OPTIMIZATION OF THE WINTER WHEAT FEEDING SYSTEM IN THE RIGHT-BANK FOREST-STEP CONDITIONS

Abstract

The influence of the variety, fertilization system and seed sowing rate on the formation of field germination, winter hardiness, plant density after overwintering and the coefficient of productive tillering of winter wheat in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was studied. The relevance of the study is due to the need to improve technological methods for growing modern winter wheat varieties, taking into account the peculiarities of their reaction to the level of mineral nutrition and plant density, which is of particular importance in conditions of an unstable hydrothermal regime. The aim of the work was to establish the patterns of the influence of the variety, fertilization system and seeding rate on the formation of the main elements of the structure of the winter wheat crop and to determine the optimal combination of the studied factors. Field research was carried out in 2025–2026 on the basis of the Research and Development Department «Agronomichne» of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University. The experiment was set up according to a three-factor scheme with three replications. Two varieties of winter wheat were studied – Revolver and RZHT DELLO, two nutrition backgrounds – without fertilization and an increased background (10 t/ha of manure + N₁₀₀P₆₃K₁₁₁), as well as three seeding rates – 1.5; 3.0 and 4.0 million viable seeds per hectare. It was found that the use of an organo-mineral fertilization system provided improved field germination, increased winter hardiness of plants and increased crop density after overwintering regardless of the variety. The highest field germination (93.4%) and the maximum level of overwintering (76.3%) was formed by the RZHT DELLO variety with the application of 10 t/ha of manure + N₁₀₀P₆₃K₁₁₁₁ and a seeding rate of 1.5 million seeds/ha. The largest number of plants after wintering (281.3 pcs./m²) was also obtained in this variety with an increased fertilization background and a seeding rate of 4.0 million seeds/ha. It was determined that the productive tillering coefficient depended to the greatest extent on the plant density. The practical significance of the study lies in the scientific substantiation of the combination of an increased fertilization background (10 t/ha of manure + N₁₀₀P₆₃K₁₁₂) with a seeding rate of 3.0 million similar seeds per hectare, which ensures optimal formation of the density of the productive stem, high plant survival and creates the prerequisites for the realization of the genetic potential of modern winter wheat varieties in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe.