Formation of spring barley productivity under the influence of micronutrient fertilizers

Abstract

under the conditions of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine require combining optimized mineral nutrition with biological and microelement components that can increase productivity and stand stability under moisture deficit and temperature fluctuations. Purpose. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rizo Start inoculant and a micronutrient fertilizer (molybdenum) in different fertilization schemes in terms of yield formation and economic return of spring barley. Methods: Field experiments (2023–2025) were conducted at the Educational and Research Center of the Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University using the malting barley cultivar MIP Liuks in three replications (10 m²). Treatments included NPK backgrounds and their combinations with seed inoculation using Rizo Start and molybdenum micronutrient fertilization. Yield was recorded by the whole-plot method; statistical significance of differences was determined by factor analysis, and economic efficiency of cultivation was calculated. Results. The three-year field study revealed a clear dependence of spring barley productivity on the combination of mineral nutrition, inoculation, and micronutrient supplementation. The overall year-to-year trend indicated a yield decline under increasing stress pressure, highlighting the importance of technologies capable of stabilizing the production process. The best performance was obtained in treatments where the basal fertilization was combined with the inoculant and molybdenum; these schemes produced the most uniform productivity and better preserved yield potential under adverse conditions. Molybdenum, as a key element of nitrogen metabolism, enhances enzymatic processes of nitrogen transformation and incorporation into amino acids and protein compounds, supports the photosynthetic apparatus, and improves the plant energy balance. Inoculation additionally optimizes rhizosphere functioning, stimulates root development, improves nutrient availability, and promotes more even early growth. In contrast, the inoculant without micronutrient support or schemes with reduced nutrition showed an unstable effect and more often lagged behind the integrated treatments. Findings. Under the conditions of the Northern Steppe, the highest revenue is provided by combining N30P60K60 with inoculation and molybdenum (39,861 UAH/ha; profit 16,206 UAH/ha), while the maximum profit is ensured by N10P60K60 + RizoStart + Mo (17,709 UAH/ha) due to lower production costs while maintaining high yield. The optimal schemes should be recommended for malting barley cultivation technologies and further on-farm validation.