The Influence of Pre-Sowing Tillage on the Yield of Spring Wheat in the Conditions of the Volga Forest-Steppe

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the influence of early spring tillage techniques on the formation of spring wheat yield. The work was carried out in 2017-2019 in Ulyanovsk region. The soil area is represented by leached chernozem, medium-sized with a humus content of 6.22%, mobile phosphorus and potassium according to Chirikov – respectively 198 and 121 mg/kg, pHsol – 6.4 units, the sum of absorbed bases - 46.4 mg.-eq./100 g. The scheme of the field experiment provided for the study of the following options for pre-sowing tillage against the background of the use of N50P16K16: 1. Harrowing + cultivation; 2. Harrowing; 3. Cultivation. The soil density (1.10...1.15g/cm3) was found in favorable values for wheat, and did not worsen its condition. The reserves of productive moisture in the arable and meter layer of the soil before sowing were significantly higher than the harrowing option – 54.3 and 152.4 mm. The absence of pre-sowing cultivation did not affect the processes of nitrification in the soil. There is a tendency to a higher biological activity of the soil (33.3%) after harrowing. In general, the experimental plots were relatively clean of weeds, so there was no significant difference in the options. The yield of spring wheat in all variants of the experiment was almost the same 2.96...2.98 t/ ha. The lowest costs were observed on the harrowing option – 16614 rubles/ha, which was 6.1% lower than the classical pre-sowing tillage, and the cost of this option was 5508 rubles per ton of grain or 7.5% lower. The net income for the harrowing option amounted to 3,586 rubles per hectare, which is 55.7% higher than the classic option. The reduction in production costs led to an increase in profit and profitability of this option – 21.8%.