Features of Hybrid Selection for No-Till Technology in Agronomy

No-Till technology requires special attention to hybrid selection, as its successful application necessitates that the hybrid has a strong root system and high seed germination energy. This technology involves sowing approximately two weeks later than traditional methods, as the soil warms up more slowly under vegetation. This means that crops have a limited time to mature.

This is reported by AgroReview

This was reported by Mykhailo Voitovyk, the director of LLC “Mriya” from Kyiv region, in his interview for the magazine The Ukrainian Farmer.

“During sowing, I apply NPK and micronutrients to ensure the plant starts well and develops a strong root system. I prefer corn hybrids with FAO 280–330, and I also sow medium-maturing sunflower and soybean. At the same time, I am working on reducing soil compaction, particularly by using wide-coverage equipment,” noted Mykhailo Voitovyk.

Regarding hybrids suitable for No-Till technology, an interesting experiment was conducted on the farm last year. One company sowed the entire range of corn hybrids on the director’s field without fertilizers, seven days after he had sown his corn. The result was yield indicators ranging from 6 to 12.5 t/ha, with only six out of 50 hybrids yielding over 12 t/ha.

“This proves that it is important to select a variety or hybrid suitable for your field for our technology. By the way, one FAO 590 hybrid produced an ear with 22 rows, each containing 43 kernels with a moisture content of 26%. I never thought such corn could mature on my field,” added the farmer.

Let us remind you that over 17 years of using No-Till on the farm, the level of organic matter in the soil has increased on average by 1%.