Use of biostimulants in elephant grass cv. Napier

This study was developed to examine the growth, yield, chemical composition and in situ degradability of elephant grass cv. Napier (Pennisetum purpureum). Five spraying protocols with biostimulants were tested, namely, Control - no application; 1BR - bioregulator at seven days; 2BR - bioregulator at seven days + bioregulator and foliar fertilization at 20 days; 2BR2 - bioregulator at seven days + bioregulator and foliar fertilization at 20 days + ethylene inhibitor at 30 days; and 3BR - bioregulator at seven days + bioregulator and foliar fertilization at 20 days + ethylene inhibitor and bioregulator at 30 days. The grass was cut evenly at a height of 15 cm and harvested at 70 days of regrowth. The experimental area was divided into two blocks according to the slope. Ninety plots were used, totaling an area of 4,608 m2. Each plot was composed of four 4-m rows spaced 80 cm apart. Chemical composition, morphological traits and forage digestibility data were evaluated. The 3BR protocol, with more bioregulator-based applications, resulted in higher canopy (9.78%) and stem (9.58%) compared with control group. The 2BR and 2BR2 treatments provided a 6.5% higher stem than control treatment. The improvement in the nutritional value of Pennisetum purpureum cv. Napier was due to the 17.55% increase in crude protein (CP) content provided by protocol 3BR relative to control group. Treatments 2BR2 and 3BR improved the effective degradability of dry matter (DM). The application of biostimulant protocols increased the potential degradability of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (+4.1%), with the greatest response seen in treatment 2BR2 in comparison with control treatment. Biostimulant protocols increase the canopy and stem heights and CP content. The application of a bioregulator associated with foliar fertilization and ethylene inhibitor improves the effective degradability of DM and NDF and the potential degradability of NDF in Pennisetum purpureum cv. Napier harvested at 70 days of regrowth.

Yield results obtained in maize crop following the foliar fertilization with new biostimulators based on keratin and collagen hydrolysates of animal origin

The aim of the paper is to show the reaction of maize crop to the foliar application of new biofertilizers, obtained from the residues left after the wool tanning process and which are based on protein hydrolysates of keratin and collagen. The tests have been performed in microplots (10 sqm) and macroplots (1000 sqm), in three repetitions, in southern Romania. All data obtained as a result of the 2020 autumn harvest have been centralized in tables and statistically processed, in order to establish the influence of each product, compared to the control. The bifactorial analyses show that, in climatic stress conditions (prolonged drought – Calarasi), very significant increases in yield have been obtained with K4 (2.5 and 5.0 l/ha), K5 (5.0 l/ha) and C (5.0 l/ha), with increases between 700 and 1300 kg/ha, ie up to +24%. In macroplots, subject to a moderate drought (Teleorman), product C (5.0 l/ha) brought a yield increase of 1537 kg/ha (+26%), noting that in this location almost all tested biostimulators offer very significant yield growth (except KC). Based on the 2020 yields, it was possible to identify which the foliar biostimulators that will continue to be tested in 2021.

Efficiency of soybean photosynthesis as affected by the components of cultivation technology

Purpose. Determine the efficiency of photosynthesis of soybean varieties ‘Ustia’, ‘Kordoba’, ‘Estafeta’ as affected by the use of microfertilizers and growth regulators. Methods. Field, laboratory. Results. The article presents the results of research to study the effectiveness of photosynthesis in the cultivation of different varieties of soybean. It was found that the treatment of plants with microfertilizer Yara Vita Mono Molitrak in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) + in the flowering phase (0.25 l/ha) in combination with the growth regulator Radostym ensured a leaf area (1000 m2/ha) increase of 7.2 m2/ha in variety ‘Ustia’, 7.6 in ‘Kordoba’ and 5.2 in ‘Estafeta’, compared to control. At the same time, the efficiency of using the growth regulator Biosil against the background of double treatment with the microfertilizer was at the level of the treatments with single treatments with Yara Vita Mono Molitrak in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) in combination with appropriate growth regulators. Conclusions. It was investigated that the leaf surface area of ‘Ustia’ variety with foliar fertilization using Yara Vita Mono Molitrak microfertilizer in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) in combination with growth regulators Biosil and Radostym was 38.8 and 39.2 thousand m2/ha. The use of microfertilizers twice in combination with the above-mentioned growth regulators contributed to the increase of leaf area to the level of 38.9 and 39.5 thousand m2/ha, respectively. Similarly, in ‘Kordoba’ soybean variety, the best option was the use of Yara Vita Mono Molitrak in the budding phase (0.25 l/ha) + in the flowering phase (0.25 l/ha) in combination with the growth regulator Radostym, which helped to increase the leaf area to 39.5 thousand m2/ha. Foliar fertilization with microfertilizers combined with the use of growth regulators provides the formation of maximum NPP. Thus, in ‘Ustia’ variety, it was 1.47 and 1.45 g/m2, in ‘Estafeta’ 1.82 and 1.82 g/m2 of dry matter per day.

Formation of photosynthetic parameters of winter wheat crops under foliar fertilization and herbicide application

Purpose. To study agronomic measures for the care of winter wheat: the use of foliar fertilization and protection against weeds with sulfonylureas. Methods. Field and laboratory. Results. It was investigated that the application of Bioforge anti-stress fertilizer did not significantly affect the growth of photosynthetic potential of crops, as the leaf surface area was not significantly different. In addition to the area of the photosynthetic leaf surface, there is a more accurate indicator, that is net productivity of photosynthesis, which can, in our opinion, more accurately show whether the effects of plant protection products against weeds lead to changes in physiological processes in the plant. the mechanism of action of the anti-stress agent is somewhat different. After all, the organization of the photosynthetic apparatus of plants can be such that for a relatively small area of leaves you can get better rates of dry matter accumulation. The best indicators of photosynthetic potential for the use of plant protection products in autumn were identified with the use of such products as Granstar Pro 75, WG, Logran 75, WG, Harmony 75, WG, for introduction into the phenophase BBCH 10–13, and in spring for use in BBCH 27–29 in combination with Bioforge and separately. However, the introduction of PIC 75, WG, to form the best photosynthetic potential of winter wheat crops should be carried out in the phase of BBCH 7–9 in autumn or spring in BBCH 25–26. We also investigated that the use of Bioforge anti-stress fertilizer did not significantly affect the growth of photosynthetic potential of crops. Conclusions. It was determined that the use of the anti-stress agent Bioforge had a positive effect on the condition of plants and their accumulation of dry matter. Accordingly, the best indicators of net productivity of wheat photosynthesis were obtained with the use in autumn of such products as Granstar Pro 75, WG, Logran 75, WG, Harmony 75, WG, for introduction into the phenophase BBCH 10–13, and spring for use in BBCH 27–29 in combination with Bioforge. However, the introduction of PIC 75, WG, to form the best photosynthetic potential of winter wheat crops should be carried out in the phase of BBCH 7–9 in autumn or spring in BBCH 25–26 in combination with Bioforge.

Mitigating the Negative Effect of Drought Stress in Oat (Avena sativa L.) with Silicon and Sulphur Foliar Fertilization

A field experiment was carried out in the 2020–2021 growing season, aiming at investigating the abiotic stress tolerance of oat (Avena sativa L.) with silicon and sulphur foliar fertilization treatments and monitoring the effect of treatments on the physiology, production and stress tolerance of winter oat varieties. In the Hungarian national list of varieties, six winter oat varieties were registered in 2020, and all of the registered varieties were sown in a small plot field experiment in Debrecen, Hungary. The drought tolerance of the oat could be tested, because June was very dry in 2021; the rainfall that month totaled 6 mm only despite a 30-year average of 66.5 mm, and the average temperature for the month was 3.2 °C higher than the 30-year average. Foliar application of silicon and sulphur fertilizers caused differences in the photosynthesis rate, total conductance to CO2, transpiration, water use efficiency, leaf area, chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, thousand kernel weight (TKW) and yield of winter oat. The application of silicon significantly increased the photosynthesis rate (16.8–149.3%), transpiration (5.4–5.6%), air–leaf temperature difference (16.2–43.2%), chlorophyll (1.0%) and carotenoid (2.5%) content. The yield increased by 10.2% (Si) and 8.0% (Si plus S), and the TKW by 3.3% (Si) and 5.0% (Si plus S), compared to the control plots. The plants in the control plots assimilated less CO2 while transpiring 1 m3 water more than in the Si, S or Si plus S fertilized plots. The effect of the silicon varied from 9.0 to 195.4% in water use efficiency (WUE) in the three development stages (BBCH52, BBCH65 and BBCH77). A lower leaf area index was measured in the foliar fertilized plots; even so, the yield was higher, compared to that from the control plots. Great variation was found in response to the foliar Si and S fertilization among winter oat varieties—in WUE, 2.0–43.1%; in total conductance to CO2, 4.9–37.3%; in leaf area, 1.6–34.1%. Despite the droughty weather of June, the winter oat varieties produced a high yield. The highest yield was in ‘GK Arany’ (7015.7 kg ha−1), which was 23.8% more than the lowest yield (‘Mv Kincsem’, 5665.6 kg ha −1). In the average of the treatments, the TKW increased from 23.9 to 33.9 g (41.8%). ‘Mv Hópehely’ had the highest TKW. Our results provide information about the abiotic stress tolerance of winter oat, which, besides being a good model plant because of its drought resistance, is an important human food and animal feed.

Formation of grain sorghum grain yield by different systems of shoots depending on crop fertilizer

The article highlights the main results of research conducted in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine on typical soils of the zone – dark gray podzolic coarse-grained light loam to study the productivity of sorghum grain variety Armida. The efficiency of seed treatment with biological preparation, mineral fertilizers, foliar fertilization and nitrogen fertilization during the growing season on crop productivity was established. The combination of these components provides an increase in crop yields. The fertilizer system, which provided for the introduction of N60P60K60, turned out to be optimal for sorghum cultivation. Crop productivity with this technology was 8,49 t/ha, and for sowing seeds treated with biological preparation – increased by 32%.The productivity of the crop increased by 30,6% and with complex application – seed treatment, application of N60P60K60 in the main and application of microfertilizer in foliar fertilization, compared to the option without seed treatment (7,74 t/ha).The percentage of grain of the main shoot, panicle and tillering shoots in the biological yield of the crop is determined. It is determined that the main panicle always has a higher percentage (62,8–70,4) in the formation of crop productivity. The growth of the role of the main shoot in the formation of the overall biological yield depends on the smaller number of side shoots.

Estructura del pasto forrajero con cultivares de Urochloa brizantha bajo sombra

This study evaluated the structure of swards planted with Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguas and BRS Piata under the eucalyptus shading system, fertilized via foliar at the beginning of the dry and rainy seasons. The experiment followed a randomized block design with a 4×2×2 (4 leaf fertilizer levels × 2 systems × 2 seasons) factorial arrangement. The results were analyzed using the GLIMMIX PROC of SAS University while means were compared by the T-test at 5%. Foliar fertilizer had a significant (P≤0.05) effect on cv. BRS Paiaguas stem mass under shading while the 3 and 6 L/ha levels produced the lowest (P≤0.05) masses. The forage and root masses were not significantly affected (P≥0.05) by the systems and seasons whereas the dead material mass was not influenced by the seasons. The shading system resulted in (P≤0.05) significantly lower dead material mass for both cultivars and higher (P≤0.05) leaf and stem masses for the cv. BRS Piata. In the rainy season, leaf and stem masses were greater (P≤0.05). Foliar fertilization up to 6 L/ha favored the stem control in cv. BRS Paiaguas under shading. The resulting masses of forage, dead material, and root allow concluding that the cultivars adapted well to the shading and dry season.