The Influence of Biofertilizers on the Seed Quality and the Productivity of Barley Varieties in the Steppe Zone of the Orenburg Cis-Urals

Abstract

The research was carried out to determine the response of locally bred spring barley varieties to the use of biofertilizers during presowing preparation of seed material and fertilizing of crops in the tillering phase. The work was carried out in the steppe zone of the Orenburg region in 2019–2021. Objects of research included: biological products Gumi 20 Universal, Blago 3; varieties Armilid, Gubernatorsky, Lekar, Lida, Miar, Miar 2, Natali, Pervotselinnik, T 12, and Chebenyok. Treatment of seeds with Gumi 20 Universal (0.5 L/t) increased the germination energy of all varieties by 7–10% in comparison with the control (without treatment) and by 7–11% in comparison with the preparation Blago 3 (0.5 L/t). The use of biological products activated the physiological state of seeds and increased their laboratory germination by 5–8%. The most favorable effect was observed for the product Gumi 20 Universal on the Miar and Pervotselinnik varieties. The Miar variety responded most strongly to seed soaking with Blago 3: laboratory germination increased by 7%. The high efficiency of Gumi 20 Universal was shown in the field experiment when it was used on the varieties Miar, Miar 2, Natali, Pervotselinnik, T 12, and Chebenyok: field germination exceeded the control by 18%. Treatment with Blago 3 increased the value of this indicator to a greater extent in the varieties Gubernatorsky and Miar 2 (by 19% compared to the control), T 12 (by 18%). The greatest positive effect in overcoming the effects of abiotic stress was provided by the combination of presowing seed treatment with biological products and subsequent fertilizing of crops in the tillering phase. In arid conditions, the highest experimental response to the use of biofertilizers was observed in barley varieties Armilid, Gubernatorsky, Lida, Miar, Natali, and Chebenyok. When using Gumi 20 Universal, their yield was higher than in the control by 0.26–0.37 t/ha and higher than in Blago 3 by 0.15–0.21 t/ha.