Economic Efficiency of Seeding Standards and Cultivation Technologies for Winter Wheat in a Direct Sowing System

Abstract

Introduction. In the South of Russia, where winter wheat accounts for up to 50% of arable land in the Stavropol Krai, the importance of optimizing cultivation technologies is increasing, particularly within the direct seeding system, which significantly alters soil properties and requires adjustments in seeding rates to ensure the economic efficiency of production.
Aim. To determine the impact of extensive, standard and intensive cultivation systems, as well as seeding rates, on the economic efficiency of winter wheat production grown under direct seeding conditions in the unstable moisture regime of Stavropol Krai.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted from 2021 to 2023 on an experimental field of the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Center, where winter wheat was cultivated using extensive, basic and intensive technologies with seeding rates ranging from 2 to 6 million seeds per hectare, with an interval of 1 million seeds per hectare.
Results. The highest profit—41,122 rubles per hectare—and the greatest economic efficiency (rental yield of 180.3%) were achieved with the intensive technology. Cultivation using the basic technology resulted in reduced profit—34,224 rubles per hectare—and a profitability of 142.7%. The lowest economic indicators­­--profit of 17,635 rubles per hectare and profitability of 122.8% -- were observed under the extensive technology.
Conclusions. The optimal seeding rate for winter wheat under intensive technology is 3 million seeds per hectare; for basic technology, it is 4 million seeds per hectare; and for extensive technology, 5 million seeds per hectare. Increasing or decreasing the seeding rate from the optimal value across all technology systems leads to a decline in both yield and economic efficiency. Within the direct seeding system, growing winter wheat is most economically advantageous when employing intensive technology. Cultivating the crop under basic technology results in reduced economic efficiency, while the lowest efficiency is observed with extensive technology. 

To cite: Gonochenko A.V., Dridiger V.K. Economic Efficiency of Seeding Standards and Cultivation Technologies for Winter Wheat in a Direct Sowing System. Agrarian Bulletin of the North Caucasus. 2025;15(2):53-62. https://doi.org/10.31279/2949-4796-2025-15-2-53-62