Plant and Soil Science

The designation of optimal terms and methods of sowing of perspective buckwheat varieties becomes relevant against the backdrop of unstable weather conditions of the spring period, which are noted lately. V. V. Doronicheva says, the term of buckwheat sowing is cheap and have a strong influence on its yield. Sowing in time means getting a high yield without any additional labor and costs. The aim and objectives of the research was to designation the optimal time and method of buckwheat sowing (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) in conditions of unstable moisture of the central Forest-Steppe, in which the maximum productivity of the variety will be formed. The experiment was conducted in accordance with the program of scientific research in the conditions of the Ustymivka Experimental Station for Plant Production of the Ukraine National Academy of Agrarian Sciences during 2015-2017. Zoned varieties of buckwheat: Yaroslavna, Slobozhanka, Ruslana, Ukrainka, Krupinka, SYN-3/02 were used as the material for the study. The data of the three-year experiment confirm the significant influence of the investigated factors (variety, timing and method of sowing) on the formation of the elements of buckwheat productivity, which varied in a wide range (yield – from 0.1 to 1.2 t/ha, the number of grains from plants – from 2.8 to 17.4 pounds, weight of 1000 grains – up to 2.4 g) and depend primarily on the weather conditions of the spring period (air and soil temperature, the number of days with effective precipitation, relative humidity of air). Arid conditions reduced the grain size and number of grains per plant, while simultaneously yields reducing. More humid conditions of the initial period of growth and development of plants increased these rates. The time of sowing buckwheat (with a difference of 5 days) is not always possible to offset the negative effects of weather conditions. The way of sowing is a factor of effective influence on the formation of high indicators of productivity elements and buckwheat grain yield potential, which to some extent depends on the variety of culture. In addition, the varieties SYN-3/02 and ‘Kruupinka’ in the dry conditions of 2017 responded with increased productivity at sowing conventional row-type sowing method. In previous years they showed higher yields at broad-band method of sowing. In the unfavorable conditions for growth and development, the conventional row-type seeding method was more appropriate. The term did not have a significant impact on this indicator. In the conditions of 2015-2017, among the studied varieties of buckwheat, the highest productivity had the variety ‘Yaroslavna’ for sowing in the first decade of May (5-6.05) in a broad-band method. These elements of cultivation technology were better for the varieties Slobozhanka and Ruslana. The second term (May 10-11) was more favorable for the varieties SIN-3/02 and Ukrainka for the broad-band method of sowing. Another situation is noted for the buckwheat variety Krupinka: it had the highest seed yield after sowing in the first or second decade of May at broad-band method. For sowing in the third term (15-16.05), all varieties formed reduced parameters of the productivity elements in comparison with other terms and methods of sowing.

varieties, sowing time, row spacing, number of grains, weight of 1000 grains, amount of precipitation, air temperature