THE INFLUENCE OF AGROTECHNICAL METHODS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER GARLIC

Abstract

Increasing the yield of winter garlic is one of the priority areas for the development of vegetable growing in Ukraine, since this crop has high food, therapeutic and prophylactic and export value. In conditions of climate change and instability of weather factors, the improvement of the cultivation technology, considering the soil and climatic features of the regions, becomes particularly relevant. Insufficient adaptation of agrotechnical measures to specific farm conditions leads to deterioration of plant overwintering, reduced field germination, the formation of small bulbs and a decrease in marketable yield. In connection with this, there is a need for scientific substantiation of a set of techniques that ensure the stable formation of highly productive winter garlic plantations. The study was conducted using the method of a field multifactorial experiment with varying planting dates, depth of clove wrapping, plant placement schemes and mineral nutrition systems. The experiment was set up according to generally accepted methods of vegetable growing, observing the principles of repetition and randomness of the placement of variants. During the vegetation period, biometric indicators of plants (height, number and area of leaves), the degree of overwintering, and growth intensity were determined. After harvesting, structural analysis was carried out: bulb mass, number and mass of cloves, and the share of marketable products. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using the method of variance analysis with determination of the level of reliability of the obtained data. As a result of the study, it was established that optimal planting dates contribute to the formation of a well-developed root system in the fall and ensure a high percentage of plant overwintering. The rational depth of clove wrapping has a positive effect on the alignment of seedlings and resistance to adverse winter conditions. The highest yield indicators were obtained by combining the optimal planting date with an improved plant placement scheme and a balanced mineral nutrition system. The use of recommended fertilizer rates contributed to an increase in the average weight of the bulb, an increase in the share of marketable products and an improvement in its quality characteristics (density, uniformity, keeping quality). The most effective set of agrotechnical techniques was determined, which ensures a stable increase in crop productivity. The feasibility of comprehensive optimization of planting dates, clove embedding depth, plant placement schemes and fertilizer systems was scientifically substantiated in the outcome of the study. Their combination allows to increase yield, improve marketable and quality indicators of products and ensure an increase in the economic efficiency of growing winter garlic in the conditions of Southwestern forest-steppe of Ukraine.