Impact of mineral fertilizers on yield and grain quality of spring wheat cultivar Marsianka

Abstract The article gives the results of studies on the effect of mineral fertilizers on yielding capacity and grain quality of a new variety of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Marsianka. The research objectives included the study of mineral fertilizers impact on plant growth and development, ripening terms, yield structure, productivity, grain quality and economic efficiency of Marsianka cultivar. Field observations and laboratory assays of the obtained data confirmed that mineral fertilizers make a significant effect on plant growth and development, on yield components (the amount of productive stems, grain number per spike, thousand-grain weight) of the new variety. Resulting from the studies it has been established that the application of fertilizers rated for the planned yield 4.0 t/ha provides max. productivity 3.43 t/ha of good-quality grain containing crude protein 15.9 % and gluten 35.0 %. In terms of economic efficiency, the lowest prime cost of 1 t grain (5171.0 and 5242.1 rub.) and high payback level were obtained with N30 and N60 application. In these options, the cost recovery of 1 kg a. s. fertilizers was 11.6 and 10.7 kg of grain, respectively. The greatest pure income 15.2 thous. rub/ha was provided in the variant using N60P60K60. The further increase of fertilizers application rate leads to products overpricing and decline in economic indicators when cultivating the new spring wheat cultivar Marsianka.