EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SORGHUM PROTECTION SYSTEM AGAINST PESTS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE STEPPE ZONE OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study on the effectiveness of insecticidal protection of grain sorghum crops under the conditions of the northern Steppe of Ukraine. The relevance of the research is driven by increasing climate risks, particularly droughts, and the need to find reliable alternatives to traditional cereal crops. Sorghum is a promising crop due to its high drought resistance, stable yield, and lower fertilizer requirements. At the same time, its cultivation is accompanied by the negative impact of a complex of pests, among which cereal aphids, wireworms, Swedish flies, cotton bollworms, and chafer beetles dominate. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of different sorghum protection schemes – seed pre-treatment and foliar treatment of growing plants – using chemical and biological agents (Cruiser, Maxim XL, Vermystim, Karate Zeon). The experiments were conducted at the “Dnipro” experimental farm of the Institute of Grain Crops of NAAS of Ukraine during 2018–2021, considering agroclimatic conditions characterized by unstable temperature and hydrological regimes. The results showed that the combination of Cruiser + Maxim XL + Vermystim provided the lowest rates of seedling damage (6,0%) and seedling mortality (4,0%), as well as the highest yield – up to 8,80 t/ha under combined application with Karate Zeon. The use of insecticides effectively reduced aphid populations during critical crop development phases (down to 0,8–1,2 individuals per plant). The study confirms the high effectiveness of integrated sorghum protection combining insecticides and growth biostimulants as a factor in increasing yields and reducing pesticide pressure on the environment. The obtained data have practical value for agricultural production in risk–prone farming zones and justify the need for further research into effective and environmentally safe plant protection products.