EFFECT OF MINERAL AND SULFUR-BENTONITE FERTILIZERS ON ROSS 140 SV CORN YIELD ON GRAY FOREST SOILS UNDER IRRIGATION AND DRYLAND FARMING

This study is devoted to the development and experimental validation of a resource-saving cultivation technology of highly productive Ross 140 SV corn hybrid using mineral fertilizers and sulfur bentonite in gray forest soils of the Republic of Tatarstan. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of sulfur-containing bentonite on the yield, green mass quality and economic efficiency of corn cultivation under irrigated and dryland farming conditions on gray forest soils. A two-factor field experiment was conducted to examine the effect of moisture regime (irrigation and dryland farming) and different doses of sulfur bentonite (50, 100, and 150 kg/ha) against the background of the main mineral fertilizer NPK at a dose of N141P65K88 kg/ha. The economically optimal dose of sulfur bentonite was found to be 100 kg/ha, providing the maximum yield increase: up to 53.4 t/ha of green mass under irrigated conditions and 43.5 t/ha without irrigation, which is 10% and 11% higher than the control values, respectively. A significant improvement in green mass quality was also noted: protein content increased to 9.5%. An economic analysis confirmed the high profitability of the proposed technology, which amounted to 62.5% under irrigated conditions and 44.1% under rainfed conditions. The technology is characterized by reduced resource consumption, minimal environmental impact, and high profitability, as confirmed by data obtained on farms in Tatarstan.