Research on the ecologization of soil cultivation technologies on the level of weed infestation in sunflower, soybean and grain corn crops

Received: 21-Jan-2026, Manuscript No. mp-26-183001; Accepted: 18-Feb-2026, Pre QC No. mp-26-183001 (PQ); Editor assigned: 23-Jan-2026, Pre QC No. mp-26-183001 (PQ); Reviewed: 06-Feb-2026, QC No. mp-26-183001; Revised: 13-Feb-2026, Manuscript No. mp-26-183001 (R); Published: 20-Feb-2026, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19081177

Introduction

One of the key reasons for the decline in crop yields is excessive weed infestation (Kaletnik, et al. 2024, Didur, et al. 2024, Pantsyreva, et al. 2024, Kysylchuk, et al. 2024). This phenomenon is due to the large stock of weed seeds in the soil, which can remain viable for many years. A high concentration of weeds in crops creates significant difficulties for growing main crops, as weeds actively compete with them for moisture, nutrients and light, which significantly reduces the yield potential (Hetman, et al. 2025, Didur, et al. 2024). In this context, an important condition for effective farming is the quantitative assessment of changes in the level of weed infestation as an indicator of the effectiveness of the implemented technological solutions (Palamarchuk, et al. 2025, Okrushko, et al. 2025). Ignoring this factor can lead to an erroneous assessment of agricultural technologies, which, in turn, will cause crop losses and deterioration of the environmental situation (Didur, et al. 2025, Petrychenko, et al. 2024). That is why the development and implementation of scientifically based methods for controlling the number of weeds is of particular importance in the system of modern agriculture. 

Given the economic feasibility and importance in the agricultural sector, the cultivation of strategically important crops, such as sunflower, soybean, and corn, is particularly relevant. Ensuring high yields of these market-forming crops requires an integrated approach to weed control, based on modern knowledge and technologies (Kaletnik, et al. 2025, Lys, et al. 2024, Sobko, et al. 2025, Zubov, et. al. 2025).

Materials and Methods

The purpose of the research is to study different groups of Lipaktiv on the effectiveness of soil and preventive herbicides in comparison with Liposam on sunflower, soybean and corn crops. Field studies were conducted during 2021-2024 at the experimental field of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University. The soil of the experimental field is grey forest medium loam. The predecessor was spring barley. The laying of field experiments was carried out according to generally accepted methods and state standards in crop production. The studies were accompanied by observations, records and relevant plant analyses. The total area of the plot is 15 m², the placement of the plots is systematic in one tier (Tabs. 1-3).

Note: Natural moisture+100 mm; Adherent dose 0.5 l/ha

Table 1. Experimental design-study of the effect of different types of Liposam on the effectiveness of the soil herbicide guardian tetra on sunflower crops.

Table 2. Experimental design-study of the effect of different types of Liposam on the effectiveness of the soil herbicide guardian tetra on sunflower crops.

Table 3. Experimental design-study of the degree of wetting on the effectiveness of the soil herbicide guardian tetra in a mixture with Liposam ultra on corn crops for grain.

Immediately after sowing, the soil herbicide gezagard (active ingredient-promethrin, 500 g/l) was applied to the soybean plots at a rate of 3 l/ha. The herbicide guardian tetra (active ingredients: acetochlor-450 g/l, terbuthylazine-214 g/l, furilazole-15 g/l) was applied to the corn plots at a dose of 3.5 l/ha, and the same drug was used on sunflower plots at a rate of 3.0 l/ha. Simultaneously with the herbicides, the biological adhesive Liposam was applied at dosages according to the experimental scheme.

The assessment of weather conditions during the research period was carried out based on data from the Vinnytsia Regional Center for Hydrometeorology. During 2021-2024, climatic conditions were difficult for the growth and development of soybeans, corn, and sunflower. In some periods, significant deviations from the long-term averages were observed. Precipitation was uneven, the growing season was characterized by long droughts. The value of the Hydrothermal Coefficient (HTC) from the end of April to September was less than 1, which indicates a moisture deficit. This, in turn, had a negative impact on both the emergence of seedlings and the growth of weeds in sunflower crops, as well as on the effectiveness of soil herbicides and the biological adhesive Liposam.

Results and Discussion

During the years of research, under such conditions of natural moisture, a short-term type of weed infestation was formed in the experiment and consisted mainly of wintering weeds, and only a small proportion of spring and rhizomatous weeds. The species composition of weeds was as follows: Amaranthus retroflexus L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Agropyrum repens L., Cirsium arvense L., Setariaviridis, Setariaglauca, Chenopodium album L., Portulaca oleracea L.), Sonchus arvensis L.

Based on the conducted studies, it was found that the combination of soil herbicide with Liposam in various combinations did not have a significant effect on the density of seedlings. Based on the conducted observations and records, it was found that in the experiment with sunflower, the number of weeds in the control variant (without Liposam) with natural moisture of +100 mm was 19 ± 4 pcs/m², and in the variants where Liposam extra was used, the number of weeds was on average 12 ± 3 pcs/m², which is 7 pcs/m² less than the control. The most effective 30 days after application was the combination of soil herbicide with Liposam ultra, while in these areas the number of weeds was 9 ± 1 pcs/m², which is 10 pcs/m² less than the control. When used with the soil herbicide guardian tetra, Liposam was formed on the experimental site on average 14 ± 3 pcs/m² (Tab. 4).

Note: LSD: Least Significant Difference

Table 4. The effect of different types of Liposam when used together with the soil herbicide Guardian Tetra on the number of weeds in sunflower crops (natural moisture+100 mm).

The smallest significant difference in the experiment when recording 30 days after applying the herbicide was 4.2 pcs/m², which indicates the reliability of the results obtained, while on the basis of the analysis of variance it was established that the studied factors influenced the reduction in the number of weeds by 68% and 32% was influenced by other unaccounted factors (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: The share of influence of factors on the formation of the level of weed infestation of sunflower crops.

The minimum amount of precipitation during the growth and development of plants leveled the further influence of the studied factors on the growth and development of the weed group in the agrophytocenosis. Thus, based on the accounting at the end of the growing season, it was established that the proportion of weeds increased slightly, but the effectiveness of the use of Liposam significantly decreased and was within the error range.

Based on the observations and accounting, it was established that the number of weeds in soybean crops in the control variant (without adhesive) with natural moisture of +100 mm 30 days after application was 23 ± 2.5 pcs/m², in the experimental variant, where Liposam was applied together with the soil herbicide at a dose of 0.3 l/ha, the number of weeds was on average 21 ± 2.5 pcs/m² across the repetitions, which is 2 pcs. less than the control and is insignificant with the smallest significant difference of the experiment 4.7. When used together with the herbicide gezagard Liposam at a dose of 0.5 and 0.8 l/ha, the number of weeds significantly decreased and amounted to 16 ± 1.2 and 15 ± 1.7 pcs/m², respectively (Tab. 5).

Note: LSD: Least Significant Difference

Table 5. Effect of different doses of Liposam when used together with the soil herbicide gezagard on the number of weeds in soybean crops (natural moisture+100 mm).

The most effective under these conditions when recording was the combination of soil herbicide with Liposam adhesive at a dose of 0.5 l/ha and 0.8 l/ha, while the difference between these options was minimal (Fig. 2).

Figure 2: The share of influence of factors on the formation of the level of weed infestation of soybean crops.

When determining the effect of the degree of moisture on the effectiveness of the soil herbicide guardian tetra in a mixture with Liposam ultra on corn crops for grain, it was found that in the variants without the use of Liposam under natural moisture 30 days after applying the herbicide, the number of weeds was on average 19 ± 3 pcs/m². In the variant with additional moisture (+100 mm), without the use of Liposam, the number of weeds was higher by an average of 7 pcs/m² and was 26 ± 5 pcs/m².

In the variants of the experiment, where together with the soil herbicide Liposam ultra was applied at a dose of 0.5 l/ha under natural moisture per 1 m², an average of 17±2 pcs. weeds were formed, which is insignificant and only 2 pcs. less than without the use of Liposam ultra (Tab. 6).

Note: LSD: Least Significant Difference

Table 6. The effect of the degree of moisture on the effectiveness of the soil herbicide guardian tetra in a mixture with Liposam ultra in corn crops for grain.

The smallest number of weeds 30 days after application was recorded in the experiment variant using Liposam ultra 0.5 l/ha with additional moistening (+100 mm) and amounted to an average of 14 ± 3 pcs/m². It was found that the difference between the variants with natural and additional moistening (+100 mm) with the application of Liposam ultra (0.5 l/ha) was insignificant and amounted to 3 pcs/m².

At the end of the growing season, according to the results of the surveys, the influence of the studied factors on the number of weeds in crops was not detected.

Conclusion

According to the results of the studies conducted in the natural and climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe, it was established that the combined use of soil herbicide with the adhesive Liposam in different variants did not have a significant impact on the density of seedlings of the studied crops. The highest efficiency 30 days after application was demonstrated by the combination of the herbicide with Liposam ultra in the corresponding areas the number of weeds was 9 ± 1 pcs/m², which is 10 units less compared to the control option. In soybean crops, the most effective was the use of soil herbicide in combination with Liposam in doses of 0.5 and 0.8 l/ha; the difference between the options was insignificant. In the case of corn, the minimum number of weeds (14 ± 3 pcs/m²) 30 days after treatment was recorded in areas where Liposam ultra was used in a dose of 0.5 l/ha with additional moistening (+100 mm). The results obtained indicate the feasibility of using such technological solutions to optimize the system of growing sunflower, soybeans, and corn for grain, which will contribute to increasing the efficiency of weed control and improving the overall productivity of agrocenoses.

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