INFLUENCE OF PLANT DENSITY AND MICRONUTRIENTS ON WATER CONSUMPTION OF MAIZE HYBRIDS UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE NORTHERN STEPPE OF UKRAINE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37406/2706-9052-2025-3.4Keywords:
maize, hybrid, plant density, foliar feeding, micronutrient fertilizer, total water consumption, water consumption coefficientAbstract
The article presents the results of a study on the influence of plant density and foliar micronutrient fertilization on total water consumption and the water consumption coefficient in maize hybrids of the DEKALB brand under the soil and climatic conditions of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the research was to determine effective agrotechnical measures that ensure rational water use, preservation of soil fertility, and high productivity of maize agrocenoses. Field experiments were conducted during 2022–2024 on ordinary low-humus chernozem at Agrotechnologia-Plus LLC, Kropyvnytskyi district, Kirovohrad region. The three-factor experiment included hybrids of different FAO groups (310–420), eight levels of plant density (55–110 thousand plants/ha), and three options for foliar fertilization (control – water treatment, Amino Ultra Maize, Micro-Mineralis Maize). According to the results, total water consumption varied significantly depending on the weather conditions of the year: from 1487 m³/ha in the driest year (2024) to 4219 m³/ha in the wettest (2022). On average, 61.8% of water consumption was provided by precipitation, while the rest came from soil moisture reserves. The lowest water consumption coefficient (236–309 m³/t) was recorded in 2024, and the highest (367–391 m³/t) in 2022. The optimal plant density ranged from 55 to 75 thousand plants/ha, as this range showed the most efficient water use for grain formation (308–311 m³/t). The use of micronutrient foliar fertilizers contributed to more economical water use—the water consumption coefficient decreased by 11–17% compared to the control. The highest efficiency was observed with the application of Amino Ultra Maize. Very strong correlations (R² = 0.9280–0.9995) were established between total water consumption, the water consumption coefficient, and grain yield, confirming the high efficiency of the studied maize cultivation practices in the context of climate change adaptation and water resource scarcity.
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