Dependence of the economic efficiency of growing sweetclover on the main tillage of the soil

Abstract

Goal. To study the formation of seed yield and the economic efficiency of the technology of growing white annual sweetclover depending on the main tillage and the method of harvesting in non-irrigated conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field — to study the interaction of the research object with biotic and abiotic factors of the Southern Steppe zone; visual — to detect phenological changes in crop plants; mathematical and statistical — to conduct dispersion analysis and statistical processing of data to assess the reliability of the obtained research results; comparative calculation — to carry out economic and energy evaluations of the cultivation of sweetclover. Results. Experimental and field studies on the optimization of the technology of growing white annual sweetclover were substantiated and summarized. In the studies, the types of main tillage and harvesting methods were rationally combined. On average for 2019–2021, it was determined that the maximum seed productivity was formed when the main soil cultivation was carried out - plowing to a depth of 25–27 cm, while the average seed yield was 1.04 t/ha. The maximum seed yield — 0.86 t/ha — was obtained by direct harvesting using desiccation. An optimal model of the technology was developed, which provided for the cultivation of sweetclover of the variety Pivdennyi by plowing (25–27 cm) and using desiccation (direct harvesting method), which ensured the formation of the maximum average seed productivity of 1.12 t/ha and the highest level of profitability — 677%. Conclusions. Optimizing the elements of the technology of growing white annual sweetclover contributes to obtaining the maximum seed productivity of the crop and the highest level of profitability.