Pospielov S. Scientific bases of creation of productive agrocenoses of Echinacea (Echinacea Moench.) in the conditions of the Left Bank of Ukraine

Object of study: agrobiological and agrophytocenological features of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.) and pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt) from agricultural practices of cultivation. Goal: Substantiation of creation of productive agrocenoses of purple echinacea and pale purple coneflower, development of the basic elements of cultivation technology for increasing the yield of varieties and obtaining high quality raw materials and seeds, as well as the use of both species in different sectors of the economy. Methods: general scientific, special (field, laboratory, biochemical), mathematical and statistical. Novelty: The peculiarities of formation of productivity and quality of raw materials of purple echinacea and pale purple coneflower, influence of ecological factors on plant growth and development, qualitative indicators of medicinal raw materials are determined. Methods of monitoring of echinacea productivity in ontogeny are developed and proposed, ways and methods of realization of creation of plantations of echinacea on a one-year cycle of use are grounded, basic parameters of formation of seed productivity of echinacea are determined, the method of estimation of seed yield without planting has been developed. The technology of cultivation and use of Echinacea agrocenoses for different industries and technologies has been substantiated and implemented, taking into account the productivity and quality of production; technologies of creation of binary crops of echinacea as an important honey plant have been developed, the use of echinacea in fodder production and beekeeping has been substantiated. The use of Echinacea extracts as a source of biologically active substances is theoretically substantiated. The novelty is confirmed by 48 patents of Ukraine for utility models. Results: Methods for estimating Echinacea productivity, determining the quality of raw materials and seed productivity have been developed and implemented, which allows the monitoring of agrocenoses in production conditions without special equipment. Elements of technology of creation and use of Echinacea agrocenoses to produce medicinal raw materials with high content of active substances, honey-bearing agrocenoses based on binary crops of pale purple coneflower and purple coneflower are introduced, sowing for fodder production. The degree of implementation: Scientific developments have been introduced into production in the conditions of agrarian enterprise "Radyanske" of Kobelyatsky district of Poltava region, where the largest areas of Echinacea in Europe are concentrated and consistently receive up to 2.5-3.5 t/ha of dry above ground mass and 1.1-1.5 t/ha of dry rhizomes with roots. On the farm "Svit" created honey agrocenoses on the basis of pale purple coneflower and purple coneflower on an area of 3 hectares. Elements of technology of cultivation of purple echinacea for use in fodder production on the area of 5 hectares have been introduced in the agricultural enterprise "Niva" of Shishatsky district of Poltava region. Sphere of implementation: NAAS scientific institutions, higher educational establishments, agricultural formation of Ukraine.