansky 500 (75 + 25%). The authors carried out a biological yield survey on 10 September. This recording showed that the ultra-early-ripening hybrid Kubansky 101 CB was in the phase of milk-wax maturity of the grain, and the late-ripening Kubansky 500 CB was in the phase of cob formation. In single-species crops, the yields were naturally higher. The late-maturing hybrid yielded 82.0 t/ha, 38.1 t/ha higher than the ultra-maturing hybrid. However, the dry matter yield of the second hybrid was 15.9 % higher, and the cob yield was 29 % higher. The dry matter concentration of the hybrid Kubansky 500 was only 18.8 %. The hybrid Kubansky 101 CB had a dry matter concentration of 34.7 %. Different variations with the ratio of hybrids of different ripeness groups in the sowing showed that in green matter yield, the variants where the proportion of late-ripening hybrid is higher are superior. Thus, the presence of 75% hybrid Kubansky 500 CB allowed obtaining the highest yield of 77.2 t/ha. This yield is almost two times higher than the yield of the single-variety ultra-ripening hybrid (43.9 t/ha). However, the dry matter concentration here was 20.2 %. According to the biochemical analysis of the silage batches harvested, all the forages were benign. No oily acid was detected, and lactic acid predominated over acetic acid. Hay prepared from hybrid Kubansky 101 SV was 33.8% in dry matter content, which compares favourably with silage prepared from hybrid Kubansky 500 SV and mixtures with Kubansky 101 SV. The hybrid Kubansky 500 SV and mixtures with Kubansky 101 SV accounted for 21 % dry matter content. In silage prepared from hybrid Kubansky 101 SV, the percentage of dry matter is 24.2-25 %.

Influence of selection on economically valuable characters of plant-microbial populations of red fescue

Ecologization of agricultural production and at the same time increasing of its efficiency is possible through the use of bacterial preparations. In long-term field experiments of 2016-2019 valuable characters of plant-microbial populations of red fescue (Festuca rubra L) variety Severnaya 82 of lawn and pasture use were studied after re-inoculation of seeds, obtained from the parent populations, which were also developed after inoculation with rhizosphere microorganisms on the basis of preparations of Mobiline 880, Azorizin 8, Azorizin 6, Flavobacterin, Agrofil and Rizoagrin. In the sowing experiment of 2016, plants of the first year of growth from the population with Mobilin 880 significantly exceeded in height (82 cm) the control plants without seed inoculation (77 cm, LSD05 = 3.5). In the experiment of 2017, the plants of all created plant-microbial populations of the second year of growth exceeded in height (48-50 см) the control variant plants (45 cm, LSD05 = 2.3). According to the yield of green mass in the 2016 experiment, populations of red fescue with Mobilin 880 and Rhizoagrin were distinguished (by 1.1 t/ha with yield in the control of 0.80 t/ha, LSD05 =0.23). The prolongation of the effect of Flavobacteria in the experiment has not been observed. Plant-microbial populations with Azorizin 8 and Mobilin 808 proved to be promision according to the character of high seed yield: in the third generation, they had higher seed productivity (0.144 и 0.152 t/ha, respectively) compared to the control without inoculation (0.076 t/ha, LSD05 = 0.064). To create highly productive plant-microbial populations of red fescue seeds, it is necessary to search among highly productive parent populations inoculated with associative symbionts, followed by inoculation of daughter populations with the same bacterial preparations.

Calibration Validation and Evaluation of CERES Maize Model under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir, Using DSSAT 4.7

Field experiments were conducted at Shalimar Campus of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir during 2015 and 2016 to study the growth and yield of maize at different planting dates and Nitrogen levels with further simulating Maize growth and yield at different agro-ecological zones (altitudes) of Kashmir valley at fixed dates with varied nitrogen levels and at fixed nitrogen level with varied dates of sowing. Experiment was laid in split plot design with three dates of sowing i.e. 22nd May, 30th May and 8th June assigned to main plot and four levels of nitrogen i.e. 80 kg N ha-1 (N1), 120 kg N ha-1(N2), 160 kg N ha-1 (N3) and 200 kg N ha-1 assigned to sub plot. Genetic coefficients of maize crop variety (Shalimar Maize composite-4) were generated for calibrated and validation of CERES Maize model using DSSAT 4.5. Simulation was carried out for different dates of sowing viz, 1st May, 10th May, 22nd May, 30th May, 8th June, 20th June and 30th June at same fertility levels of 160 kg N ha-1, 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 30 kg K2O ha-1 for all the locations. Simulated studies carried at different locations indicated that sowing of Maize on 30th May (D2) with 200 kg N ha-1 (N4) predicted highest grain yield in location Kokernag which was followed by location Srinagar on same date 30th May (D2) with 160 kg N ha-1(N3) and lowest yield was recorded in district Kupwara. Maximum Biological yield was also recorded at 30th May with 160 kg N ha-1 (N3). Among the district Kokernag recorded maximum biological yield with delayed maturity (160 days) simulation studies were carried out with 7 dates of sowing at fixed level of Nitrogen in all the districts. Simulated studies of maize showed that sowing on 30th May with 160 kg N ha-1 (N3) recorded maximum LAI, Biological yield and grain yield. However, highest grain yield was recorded with location Kokernag and lowest was recorded with location Kupwara.

PERFORMANCE TEST OF THE 2BDE-2 TYPE MILLET FINE AND SMALL-AMOUNT ELECTRIC SEEDER

This work designed a 2BDE-2 type millet fine and small-amount electric seeder to solve certain problems, such as difficult cultivation and large workload of millet in hilly and mountainous areas. This seeder can finish the sowing operations, such as ditching, fine and small-amount of seed discharging, covering soil and suppressing at one time. The central composite design method was used to test the seeding performance of the seeder along with the factors of the seed metering plate amplitude and operating speed. This task was undertaken to determine the optimal working parameters of the seeder. The mathematical model of the average number of seeds in each 100 mm section and the variation coefficient of seeding uniformity were established. The influence of single factor effects and interaction on the seeding performance was also analysed. The optimum combination after parameter optimisation was determined as follows: seed metering plate amplitude of 109 μm and seeder operating speed of 0.76 m/s. The field sowing experiment was conducted according to the parameter combination. Results showed that the average number of seeds in each 100 mm section was 7.8, and the variation coefficient of seeding uniformity was 19.64%. The relative errors with the predicted values were 1.28% and 4.98%. The research can be used for sowing a small amount of millet in the hilly mountain area.

Performance of Exotic Gladiolus Cultivars under Various Irrigation Regimes

Gladiolus (Gladiolus L. hybrids) is a bulbous cut flower, which produces charming spikes on elongated stems. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of various exotic gladiolus cultivars, viz. ‘Bangladesh’, ‘Essential’, ‘Nova Zambla’ and ‘White Prosperity’ under various irrigation regimes during 2017-2018. Corms were imported from Stoop Flower Bulbs, Holland, transported to laboratory from cold store, and acclimatized at ambient temperature for a week before sowing. Experiment was set up in a polyhouse in plastic crates according to completely randomized design with three replications each having 18 corms planted in a crate. Five irrigation regimes, viz. 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days interval, were adopted for all the cultivars under study. Irrigation water was applied until saturation of the soil. Results depicted that gladiolus cultivars ‘Essential’ and ‘Nova Zambla’ produced early flowering with greater stem length, stem fresh and dry weights, leaf area, spike length and number of florets. Best quality flowers were obtained when plants were irrigated at 10 days interval, followed by 15 and 20 days interval, while poor quality stems were produced when plants were irrigated at 5 or 25 days interval, which was either over or under irrigation, respectively. In conclusion, gladiolus cultivars grown at 10 and 15 days irrigation intervals from December to March produced best quality stems and irrigation at 10-15 days interval can be considered as optimal for gladiolus production.