Fertiliser efficiency in the formation of sunflower productivity

Abstract

Plant nutrition throughout the vegetation period is one of the main factors aimed at realising the genetic potential of sunflower hybrids when cultivated in all soil and climatic conditions. Currently, it is important to study the genetic potential of domestic hybrids under different growing conditions to identify their competitiveness, thus improving crop quality and yields. The use of a wide range of complex microfertilisers in production along with the main fertiliser helps to increase the efficiency of plant nutrient utilisation of mineral fertilisers and soil and is one of the ways to improve crop yields and agricultural product quality. While sunflower is considered to be a key oilseed crop, its cultivation technology is not fully researched, and previous studies often contain contradictory data. An important part of the agrotechnical measures aimed at increasing crop productivity is to ensure optimal plant nutrition during the vegetation period. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of crop nutrition conditions and to select high-yielding hybrids (NK Diamantis, SI Kupava, NK Neoma) for specific soil and climatic conditions through the formation of their productivity. The study was conducted in 2018-2019 on typical low-humus chernozems. The research program included a three-factor field experiment in which hybrids (factor A), fertiliser options (factor B), and foliar feeding of crops (factor C) were studied in the phase of 4 and 8 leaves of sunflower with Ecoline Boron, Nertus Boron, and Bast Boron. The sunflower hybrids studied were NK Diamantis, SI Kupava, and NK Neoma. The research results revealed significant changes in the diameter of the sunflower inflorescence under the influence of different nutritional conditions created by fertiliser variants. The influence of hybrid features also determined this indicator. Plants of the hybrid NK Diamantis formed heads with diameters ranging from 17.6 to 21.2 cm, SI Kupava - from 18.8 to 22.1 cm, NK Neoma – from 17.2 to 21.6 cm. The maximum index was achieved in the variant with the introduction of N36R56K108S28 + N23 + Ecoline Boron (phase 4 and 8 leaves) in plants of hybrid SI Kupava, and it amounted to 22.1 cm. The weight of 1,000 achenes, which is one of the genetically determined traits of the crop, in plants of the hybrid NK Diamantis, depending on the fertiliser variant, varied from 59.3 to 62.3 g, SI Kupava from 69.8 to 74.0 g, NK Neoma from 68.8 to 72.6 g. The maximum result was provided by the variant with the use of N36R56K108S28 +N23 + Ecoline Boron (phase 4 and 8 leaves). Studies have shown that the most productive hybrid was Si Kupava with the maximum yield in the variant with the use of N36R56K108S28 +N23 + Ecoline Boron (in the phase of 4 and 8 leaves of 1 l/ha) – 3.46 t / ha