ECONOMIC AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF CARROT ROOT CROP PRODUCTION

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study on the influence of the assortment of varieties and hybrids, as well as seed mycorrhization, on the economic and energy efficiency of cultivating table carrot roots under the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the economic and energy efficiency of carrot root cultivation depending on the assortment of varieties and hybrids, as well as seed mycorrhization with the bacterial preparation Mycofriend, under the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Research methods included observation, laboratory analysis, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, field studies, visual assessment, and comparative-calculation methods. Experimental studies were conducted in 2023–2025 in open field conditions using various mid-ripening carrot varieties and hybrids. Sowing was performed using a ridge method with a 20 + 50 cm row spacing. Prior to sowing, seeds of the hybrids Bolivar F1 and Olimpo F1 were treated with the mycorrhizal preparation Mycofriend at a rate of 20 g/kg of seeds. Observations, recordings, and assessments of the energy and economic efficiency of the applied technological elements were carried out in accordance with generally accepted methodologies. Results. The highest gross output values were obtained for the hybrid Olimpo F1 (UAH 520,200/ha) and the variety Kampino (UAH 505,800/ha), which also provided the maximum net profit – 133,350.5 UAH/ha and 119,489.1 UAH/ha, respectively. The profitability level for these variants reached 34.5 % and 30.9 %. Seed mycorrhization in the studied carrot hybrids ensured the highest economic efficiency indicators: gross output for Bolivar F1 amounted to UAH 446.4 thousand/ha, and for Olimpo F1 – UAH 546.3 thousand/ha; net profit – 59.2122 and 158.9505 thousand UAH/ha, respectively; profitability – 15.3 % and 41.0 %, with the lowest production costs – UAH 7,806.2/t and UAH 6,381.4/t. The highest energy efficiency coefficient values were recorded for the hybrid Olimpo F1 – 1.089, and for the variety Kampino – 1.070. Seed mycorrhization resulted in energy efficiency coefficients of 0.918 for Bolivar F1 and 1.104 for Olimpo F1, respectively. Conclusions. The best indicators of economic efficiency and energy coefficient were observed in the hybrid Olimpo F1 and the variety Kampino. Seed mycorrhization with the bacterial preparation Mycofriend does not significantly increase production costs, while it ensures an increase in total root yield by 2.0–2.7 t/ha, an improvement in marketable yield by 3.1–4.8 %, and an enhancement of profitability by 4.1–6.6 % compared to the control (without seed mycorrhization). The highest energy efficiency coefficient values were recorded with seed treatment using the bacterial preparation Mycofriend for the hybrids Bolivar F1 (0.918) and Olimpo F1 (1.104).