EFFECT OF SOWING TIME AND FOLIAR FERTILISER ON GRAIN YIELD AND QUALITY IN WINTER WHEAT

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out from 2023 to 2024 in Marijampolė municipality, Meškučiai village, on the farm of Gintarė Butkienė. The site of the experiment is dominated by brown earth. The soil has a granulometric composition of dusty light loam. The soil productivity score is 65,3. Object of the study: winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar 'Etana' sown at different times and subjected to different foliar fertilisation. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different sowing times and foliar application of potassium and titanium fertilisers on the grain yield and quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Objectives of the study: 1. To determine the effect of different sowing times and foliar fertilisation on grain yield of winter wheat; 2. Determine the effect of different sowing times and foliar fertilisation on the structural elements of winter wheat grain yield (number of grains per unit and per 1 000 grains); 3. Evaluate the effect of different sowing times and foliar fertilisation on the protein content of winter wheat grains.

Methods of investigation: The performance of winter wheat was determined by direct measurement, counting and weighing, according to the accepted methods for conducting the field experiment. The data were statistically evaluated by two-factor analysis of variance for quantitative traits using the computer program STAT (Tarakanovas and Raudonius, 2003).

Results of the study: When evaluating the qualitative indicators of winter wheat, it was found that grain protein content depended on the time of sowing and fertilization with potassium and titanium leaf fertilizers. When winter wheat was sown at the optimum sowing time (15. 09.) and potassium and titanium leaf fertiliser was applied, the grain protein content was found to be significantly the highest (12,9 %), compared with the grain quality obtained when the wheat was sown at the optimum sowing time without leaf fertiliser application. The significantly highest number of grains per unit (61,1), compared with the other sowing times and foliar fertilisation studied, was obtained when sowing at the optimum time (15.09) and using foliar fertiliser. The highest weight per 1 000 grains (47 g) was obtained when the wheat was sown at the optimum time and sprayed with foliar fertiliser. The results show that the highest grain yield of winter wheat (13,44 t ha^-1) was obtained when the crop was sown at the optimum sowing time and sprayed with foliar potassium and titanium fertilisers.