EVALUATION OF BUCKWHEAT BREEDING ACCESSIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE CROPPING UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN WESTERN FOREST-STEPPE

Abstract

The article presents the results of evaluating common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) breeding material according to sowing dates under the conditions of catch crops in the southern part of the Forest-Steppe zone of Western Ukraine. Based on their biological characteristics, the breeding accessions included in the study differ in the duration of the components of the growing season. A particularly important indicator in this regard is the duration of the emergence–flowering period, which was as follows (depending on the year’s conditions): accession 115/86 – 16, 16, 17 days; 125/86 – 20, 20, 21 days; 118/81 – 21, 21, 22 days; 328/82 – 25, 24, 26 days; 333/82 – 28, 27, 29 days. The total growing season of the accessions in the order listed above was: 45–47; 55–57; 58–62; 62–66; 69–72 days, depending on the year. These results provide grounds to assert that the shorter the emergence– flowering period, the shorter the overall vegetative development of buckwheat plants. As a result of the research, the productivity of the breeding accessions 333/82, 328/82, 118/81, 125/86 and 115/86 in terms of grain yield formation under catch cropping conditions was established. The yields followed the pattern: 1.233 > 1.127 > 0.834 > 0.606 > 0.455, respectively. This outcome indicates that under catch cropping conditions, accessions 115/86, 125/86, and 118/81, due to their limited biological productivity potential, do not fully utilize the energetic resources of the abiotic environment compared with accessions 328/82 and 333/82. A statistical analysis based on the obtained data on the growing season and productivity of the buckwheat populations studied revealed a correlation between yield and the duration of vegetation, with correlation coefficients of R – 0.77, 0.88, and 0.89 depending on the year of research.