The influence of precursors and technology elements on the efficiency of winter wheat cultivation in the arid conditions of the Volga region

The research was carried out in order to identify promising links in crop rotation and technology elements in the cultivation of winter soft wheat in the arid conditions of the Volga region. The work was carried out in 2021–2023 in the Samara region on ordinary chernozem with a humus content of 4.0…4.5 %, hydrolyzable nitrogen – 60…70 mg/kg, mobile phosphates – 170…200 mg/kg, potassium – 180…200 mg/kg of soil (according to Chirikov). In 2021–2023, the following factors and options for cultivating Basis winter wheat were studied: precursor (factor A) – fallow land, seeded with peas (Volzhanin); elements of technology (factor B) – plowing with and without mineral fertilizers; without autumn tillage (Background), Background + biological product, Background (for all crops of crop rotation) + fertilizers, Background + fertilizers, Background + fertilizers + biological product. The prospects of the option without autumn tillage with the use of fertilizers and a biological product providing grain yield at the level of the option with plowing and fertilization, and its increase, compared with other options for fallow land by 0.13…0.63 t/ha (2.8…15.3 %), for cultivated by ‒ 0.12…0.83 t/ha were revealed (3.4…29.5 %). On average, for two parts of the crop rotation, the highest energy efficiency was established for the variant without autumn tillage and with the use of a biological product of 5.48 units, which is 0.15…0.33 units more than without the use of fertilizers and 0.72…1.05 units more than in fertilizer-intensive options. Based on the research conducted in the cultivation of winter wheat, the best precursors are peas and fallow land. With resource-saving technology, using the option without autumn tillage with the addition of ammonium nitrate at the resumption of spring vegetation (N₄₀) and Bionex Kemi product at the end of tillering is advised. In the technology without fertilizers, it is recommended to use Bionex Kemi product at the beginning of the spring growing season of wheat.