FORMATION OF THE NUMBER OF SPIKELETS PER SPIKE IN SPRING WHEAT DEPENDING ON AGROMETEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CULTIVATION PRACTICES IN THE RIGHT-BANK FOREST-STEPPE OF UKRAINE
Abstract
To determine the peculiarities of spikelet number formation in the main spike of spring wheat depending on foliar fertilization and fungicide application in order to maximize the crop productivity potential under the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted during 2024–2025 at the experimental field of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, located in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. A two-factor experimental design was employed: Factor A comprised two spring bread wheat cultivars, Oksamyt Myronivskyi and Dubravka; Factor B included different combinations of foliar fertilizers and fungicide applications. Treatments were arranged in a randomised systematic order with three replications. The total plot area was 30 m², with a harvest area of 24 m². The research was carried out in accordance with current methodological guidelines. The number of spikelet’s in the main spike was determined from a representative sample of 25 plants in triplicate. Results. Contrasting meteorological conditions were observed during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons, significantly affecting the initiation and differentiation of the spring wheat apical meristem. Weather conditions in 2024 were more favorable for spikelet formation in the main spike than those in 2025. Under a single fungicide application combined with foliar fertilization at the tillering stage (BBCH 21–23; Treatments 2–5), the number of spikelets per spike increased significantly compared with the untreated control. In the cultivar Oksamyt Myronivskyi, the increase ranged from 0.54 to 0.66 spikelet’s per spike, while in Dubravka it ranged from 0.56 to 0.69 spikelet’s. The highest values (17.19 and 17.05 spikelets per spike for Oksamyt Myronivskyi and Dubravka, respectively) were recorded in Treatment 4 following application of the tank mixture comprising Amistar Extra (0.6 L ha⁻¹) and Nutrivant Plus Cereals (2 kg ha⁻¹). Under double foliar treatment at BBCH growth stages 21–23 and 41–45 (Treatments 7–10), the number of spikelets per spike significantly exceeded that of the absolute control (Treatment 6). The increase amounted to 0.60–0.82 spikelet’s in Oksamyt Myronivskyi and 0.65–0.87 spikelet’s in Dubravka. Treatment 9 proved to be the most effective, where the combined application of fungicide, urea, magnesium sulphate and Nutrivant Plus Cereals fertiliser increased the number of spikelets in the main spike to 17.36 in Oksamyt Myronivskyi and 17.23 in Dubravka. Conclusions. Double application of fungicides (Amistar Extra/Elatus Era) together with foliar fertilization at the tillering stage (BBCH 21–23) followed by a second application during spike formation and development (BBCH 41–45) significantly increased the number of spikelet’s in the main spike of spring bread wheat. Across all treatments, the cultivar Oksamyt Myronivskyi consistently produced significantly more spikelet’s per main spike than Dubravka, exceeding it by 0.13–0.18 spikelet’s. Analysis of variance revealed that Factor B (fungicide application combined with foliar fertilization) exerted the greatest influence on spikelet number formation, accounting for 88.82% of the total variation in 2024 and 86.59% in 2025, whereas the contribution of the cultivar was relatively small (5.19% and 6.40%, respectively), and the interaction between the factors accounted for only 0.47% and 0.24%, respectively.
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