The use of safflower crops (Carthamus tincforius) for phytomelioration of dark chestnut soils in Western Kazakhstan

Abstract

Biologization of crop production, aimed at the predominant use of biological factors to increase the economic efficiency of agricultural production, is becoming the main direction of increasing soil fertility and obtaining high guaranteed yields of agricultural crops. Currently, the actual trend in the development of organic farming is the support and restoration of soil fertility, primarily through the use of green fertilizers. One of the new types of field crops used as a phytomeliorant is safflower. According to the morphological characteristics of the genetic horizons of the profile and the agrochemical parameters of the arable layer of the soil of the experimental plots, they are characteristic for dry steppe zone of Western Kazakhstan. In the experiment, safflower crops (Carthamus tincforius) were studied as a phytomeloriant. The area of the plots is 50 m2, the replication is threefold, the location of the plots is systematic. The seeding rate of safflower seeds is recommended for the dry steppe zone of the West Kazakhstan region. The green mass of safflower as a green fertilizer was plowed into the soil during the periods of it's flowering with disc harrows. As a result of the study, an assessment was made of field crops of yellow mustard and safflower cultivated in the organic farming system for phytomeloration of dark chestnut soils. Studies have shown that in the 0–2 cm layer of dark chestnut soils under the influence of the phytomeliorative action of safflower, an increase in the content of nitrate nitrogen from 5.08 to 5.35 mg/100 g of soil, or by 5.31%, was noted by autumn. During the spring — autumn period, in the 0–20 cm layer of dark chestnut soils, the content of mobile phosphorus increased from 1.17 to 1.22 mg/100 g of soil, or by 4.27%. Sowings of safflower had a positive effect on the agrophysical indicators of dark chestnut soils. In studies, soil loosening by 0.020 g/cm3 and an increase in structure up to 64.47% were established.