KERNZA® PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN LITHUANIAN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the growth and development of Kernza perennial grain in the initial stages, the effect of red clovers on the morphometric indicators of perennial grains. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set: 1. To evaluate the initial growth and development of Kernza in the climatic conditions of Lithuania; 2. To evaluate the effect of red clover companion crop on the morphometric indicators of perennial grain’s (plant height, root length, number of stems). The field experiment is being carried out from 2023 in Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy.  Research has shown that even in difficult climatic conditions, perennial grain sprouted, the number of Kernza in a single crop reached 25-30, and in a double crop 10-13 plants m^-2. With more rainfall, a sufficiently dense Kernza crop was formed in single (47-49 pcs. m^-2) and dual crop (33-36 pcs. m^-2) variants, while red clover seed density decreased due to insufficient moisture content. It was found that red clover seeding had no significant differences in the morphometric indicators of Kernza in the initial stages of growth.