The influence of the nutritional background on the formation of the productivity of millet for post-harvest cultivation in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To determine the cumulative impact of mineral fertilizers and fertilization with an organic preparation created based on soil algae on the formation of the millet crop for post-harvest cultivation in irrigation conditions in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field studies were conducted in 2021–2024 at the Scientific base of the Institute of Climate-Oriented Agriculture of NAAS in irrigated crop rotation on dark-brown medium-carbonaceous soil. Field (assessment of the influence of the studied factors on the formation of crop productivity), quantitative (determination of the structure of the crop), laboratory (determination of grain quality indicators), and mathematical statistical (dispersion analysis of the yield). Results. It was established that the development of panicle and ripening was delayed on the mineral background for more than a N45P30, which extended the vegetation of millet to 83-84 days. According to the technology of post-harvest cultivation of millet at irrigation, the application of mineral fertilizers and foliar feeding with preparations based on soil algae (strain IMB K19 of nitrogen-fixing algae Nostoc commune) had a positive effect on morphometric indicators, elements of the crop structure, and product quality, which ensured an increase in grain yield by 1.6 times. The addition of mineral fertilizers in a dose of N30P20 contributed to the formation of productive bu­shiness. On a fertilized background, the height of the plants increased by 7.5–14.2%, and the length of the panicle by 10.4–17.8%. The application of mineral fertilizers had a greater impact on the protein and film content of millet grain. In the post-harvest cultivation of millet, the most effective was the combination of the main fertilization and the fertilization of plants. Conclusions. The use of mineral fertilizers contributed to an increase in the productive bushiness of millet plants by 0.7–0.9 units, the length of the panicle by 10.4–16.0%, and its density by 11.3–30.2%. Introduction of N30P20 and N45P30 with the organic preparation Soil algae (5 l/ha) increased the density of the panicle, the yield of grain, the content of protein in it, and reduced its film content. The combined use of N45P30 and Soil algae (5 l/ha) provided a grain yield of 2.84 t/ha. A further increase in the background of nutrition did not significantly influence the yield of the crop.