Грабовський М. Agrotechnological substantiation of corn and sweet sorghum cultivation for biogas production

The purpose of the research was to theoretically summarize and experimentally substantiate the technological methods of growing corn and sweet sorghum in single-species and compatible crops, as bioenergy crops for biogas production, in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Object of study: the processes of growth, development and formation of productivity of corn and sweet sorghum depending on varieties characteristics, basic technologies of cultivation and weather conditions. The response of plants to the action of biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors. Methods: field, laboratory, and statistical. Results: The technology of cultivation of corn and sweet sorghum in single-species and compatible crops as bioenergy crops has been improved. The technology of co-cultivation of corn and sweet sorghum has been developed, which in the conditions of the Forest Steppe enables to obtain 70-90 t/ha of biomass with a potential biogas output of 5.6-11.2 thousand m3/ha. Improved technology of cultivation of corn and sugar sorghum was introduced in 2017–2018 in agricultural enterprises of Kyiv, Cherkasy, Poltava regions on a total area of 601 ha. Novelty: For the first time the patterns of high-yield agrophytocenoses of sorghum and corn formation as bioenergetic crops for biogas production were revealed. The peculiarities of establishment and realization of sweet sorghum and corn productivity in single-species and compatible crops are theoretically substantiated and experimentally established. Optimal doses of fertilizers, time of sowing, plant density, row spacing, measures for controlling the number of weeds in sorghum and corn crops for single-species and compatible crops were experimentally determined. The elements of the cultivation technology of sweet sorghum and corn for single-species and compatible crops as bioenergetic plants for biogas production have been improved. Further development of scientific management in growth and development processes of sweet sorghum and corn plants in compatible crops was obtained. Field of use: agriculture.