Black Earth Soil Research Articles

Comparative demonstration trials of winter wheat varieties of the ARC “Donskoy” in the zone of blackearth soils of the Volgograd region

The current paper has considered the results of comparative trials of winter wheat varieties of the ARC “Donskoy” in the zone of blackearth soils, the subzone of southern blackearth of the Volgograd region. Modern breeding provides a wide choice of winter wheat varieties. In the Volgograd region, more than 100 varieties are sown annually. This objectively results in difficulty of the best choice. Based on the official data on the preferences of farmers, there have been optimized the selection base, focusing on the varieties of the ARC “Donskoy”, considering it more important and responsible for farmers to clarify information about this significant (about 60 %) block. The field trial was laid in the Kikvidzensky district of the Volgograd region in the zone of blackearth soils, the subzone of southern blackearth, on the lands of “AGROPRODUKT” LLC. The study was carried out according to the methodology used by the State Variety Commission. Significant effect on the autumn stage of development was made by weather conditions, which were significantly contrasting, during the years of trial. The value of field germination was at the level of 65–75 %. The indicators of autumn tillering at the end of the autumn vegetation period for three years were in a rather narrow range of 3.9–4.7 pcs/plant. In the studied area, the formation of yield due to the density of productive stems prevailed. On average, for three years, the value of the productive stalk was 610–729 pieces/m2. According to this indicator, the winter wheat varieties ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Donskaya Step’, ‘Kapitan’ (679–729 pcs/m2) were the best ones. As a result, the best productivity indicators were demontarted by the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (5.66 t/ha) and ‘Donskaya Step’ (5.41 t/ha). A significant group of varieties, such as ‘Kapitan’, ‘Lidiya’, ‘Asket’, ‘Zhavoronok’, formed 5.21– 5.26 t/ha.

Estimation of the stability of spring barley productivity under the conditions of the Central Blackearth Region

The study of the stability of productivity of the spring barley variety ‘Suzdalets’ was carried out at the FSBSI “Kursk FARC” when cultivating the crop in various crop rotations with the application of mineral fertilizers, in the conditions of the Central Blackearth Region on chernozem soils over 7 rotations of three crop rotations (from 1985 to 2010). Mineral fertilizers for barley were applied in doses of N30Р30К30 and N60Р60К60. The main tillage was plowing. The purpose of the current work was to identify the influence of factors on the stability of spring barley productivity using a comprehensive estimation of the associated data of cultivation technology, weather, and soil conditions. There has been found that the spring barley productivity variation in the trial by 44 % was because of weather conditions, the interaction of weather conditions with the application of mineral fertilizers (20 %) and the interaction of all the studied factors (12 %). The conducted correlation analysis has shown a direct dependence on the HTC (r = 0.51) and an inverse dependence with the sum of active temperatures (r = –0.66). The introduction of a double dose of mineral fertilizers has reduced the dependence of barley productivity on the amount of precipitation during the crop vegetation period. The largest productivity was established in the grain-fallow crop rotation. When fertilizing, it has increased in all crop rotations. With the introduction of grasses in the crop rotation, the stability of productivity has improved. There has been identified that spring barley productivity has a direct correlation with the content of humus and with the content of nitrate nitrogen (r = 0.56–0.69) and ammonium nitrogen (r = 0.50–0.55). There has been established that barley productivity has a direct, moderate and noticeable correlation (r = 0.33–0.63) with a mobility degree of phosphates and potassium. With the help of the obtained mathematical model, knowing the mobility degree of phosphates and potassium in soil, there will be possible to predict spring barley productivity on blackearth soils of the Central Blackearth Region.

Значение подтипа почвы и силы роста подвоя для экономической эффективности производства плодов яблони в Тамбовской области

The influence of the soil subtype on the yield of the apple tree was studied in the conditions of the north of the Tambov region. Changing the soil subtype during the growing of an apple tree under these conditions can lead to an increase or decrease in apple yield and the fruit production profitability level by half. The transition from semi-dwarf to medium-sized apple rootstocks leads to an increase in direct costs and a decrease in the profitability level by half, subject to the successful combination of soil subtype with rootstock. The growing of apple trees on a rootstock 62-396 in the northern part of the Tambov region is most profitable, subject to their allocation on leached black earth soil and meadow black earth soil (profitability - 84.7...145.3%). The cultivation of apple trees on a rootstock 54-118 in the north of the Tambov region is most profitable, subject to their allocation on podzolized black earth soil and gray forest soil (profitability - 59.8...142.7%). The production of apple fruits on medium-sized rootstocks 54-118 is less profitable or unprofitable, subject to the allocation of apple trees on waterlogged meadow black earth soils. Keywords: APPLE TREES, VARIETY, SOIL, ROOTSTOCK, EFFICIENCY, YIELD

Сhemical composition, nutrient and energy content of feed biomass from triticale yargo and peas for different technologies of co-cultivation

Aim. To establish indicators of chemical composition, nutrition and energy intensity of spring triticale and seed pea in single-species and compatible crops depending on the ratio of components and fertilizers. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical-statistical, analytical. Results. The results of studies on the chemical composition of fodder annual binary agrophytocenoses with the participation of triticale spring pea seed with different ratios of components and different fertilizers on black earth soils of the Forest Steppe, which were conducted annually during 2020–2022, are shown. Conclusions. The inclusion of spring peas in the leguminous-cereal mixture of triticale improves the chemical composition of the feed, increasing the content of crude protein in the dry weight of the feed from 12.9 to 14.8−16.3%, or by 1.9−3.4%. At the same time, the content of protein and crude fat in the dry mass increases, the digestibility of the dry mass in vitro − by 3−7%, the nutritional value according to the content of feed units, the energy intensity according to the content of exchangeable energy − the supply of one feed unit with digestible protein − from 83 to 112−128 g, raw ash − by 0.3−0.6%, calcium − by 0.06−0.10%, magnesium − by 0.01−0.06%, Ca:P ratio and the content of crude fiber decreases by 1.5−3.1%, potassium and the K:(Ca+Mg) ratio. With the introduction of humigran in the dry mass of triticale, pea and their compatible crops, the content of crude protein increases by 1.4−2.0%, protein – by 0.4−1.9%, and N45P45K45 − by 1.4−2,5% and 0.8−2.4%. Under the influence of these fertilizers, the content of crude fat, fodder units, exchangeable energy, supply of digestible protein, raw ash of the fodder unit in the dry weight of the forage simultaneously increases, and the content of non-nitrogenous extractive substances decreases in all grass stands.

Effect of Amino Acid and Titanium Foliar Application on Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass (Poa pratensis L.) Macronutrient Content

As plant growth stimulants, Ti and amino acids affect physiological processes of plants, promoting their vegetative and generative development and improving their yield and its quality. An experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the University of Agriculture in Krakow on degraded black earth soil formed from loess. Its aim was to determine the effect of two products, one containing amino acids and the other with Ti, on the Poa pratensis yield and its quality. Foliar application of amino acids and Ti, used on their own and together, constituted the main factor of the experiment. It was found that the treatment with both stimulants applied together significantly affected plant parameters. Compared to control, plants treated with those growth stimulants produced higher dry matter yields and contained significantly more phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium in dry matter. The highest effect was recorded on plots where combined application of amino acids and Ti was used. Almost as good results were recorded when amino acids were applied on their own. Regarding the cuts, higher effects were noted in the first and second ones than in the third. The growth stimulants used in the present experiment had a positive effect on the chemical composition of Poa pratensis meadow plants. The results indicated that the treatment significantly increased macronutrient content, compared to control plants. The most favourable effects were recorded for plants on the plot with combined application of amino acids and Ti. Similar results were also obtained on plots where only amino acids were used. Regarding the harvests, better results were noted in the first and second ones than in the third. In view of the potential benefits, it would be advisable to extend and update research on the effects of these stimulants on other common varieties of forage grasses.

Ways of optimization of lead-polluted black earth soils in the soil-plant system

the most urgent problems of today. Ensuring the environmental safety of food raw materials and food products is one of the main tasks that determine the health of the human population and the preservation of its gene pool. Analysis of recent research and publications. Toxic effects of Pb on human bodies have been confirmed by numerous clinical studies that have shown the negative effects of heavy metals on the nervous, cardiovascular, immune systems and oncology. The works is devoted to the development of detoxification techniques, in which scientists proposed to reduce the content of heavy metals in chernozems by detoxifying soils by growing battery plants on them, which will «extract» heavy metals from soils disinfecting them. The disadvantage of the proposed technologies is the economic costs borne by farmers, producers and consumers. Farmers will suffer financial losses due to idle sown areas and the cost of seed. Producers will be forced to raise prices for the final food product as a result of reduced consumer purchasing power. Formulation of the purpose of the article. The aim of the article is to determine ways to optimize lead-contaminated chernozem soils in the system «soil – plant» (on the example of chernozem soils within the test sites on the territory of the collection nursery «Agrotek» in Kyiv region). Presentation of the main research material. The article presents the results of a study of ways to optimize lead-contaminated chernozem soils in the system «soil – plant». The objects of the study were soybean and chickpea varieties of different vegetation varieties, namely: ultra-early varieties, maturation period 95… 105 days. Мedium, maturation period 100…115 days. Мedium-ripe varieties maturation period115…125 days. Early ripening varieties of chickpeas growing period 95…115 days, and medium-ripe sotu chickpeas, growing period 115…125 days. Experimental studies were conducted during 2019 – 2021 within the test sites on the territory of the collection nursery «Agrotek» in Kyiv region. The method of ion exchange and liquid chromatography on the liquid chromatograph Shimadzu LC-20 (Japan). Studied the variability of nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates) in soybeans and chickpeas of different vegetation varieties. With the help of the MATLAB program, mathematical optimization was carried out and the five-year dynamics of protein, fat, and carbohydrate content in legumes grown on chernozem soils of the «Agrotek» collection nursery in the Kyiv region was determined. By the method of inversion-voltammetry with the help of voltammetric analyzer «ABA-3» (Russia) which is equipped with an indicator electrode for the determination of lead, the concentration of Pb in chernozems and soybeans and chickpeas with different protein content was studied. Concentrations of Pb in soybean and chickpea grains depending on the chemical composition of soils for cultivation were grown and studied at the test sites of the «Agrotek» collection nursery. Conclusions. As a result of experimental studies, it was found that the contamination of chernozem soils Pb and subsequent processes of its translocation in the system «soil – plant» have negative consequences and are manifested in the accumulation of toxicants in plants. It is significant that the largest metal-accumulating properties have cultivated early-ripening legumes, and the smallest – medium-ripe. It was determined that the indicators of Pb concentration in the storage organs of legume assimilants are influenced to a greater extent by the protein content in them than by mobile forms of Pb, which come due to translocation from soils contaminated with Pb. It is established that with the increase of protein in the organs of plant assimilators, the indicators of accumulation of toxic concentrations of Pb increase. Given that the genetic characteristics of chernozems allow us to consider them the most environmentally friendly soils in terms of anthropogenesis, however, they deposit contaminants and, accordingly, require optimization and development of detoxification methods. It has been experimentally established that when growing legumes of different vegetation varieties on chernozems contaminated with Pb, the intensity of their detoxification to obtain environmentally friendly plant products can be distributed as follows: N180P180K180 + Pb + lime + manure > N360P360K360+ Pb > N180P180K180 + Pb + lime > N180P180K180 + Pb + manure. The obtained laws provide an opportunity to develop recommendations and propose ways to detoxify contaminated Pb soils. Which will provide an opportunity to significantly reduce budget expenditures, which is socially necessary and cost-effective.

Features of Heavy Metal Contamination of Agricultural Soils in the Kursk Region of Russia and Economic Assessment of Restoration

Kursk region of Russia has unique fertile soils. Heavy metals are among the factors that pollute the soil. The article is devoted to the study of the spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils. The relevance of the study is that the value of the soil is determined by its value for obtaining environmentally friendly agricultural products. Data on the content of heavy metals in the soil can prevent intensive cultivation of crops. The task of the work is to identify heavy metals that predominate in the soils of various landscapes of the Kursk region. The assessment of soil contamination with chemical elements was carried out in the course of geo-ecological studies of black earth soils in the Kursk region of Russia. The selected soil samples were examined by semi-quantitative spectral analysis. The results obtained were subjected to statistical processing. It was found that cobalt is the main pollutant in the vast majority of sampling points. In other zones, molybdenum, lead, zinc, and chromium predominate in approximately equal amounts. Soils in the surveyed area belong to the permissible category of contamination with chemical elements. Soil remediation should be applied in local areas.

Plowshare for Growing Ecologically Safe Soybeans

The authors showed that strip sowing with the paw plowshare allows soybean plants to branch better, and branches with leaves of nearby rows do not close for a long time, mowing vegetation between the strips reduces the total number of weeds, the chemical load on the crops, and ensures environmental safety of the products.(Research purpose)To determine the seed distribution parameters by the paw plowshare according to the area of the sowing strip and the depth of seed placement, to establish the effect of the plowshare of different types on the weediness of crops and soybean yield after various preceding crops.(Materials and methods)The authors studied the equability of soybean seeds distribution with the paw plowshare on the surface of the grooved tub, adhesive tape, and in the soil according to the following indicators: spread width, number of seeds per unit area, and placement depth. They conducted a comparative field experiment; in different years according to meteorological conditions, on a typical meadow black earth soil, soybean was sown with seeders with plowshare of two designs after various preceding crops: steam, wheat and soy.(Results and discussion)It was determined that the paw plowshare the specified sowing row width of 0.18-0.20 meters at the channel soil at a depth of 0.05 meters. The deviation from the equability of the sown seeds distribution over the area was determined 0.93-1.56 percent. It was found that strip sowing with the paw plowshare and further mowing of weeds between the strips reduced the weediness of soybean crops after fallow land by 67.7 percent, after wheat by 66.5 percent and after soybean by 65.4 percent, increasing its yield compared to ordinary sowing with a disc plowshare.(Conclusions)The authors established a regular increase in soybean productivity when sowing with the paw plowshare: after naked fallow – by 0.59 tons per hectare, after wheat – by 0.51, after soy – by 0.21 tons. They suggested using seeders with paw plowshare 0.2 meters wide at a distance of 0.6 meters from each other for growing ecologically safe soybean seeds in the Amur region.

Pedoindicators attributes in the variation of CO2 efflux in Indian black earth and non-anthropic soils

In the last decades, the studies involving the mechanisms of the CO2 emissions dynamics have been studied in several ecosystems with varied soil classes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical and chemical attributes of soils and the variation of CO2 efflux in Indian Black Earth (IBE) and non-anthropogenic soils in the Amazon. The study areas are located in the southern region of Amazonas, specifically in the municipalities of Humaitá and Apuí. Respectively in the natural field and forest areas, grids with dimensions of 70 m x 70 m and 10 m regular spacing between sample points, in the depth of 0.0–0.20 m, totaling 64 samples were delimited. In the IBE area, a 42 x 88 m grid was established, marking points at a 6 x 8 m spacing, totalizing 88 sampling points in the depth of 0.0–0.2 m. The soil physical analyzes performed were bulk density, soil penetration resistance, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity and texture, and the soil chemical analyzes were composed by organic carbon, organic matter and carbon stocks. The soil CO2 emission (FCO2) was recorded with a portable automated LI-COR soil flow system (LI-8100). The soil temperature (Tsolo) was monitored concomitantly with the soil CO2 emission evaluations using a temperature sensor that is an integral part of the LI-8100 system. Soil moisture was recorded using a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) apparatus - Campbel® Hydrosense ™ Campbell Scientific. The data were submitted to descriptive statistical analyzes and multiple linear regression with the pedotransfer functions model criterion. The study demonstrates the variation of physical and chemical attributes of the soil and its influence on CO2 efflux variation, since the different environments studied presented differentiated scales and attributes for each situation, due to the correlations presented.

Seed production and variety changing periods of spring barley in the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”

The current paper has presented the stages of variety changing and the results of four-year study (2016-2019) of spring barley varieties bred in different years by the farmers of the Center. The area occupied by spring barley in the Rostov region in 2016-2019 ranged from 315.12 to 406.41 thousand hectares, which was from 6.7 to 8.9% of the total arable land. The average productivity in the region for all the years studied was 2.3 t/ha, varying from year to year from 1.7 t/ha in the dry 2018 year to 2.8 t/ha in the most favorable 2017 year. The 2018 year was unfavorable in terms of climatic conditions, where the area under spring barley was almost 354 thousand hectares, and the gross yield was 601.8 thousand tons. The purpose of the work was to consider the periods of spring barley variety changing in primary seed production. The study was carried out on blackearth (chernozem) soils of the southern zone of the Rostov region at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The varieties were sown in the spring at the time optimal for spring crops. The maximum productivity of many spring barley varieties in breeding plots exceeded 5.0 t/ha. In 2016-2019 in seed plots, there were sown such spring barley varieties as “Gris”, “Ratnik”, “Leon”, “Schedry”. The year of 2018 was unfavorable for these varieties, both in scientific departments and among agricultural producers in the Rostov region. The variety “Schedry” showed the lowest productivity (4.8 t/ha and 3.9 t/ha) and 1000 grain weight (45.0 g and 42.2 g) in both PIP-2 and OS-1. In the favorable year of 2017, the variety “Gris” showed the best results, namely 8.0 t/ha of productivity and 50.6 g of 1000 grain weight. The variety “Gris” was characterized with a stable high 1000 grain weight (on average 50 g) through all years. In different years the varieties “Ratnik” and “Leon” produced the best yields.

MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF HIGH-STARCH MAIZE HYBRIDS OF DIFFERENT GROUND GROUPS

The article presents the results of mathematical modeling based on the construction and usage of different images of an object, process or system. The research expected to study the dependence of the productivity level and the economically valuable features of corn hybrids in the form of mathematical models. Field studies were carried out during 2011-2017 at the field of research of the Department of Plant, Selection and Bioenergy Crops of SE EF “Kordelivske” of IP NAASU of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University under the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of the Right-Bank, in accordance with the recommendations presented in the Methodology Of The Maize Field Study. The soils in the study variants are represented by black earth soil of deep medium loamy on the loessial soil. The humus content (according to Tiurin) in the tilth soil was 4.60%. Soil reaction - pH (salt) 5.7. The soils contain lightly hydrolyzed nitrogen (according to Kornfield) 106 mg per 1 kg of soil, mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium (according to Chirikov) 186 and 160 mg per 1 kg of soil, respectively. The experiments established the economic and biological evaluation of corn hybrids depending on the sowing period, the size of the fraction and the depth of seed wrapping, foliar fertilizers by micro fertilizers. The plot area for hybrids was 10.5 m2. Repeatability in experiments for hybrids is 3 times. Placement of plots is by the method of randomized blocks. An ecological-genetic model of quantitative features was used to study the phenotypic productivity of maize hybrids and to establish the influence on the formation of their traits. The model construction is based on the hierarchy of production traits demonstration in ontogeny and the correspondence of their manifestation in organogenesis. The model consists of three modules of features, i.e. the resultant and two components which reflecting the phenotypic implementation of the genetic formula. Resulting features are those that have an environmentally stable relationships and the highest total contribution to the intended property, yield. As a result of the conducted research, the mathematical models of the duration of the growing season of early-maturing maize hybrids allowed us to determine that the biggest influence does sums of effective temperatures (≥ + 10° C) for May, June, August and September over correlation rate at r = -0.62 and r = -0.51, r = 0.59 and r = 0.39, respectively. Also precipitation amount significantly influenced on the duration of the growing season and the correlation coefficient was r = -0.44, and the influence of the HTI was at the level of r = -0.34. For middle-early hybrids the sum of effective temperatures (≥ + 10° C) in May and June r = -0.46 and r = -0.28, respectively, and also the sum of effective temperatures (≥ + 10° C) in August – r = 0.18 had a strong effect. However, for medium-maturing maize hybrids, the duration of the growing season was determined by the sum of effective temperatures (≥ + 10° C) for May, June and July – r = -0.37, r = -0.34 and r = -0.28, and the sum of effective temperatures (≥ + 10° C) in August – r = 0,18. It is also possible to note the influence and the total sum of effective temperatures (≥ + 10° C) during vegetation at the level of correlation coefficient r = -0.51. According to the research results of mathematical models of the influence of weather conditions on the formation of phenotypic productivity of maize hybrids of different maturity groups both general biological regularities and group differences of features formation were established. Thus, if we analyze the differences between groups of early-ripening and middle-early corn hybrids, their growth and development in general are influenced by the sum of the effective temperatures, rainfall and HTI. In fact, the studied groups of ripeness differ slightly and the main differences are observed only in the variability of the studied features or their close relationship with each other. However, middle-aged hybrids respond somewhat differently to environmental factors, which allow developing the elements of adaptive growing technology for each of the maturity groups. Key words: corn, hybrid, phenotype, mathematical model, productivity, economic and valuable features.

The effect of sowing dates and forecrops on productivity and grain quality of the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” in the southern part of the Rostov region

The study was carried out on blackearth (chernozem) soils of the southern part of the Rostov region at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The current paper has presented the results of the three years’ study (2017–2019) of the effect of sowing dates and various forecrops on the productivity and quality of the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona”. There has been established a high resistance of the variety to lodging in all variants of the trial. There has been presented the dynamics of productiv-ity of the variety “Krasa Dona”, depending on the sowing dates and various forecrops. There has been identified a positive reaction of the variety to sowing in a fallow at the optimum dates (September 20 and 30), where the maximum yield was 7.77–8.62 t/ha. When sowing at a later date, the yields tended to be lower. There has been identified a high adaptability of the variety “Krasa Dona” to the sowing dates in a non-fallow, where it forms a high yield when sowing at different dates. It was found out that the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” formed different yields according to the studied variants of forecrops and sowing dates due to the number of productive stems per unit area and due to the head productivity. On average for 2017–2019 the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” formed the 3rd class grain, when sown in a fallow or after peas and the 4rd class grain, when sown after sunflower. The calculation of the grain production profitability showed that the greatest economic effect was obtained by sowing the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” after peas, it was 169.2–194.5% depending on the sowing date. The minimum profitability was 136.1-147.2% after sunflower. On average, over the years of research, the maximum conditional net income 52 508–58 887 rubles/ha was obtained when the variety was sown in a weedfree fallow.

ECOLOGICAL RATIONING OF DOSES OF A MULTICOMPONENT CARBONCONTAINING PREPARATION THROUGH HEAVY METAL CONTENT AND SOIL MICROBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

The article deals with the results of environmental regulation of doses introduced into a multicomponent carbon-containing preparation for the burning of heavy metals and the microbiological activity of the soil. The relevance of the research is based on, on the one hand, in global degradation, degasification and reduction of soil fertility. On the other hand, it is the worldwide accumulation of production and consumption waste. This study aimed to assess the effect of doses of the product from ash, slag, and carbon black on pH, heavy metal content, and microbiological activity of ordinary chernozem soil for cultivating spring wheat. The experiments were conducted in a walled-zone of Northern Kazakhstan. Soil pH was determined by a potentiometric method, the application of floe discovered the microbiological activity of the soil, the microflora was accounted for by sowing the soil suspension on solid nutrient media, and heavy metals were determined by stripping voltammetry. Bacteria utilizing organic nitrogen compounds; microorganisms consuming mineral nitrogen; oligonitrophils; bacteria mobilizing mineral phosphates; cellulose-destroying microorganisms; nitrification and mushrooms were studied. The studied preparation was observed to contribute to the neutralization of the soil, and the activation of microbiological processes. According to the evidence, it can be verified that the preparation of ash and carbon black ambiguously affects the number of microorganisms. An increase in the number of ammonifying bacteria, nitrifying agents and the coefficient of transformation of organic matter, as well as an increase in the availability of soil with easily hydrolyzed nitrogen, were noted. The content of heavy metals did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration. Thus, the use of a product based on ash, slag, and carbon black to fertilize black earth soils on spring wheat crops are environmentally safe.

Development ot a black-earth soil reterence material, tested tor fertility indicators

The authors provide information on the need to develop a reference material (RM) of the southern middle loamy black soil certifiedfor fertility indicators. The information about the stages of RM development is described: selection and preparation of soil material in the field; procedure of averaging soil material. In the determination of the RM metrological characteristics, the heterogeneity and stability characteristics of the RM are evaluated. The authors demonstrated the results of the RM certification for agrochemical indicators. The correctness of these results is confirmed by the results obtained in twenty-three accredited laboratories. The developed RM is registered in the State Register of the Approved Types of Certified Reference Materials under the number GSO 11369-2019-the RMfor composition (of agrochemical indicators) of the southern middle loamy black soil (SACHyuzhP-02). The RM is intended for metrological support of agroecological monitoring of agroindustrial complex laboratories.

Ecological and coenotic characteristic of Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (Nutt.) Fresen. in the flora of Ukraine

The flora of Ukraine includes Cyclachaena xanthiifolia adventitious species, which is dangerous for humans and animals. It got out of human control and spread widely throughout the whole territory, but its environmental features have not been studied enough. We found that Cyclachaena xanthiifolia is the eurytopic species in Ukraine, that is, it has wide ecological amplitude. It grows well and develops in wide weather and climatic divides: from semi-ombrophytic climate (1000 mm, Pre-Carpathian, Transcarpathia) to arid one (less than 350 mm, Prysyvashshia) in terms of climate humidity; from hemioceanic climate (Western Ukraine and the Black Sea coast) to subcontinental one (Dry-steppe and South-steppe zones) in terms of climate continentality. Its habitats are confined to flat, lowered, but well-drained and low areas. We did not find it at the altitudes of more than 500 m. This is heliophyte, a short-day plant. According to temperature requirements, it occupies an intermediate position between submesothermal and macrothermal plants that grow well when the amount of heat in April-October is from 1780 to 2620 kcal/cm2 and the sum of effective temperatures is from 2850 to 3750ºC. When it comes to demand on soil moisture, it is predominantly mesophytic plant; with regard to soil solution reaction, it is neutrophilic or subacidophilic plant; with respect to soil fertility, it is eutrophic humifilous eunitrophilic plant on ruderal habitats, and oligotrophic agumyl or sub-agumyl heminitrophilic plant on technogenic ones. The highest frequency of occurrence, abundance and the best morphological plants’ parameters were found on black earth, chestnut, and meadow soils, and the worst plants’ parameters were found on sod-podzol, brown forest, sand, saline and bog soils. In relation to landscapes cultivation, this plant is euhemerobe or polyhemerobe. It grows in the Ambrosio artemisiifolia-Chenopodietum albi, Ambrosio artemisiifolia-Cirsietum setosi, Amaranto retroflexi-Setarietum glaucae, Amaranthetum blitoidi-Echinochloetum grusgalli, Poligono-Chenopodietea communities and others in segetal biotopes. It grows in the Ivaetum xanthiifoliae, Atriplicetum tataricae, Chenopodietum glauco-rubri, Chenopodio-Аtriplicetum hastatae, Ambrosio artemisiifoliae-Xanthietum strumariae communities and others in ruderal biotopes.

Principles of development of the technological process of tillage in arid conditions of the south of Russia

In the arid conditions of the southern regions of Russia the cultivated crops experience a lack of moisture. At the same time, the agrotechnical cultivation of the soil becomes important. In a fractured porous massif of the treated soil, there is a loss of moisture from the depth of the reservoir during physical evaporation. Physical evaporation of moisture in dry conditions leads to a drying soil degradation. When loosening only the surface layers, pseudo-scaling of the lower part of the treated layer may occur, leading to hydrolysis degradation of the chernozem soil. Objective: to determine the basic requirements for agrotechnically appropriate technological process of tillage in dry conditions and working bodies for its implementation. The development of the technological process of tillage in dry conditions of the south of Russia should be based on the principles of moisture accumulation inside the reservoir due to the use of thermal diffusion processes. The temperature difference between the layers of the soil inside the reservoir moves the heat flow, contributing to the emergence of the process of thermal diffusion of moisture. To do this, tillage must be done differentially with varying degrees of compaction in layers. During the layer-by-layer processing of the soil inside the reservoir, a moisture accumulating layer is formed due to the combination of both types of heat exchange: insolation and radiation. At a depth of 10-15 cm the flow of moisture available to the root system of crops intersect. This process is carried out by a unified design, developed by the method of the basic unit with common and replaceable parts (subsystems). The combination of subsystems is implemented constructively on a single carrier system according to a certain allocation principle, taking into account the duration of relaxation of the internal stresses of the reservoir, which is 0,09-0,11 s for the black-earth soil in arid conditions. The distance in the longitudinal direction between the subsystem blocks should be at least 0,2 m. In this case, the structures of the working bodies are developed on the basis of the interrelation of the parameters and modes of operation with the physical and mechanical properties of the soil.

Patterns and Determinants of Post-Soviet Cropland Abandonment in the Western Siberian Grain Belt

The transition from a command to a market economy resulted in widespread cropland abandonment across the former Soviet Union during the 1990s. Spatial patterns and determinants of abandonment are comparatively well understood for European Russia, but have not yet been assessed for the vast grain belt of Western Siberia, situated in the Eurasian forest steppe. This is unfortunate, as land-use change in Western Siberia is of global significance: Fertile black earth soils and vast mires store large amounts of organic carbon, and both undisturbed and traditional cultural landscapes harbor threatened biodiversity. We compared Landsat images from ca. 1990 (before the break-up of the Soviet Union) and ca. 2015 (current situation) with a supervised classification to estimate the extent and spatial distribution of abandoned cropland. We used logistic regression models to reveal important determinants of cropland abandonment. Ca. 135,000 ha classified as cropland around 1990 were classified as grassland around 2015. This suggests that ca. 20% of all cropland remain abandoned ca. 25 years after the end of the Soviet Union. Abandonment occurred mostly at poorly drained sites. The likelihood of cropland abandonment increased with decreasing soil quality, and increasing distance to medium-sized settlements, roads and railroads. We conclude that soil suitability, access to transport infrastructure and availability of workforce are key determinants of cropland abandonment in Western Siberia.

Influence of Rheological Properties of a Soil Layer Adjacent to the Working Body Cutting Element on the Mechanism of Soil Cultivation

Abstract On the basis of rheological characteristics, stress fields and deformations, new methods of improving the mechanism of soil cultivation are substantiated in this article. The mechanism of soil destruction is observed. Paper investigates the process of changing the stressed-deformed state of the soil under the influence of the working body. To study the viscoelastic properties of black earth soil, the method of amplitude sweeping with a measuring system of parallel high planes was applied using a modular rheometer MCR-302 (Anton Paar, Austria). Range of linear viscoelasticity of virgin soil was found to reach 0.1% deformation; range of linear viscoelasticity of cultivated field area is smaller by an order of magnitude – to 0.02% deformation. Structure destruction (the point of equality of modules) of virgin soil occurs at 20% deformation; structure of long steam soil destructs at 8% deformation. Technique of measuring the isobar zones distribution in horizontal and vertical planes by means of special strain gauges of the LPX 5000 model was developed. To reproduce the force pattern of the working bodies’ effect on soil environment, the measuring complex MIC 400D is used; stress-strain state of the soil is defined.

Impact of soil press work on crop yield in the forest steppe of Western Siberia

Soil compaction after sowing reduces overall porosity, increases thermal conductivity and heating of the upper layer, which increases the contact of seeds with the soil, accelerates water consumption, swelling and germination of seedlings of crops. Currently, the most part of drills, including seeding systems, press the soil by the rolls of different modifications simultaneously with sowing. After sowing crops, the upper (0-10 cm) soil layer has insufficient compaction (less than 1.00-1.05 g/cm3) and increased non-capillary porosity (more than 50%), which leads to moisture losses from the upper layer. The researchers found out that rolling-up contributes to increasing of the top layer clumpiness on 5.8% on average and reduces erodability of the field surface on14.4% with weak soil response to deflation (less than 50 g). The experimental results on effectiveness of additional pressrolling after sowing SKP-2.1 on the fall variants of the steam field treatment to a depth of 20-22 cm showed that seed germination was increased on 11.3%, and grain increase was 0.09-0.15 t/ha or 4.2-7.2%. On minimal steam treatment, (depth of 10-12 cm) additional soil press rolling was not sufficiently effective. On the black-earth soils of the forest-steppe of Western Siberia, press-rolling of the soil after sowing SKP-2,1 contributes to additional grain yield of winter rye and durum wheat to 0,14-0,23 t/ha (6,1-11,0 %). Additional rolling after sowing by SKP-2,1 and John Deere 1820 with pointed tines for autumn backgrounds increases grain yield in the second wheat after steam from 2.52 to 2.74 t/ha, or 8.7%.

An efficient recovery method for enteric viral particles from agricultural soils

Enteric viruses have been recognized as the leading cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis and hepatitis outbreaks around the world. Understanding their prevalence and persistence in the environment is important for the effective control of these infections. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient recovery procedure for viral infectious particles from agricultural soils. Samples (25 g) of soil (black earth soil, loamy soil, and sandy soil) were spiked with murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV), mixed with five different buffers and viral genetic material was extracted by 3 commercial kits. The combination consisted by the modified Eagle’s medium buffer followed by Dynabeads nucleic acid extraction kit, when the detection is conducted by molecular biology, has been identified as being the most effective procedure to preserve the viral particle infectivity and also to remove PCR inhibitors. The recovery percentages of infectious MNV for the 3 types of soils were 54.3%, 54.4%, and 56.9%. In contrast, the titres of the FCV varied depending on the type of soil, and the recovery percentages were 47.8% in the black soil, 15.6% in the loamy soil, and 17.7% in the sandy soil. Also, the results presented in this study highlight the importance of using an internal process control such as artificial inoculation with MNV at known concentrations during detection by molecular methods, in order to avoid the occurrence of false negative reactions.