Influence of seed pre-sowing treatment with growth activating preparations on the durum spring wheat productivity
Authors: Chigrin O.V. 
Published: February 2023

To provide pasta production with native high-quality raw materials, it is necessary not only to expand the sown area of durum wheat, but also to increase its actual yield. In conditions of environmental crisis, the technology elements aimed at activating metabolic processes in a plant organism become more and more relevant, which makes it possible to significantly increase productivity while saving resources. Durum spring wheat is characterized by weak rooting and slow accumulation of vegetative mass, and is also sensitive to the lack of microelements in the soil. Therefore, it is important to study the effectiveness of complex preparations, which, in addition to growth regulators, contain micro- and macro-elements, and other substances necessary to stimulate growth processes, especially in conditions of moisture deficiency. The effectiveness of multicomponent growth activating preparations was studied on various agricultural crops (winter wheat, barley, sunflower, mustard, etc.). At the same time, the effect of durum spring wheat pre-sowing treatment under insufficient moisture conditions has not been studied enough.

The purpose of the research. To study the effect of seed treatment with growth activating preparations with a different active substance composition on the durum spring wheat yield under insufficient moisture conditions.

Research methodology. The studies were carried out on the experimental field of the Kharkiv NAU named after V. V. Dokuchayev in 2018–2020. Seed treatment with Vympel, Regoplant, Vermistim and Gulliver preparations was carried out before sowing by the method of semi-dry dressing. Registration plot area was 10 m2.

Research results and their discussion. It was found that pre-sowing growth stimulation by activating preparations Vympel and Vermistim promotes an increase in seed germination energy by 4–5 %, laboratory germination – by 2–3 %, field germination – by 5 % in comparing to control. Seed stimulation also had a positive effect on pre-harvest planting density and ear productivity. In case with Vympel, the number of productive ears per 1 m2 exceeded the control by 10 %, in case with Vermistim – by 12 %. At the same time, the mass of grain in an ear increased by 21,3 and 26,2 %, respectively. As a result of changes in the plant productivity elements, wheat productivity increased with the use of Pennant by 16 %, Vermistim – by 14 % of the control. In dry years, the effectiveness of these preparations was higher. A positive effect was also established when using the Gulliver and Regoplant for seed treatment, however, it was insignificant (3 and 4 %).

Conclusions. The positive effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with multicomponent growth activating drugs Vympel and Vermistim on germination and the formation of the yield structure elements contributed to an increase in durum spring wheat grain productivity by 16 % and 14 % from control. The positive effect of the using these drugs increased under more stressful conditions of wheat growing. The effectiveness of the using Gulliver and Regoplant was insignificant and unstable over the years.

Key words: durum spring wheat, seed treatment, growth activating preparations, productivity elements, yield.