Efficiency of sowing dates for maize hybrids of different maturity groups in the conditions H. V. of the Western Forest Steppe of Ukraine
Authors:   Ternopil State Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture in the Carpathian Region of NAAS, Yashchuk T. S. , Samets N. P. ,   Ternopil State Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture in the Carpathian Region of NAAS, Shubala H. V. ,   Ternopil State Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture in the Carpathian Region of NAAS, Sydoruk H. P. ,   Ternopil State Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture in the Carpathian Region of NAAS
Published: February 2025

Topicality. In recent decades, maize and sunflower have become strategic crops in the agrarian business of Ukraine, contributing to the country's foreign exchange earnings and providing the lion's share of profits to agricultural producers. Modern maize hybrids have a significant genetic potential to produce high yields, but they need to create appropriate conditions for plant growth and development. To achieve this goal, measures should be applied to optimize the conditions for growing maize at all stages of organogenesis. In the context of climate change towards warming, such an technological element as sowing date is becoming increasingly important. A direct correlation between the degree of plant development and sowing date has been established. Purpose. To investigate and identify the most effective elements of maize cultivation technology in the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted in the fields of breeding crop rotation of the Ternopil State Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture in the Carpathian Region of NAAS of Ukraine after winter wheat (on the background of N60Р30K30) according to generally accepted technology. Results. The basis of the development is the study of optimal sowing dates of maize hybrids for grain of different maturity groups. For this purpose, sowing of the first date was carried out at a soil temperature of 8–10 °C at the depth of seed placement, the second date – at 10–12 °C, and the third date – at 12–14 °C. Research results show that for the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe, the most economically justified is the cultivation of the early-ripening hybrid DN Khortytsia, when the soil temperature reaches up to 10–12 °C. Considering the conditions of growing four maize hybrids for grain of different maturity groups, as well as different sowing dates, the highest grain yield (10.1 t/ha) and economic efficiency (147.7 % profitability) were obtained when growing the hybrid DN Khortytsia. Conclusions. The research results showed that sowing maize hybrids for grain of different maturity groups at the optimum date solves such problems as the rational nutrient and soil moisture utilisation, weed and pest control, improvement of physical and chemical properties of the soil, increased efficiency of fertiliser and machinery application, and cheapening of agricultural products.
Key words: maize hybrids for grain, elements of cultivation technology, soil temperature, crop structure, productivity, economic efficiency