Study of the efficiency of direct (no-till) sowing of grain crops in the Republic of Chuvashia

Abstract

The current study was carried out in order to identify the efficiency of direct (no-till) sowing of grain crops after potatoes on medium loamy gray forest soils with 2.33 % of humus, 210 mg/kg of mobile phosphorus, 162 mg/kg of exchangeable potassium and 6.6 units of acidity. The objects of study were winter and spring wheat, spring barley for brewing and fodder, maize for grain and silage. The sowing complex ‘Amazone Primera DMC’ has carried out direct (no-till) sowing of disease-treated seeds with the simultaneous application of mineral fertilizers. Grain crop treatment to control weeds, pests, and diseases, as well as top dressing with macro- and micro-fertilizers were aimed at obtaining the maximum productivity of each grain crop. The hydrothermal coefficient in the 2020 growing year was 1.04, in 2021 it was 0.60 and in 2022 it was 1.05. Harvesting was carried out in the phase of full ripening of grain and milky-wax ripeness of cobs when laying maize silage. On average, the largest (3.85 t/ha) grain productivity when using direct (no-till) sowing was produced by maize, and the least yields (2.00 t/ha) were given by brewing barley. In the production of these crops, there have been identified maximum (2.72) and minimum (1.99) energy efficiency coefficients. An economic estimation has shown the feasibility of direct (no-till) sowing of winter wheat, where the maximum (68.4 %) level of profitability was established. The minimum (14.8 %) level of profitability was found in the cultivation of brewing barley, which could be explained by the high degree of material and labor costs and low productivity. The profitability of the production of other crops was lower in 1.21-3.39 times. In general, agroeconomic and energy analysis has proved a high efficiency of direct (no-till) sowing in the cultivation of winter wheat and maize after potatoes in the agro-climatic conditions of the Republic Chuvashia.