Productivity of green mass maize when using mineral fertilizers and biological products in the cryolithozone of Yakutia

Abstract

Relevance . In the conditions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the deficit of high-protein feeds limits livestock productivity. The cultivation of maize on permafrost-affected soils requires the development of effective agronomic practices, including the combined use of mineral fertilizers and biological preparations. Methods . The research was conducted in 2024-2025 on permafrost-affected sod-meadow soil at the Yakutsk Research Institute of Agriculture. The experimental scheme included 9 treatments: control, N 60 P 60 K 60 , N 90 P 90 K 90 , biological preparations «Fito Nord — Bakt» and «Mamontenok» (Bacillus subtilis strains), as well as their combinations with fertilizers against a background of row spacings of 30 and 60 cm. Yield, chemical composition (using an infrared analyzer Spectra Star 2200), and economic efficiency were determined. Results . The highest green mass yield of maize (38.9 t/ha at 30 cm row spacing and 38.6 t/ha at 60 cm row spacing) was obtained with the combined application of N90P90K90 and the biological preparation «Mamontenok». The crude protein content reached 22.122.4%, which is significantly higher than the control. The use of biological preparations improved biometric parameters and plant resistance to stressful weather conditions (en dash:  HTC 0.3–0.7). Economic assessment showed a profitability of up to 90% (N 90 P 90 K 90 + + «Mamontenok» treatment, 60 cm row spacing) with a conditional net income of 36 586 rubles/ha. Wide-row sowing (60 cm) provided better plant access to light and heat. The integrated application of N 90 P 90 K 90 and the biological preparation «Mamontenok» is an economically sound and highly profitable technique for maize cultivation in the permafrost zone of Yakutia.