Efficient winter wheat cultivation in high-productivity different-field crop rotations under the conditions of unstable moisture in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine

The application of modern technologies for cultivating winter wheat in scientifically grounded crop rotations is increasingly important in the context of climate change. Such practices enhance its yield and production volumes, ensuring domestic market demands and the stable export of Ukrainian grain products. The study aimed to identify, synthesise, and systematise scientifically validated measures for effectively cultivating winter wheat in high-productivity five-field and ten-field crop rotations with varying levels of cereal saturation under unstable moisture conditions in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive system of general scientific and specialised research methods was employed, including field, laboratory-field, comparative-calculation, mathematical-statistical, and abstract-logical approaches. It was established that, on average, during the research period of 2021-2023, the highest winter wheat yield of 6.64 t/ha was achieved following peas in a five-field crop rotation with 60% cereal saturation and the application of mineral fertilisers at a rate of N60P64K64 per hectare of arable land. In five-field crop rotations, the yield of winter wheat following peas increased by 7.1-18.1% compared with perennial grasses, spring barley, and spring wheat. A high winter wheat yield of 6.44 t/ha was achieved following peas in a ten-field crop rotation with 80% cereal saturation and the application of mineral fertilisers at a rate of N60P60K60 per hectare of arable land. In ten-field crop rotations, the yield increase of winter wheat following peas compared with annual grasses (vetch‑oat), soybean, perennial grasses, spring barley, oilseed radish, and silage maize ranged from 7.5% to 24.4%. The yield increase attributable to mineral fertiliser application at a rate of N60P60K60 per hectare of arable land was 39-60% after peas, 43% after perennial grasses, and 36-42% after silage maize. The most economically viable option was identified as the five-field crop rotation with 60% cereal saturation and mineral fertiliser application at a rate of N60P64K64 per hectare of arable land, yielding the highest net profit of 26.93 thousand UAH/ha and a profitability level of 151%