DRY MASS YIELD AND AMOUNT OF FIXED NITROGEN IN SOME FORAGE LEGUME CROPS AFTER TREATMENT WITH ORGANIC FERTILIZER HUMUSTIM

Todor Kertikov, Anna Ilieva, Viliana Vasileva

Abstract: The study aimed to establish some changes in agronomic indicators of spring forage peas (Pisum sativum L., variety Pleven 4) and vetch (Vicia sativa L., variety Obrazets 666) after application of organic fertilizer Humustim. The experiment was carried out on the experimental field of the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria in three consecutive years. The fertilizer was applied through i) presowing treatment of seeds, ii) during vegetation and iii) combination of both. The observations showed that dry mass yield in both crops increased significantly after presowing treatment of seeds with Humustim at the dose of 1.2 L/t + one treatment during vegetation (in vetch with 19.8%, and in peas with 20.1%), under high sustainable yield index. The amount of fixed nitrogen in peas was found increased to 20.8% (presowing treatment of seeds at the dose of 1.2 L/t + one treatment during vegetation), and in vetch, to 21.3% (presowing treatment of seeds at the dose of 1.2 L/t + two treatments during vegetation). The treatment with Humustim increased the efficiency of utilization of nutrients of peas. The peas plants accumulated in their dry mass to 4.25 kg/da more nitrogen after presowing treatment of seeds with Humustim at the dose of 1.2 L/t + one treatment during vegetation. The treated plants, both peas and vetch was more effective over nontreated with regard to important agronomic indicators. Based on the positive results, it is recommended the use of Humustim organic fertilizer in the technologies of cultivation of spring forage peas and vetch in modern trends of the organic farming.

Keywords: nitrogen fixation; organic fertilizer; spring forage peas; vetch

Date published: 2017-10-18