Formation of the productivity of spring oilseed rape using a biological product Azofit

Abstract

Research was carried out at the Aleksandras Stulginskis University’s Experimental Station during 2009 - 2010. The soil of the experimental site is Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisol (LVg-w-cc), with a pH of 7.0-7.2, humus 1.9-2.4 %, available phosphorus (P2O5) 260-315 mg kg-1 and potassium (K2O) 150-170 mg kg-1 soil. The study was aimed to identify the effect of the biological product Azofit on spring oilseed rape productivity and seed quality when applied at stem elongation stage (31-32 BBCH) and flower formation stage (57-58 BBCH) at rates of 0.5 l ha-1 and 1 l ha-1 . Having sprayed spring rape with Azofit solution twice, the seed yield significantly increased by 0.44-0.58 t ha-1, or by 17.9-23.6 % compared with the treatments without additional fertilization. The seeds of additionally fertilized crop accumulated by 0.36-0.73 % more fat; however they had by 0.75-0.95 % lower protein content. Under the effect of the biological product Azofit, rape seeds were found to contain higher concentrations of oleic acid (1.10-1.32 %), linolic acid (1.36-1.49 %) and more linoleic acid (0.45-0.62 %), as well as elevated concentrations of erucic acid (0.10-0.15 %) and glucosinolates (1.24-1.38 ģmol g-1 ) compared with the seed from the control treatments.