FORMATION OF YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUGAR BEET SEEDS DEPENDING ON THE USE OF ABSORBENT
Authors: Kolisnik M. S. , Polishchuk V. V. 
Published: October 2023

Implementation of intensive sugar beet cultivation technologies is impossible without high-quality seeds. The quality of sugar beet seeds is determined by a complex of genetic factors controlled by breeders, as well as by environmental and agronomic conditions of their cultivation and methods of post-harvest and pre-sowing seed preparation using modern technologies. That is why the study of the effect of the use of absorbent granules for growing sugar beet seeds on the formation of their yield is particularly relevant. The aim of the study was to find out the effect of the use of absorbent granules when applied to the soil before planting on the growth and development of seedlings, as well as the yield and quality of sugar beet seeds. It was found that the introduction of MaxiMarin absorbent granules into the soil before planting sugar beet uterine roots contributed to better moisture supply to the plants. In all phases of growth and development of seeds, the soil moisture content with the absorbent was significantly higher than in the control - without its application. Absolute soil moisture in the phase of rosette formation was 4.8%, in the phase of stemming and formation of ground vegetative mass - 9.9%, in the flowering phase - 4.5%, and in the phase of seed maturation - 5.4% higher compared to the control. Similar results were obtained over the years of research. Soil moisture in all phases of growth and development of seedlings was significantly higher when the absorbent was applied to the soil before planting root crops compared to the control. Optimal moisture supply contributed to better use of mineral nutrients. For example, when the absorbent was applied before planting the seeds, the content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium in the soil at the end of the growing season was lower, respectively, by 13 and 20 mg/1 kg of soil. The application of the absorbent influenced the biometric parameters of the seed heads. On average, over three years, the seedlings were 58.2 cm taller with the MaxiMarin absorbent, there were 1.2 times more first-order shoots on which seeds of sowing fractions were formed, and the density of fruit placement on the seedlings was higher - for every 10 cm of shoots, 9.0 more fruits were formed. The increase in biometric parameters after the introduction of absorbent granules into the soil and, especially, the number of first-order shoots on which seeds of sowing fractions are formed and the density of fruit placement on the shoots provided an increase in seed yield in combination with soil, climatic and agrotechnical conditions provided a significant increase in seed yield - by 0.15 t/ha compared to the control. Seed germination was 4% (NIR0.05 = 1.4%) higher compared to the control. The analysis of the seed fractional composition showed that when the absorbent was applied to the soil, fewer small seeds of the 2.5-3.5 mm diameter fraction were formed, which, according to the national standard for harvested seeds, do not belong to conditioned seeds and are wasted during post-harvest cleaning, and more - seeds with a diameter of more than 5.5 mm, which, as a rule, have higher germination and in the process of pre-sowing preparation at seed plants after grinding are converted into the sowing fraction of seeds with a diameter of 4.5-5.5 mm. Thus, according to preliminary data, it can be concluded that the introduction of an absorbent into the soil before planting seeds contributes to the creation of a better water regime - providing seeds with moisture throughout the entire period of their vegetation, more complete use of mineral nutrients, which ultimately leads to an increase in yield and seed quality.