Efficiency of organic technologies of winter rye cultivation in Ukraine's Polissya in the context of climate change adaptation

Abstract

In the conditions of the Polissya region of Ukraine, the cultivation of winter rye in organic farming is promising, but it is constrained by low crop yields. Therefore, the urgent task is to find ways to improve the efficiency of the fertilisation system of this traditional Polissya crop. The purpose of the study was to analyse the feasibility of using liquid complex fertilisers against the background of three fertilisation systems for organic and convection cultivation of winter rye in the conditions of Ukrainian Polissya. Field, laboratory and analytical, mathematical and statistical research methods were used. The results of a stationary experiment on light grey forest soil were analysed. It was found that the highest yield of winter rye was when grown using convection technology with a mineral fertilisation system – 4.2 t/ha, which provided an increase in grain yield of 1.07 t/ha or 34.4% compared to the control option. The use of organic technology based on organic and organo-mineral fertilisation systems provided a significantly smaller increase – 0.6 and 0.75 t/ha or 19.3 and 24.0%, respectively. However, the level of profitability for the mineral system decreased by 0.54 thousand UAH/tonne or 39.1%, net operating profit – by 1.6 thousand UAH/tonne or 26.0% compared to the organic fertilisation system. The latter was also better from the standpoint of energy efficiency. It is proved that double foliar top dressing with liquid organo-mineral fertilisers significantly increases the efficiency of the fertilisation system. In the conditions of the experiment, this was expressed in an additional increase in productivity by 0.47-1.16 t/ha, a reduction in the cost of production by 0.14-0.36 thousand UAH/ha, an increase in profitability by 19.3-48.3%, energy efficiency – by 0.14-0.71, and the plasticity of the crop to dry conditions during the growing season. The findings can become the basis for improving the fertilisation system for organic cultivation of winter rye, which would ensure the formation of sustainable yields by minimising the impact of stress factors (dry periods during the growing season) and increase the economic efficiency of grain production in agricultural enterprises of various forms of ownership