Influence of by-products under different methods of soil cultivation on the yield of winter rape in the Western Forest-Steppe

Abstract

The absence of a clear position on the application of a particular method of basic tillage and the use of post-harvest residues in crop rotation draws attention to the minimisation of tillage. Therefore, the need to substantiate and develop efficient energy-saving tillage technologies and the use of by-products in crop rotation is quite important and remains relevant. The aim of the research is to study the impact of by-products and soil cultivation, which will create optimal conditions for the development of winter rape in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research was carried out during 3 rotations of 4 crop rotation in a stationary field experiment of the Institute of Agriculture of Western Polissya of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences in 2009-2020. Against the background of soil cultivation, including ploughing, disc cultivation to a depth of 10-12 and 6-8 cm, two methods of using crop residues of crop rotation were studied - diversion and use as fertiliser with the addition of compensatory nitrogen in the amount of N10 per 1 tonne. The results showed that when growing winter rape with the removal of the predecessor straw from the field during ploughing to a depth of 20-22 cm and disc cultivation to a depth of 10-12 and 6-8 cm, the soil density at a depth of 0-10 cm was 1.22-1.28, 1.23-1.28 and 1.23-1.35 g/cm³, respectively, and at a depth of 10-20 cm – 1.26-1.30, 1.30-1.35 and 1.32-1.36 g/cm³. The use of straw as an organic fertiliser led to a decrease in the bulk mass of all the studied soil layers under any method of treatment, but at the same time contributed to an increase in the number of weeds, which increased with a decrease in the depth of treatment. On average, over the three years of crop rotation, the seed yields for ploughing by 20-22 cm, disking by 10-12 cm and disking by 6-8 cm against the background of straw alienation were 2.91, 2.83 and 2.59 t/ha, respectively, and for incorporating it into the soil – 3.04, 2.88 and 2.72 t/ha. As noted in the studies, tillage and fertilisation using non-commodity crop residues increase the soil protection effect, significantly reduce the negative impact of weeds in crops, improve soil fertility and increase the productivity of crops in the rotation