Stability of grain production in crop rotations in the steppe conditions of the Lower Volga region

Abstract

The analysis of the influence of crop rotation types on the productivity of grain crops is given. The expediency and efficiency of cultivation in crop rotations with a displaced passage of development phases is justified. A comprehensive assessment of hydrothermal vegetation conditions has shown that winter and late grain crops are more adapted to steppe conditions than early spring crops. In all years of observation, when converted to grain units, it was revealed that the highest yield of grain is observed in the 9-month grain – grass crop rotation. Close to the dipole grain – fallow crop rotation 4, which are present winter, spring, late spring and early culture. Significantly lower yield of grain units in 2 – full and 3 – full grain - pair crop rotations compared to the above considered ones. In the arid chernozem steppe of the Volga region, the productivity of arable land and the stability of grain production increases if winter, late spring and early crops with a fallow area of no more than 25.0 % are present in crop rotations, which allows, observing the principle of technological diversity, to improve the environmental role of field crops and reduce negative changes in agroecosystems under the influence of unilateral anthropogenic influence.