Purpose: to evaluate changes in the yield and grain quality of winter wheat using different methods of primary tillage for crop cultivation.
Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in Kursk region in a field experiment in 2023–2025. The following methods of primary tillage were studied: plowing with soil layer turnover (20–22 cm); combined cultivation (disking 8–10 cm + chisel 20–22 cm); surface cultivation (disking) up to 8 cm; direct seeding.
Results. The winter wheat yield grown with direct seeding is slightly inferior to plowing (by 0.08 t/ha) and combined cultivation (by 0.13 t/ha), and surface tillage provides the highest grain yield (6.31 t/ha). At the same time, surface cultivation produces grain of the lowest quality with the lowest protein (11.4 %) and gluten (16.8 %) content. The primary tillage method does not significantly affect the physical quality parameters of winter wheat grain. Winter wheat cultivation with plowing and direct seeding allows obtaining grain at least quality class 4, while with combined and surface tillage – at least quality class 5. An economic evaluation showed that direct seeding provides the highest net income – 40,182 rubles, which is higher than with plowing by 3,312 rubles, surface tillage by 9,258 rubles, and combined tillage by 10,787 rubles. High profitability and low direct costs determined the highest profitability of winter wheat cultivation with direct seeding (111.4 %).
Conclusions. It has been established that minimizing primary tillage for winter wheat does not negatively affect its yield. Winter wheat grain quality is lower with combined and surface tillage than with plowing and direct seeding. Direct seeding of winter wheat provides the highest economic production indicators.
doi: 10.31774/2712-9357-2026-16-2-227-239
winter wheat, primary tillage method, direct seeding, grain quality, economic efficiency
Durakov P. P., Dubovik D. V. The influence of primary tillage method on winter wheat yield and grain quality in the Kursk region. Land Reclamation and Hydraulic Engineering. 2026;16(2):227–239. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31774/2712-9357-2026-16-2-227-239.
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Funding source: federally funded subsidies for the implementation of State Assignment on scientific theme No. FGZU-2024-0001.
