THE INFLUENCE OF PLAN DENSITY AND SOWING METHOD ON THE ADAPTIVE PROPERTIES OF WINTER RAPESEED HYBRIDS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE CENTRAL FOREST-STEPPE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32636/agroscience.2025-(4)-4-3Keywords:
winter oilseed rape, plant density, sowing method, adaptive traits, overwintering of rape, row spacing, fertilizerAbstract
Due to the growing demand for winter oilseed rape as a raw material for the feed, food, and energy industries, along with limited arable land and changing climatic conditions, there is a pressing need to improve agronomic approaches to its cultivation. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sowing method, row spacing, and fertilization system on the growth and adaptive characteristics of hybrid winter oilseed rape under Forest-Steppe conditions of Ukraine, with particular attention to pre-winter development and winter hardiness. It was found that the efficiency of forming a productive stand largely depends on the optimal combination of plant density, sowing dates, and plant arrangement in the rows.
The most favorable plant density for hybrid forms under these conditions is 30–60 plants/m², whereas later sowing dates require a 20–50% increase in density to ensure sufficient winter survival and compensatory branching. Uniform plant distribution within the crop stand enhances the adaptive capacity of hybrids, particularly in terms of water availability, light exposure, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance. In parallel, the fertilization system plays a significant role in preserving the yield potential of hybrids. Optimal sowing time (mid-August) combined with a density of 450–550 thousand plants/ha ensures better development of lateral shoots, a higher number of pods and seeds, and maximum yield.
Late sowing dates and excessive density negatively affect plant morphology and reduce the thousand-seed weight. The sowing method also significantly affects the microclimate of the seedbed and post-winter plant survival, with furrow sowing providing the best conditions for yield structure formation. Optimizing plant density in combination with the sowing method increases yield by 43–60%, which is crucial for improving production profitability and agroecosystem stability
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