IUNFLUENCE OF CROP CULTIVATION METHODS ON PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE FOREST-STEPPE ZONE OF WESTERN SIBERIA
There are given experimental data on studying the effect of crop cultivation methods on productivity of maize hybrids differing in early maturity, when grown for green mass and silage as well as for grain forage. Investigations were carried out in 2012-2014 under conditions of the northern forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia, using the experimental facilities of the Siberian Research Institute of Fodder Crops. The following hybrids were studied: early-ripening Obskiy 140 SV and three hybrids bred at the Breeding and Seed Production Farm “KOS-MAIS”, medium-early Kubanskiy 247 MV, mid-ripening Kubanskiy 390 MV, and medium-late Kubanskiy 500 SV. It was established that conducting of cultivation techniques contributed to the considerable reduction in infestation of hybrid crops. On the average for 2012-2014, the effect of preemergence and postemergence harrowings displayed in reducing dry mass of weeds by 12-23%; the effect of a complex of cultivation techniques consisting of two harrowings and two inter-row tillages was in 2.2-2.6 time reduction of dry mass of weeds. The maximum productivity irrespective of cultivation techniques was shown by the medium-early hybrid Kubanskiy 247 MV. The mid-ripening hybrid Kubanskiy 390 MV provided productivity characteristics similar to Kubanskiy 247 MV. The minimal productivity was observed in the early-ripening hybrid Obskiy 140 SV, but it had the maximum content of abslutely dry matter in green mass of 27.8% among the hybrids studied that was good for ensilage. The least positive effect from cultivation techniques conducted was on the crops of the hybrid Obskiy 140 SV. The medium-late hybrid Kubanskiy 500 SV showed productivity results similar to Obskiy 140 SV in the variants with a complex of cultivation techniques. At the same time, this hybrid demonstrated the maximal positive effect from conducting cultivation techniques as compared with the hybrids studied.