MILLING PROPERTIES OF GRAIN OF SPELT WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES DEPENDING ON MINERAL NUTRITION CONDITIONS

Abstract

Grain of spelt winter wheat varieties Zoria Ukrainy and Europa grown under the conditions of Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was used according to the schedule: 1) without fertilizers (the check variant); 2) P60 + N120; 3) K60 + N120; 4) P60K60- ground; 5) ground + N120; 6) ground + N60 + N60; 7) ground + N60 S70 + N60. Such fertilizers were applied as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, granulated superphosphate and potassium chloride.The aim of the study is to determine milling properties of grain of winter wheat varieties depending on species, rules and terms of applying nitrogen fertilizers.Thousand-kernel weight, grain unit and vitreousness are determined. It is found that physical properties vary considerably depending on weather conditions, variety and fertilizer. Improving conditions of nitrogen nutrition mostly increases thousand- kernel weight and vitreousness. However, the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers significantly depends on the particular variety.On average over three years of studies thousand-kernel weight of Zoria Ukrainy variety increased from 49.8 g in unfertilized areas to 52.7 g in variants with retail application of nitrogen fertilizers or by 6 %. Using phosphorus, nitrogen and potash and nitrogen fertilizers it increased to 50.0g and applying a complete mineral fertilizer it was up to 52.1 g. In favorable 2014 thousand-kernel weight of Zoria Ukrainy variety was 56.7-57.1 g in single application of nitrogen fertilizers and it was 57.5- 55.6 g with retail application. In 2015 it was 49.8-50.2 g and 50.7-50.9 g, respectively and in 2013 it was 48.3-49.1 g and 49.7-49.8 g. Thousand-kernel weight of Europa variety varies from 52.3 to 55.3 g depending on the fertilization. However, thousand-kernel weight for this variety was the greatest in 2013 because that year plants did not lodge.It is found that vitreousness of grain of Zoria Ukrainy variety without fertilizers is 92 % and rising to 100 % with the retail application of nitrogen fertilizers. Application of phosphorus, nitrogen potash and nitrogen fertilizers and the complete mineral fertilizer increases vitreousness to 99 % or by 7 points compared with the check variant. Vitreousness of grain of Europa variety varies from 78 to 96 % depending on species, rules and terms of application of nitrogen fertilizers.