PECULIARITIES OF SWITCHGRASS PRODUCTIVITY FORMATION UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE CONDITIONS IN THE WEST REGION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

In the context of accelerating climate change, soil degradation, and the need to improve the efficiency of agrolandscape use – particularly in the conditions of the Western region of Ukraine – the search for technological solutions to stabilize the yield of promising crops has become highly relevant. One such crop is switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a perennial cereal plant with high potential as both a bioenergy and forage crop, characterized by drought resistance, the ability to grow on low-productivity soils, and a positive response to agro-technological inputs. The study was conducted at the experimental site of the Department of Forestry and Agrarian Management of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of different fertilization systems, namely the application of mineral fertilizers (N₃₀P₃₀K₃₀), the growth regulator Black Jack KS, and the micronutrient fertilizer Intermag Titan, on the growth, biometric parameters, and green biomass yield of switchgrass under the agroecological conditions of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast during the 2022–2024 period.The research methods included field, laboratory, statistical, and analytical-calculation approaches.The results of the study revealed a significant influence of weather conditions on the growth and productivity of the crop. The lowest yield was recorded in the control treatment (water only), ranging from 12,2 to 16,8 t/ha depending on the year. Application of mineral fertilizers alone increased yield to 18,7 t/ha, while the use of micronutrient fertilizers alone resulted in yields of 19,2–19,9 t/ha. The highest yields – 21,5 to 22,1 t/ha – were obtained from the combined application of N₃₀P₃₀K₃₀ with Black Jack KS or Intermag Titan, which exceeded the control by 31–44%. The most favorable results were achieved through the combination of mineral fertilizers with foliar treatments.The scientific novelty of the study lies in identifying the high efficiency of combining a mineral background with micronutrient fertilizers for increasing switchgrass biomass under conditions of regional climatic variability. The practical significance of the findings is the potential application in the development of adaptive cultivation technologies for energy crops under unstable moisture conditions and on low-productivity lands.