Ecological stability and plasticity of wheat cultivation in the conditions of the Forest-steppe zone of Ukraine

The peculiarities of yield stability and plasticity formation in wheat cultivation across different regions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of ecological conditions of the wheat-growing regions on grain productivity. During 2010–2024 research were conducted in the main regions belonging to Ukraine’s ForestSteppe zone: Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernivtsi regions. It was found that in Vinnytsia region wheat growing conditions gradually transformed from extensive to intensive, while high plasticity of yields facilitates the realization of biological potential of plants in years when weather conditions are favourable. In other words, yields in the region conditions alternates from high productivity to crop failure, which is associated with the sharp continentality of the climate in recent years. Similar patterns were identified for Kyiv region, which is characterized by a consistently high level of yield plasticity. The central and eastern regions, such as Poltava and Kharkiv regions, show a steady transition from better to poorer growing conditions, which leads to consistently low wheat yields. In contrast, in Sumy region environmental limiting factors restrict crop productivity. Meanwhile, favourable conditions for realizing the biological potential of wheat have been established over the past five years in Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Cherkasy regions. This means it is more advisable to allocate major wheat cultivation areas specifically in these Forest-Steppe regions of Ukraine. Key words: wheat, yield, intensive conditions, environmental limiting factors.