Varietal and technological aspects of growing fodder beets in the Forest-Steppe zone

Abstract

Goal. To determine the features of the formation of yield and quality of fodder beets depending on the variety, fertilizer system, and technological methods of cultivation, as well as the suitability of various forms of roots for mechanized harvesting. Methods. Field (phenological observations and counts), laboratory (determination of the quality of root crops), statistical (dispersion analysis of yield data), measurement-weight analysis (determination of the structure of the crop), and system analysis. Results. The study was carried out in a stationary experiment at the experimental sites of the SE “DF “Chabany” of the NSC “Institute of Agriculture of NAAS” (Fastiv district, Kyiv oblast) in 2021–2024. The soil of the experimental sites is dark-gray podzolized coarse-dusty-slightly-loamy. The problematic aspects of growing fodder beets in the zone of unstable moistening are highlighted, and the processes of growth and patterns of formation of the yield of fodder beet roots in accordance with the soil-climatic conditions of the zone, varietal selection of seeds, fertilization, and density of planting of cenoses, terms and methods of root crops harvesting are investigated. Conclusions. In terms of yield, multi-sprout varieties of fodder beets prevailed over single-sprout forms by 4–20% and provided an increase in yield at the level of 3–16 tons. Of the multi-sprout samples, the highest productivity was formed by drought-resistant varieties Bryhadyr (Germany) and Sonet (Ukraine), which, over the years of cultivation on the backgrounds of N45P45K45 + complex of macro- and micro-elements, provided the yield of root crops in the range of 72–78 t/ha. Single-sprout varieties of fodder beets formed a lower productivity than multi-sprout ones. However, the dry matter content in them was 0.7–1.4% higher, except for the variety of semi-sugar forms Tsentaur Poli, in which the dry matter content was more than 12.8%. For the application of mechanized gathering of fodder root crops, it is better to grow single-sprout forms of fodder beets, in particular grades Rubikon and Aspor, which formed roots with deepening in a depth of more than 60%, deviation from a line axial line no more than 22%, and 75% were adapted for use with the machine complex.