Development and implementation of energy-saving technologies for growing sunflower hybrids in the south of Ukraine

Abstract

The development and implementation of energy-saving technologies for growing sunflower hybrids is a relevant area of research to ensure sustainable development of the agricultural sector and environmental protection. The study aimed to analyse the impact of different tillage methods on sunflower yields in southern Ukraine. To achieve this goal, a field study was conducted in the fields of the Educational and Research Centre of Mykolaiv National Agrarian University in 2021-2023. The study determined that the method of soil cultivation has a significant impact on its density, moisture reserves and structural stability. Reducing the intensity of cultivation, especially when using no-till, preserves moisture in the soil more effectively, but increases its density. With no-till, before sowing sunflower, it was 1.11 g/cm³ at a depth of 0-10 cm and 1.21 g/cm³ before harvesting, while with conventional tillage, the soil density was 1.02 g/cm³ and 1.1 g/cm³, respectively. In addition, no-till tillage provided the best sunflower productivity indicators, including 1000-seed weight (47.3 g), basket diameter (20.2 cm) and yield (2.6 t/ha). No-till cultivation also improves the quality of the sunflower crop, increasing the content of oleic acid (86.5%) and crude fat in the seeds (48.3%). The obtained results contribute to the development of integrated approaches to the introduction of energy-saving technologies in the cultivation of sunflower hybrids in southern Ukraine, which will increase production efficiency and reduce production costs