AGROPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL UNDER VARIOUS METHODS OF PROCESSING AND FERTILIZATION IN THE CULTIVATION OF FIBRE FLAX IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE PRECARPATHIAN REGION

Abstract

At the present stage of agronomic researching, one of the most urgent issues is the study of the theory and practice of creating and destroying the soil structure.  Soil structure is one of the main parameters, which determines their properties and regimes.  It significantly influences the growth and development conditions of plants and microflora, is one of the determining factors for increasing crop yields.

Particular attention should be paid to the main cultivation of the soil and the use of organic and mineral fertilizers, on which the productivity, quality of fiber and flax seeds depend to a large extent.

Studies of agrophysical properties of the soil are devoted to the works of many scientists (S. Antonets’, S. V. Behey, A. D. Voronin, Y. B. Revut, I. A. Shuvar, etc.) [1, 2, 3, 7, 8  ] and in particular for the cultivation fibre of flax (V.H. Didora, O. Yu. Lokot’, M.V. Kalievsky, T.I. Kozlyk, etc.)[4, 5, 6].

However, studies on the effect of minimal and soil-free tillage in combination with the organic-mineral fertilizer system on the changes in the agrochemical, water-physical, biological properties of the sod-podzolic soil of the Precarpathiansregionand the productivity of fibre flax have not been carried out sufficiently.

In this connection, it is of theoretical and practical interest to conduct studies on the methods of basic soil cultivation to a shallower depth, with optimal use of green manure and mineral fertilizers from the point of view of their influence on soil fertility, growth, plant development, yield and quality of flax products.

Purpose and objectives of the study. The purpose of the research was to study the influence of the methods of basic soil cultivation in combination with organo-mineral fertilization of sod-podzolic soils on their fertility, productivity, and quality of the fibre flax.

Object and methods of research. Scientific researchers with soil cultivation and fertilizers were carried out during 2003-2006 on sod-podzolic mid-sand loam soil of the branch of the Carpathian Agricultural Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian region, located in the village of Piadyki, the production testing and introduction was carried out in 2007-2009 in agro-enterprise “StepanMelnychuk”, located in village of the Turka of Kolomyya district of Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Studies on soil cultivation and fertilization of fibre flax were carried out at the link of crop rotation with such alternation of crops: clover - winter wheat – fibre flax.

Field experiments were carried out according to the “Methodical recommendations for conducting field experiments with fibre flax” (VNIIL, 1978) and in accordance with the methods of field experience B. A. Dospekhov [3].

Results of the research. Based on the obtained results of the conducted studies it was established that the biggest number of agronomical valuable aggregates (0.25-10.0 mm) in soil layers 0-20 and 20-40 cm was noted in ploughing variants of 14-16 cm and discs with deep loosening in  combination of green manure with N₃₀P₄₅K₆₅ - 61,7-55,6% and 61,9-63,9%, in these variants there was the highest soil texture ratio of 1,61-1,73 and 1,25-1,65.

The introduction of organic-mineral fertilizers with all methods of basic processing reduced the density of sod-podzolic soils.  The lowest soil density of 0-10 cm of the layer was 1.18-1.19 g / cm³ in variants where ploughing was carried out at 14-16 cm and disking at 8-10 cm with the deep loosening of 35-40 cm with the application of green manure +  N₃₀P₄₅K₆₅.

During the vegetative period of growth of fibre flax, the soil was compacted and before harvesting the soil density in the 0-10 cm layer increased in the control variant to 1.28-1.34 g / cm³, and in the organic-mineral fertilizer system, green manure + N₃₀P₄₅K₆₅ to 1.25-1.31 g/cm³ in the soil layer 0-10 cm and up to 1.33-1.38 g/cm³ in the soil layer 10-20 cm.

The use of organic fertilizers, with the use of ploughing at 14-16 cm and disking at 8-10 cm with a deep loosening of 35-40 cm, contributed to an increase in moisture reserves in the soil and improved the water-physical properties of the soil, which positively influenced plant development and formation  yield of fibre flax.

In particular, in the fertilized variants, the moisture reserves during the sprouting, at a depth of 0-20 cm, varied within the range of 30.6-39.5 mm, and at a depth of 20-40 cm, respectively, 90.8-94.2 mm, the same pattern was observed before harvesting fibre flax.

The highest yield of seeds of fibre flax var. Mogilevskyi-2 - 0,72 t/ha was on the variant, where ploughing was carried out for 14-16 cm with deep loosening of the soil for 35-40 cm with application of green manure and fertilizer dose N₃₀P₄₅K₆₀, which is 0,42 t/ha more control and 0.10 t/ha more than the similar version without loosening by 35-40 cm and on the version where disking was carried out for 8-10 cm with loosening for 35-40 cm and introducing green manure in combination with  the fertilizer dose N₃₀P₄₅K₆₀ is 0.72 t/ha, which is more by 0.42 t/ha and 0.07 t/ha, respectively.

Therefore, the results of studies show that fertilize the soil under flax by green manure and mineral fertilizer under different methods of primary tillage, especially during the ploughing (14-16 cm) and disking (8-10 cm) compatible with deep loosening (35-40 cm) provided a yield increase of flax fibre on 0,72-2.48 t/ha.

Conclusions. As a result of the research, it was found that the application of soil treatments to a shallower depth (ploughing at 14-16 cm and disking at 8-10 cm) with a deep loosening of 35-40 cm with application of mineral fertilizers and green manure provide favourable agrophysical properties of the arable and subsoil layers, uniform distribution of mineral elements in the plow layer, which contributes to the growth and development of plants and the formation of crops.

In connection with the revival of the flax industry in Ukraine, it is necessary to continue research on the elements of biological farming (destruction of straw, application of a green mass of green manure, biostimulators, etc.), improvement of methods of basic processing with the use of modern agricultural machinery in flax-fibre growing technologies.