Influence of nitrogen fertilization rates on the accumulation of macro- and microelements in winter wheat plants, crop formation, and economic efficiency of production

A.N. Esaulko, V.N. Sitnikov, A.Yu. Ozheredova, S.A. Korostylev, O.A. Shevchenko

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Abstract. The need to increase the yield and grain quality of winter wheat makes the optimization of nitrogen fertilization an important agrotechnical practice. However, the selection of the nitrogen rate requires justification, as different levels of nitrogen nutrition varyingly affect the accumulation of macroand microelements in plants, crop formation, and the economic efficiency of production. The aim of the research is to determine the effect of nitrogen top-dressing rates on the accumulation of macro- and microelements in the vegetative mass of winter wheat plants at different stages of organogenesis and on the formation of maximum productivity.
Materials and methods. A single-factor experiment (Factor A – nitrogen top-dressing) was carried out in 2023–2025 at the Educational and Experimental Station of Stavropol State Agrarian University. All investigations were performed according to generally accepted methods.
Research results. The application of nitrogen top-dressing at rates ranging from 51 to 87 kg a.i./ha significantly increased the N content in winter wheat plants by 0.29–0.42% compared to the control. The contents of P, K, Cu, and Zn did not change significantly under the influence of nitrogen top-dressings. The maximum yield was obtained in the variant with a dose of N87; however, the difference from the N70 variant was insignificant (+0.12 t/ha). The highest economic efficiency was achieved with the application of N70 against the background of N13P60: the profit amounted to 37,020 rubles/ha, and the profitability level reached 70.0%. A further increase in the nitrogen rate to N87 is economically impractical due to a decrease in profitability to 68.5% and an insignificant yield increase.
Conclusion. For the study area and under the investigated fertilization background, it is recommended to apply nitrogen top-dressing at a rate of N70, which allows for obtaining Grade III grain.

Keywords: winter wheat, plants, doses, nitrogen fertilizers, macronutrients, micronutrients, yield, economic efficiency of production

For citation. Esaulko A.N., Sitnikov V.N., Ozheredova A.Yu., Korostylev S.A., Shevchenko O.A. Influence of nitrogen fertilization rates on the accumulation of macro- and microelements in winter wheat plants, crop formation, and economic efficiency of production. News of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2026. Vol. 28. No. 4. Pp. 87–96. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2026-28-4-87-96

©   Esaulko A.N., Sitnikov V.N., Ozheredova A.Yu., Korostylev S.A., Shevchenko O.A., 2026

References

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Information about the authors

Aleksandr N. Esaulko, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Physiology, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute of Agrobiology and Natural Resources, Stavropol State Agrarian University;
12, Zootechnicheskiy lane, Stavropol, 355017, Russia;
aesaulko@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0441-9055, SPIN-code: 5497-6339
Vladimir N. Sitnikov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor, Rector of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education, Stavropol State Agrarian University;
12, Zootechnicheskiy lane, Stavropol, 355017, Russia;
rector@stgau.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7557-555X, SPIN-code: 6029-8733
Alena Yu. Ozheredova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Physiology, Stavropol State Agrarian University;
12, Zootechnicheskiy lane, Stavropol, 355017, Russia;
alena.gurueva@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6038-6409, SPIN-code: 3968-8440
Sergey A. Korostylev, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Physiology, Stavropol State Agrarian University;
12, Zootechnicheskiy lane, Stavropol, 355017, Russia;
korostylev16@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2553-4661, SPIN-code: 7724-0126
Olga A. Shevchenko, Master Student, Institute of Agrobiology and Natural Resources, Stavropol State Agrarian University;
12, Zootechnicheskiy lane, Stavropol, 355017, Russia;
olga0404a@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2892-1915

Funding

The study is carried out within the framework of the Agreement on granting a subsidy to a federal budgetary or autonomous institution for the financial support of fulfilling the state assignment for the provision of state services (execution of works) No. 082-03-2026-125 dated January 30, 2026.