Chickpea seed productivity on non-irrigated lands of Southern Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To determine the influence of herbicide application periods on weediness of crops, water consumption, and seed productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in non-irrigated conditions of Southern Ukraine. Methods. Field — to study the interaction of the object of research with biotic and abiotic factors; mathematical and statistical — to conduct dispersion analysis and statistical processing of data to assess the reliability of research results; comparative calculation — to make economic assessment of crop cultivation. Results. According to the results of research in 2018–2020 in chickpea crops in non-irrigated conditions of the Kherson region on the dark chestnut medium-loam slightly saline soil, it was found that the main species of the weed complex in the experiment was ragweed (Ambrósia artemisiifólia), the share of which was 78.9%; white orache (Chenopodium album) accounted for 13.6%. Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) P. Beauv., Amaranthus, Solanum nigrum, and other types of weeds had a small amount, that is, a low harmfulness. The maximum rate of total water consumption — 3424 m3/ha was established when using the preparation Imi Vit, 1.0 l/ha before sowing the crop, the minimum — 3391 m3/ha — when using the herbicide Merlin 750WG, 0.13 l/ha after sowing the crop. The highest average indicator of total water consumption was in the variant without herbicides (control 1) — 3455 m3/ha, the lowest — in plots with manual weeding (control 2) — 3433 m3/ha. With the use of herbicides, the lowest coefficient of water consumption — 2058 m3/t was established in the variants of the experiment with the use of Merlin 750WG, 0.13 l/ha after sowing the crop. Under the influence of herbicides, the maximum average seed yield (1.62 t/ha) of crop sowing was formed using the Merlin 750WG preparation, 0.13 l/ha after crop sowing. Without treatment with herbicides, the highest average yield was obtained in the variant with manual weeding (control 2) — 1.97 t/ha. Conclusions. The use of the herbicide Merlin 750WG with the active substance isoxaflutole at the rate of 0.13 l/ha after sowing chickpeas is effective for controlling weeds in crops, ensuring optimal water consumption and increasing the yield of chickpea seeds in non-irrigated conditions of Southern Ukraine.