Reserves for the Increase of Yield and Quality of Winter Wheat Grain and Their Dependence on the Heterogeneity of Crops in the Conditions of the Steppe Zone of the Orenburg Urals, Russia

Abstract

Aim. Verification of scientific concepts regarding the spatial heterogeneity of field agrocenoses. Identification of the variability of phytometric and structural crop ndicators and determination of the degree of their influence on the yield and quality of winter wheat grain in the steppe zone of the Orenburg Urals.Material and Methods. Establishment of field experiments, related observations and counts in accordance with the methodology of state variety crops testing and B.A.Dospekhov's guidelin. Monitoring of winter wheat crops was carried by measuring the vegetation index (NDVI) with a Green Seeker Handheld Crop Sensor, Model HCS‐100 (Trimble, USA). Determination of grain quality indicators was conducted according to GOST 9353‐2016 Wheat – Technical Conditions. Microsoft Office Excel was employed for the correlation and regression analysis of experimental data. Results. Analysis of the intra‐field heterogeneity of winter wheat agrocenoses in terms of yield and grain quality was conducted. The dependences of yield and grain quality on the principal crop phytometric and structural parameters were defined and expressed in the form of regression equations.Сonclusion. The results of the studies attest to the growth of reserves of grain yield to 3.0 t/ha and grain quality to class I‐II class in zonal climatic conditions of optimization of environmental factors to the level of the best basic plots by levelling out field soil heterogeneity. This is possible by restoring the fertility of anthropogenically‐degraded soil through the introduction of landscape‐adaptive and resource saving farming systems, soil protective and soil restorative crop rotation, differentiated application of organic and mineral fertilizers and selection of the most adaptive varieties. We also advise the introduction of intelligent ‘digital technologies’ aimed at fuller implementation of the genetic potential of cultivated varieties with careful consideration of natural resources and the preservation of biological diversity.

Keywords

• heterogeneity of crops
• winter wheat
• productivity
• grain quality
• steppe zone
• orenburg urals