Productivity and composition of maize biomass in the central agroclimatic region of the Komi Republic

Abstract

Abstract. In the Komi Republic agricultural production and crops are characterized by low heat availability, short growing season, poor and acidic soil. This determines the selection of cultivated plants. In order to develop and increase the efficiency of northern crop production, expanding the range of cultivated crops through new varieties and hybrids adapted to cold climates is a priority. Over the past twenty years in the central agroclimatic region of the Komi Republic the period with temperatures above 10 °C has increased from 88 to 95 days, and the sum of active temperatures has increased from 1400 to 1560 °C. This allows to expand the range of cultivated fodder crops, including new varieties of corn. Studies on the possibility of growing of maize cultivars (Zea mays L.) in the central agro-climatic region of the Komi Republic were carried out. The subject of this study was the modern maize cultivar, Dork, an early three-line hybrid characterized by rapid growth, cold and drought resistance in the initial stages of development. Zea mays plants were grown in a field on an area of 100 m2 near Syktyvkar (61.67 N, 50.76 E). Seeds of Zea mays were sown late, June 20, due to cold and raw weather in May – first decade of June. At a sum of effective temperatures of less than 1800 °C the Dorka cultivar formed 564 c/ha of green (fresh) mass and 106 c/ha of dry mass. In dry biomass the content of soluble sugars consist of 200 g/kg, carotenoids was 140 g/kg, amino acids – 52 g/kg, among them essential amino acids – 18.7 g/kg. The biomass of maize cultivar, Dorka, is rich in calcium and magnesium. Thus, in terms of crop productivity and nutritional value of biomass, the maize cultivar, Dorka, is promising for cultivation in the central and southern agro-climatic regions of the Komi Republic. It is suitable for use as green feed and silting.