Efficiency of auxiliary products in organic millet production

Abstract

Millet is recognized as one of the key crops in Ukrainian agriculture and has numerous advantages that increase its value for the agricultural sector. A particular advantage is its resistance to droughts and high temperatures, which makes it ideal for cultivation in dry regions. At the same time, millet processing products are universal and can be used in various industries, which contributes to the efficient use of resources. The use of millet in human consumption and as animal feed, as well as in industry, makes it extremely versatile. However, the production of vegetable protein remains an urgent problem for Ukraine, and in this context, millet cultivation becomes an important initiative. Improving the elements of millet cultivation technology is a very relevant area today, as there is no single recommended approach to growing this crop in organic production in Ukraine. With the adoption of legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products, the issue of providing seed material for the main agricultural crops arises. Therefore, the research was aimed at the studying of the influence of auxiliary products approved for use in organic production on the formation of the of millet plants productivity. The research was conducted during 2022–2023 on the basis of the T.H. Shevchenko PAE (private agricultural enterprise), village Trostinka, Vasylkiv district, Kyiv region. The scheme of the experiment included the study of varietal characteristics of millet («Omriyane» and «Bila Altanka») and the action of biological preparations: «Biocomplex-BTU», «Organic-balance», and the conditions of their use. The treatment of seeds with auxiliary products («Biocomplex – BTU» and «Organic-Balance») had a significant effect on yield formation; under these conditions the yield indicators were at the level of 2.70–2.79 t/ha, which is 0.20–0.30 t/ha ha higher compared to the control options. It was found that the maximum millet yield indicators were obtained under the conditions of the complex application of biological preparations «Biokomplex-BTU» and «Organic-balance» (seed treatment + spraying of plants II, III, VIII stages) – 3.64–3.70 t/ha. Under these conditions the protein accumulation was (10.96–11.24 % on dry weight). Key words: millet, variety, biological preparations, productivity, organic production.