Liquid organic-mineral fertilisers in the technology of growing winter peas

Abstract

The issue of adapting to climate change through the expansion of crop types has sparked interest in winter peas, which can be introduced into crop rotations to stabilise the yield of legumes, positively affect soil fertility, and increase arable land productivity, but the nutrition system of winter peas needs to be investigated and optimised, especially considering the rising cost of mineral fertilisers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of liquid organic-mineral fertilisers on the yield and quality of pea grain of winter sowing. To complete the objectives of the study, a field trial was conducted in the Odesa Oblast of Ukraine in 2021-2023. The replication of the experiment was fourfold, and the arrangement of variants was systematic. Liquid organo-mineral fertilisers were used in the experiment, which were applied once during the restoration of spring vegetation, in the budding phase and twice (restoration of spring vegetation+budding); the control variant did not involve the application of preparations. It was found that the use of liquid organo-mineral fertilisers on winter pea crops helps to increase its yield, but the growth rate is unstable, depends on weather conditions, and ranged within 0-30.4% over the years of research. The studied fertilisers had a substantial effect on the protein concentration in pea grain, the yield of which per unit area increased by an average of 22.4%, the thousand-kernel weight increased, but within the limits of statistical significance. The obtained findings suggested the possibility of using liquid organic-mineral fertilisers for growing winter peas using resource-saving or organic technology in the zone of high meteorological risks, but it should be considered that their effectiveness is determined by the composition and frequency of application. The practical value of the study lies in the development of elements of the nutrition system, which provides an increase in the yield of peas of winter sowing by 0.24-0.41 t/ha, high protein content and the level of profitability of its production – 117-152%, while the use of liquid organic-mineral fertilisers contributes to the biologisation of pea growing technology, reduces the cost of mineral fertilisers, and mitigates the chemical load on soils