THE INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZATION ON THE CHLOROPHYLL AND NITROGEN CONTENT OF KERNZA PLANTS

Abstract

A stationary field experiment was conducted from 2024 to 2025 at the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy Experimental Station (54°52′ N, 23°49′ E) in Noreikiškės, Kaunas district, to determine the effect of fertilization on the chlorophyll and nitrogen content of Kernza plants. The study is field-based. Study treatments: Kernza 0 N kg ha^-1, Kernza 70 N kg ha^-1, Kernza + red clover 0 N kg ha^-1, Kernza + red clover 70 N kg ha^-1. The data from the study shows that the Kerzna with red clover and zero nitrogen content outperforms by the amount of chlorophyll produced to compare with Kernza without fertilisation and intercrop, because the red clover intercrop accumulates biological nitrogen, stimulates the intensive development of the plant, from which we see a greater amount of chlorophyll produced, biological nitrogen was fixed from the atmosphere through nodular bacteria on the roots. The results of the Kernza, which was fertilized with 70 kg ha^-1 of the N active substance, slightly surpassed the treatment with the same fertilisation plus red clover intercrop, because the nitrogen active substance slowed down the activity of the nodular bacteria, and the development of the plant and the production of chlorophyll were less stimulated. Nitrogen fertilization and intecrop had an effect on the chlorophyll content of the Kernza plants.