Change of the productive soil moisture amount under different agrophytocenoses in accordance with the used tillage system in short-term crop rotation

The influence of four basic tillage systems and four fertilizer systems on changes in productive soil moisture and water consumption by agrophytocenoses was studied within years 2017–2020 in the fve-feld crop rotation on typical black soil (chernozems) of the Bila Tserkva NAU experimental feld. It is established that the productive moisture reserves in a meter layer of soil in the phase of soybean germination are almost the same for moldboard, differentiated, disk and shallow types of tillage, but quite lower for chisel one; in the phases of the budding beginning and maturity of grain this indicator is the lowest for moldboard tillage, and the highest for moldboardless tillage. In the phase of winter wheat germination, as well as earing and full ripeness of grain, this rate is almost at the same level for moldboard, differentiated and shallow tillage, and for chisel one – 9–12 % higher compared to the reference level; in the phase of spring vegetation restoration no noticeable difference between tillage options was recorded. In the phase of sunflower seedlings there was the largest amount of the productive moisture in a meter layer of soil in the conditions of moldboardless plowing; the rest of tillage have shown almost the same amount of productive moisture; in the phase of the flowering beginning and full maturity of seeds, they are 3–5 % higher for moldboardless plowing, and 2–3 and 4–6 % lower for differentiated and disk tillage respectively than the reference one. In the phases of tube yielding, earing and full ripeness of spring barley grain, it is 11, 5 and 4 % higher compared to the reference rate for moldboardless plowing, differentiated and disk tillage respectively. For moldboard, chisel, differentiated tillage and shallow tillage, the water consumption coefcient of soybeans was 109, 120, 113 and 131 mm/t respectively. With moldboardless, differentiated and disc tillage, it is 11,5 and 4 % higher in winter wheat, respectively, than the reference level. Crop rotation productivity for moldboard and differentiated tillage at the same level, and for moldboardless and disk – signifcantly lower. Key words: crop rotation, crop, tillage, fertilizers, productive moisture, water consumption coefcient, total water consumption, productivity.

Bakery properties of spelt wheat grain depending on fertilization and storage period

The article presents the study results of spelt wheat grain baking properties depending on fertilization and storage period. Europe (huskless) winter spelt wheat variety obtained by hybridization of Triticum aestivum L./Triticum spelta L. was studied. For fertilization, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, granular superphosphate, potassium chloride were used. Spelt wheat grain was stored for a year without air access at an unregulated temperature regime dry (moisture content during storage – 13.0–13.5 %) in airtight polyethylene sleeves in the conditions of usual storage. It was found that spelt wheat has a high response to the application of nitrogen fertilizers. The protein content increased from 18.6 to 22.8 % in P60K60 + N120 variant. The spelt wheat grain quality varied depending on the storage period. Thus, before storage, the gluten content was 41.1–50.4 % depending on the fertilizer variant. The lowest indicator was in the control variant and for P60K60 introduction – 41.1–41.2 %. In other fertilizer variants, the gluten content was at the level of 49.1–49.9 %. The largest was in P60K60 + N60S70 + N60 –50.4 % variant or 9 % compared to the control. Storage had a positive effect on the gluten content in spelt wheat grain as its content increased signifcantly. It can be explained by the post-harvest grain ripening, in the process of which the protein-proteinase complex changes due to the oxidizing action, oxygen, in particular. Thus, after storage for 30 days, this indicator was 41.8–52.1 % depending on the experiment variant. It was the largest when N60S70 + N60 was applied – 52.1 %, and the smallest in the variant with no fertilizers and with phosphorus-potassium (P60K60) fertilizer – 41.8–42.3 %. These indicators exceeded the gluten content before storage by an average of 1.2 abs. %. The content of protein and gluten-forming fractions is the highest after storage for 90 days. These indicators almost did not change after 180–270 days of storage. After 360 days they decreased to the grain quality indicators before storage. The gluten deformation index increased to 105–108 units of GSI instrument or by 4–8 % depending on the fertilization compared to fresh grain. Gluten moisture content decreased after 30 days of grain storage, and then increased to 68.0–69.8 % after 360 days, depending on the experiment variant. The grain acidity also increased from 3.0 to 4.0–4.1 degrees. Key words: spelt wheat, fertilization, storage, protein, gluten, dynamics, moisture content, acidity.

Main criteria for evaluation of efciency and contradictions in the process of crop rotation implementation

The nature of subjective positioning on the role of crop rotations in agriculture from many points of view, namely – agrochemical, biological, geological and energetic. This leads to the belief that crop rotation arose as a need for reasonable human interaction with nature, a careful attitude to it. However, a comprehensive ecological and biosphere approach to understanding the essence of crop rotation requires the resolution of certain contradictions that arise in the implementation of modern farming systems. Based on the data of long-term feld experiments, the main indicators of the biological cycle of humus carbon in black soil are calculated. The calculation is based on the balance of humus as the difference between the fnal and initial content and reserves in the soil under different crop rotations. We found that the joint application of organic and mineral fertilizers had a positive effect on the balance of humus and nitrogen in the soil and, ultimately, on crop yields and crop rotation productivity. Against this background, a positive balance of humus (+1.29 t/ha) and total nitrogen (+80 kg/ha) in the soil is observed. Strengthening the organic fertilizer system by using, in addition to manure, by-products of crops – cereal straw, peas, corn stalks contributed to the formation of a positive balance of humus and nitrogen in the soil: the annual accumulation of humus was 0.28 t/ha, nitrogen 14 kg/ha. Due to the humifcation of crop residues of cereals, peas and perennial legumes during the 7-year study period in the soil of control crop rotation 1 formed humus 2.85 t/ha, in crop rotation 14 with grasses – 7.0, the rest of crop rotations – from 3.4 up to 4.0 t/ha. In general, 5.5 % of the initial stock of humus or 8.9 t/ha was mineralized in the crop rotation without fertilizers during the specifed period. If we add to this about 3 t/ha of humus, the decomposition of which in the process of mineralization was compensated by plant residues, then during this period decomposed about 12 t/ha of humus. This value of mineralization characterizes the parameters of the biological cycle of humus in the control crop rotation. Key words: soil, fertilizers, crop rotations, crop yield, crop rotation productivity, plant residues, humifcation, humus, humus mineralization, humus balance.

Amino acid composition of low-fat sesame flour and prospects for its use in manufacturing organic products for special purposes

The article presents a qualitative assessment and chemical component of sesame flour depending on the color. Enrichment of consumer products to increase the nutritional value of products intended for major populations is extremely important today. Increasing the nutritional value of products using various technological techniques, for example, by adding raw materials of natural origin, in particular, sesame flour is a promising solution of the issueo. This flour contains a large number of nutritious and valuable nutrients. Therefore, the determination of the qualitative content and amino acid composition for further use and combination with other types of raw materials is relevant. The purpose of the research was to study the feasibility of using non-traditional baking raw material of sesame seed flour, evaluation of its amino acid composition for further use in the baking industry in the development of technology for special purpose organic products. The flour of sesame seeds of different colors harvested in 2017–2020 was used for research. The amino acid composition in low-fat sesame flour, depending on the color, allows us to note that the content of essential and substitutable acids on average over the years of research was higher in black flour, and the lowest - in dark brown. The high content of glycine was noted in black sesame – 1.398 g, 0.017 g lower than white, gold – 0.040 g, light brown – 0.058 g and dark brown – 0.082 g. Palmitoleic and oleic (omega-9) represent Monounsaturated fatty acids in sesame low-fat flour. The color of sesame flour has a signifcant effect on their content. Of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, the highest content of linoleic is founding in black – 19.5 g, only 0.2 g less in white and 0.5 g – in gold. Light and dark brown compared to black were lower by 0.8 and 1.1 g, respectively. Кey words: essential and replaceable amino acids, cealics, hypocalcemia, gluten-free products, color.

Creation of new generation sugar beet hybrids

The paper reveals the results of Verkhnyatska RSS breeders participation in the Betaintercross program on creating new generation sugar beet hybrids. Studying the effciency of new hybrids simultaneously in all beet sowing zones in Ukraine (ecological varieties testing on the Betaintercross program) makes it possible to estimate their adaptability to various agroclimatic conditions as well as comprehensive and prompt assessment of the created hybrids. The paper reveals the best hybrids on the results of ecological seed tests for 2007–2019 created with use of the initial forms of Verkhnyatska of selection. The largest number of perspective hybrids were received at hybridization of MP Verkhnyatsk origin with MS by lines of Ivanivsk, Uman and Ulaiv selection. Hybrid STs 121120 Dzhura, with sugar yield of 115,8 % and hybrid CTs 090922 USB 1201 with 115,2 % of the standard were created at purposeful topcross crossings of MP 3 1111 VRSS with MS the line 1037 IvDSS creates. The hybrid STs 110120 Heroy received with Uman MS line 0912 and Verkhnyatska MP1 1008, yielded 105,6 % of sugar. The most successful hybrid combinations are created using Verhnyatska parent MS lines with Bila Tserkva and Uman polinators. Belotserkivska MP 0805 in a combination with Verkhnyatska MS line 0714 provided the STs 090328 Aydar hybrid, with sugar yield of 109,2 % in comparison with the standard. The STs 110804 Verkhniy hybrid was created in cooperation with Bila Tserkva selelectionists and provided for 122,5 % of sugar yield. 11 hybrid combinations of MS lines and MP of our own Verkhnyatsk selection were created in the selection program running. The hybrids of sugar beet USB1201, Dzhura, Kozak, Heroy, Aydar, Verkhniy were listed in the state register of grades of Ukraine in 2010–2019. Key words: breeding, genotype, sugar beet hybrid, heterozis, productivity.

Energy productivity of sugar sorghum in the central part of the Forest-steppe of Ukraine depending on the harvesting time

Due to global climate change, sugar sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum), due to its fast growth rate, early maturation, efcient use of water and limited need for fertilizers, is the most promising plant for biofuel production in the world. The article presents the results of the study on establishing the dependence of sugar sorghum energy performance indicators on varietal characteristics (varieties 'Silosne 42' and 'Favorit' and hybrids 'Dovista' and 'Medoviy F1') and the green biomass harvesting time. The purpose of the research was to establish the influence of varietal characteristics and harvesting time on sugar sorghum energy productivity in the zone of unstable moisture in the Central part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research subject is sugar sorghum energy productivity indicators (yield of green biomass; sugar content of juice; yield of biogas, bioethanol, solid biofuel; total energy yield). The studies were carried out during 2016–2020 in the zone of unstable moisture in the central part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in the conditions of the Bila Tserkva Experimental Breeding Station of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It has been established that the highest yield of biofuel and energy (up to 791.8 GJ/ha) is achieved under growing sugar sorghum of the 'Dovista' hybrid, provided that its biomass is collected in the phase of full seed ripeness (early October). It is advisable to start collecting sugar sorghum biomass for biogas after the panicle throwing phase. To ensure the maximum yield of bioethanol, the optimal time for harvesting green biomass of sugar sorghum is the second decade of September – the frst decade of October. The maximum yield of solid biofuel is achieved under harvesting biomass after the phase of waxy ripeness of grain. The formation of the yield of green biomass of sugar sorghum was more influenced by weather conditions (47.4 %), the influence of varietal characteristics (17.8 %) and the timing of harvesting (12.8 %) was less. But the energy yield was most influenced by the timing of harvesting biomass (37.4 %). A close linear correlation between the energy output and the yield of green (R2=0.81) and dry biomass (R2=0.99) was established. The most ecological plasticity in terms of the total energy yield per unit area turned out to be the 'Medoviy F1' hybrid (b=1.62), which indicates the prospects of growing this hybrid under favorable weather conditions and high level of agricultural technology. Key words: sugar sorghum, varietal characteristics, harvesting time, energy yield, biofuel yield, productivity.

Inheritance of resistance of spring barley to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in F1 and variability in F2 in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The nature of the inheritance of resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in the crosses of genotypes of spring barley in F1 and transgressive variability in F2 populations are investigated. Inheritance of the trait of resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in F1, by hybridization of genotypes of spring barley with known genes of resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in European varieties Eunova (mlo11) and Barke (mlo9), which are located on chromosome 1H, was positively dominated. Inheritance of the F1 trait in Aspen (mlo11) and Adonis (mlo9) cultivars was partially positive. The influence of parental pairs for hybridization on the indicators of the degree of phenotypic dominance, hypothetical and true heterosis was established. Resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in F1 hybrids was observed heterosis (positive dominance) in fve hybrid combinations (hp = 1.1–1.9 %): Barke/Badoryi, Barke/Sanktrum, Parnas/Rostentsii, Badoryi/ Barke, Eunova/Zvershennia. Hypothetical heterosis (Ht) in F1 was observed in 13 of 16 hybrids (from +2.8 % to +97.6 %). A positive value of true heterosis (Htb) in F1 was observed in 15 hybrids out of 16 (from +1.9 % to +98.8 %). Inheritance of the trait of resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei in all studied hybrids was influenced by the cytoplasm of the mother plant, except for the hybrid Eunova / Triangel, where the influence of the nuclear apparatus was detected. Hybrids were found in the F 2 population with high resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei, which exceeded the parental components, which indicates a signifcant shaping process and the possibility of selection on the basis of the studied trait. The degree of positive transgression ranged from 16.0 % to 73.0 % in hybrids Aspen / Skarlet, Adonis / Vanja, Barke / Badoryi, Barke / Sanktrum, Eunova / Triangel and Eunova / Zvershennia, where highly resistant varieties were used for the mother form. The combinations in which the frequency of transgression was observed in more than 50.0 % of plants are hybrids: Eunova / Triangel, Barke / Sanktrum, Eunova / Zvershennia, Parnas / Rostentsii and Barke / Badoryi. Key words: spring barley, resistance, Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei, combinations of crossing, inheritance, F1, true and hypothetical heterosis, degree of phenotypic dominance, F 2, degree and frequency of transgressions.

Energy productivity of grain sorghum depending on the elements of cultivation technology in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

In Ukraine, grain sorghum is an important grain crop used in bioethanol and solid fuel production. It stands out signifcantly from other grain crops by its economically valuable features, drought resistance, high productivity and universality of use. Grain sorghum is grown for use in the food industry (the main processed products are sorghum starch, glucosefructose syrups, alcohol, etc.), in fodder production and, more recently, in the energy industry. Therefore, the research of the elements of the cultivation technology, namely the sowing time and the depth of planting of grain sorghum seeds, is expedient and perspective. The article highlights the research results of the influence of the sowing time and the depth of planting seeds on the energy productivity of sorghum crops of the grain varieties ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ and ‘Vinets’ in the Right-Bank ForestSteppe of Ukraine. The purpose of the research is to establish the optimal sowing time and the depth of planting of grain sorghum seeds and to substantiate their influence on the crop energy productivity in condition of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research was conducted during 2016–2020 at the Bilotserkivska Research Station of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It was found that the highest crop yield was obtained by sowing grain sorghum seeds in the 1st decade of May at a planting depth of 4–6 cm. At the same time, the grain yield of the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety was 7.1–7.4 t/ha, of the ‘Vinets’ variety – 6.3–6.7 t/ha; the yield of biomass of the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety was 40.2–44.4 t/ha, of the ‘Vinets’ variety – 37.3–39.5 t/ha. The highest bioethanol yield was obtained by sowing grain sorghum seeds in the 1st decade of May at a depth of planting of seeds of 4–6 cm. Cultivation of the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety allowed to obtain 2.37–2.47 t/ha of bioethanol, the ‘Vinets’ variety – 2.08–2,21 t/ha. The yield of solid biofuel in this variant of the experiment was also the largest and amounted to 9.29–10.26 t/ha for the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety and 8.62–9.12 t/ha for the ‘Vinets’ variety. The total energy yield from the obtained biofuel of the ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ variety was 210.66–228.98 GJ/ha, of the ‘Vinets’ variety – 192.37–203.95 GJ/ha. Key words: grain sorghum, varieties, sowing time, seeding depth, energy productivity.

Effect of organic farming on the ladybird beetle diversity (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Coccinellidae perform the function of biological control of pests in nature, they eat aphids and other insects, which is important in organic agriculture. The aim of the work was to establish the distribution and species composition of the family Coccinellidae in the organic agro-landscape. The research was conducted at the Skvyra research station of organic production (Kyiv region, Ukraine). Insects were collected by entomological mowing with a net in four stages of plant development. The organic agro-landscape included crops of buckwheat, oats, soybeans and winter wheat. Data from neighbor conventional soybean and winter wheat ecosystems were used for comparison. The agroecosystems of these crops, which included felds, ecotones ”feld – feld protective forest shelter belt”, feld protective forest shelter belts, were studied. The study identifed 10 species of the family Coccinellidae, the number of species ranged from 1 to 89/100 waves, the largest in the ecosystem of organic winter wheat. H. axiridis belonged to the recedents and was found in fve agroecosystems in the amount of 1-7 individuals / 100 waves. The most common species were C. septempunctata, T. sedecimpunctata and larvae of Coccinellidae, which were eudominant in the organic agro-landscape. Species Vibidia sp. was found only in organic agroecosystems of buckwheat and oats. The variety of ladybugs in organic winter wheat was higher than in conventional. Organic soybeans, in contrast, had less variety of Coccinellidae than conventional soybeans, as confrmed by cluster analysis. Species richness in crop ecosystems ranged from 3 to 8 in different study periods. High correlations of insect numbers were found between felds, ecotones and forest shelter belts, as well as between neighbor ecotones and neighbor forest belts, which indicates the migration of insects between these areas. Thus, the diversity and prevalence of Coccinellidae in the organic agro-landscape, compared to the traditional one, has been established. Key words: ladybugs, organic farming, agrolandscape, agroecosystem, crops, species.

The reasons for the decrease in the feld crops yield against the background of flat-cut basic tillage

The purpose of the research was to establish the reason for the decrease in the productivity of crops grown in the experiments under replacing the main processing of moldboard plowing with flat-cut loosening to appropriate depths based on a review of the literature and our own experiments conducted on podzolized chernozem in a fve-feld crop rotation of soybeans – spring rape – spring wheat – oil flax – spring barley. According to the research data, the average yield of 15 crops decreased by 9.0 % due to such replacement. In our experience, the average yield of spring crops decreased by the same amount. Such a decrease in the yield of crops cultivated in different experiments against the background of flat-cut cultivation instead of plowing could not be caused by a deterioration in the physical condition of the soil due to the absence of the latter, sinse in 15 experiments, according to the literature data, the density of the addition of the arable layer of different soils changed only by 0.7 % and the content of agronomically valuable structures – only by 0.1 %, and in our experience – respectively by 2.1 and 1.4 % (towards improvement). The total soil permeability in the arable layer also decreased by 1.9 % in our study due to the use of flatcut tillage instead of fall plowing, while remaining within the acceptable range. Changes in the water regime related to the change in the method of basic soil cultivation could not negatively manifest at the level of productivity of crops cultivated in different experiments. In addition, only in fve publications out of 15 the reserves of available moisture in the root layer decreased due to replacing moldboard cultivation with non-moldboard loosening, and in the rest 10 ones they remained unchanged or they increased signifcantly. Therefore, the reserves of soil moisture available against the background of flat-cut loosening were 1.7 % higher in comparison with plowing. In the experiment, the advantage of flat-cut cultivation over plowing in terms of available moisture reserves in a meter layer of soil at the middle and end of the growing season of spring crops increased to 6.1 and 6.4 %, respectively. The average productivity of crops cultivated in crop rotation against the background of flat-cut cultivation was signifcantly (by 9.0 %) lower in comparison with plowing. The reason for this could be almost a third (by 27–31 %) higher infestation of crops after the moldboard-free main autumn tillage. Key words: fve-feld crop rotation, physical condition of the soil, reserves of available moisture, crops weediness, crop yield.