Impact of biologized agrotechnology on brown mustard productivity and resource use efficiency

O. Zhuikov; P. Lykhovyd; L. Hranovska; T. Khodos; V. Ursal

doi:10.15421/012544

O. Zhuikov Kherson State Agrarian and Economic University
P. Lykhovyd Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of NAAS
L. Hranovska Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of NAAS
T. Khodos Kherson State Agrarian and Economic University
V. Ursal Kherson State Agrarian and Economic University

Keywords: agroecological modeling, nutrients uptake, organic farming, semi-arid climate, water consumption.

Abstract

The agricultural landscape of Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, is increasingly challenged by climatic variability and the imperative for resource-use optimization. To enhance the resilience and sustainability of crop production in this region, a two-year field study was conducted over the 2023 – 2024 growing seasons to evaluate the effects of three distinct cultivation technologies ( T rad i tional, B iological, and O rganic) an d three seeding rates (2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 million seeds/ha) on the productive moisture content, nutrient dynamics, and yield of brown mustard ( Brassica juncea ). The r esults indicated a clear superiority of the biologized agr o technological systems. The biological and organic technologies consistently maintained significantly higher productive soil moi s ture reserves throughout the growing season and demonstrated lower average daily water consumption. This translated into sup e rior water-use efficiency, with lower water consumption coefficients (WCC) recorded for the biologized treatments. In addition to water efficiency, these systems exhibited superior nutrient-use efficiency. Regression modeling confirmed a strong relationship between agrotechnology and nitrate uptake (R 2 = 0.72), with b iological (24.5 kg/t) and o rganic (23.6 kg/t) systems requiring significantly less nitrate per ton of yield compared to the traditional approach (29.8 kg/t). The impact on phosphorus uptake was more nuanced (R 2 = 0.39), with the organic system demonstrating the highest efficiency (60.8 kg/t), highlighting the role of long-term soil health in phosphorus cycling. Furthermore, the study confirmed a quadratic relationship between seeding rate and water consumption, underscoring a critical trade-off between plant density and water use. Ultimately, the resource-efficient biological and organi c systems produced significantly higher yields, with top performances reaching 1.57 t/ha of mustard seeds. These findings underscore that biologized practices are not only viable but are superior for optimizing agricultural resources and e n hancing crop productivity in semi-arid environments compared to traditional ones. The adoption of biological and organ ic cult i vation technologies presents a clear pathway for building resilient, high-yield agricultural systems capable of withstanding clima t ic stresses and reducing dependency on external inputs.

References

Barbieri, P., Pellerin, S., & Nesme, T. (2017). Comparing crop rotations between organic and conventional farming. Scientific Reports, 7, 13761.

Björkman, T., Brainard, D., Masiunas, J., Anderson, D., Shail, J., & Lowry, C. (2015). Mustard cover crops for biomass production and weed suppression in the Great Lakes region. Agronomy Journal, 107, 1235–1249.

Borghino, N., Wissinger, L., Erb, K. H., Le Mouël, C., & Nesme, T. (2024). Organic farming expansion and food security: A review of foresight modeling studies. Global Food Security, 41, 100765.

De Clerck, C., Vermeire, M., & Thiour-Mauprivez, C. (2024). Agroecological transition: Towards a better understanding of the impact of ecology-based farming practices on soil microbial ecotoxicology. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 100, fiae031.

Didur, I. (2023). Ekonomichna otsinka modeley tekhnolohiyi vyroshchuvannia soyi za biolohizovanoyi systemy zhyvlennia [Economic evaluation of models of soybean cultivation technology under a biologized food system]. Agriculture and Forestry, 29, 214–221.

Domaratskiy, Y., Pichura, V., Potravka, L., Nikonchuk, N., & Samoilenko, M. (2024). The impact of pre-crops on the formation of water balance in winter wheat agrocenosis and soil moisture in the steppe zone. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 25(3), 253–271.

Gadzalo, Y. M., Vozhehova, R. A., Maliarchuk, M. P., Halchenko, N. M., & Reznichenko, N. D. (2020). Ekoloho-ekonomichna efektyvnist’ syderatsiyi u sivozmini na zroshuvanykh zemliakh pivdnia Ukrayiny [Ecological and economic efficiency of green manure in crop rotation on irrigated lands in the south of Ukraine]. Agroecological Journal, 2, 55–62.

Goloborodko, S., Nesterchuk, V., & Dymov, O. (2020). Vplyv rehionalnoyi zminy klimatu na strukturu ta sklad ahrolandshaftiv Pivdennoho Stepu Ukrayiny [Influence of regional climate change on the structure and composition of agricultural landscapes of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine]. Balanced Nature Using, 2, 118–129.

Gurr, G., Ketelaar, J., Wongtiem, P., Lundgren, J., Rauf, A., Tscharntke, T., Nguyen, L., Le, V., Graziosi, I., Burra, D., Wratten, S., Wyckhuys, K., Hyman, G., Palao, L., Lu, Y., Le, N., Thancharoen, A., Goergen, G., Neuenschwander, P., Cock, M., You, M., Heimpel, G., & Fanani, M. (2018). Continental-scale suppression of an invasive pest by a host-specific parasitoid underlines both environmental and economic benefits of arthropod biological control. PeerJ, 6, e5796.

Haan, J., Verstegen, H., Schrama, M., Kroonen, M., & Putten, W. (2018). Crop yield gap and stability in organic and conventional farming systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 256, 123–130.

Haesaert, G., De Visschere, K., Leenknecht, D., Audenaert, K., Deconinck, S., Vermeir, P., & Vandicke, J. (2020). Uncovering the biofumigant capacity of allyl isothiocyanate from several Brassicaceae crops against Fusarium pathogens in maize. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 100(15), 5476–5486.

Ivaniv, M., Sydiakina, O., & Zhuykov, O. (2024). Features of forming soil regimes under sunflower cultivation with different levels of biologization in non-irrigated conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 25(5), 145–155.

Kirchmann, H. (2019). Why organic farming is not the way forward. Outlook on Agriculture, 48, 22–27.

Konovalov, D., Ivanitska, A., Polishchuk, V., & Lyashenko, S. (2023). Nasinnieva produktyvnist’ pshenytsi ozymoyi zalezhno vid tekhnolohiyi yiyi vyroshchuvannia [Seed productivity of winter wheat depending on its cultivation technologies]. Bulletin of Uman National University of Horticulture, 2, 20–26.

Kottek, M., Grieser, J., Beck, C., Rudolf, B., & Rubel, F. (2006). World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 15(3), 259–263.

Kurtz, A. K., Mayo, S. T., Kurtz, A. K., & Mayo, S. T. (1979). The standard deviation. In: Kurtz, A. K., & Mayo, S. T. (Eds.). Statistical methods in education and psychology. Springer, New York. Pp. 46–81.

Kyrychenko, M. O. (2024). Urozhainist’ nasinnia hirchytsi saretskoyi za riznykh variantiv spoluchennia normy vysivu nasinnia ta shyryny mizhriad’ [Seed yield of Saretsky mustard under different options of combination of seed sowing rate and row space width]. Scientific and Technical Bulletin of the Institute of Oilseed Crops NAAS, 36, 93–104.

Lykhovyd, P. (2021). Irrigation needs in Ukraine according to current aridity level. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 22(8), 11–18.

Mander, Ü., Mikk, M., & Külvik, M. (1999). Ecological and low intensity agriculture as contributors to landscape and biological diversity. Landscape and Urban Planning, 46, 169–177.

Mayer, J., Mäder, P., Gunst, L., Knapp, S., & Ghiasi, S. (2023). Organic cropping systems maintain yields but have lower yield levels and yield stability than conventional systems – Results from the DOK trial in Switzerland. Field Crops Research, 302, 109072.

Melnyk, A. V., Zherdetska, S. V., Shabir, G., & Ali, S. (2017). Sortovi osoblyvosti formuvannia produktyvnosti riznykh vydiv hirchytsi yaroyi v umovakh pivnichno-skhidnoho Lisostepu Ukrayiny [Varietal characteristics different species of mustard spring crop formation in the conditions of the north-eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine]. Bulletin of Sumy National Agrarian University: Agronomy and Biology, 2, 103–108.

Nanda, A., Mohapatra, B. B., Mahapatra, A. P. K., Mahapatra, A. P. K., & Mahapatra, A. P. K. (2021). Multiple comparison test by Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD): Do the confident level control type I error. International Journal of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, 6(1), 59–65.

Nasiyev, B., Zhylkybay, A., Salykova, A., Shibaikin, V., & Vassilina, T. (2021). Physicochemical and biological indicators of soils in an organic farming system. The Scientific World Journal, 2021, 970957.

Prabhakar, M., Manjunath, M., Chary, G., Prasad, T., Gopinath, K., Jayalakshmi, M., Venugopalan, V., Singh, V., Raju, B., Venkatesh, G., & Rajkumar, B. (2023). Impact of organic and integrated production systems on yield and seed quality of rainfed crops and on soil properties. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1127970.

Rathore, B., Premi, B., Singh, D., Kandpal, B., & Shekhawat, K. (2016). Enhancing carbon sequestration potential, productivity and sustainability of mustard under conservation agriculture in semi-arid regions of India. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 88, 199–208.

Reynolds, S. G. (1970). The gravimetric method of soil moisture determination Part IA study of equipment, and methodological problems. Journal of Hydrology, 11(3), 258–273.

Sah, R. N. (1994). Nitrate-nitrogen determination – a critical review. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 25(17–18), 2841–2869.

Sahu, H., Kumar, U., Mariappan, S., Mishra, A. P., & Kumar, S. (2024). Impact of organic and inorganic farming on soil quality and crop productivity for agricultural fields: A comparative assessment. Environmental Challenges, 15, 100903.

Saljnikov, E., Miladinović, V., Simić, D., Filipović, V., Ugrenović, V., Janković, S., & Stanković, S. (2024). How do mixed cover crops (white mustard + oats) contribute to labile carbon pools in an organic cropping system in Serbia? Plants, 13(7), 1020.

Samanta, A., Kanthal, S., Banerjee, K., Goswami, J., Roy, S., & Bhattacharya, P. (2024). The significance of organic farming and market analysis. International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development, 7(4), 92–98.

Schutte, B., & Toth, C. (2024). Barley cover crops outperform brown mustard for early-season weed control in New Mexico chile pepper. Weed Science, 73, e8.

Singh, V., Singh, C., Yadav, S., Babu, S., Singh, R., Shekhawat, K., & Rathore, S. (2022). Designing energy cum carbon-efficient environmentally clean production system for achieving green economy in agriculture. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 52(B), 102190.

Su, X., Yan, X., & Tsai, C. L. (2012). Linear regression. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Computational Statistics, 4(3), 275–294.

Tamahina, A., & Turabov, U. (2021). Biotical cycle in single-crop sowing and mixed agrophytocenosis of forage crops. E3S Web of Conferences, 262, 04006.

Taylor, J., Reganold, J., Crowder, D., Davis, A., Smith, O., Jones, M., Orpet, R., Northfield, T., Cohen, A., Adesanya, A., Meier, A., & Rieser, C. (2019). Organic farming provides reliable environmental benefits but increases variability in crop yields: A global meta-analysis. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 3, 82.

Temiz, M., Özcan, A., Aksay, G., & Yavuzaslanoğlu, E. (2024). A comparison of extraction methods for preparation of glucosinolate-containing extracts from Brassica juncea antagonistic toward Ditylenchus dipsaci. Nematology, 27(1), 111–123.

Ursal, V. V., & Matviiko, I. A. (2020). Produktyvnist hirchytsi syzoi sortu Prima zalezhno vid mineralnoho zhyvlennia [Productivity of brown mustard variety Prima depending on mineral nutrition]. Perspective, 36, 7–10.

Vásquez, C., & Colmenárez, Y. (2024). Benefits associated with the implementation of biological control programmes in Latin America. BioControl, 69, 303–320.

Voytovyk, М., Butenko, A., Prymak, І., Tkachenko, M., Mishchenko, Y., Tsyuk, О., Panchenko, O., Kondratiuk, I., Havryliuk, O., Steptsov, Y., & Polyvanyi, A. (2024). Mobile phosphorus presence of typical chernozems on fertiliser system. Rural Sustainability Research, 51(346), 58–65.

Vozhehova, R. A., Maliarchuk, M. P., Biliaieva, I. M., Maliarchuk, A. S., Tomnytskyi, A. V., Lykhovyd, P. V., Kozyriev, V. V., & Markovska, O. Y. (2019). The effect of tillage system and fertilization on corn yield and water use efficiency in irrigated conditions of the South of Ukraine. Biosystems Diversity, 27(2), 125–130.

Wan, N. F., Dainese, M., Wang, Y. Q., & Loreau, M. (2024). Cascading social-ecological benefits of biodiversity for agriculture. Current Biology, 34(12), R587–R603.

Watson, C., Mie, A., Wivstad, M., Wallenbeck, A., Hoffmann, R., Johansson, B., Gunnarsson, S., Sundberg, C., Salomon, E., Nilsson, U., & Röös, E. (2018). Risks and opportunities of increasing yields in organic farming. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 38, e14.

Xing, Y., Wang, X., & Mustafa, A. (2025). Exploring the link between soil health and crop productivity. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 289, 117703.

Zhuikov, O. G. (2013). Eksperymentalne doslidzhennia tekhnolohichnykh aspektiv systemy udobrennia hirchytsi chornoyi v umovakh Pivdennoho Stepu [Experimental study of the technological aspects of fertilization system of black mustard in the conditions of Southern Steppe]. Tavrian Scientific Herald, 84, 53–57.