The effect of nitrogen fertilizers on productivity and grain quality of oat varieties in southern Nonchernozem Zone

The study was carried out in 2013-2015 in the Republic of Mordovia on leached medium deep heavy loam chernozem. In a field experiment the effect of pre-sowing application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers (N60) in combination with dressing-applied (N30) on yield and grain quality of covered varieties of oats (Gorizont, Krechet, Eclipse) was studied. The average yield of spring oat varieties without mineral fertilization varied from 2.58 to 2.84 t/ha. Early application of nitrogen mineral fertilizers under cultivation (N60) contributed to the increase in the seed productivity of spring oat varieties by 0.02-0.49 t/ha (Least Significant Difference LSD 0.5=0.12). The combination of pre-sowing application with dressing-applied nitrogen at the tillering stage (N30) led to increase in grain yield of spring oats by 0.18-0.43 t/ha (LSD 0.5=0.20) as compared to the variant without mineral fertilization. On the average in the experience the test weight of oat grain was 480-573 g/l. Nitrogen application for early-spring cultivation provided the increase of this index by 3-84 g/l (LSD 0.5 =6.5), mineral dressing at tillering stage - by 31-74 g/l (LSD 0.5=6.9) At the same time such parameters as the mass of 1000 grains and the degree of grain uniformity were not influenced by the rates of nitrogen fertilizers. Krechet variety proved to be the best among the cultivars studied. It showed almost as high seed productivity as standard Gorizont variety.