Water consumption of maize hybrids depending on factors and growing season conditions

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the specific features of water consumption in maize hybrids of different maturity groups grown under the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine, as well as to assess the effect of biological preparations for pre-sowing seed treatment and foliar feeding on water use efficiency, plant productivity, and adaptability under drought conditions. Methods. The research was conducted from 2023 to 2025 on southern chernozem soils at the Educational, Scientific, and Practical Center of Mykolayiv National Agrarian University. The experiment was a three-factorial design: Factor A – maize hybrids; Factor B – pre-sowing seed treatment; Factor C – foliar feeding at the 4–6 leaf stage. The total plot area was 80 m2, accounting for 50 m2, with four replications. Soybean was the preceding crop. Results. It was established that total water consumption in maize depended on the hybrid’s maturity group and the weather conditions of the growing season. The average total water consumption during 2023–2025 ranged from 1764 to 2350 m³/ha, with precipitation accounting for 52.3–64.2 % and soil moisture accounting for 35.8–47.7 %. The highest water consumption was observed in the late-maturing hybrid DN Veld, due to its more extended vegetation period. In the dry year of 2025, total water consumption decreased by 40–50 %, which negatively affected yield. However, the use of biological preparations reduced the water consumption coefficient by 10–20 % compared to the control, indicating more efficient water use by plants, activation of growth processes, and improved drought tolerance. The lowest water consumption coefficient was recorded in variants combining pre-sowing seed treatment with Trichodermin + Mycofrend and foliar feeding with Rizoactiv + urea, ranging from 194 to 232 m3/t, which was 20–25 m3/t lower than the control. The best results were obtained for the DN Vita hybrid, which showed an optimal ratio between vegetation period duration, productivity, and water consumption. Conclusions. The application of biological preparations in maize cultivation technology under the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine is an effective measure to increase yields and improve plant water supply in response to climate change. Pre-sowing seed treatment with Trichodermin + Mycofrend combined with foliar feeding using Rizoactiv + urea contributes to the optimization of the water balance and reduction of the water consumption coefficient. The obtained results confirm the relevance of further studies on the impact of biostimulants and micronutrient fertilizers on the water regime and stress tolerance of new maize hybrids being introduced in response to climate change.