Influence of biologization methods and soil cultivation systems on winter wheat crop formation

The article presents the results of a study to assess the characteristics of winter wheat yield formation of Skipetr variety using various soil cultivation systems (moldboard, non-moldboard, zero) and types of fallow (bare fallow and various types of green manure fallow) on gray forest soil in the Kama agricultural production zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. The study was conducted in 2023-2024, based on a long-term production stationary experiment established in 2022. The autumn of 2023 was characterized by drought phenomena. During the spring-summer vegetation period of 2024, winter wheat experienced cold weather with a large amount of precipitation in May, then periodically experienced moisture deficit and elevated temperatures, which affected plant development. The total plot area for each variant was 0.5 ha, replicated three times (the total area of each experimental variant was 1.5 ha). The obtained data were processed using dispersion analysis. With the exception of the studied techniques, the agricultural technology of winter wheat cultivation was in accordance with those recommended for Kama region of the Republic of Tatarstan. The use of moldboard tillage led to a decrease in soil bulk density, while with no-till and zero tillage, there was a slight increase in this indicator, but within the optimal values for winter wheat. The content of productive moisture in the arable soil layer during the heading phase of winter wheat was maximum when using forage peas as a green manure crop and moldboard plowing. The use of zero tillage in combination with the use of white mustard and a vetch-oat mixture as green manure provided the maximum biological activity of the soil when using the linen fabric decomposition assessment method. The highest yield of winter wheat of Skipetr variety (4.89 t/ha) was obtained when using forage peas as a fallow crop against the background of no-till soil cultivation. In terms of gluten content, in all variants, the grain met the standards for class 1 food wheat according to GOST 9353-2016, but in most cases, according to other indicators, the grain met the requirements for class 3. Grain confirming requirements for the second class of food wheat was obtained using forage peas as a green manure against the background of no-moldboard cultivation, as well as against the background of vetch-oat fallow according to the no-till system. Taking into account the achievement of the maximum yield level (4.89 t/ha), the best quality characteristics and the greatest weight of 1000 grains (45.3 g) at the minimum cost of the obtained products, the most optimal biologization technique in the experimental conditions was the use of forage peas as a green manure against the background of a no-moldboard soil cultivation system.