THE INFLUENCE OF SOWING TIME AND RATE ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER WHEAT ′BRIGHT′

Abstract

In 2023–2024, an experiment was conducted in the Kaišiadorys district, at the Jonas Mikulis crop farm, in which winter wheat of different seed generation (C1, C2, C3) was sown at different seed rates (2.5; 3.0; 3.5; 4.0 million units ha^-1). The soil granulometric composition was dominated by sandy light loam. Soil tests conducted before the experiment show that the arable layer of the soil had an average phosphorus content (162 mg kg^-1) and high calcareous content (257 mg kg^-1). It was also close to neutral reaction (pH – 6.3) and low humus content (1.7%).

Significantly the highest yield (7.60 t ha^-1) was determined in the winter wheat crop, in which the seed rate was 3.5 million units ha^-1, and the seed generation was C1. However, the protein and gluten content in the grain (11.9 and 23.1 percent) in the variant with the highest yield were the lowest. The highest protein content (12.8 percent) and gluten content (26.6 percent) were found in the winter wheat crop, which was sown at a seed rate of 2.5 million units ha^-1.