Favorable Weather Conditions Research Articles

Ресурсный потенциал медоносных растений степного Придонья

Melliferous lands comprise the categories of forest fund lands, where melliferous plants and plants that provide high pollen yield grow. Bees pollinating entomophilous plants are 6–10 times more beneficial to forest lands compared to the favours from productive honey flows. The research objectives included identifying the features of the ecological and biological characteristics of melliferous plants of the Fabacea family, specifying the onset, duration and intensity of flowering, determining the sugar content in the nectar of one flower and honey productivity in the steppe Don region. Registration plots were laid out by the route method for the assessment of melliferous resources and determination of the resource potential of forest lands. Necessary observations, registration work, mathematical and statistical data processing were carried out according to the generally accepted methods. The territory of the steppe Don region, where the forest fund lands of the Rostov region are located, has favorable weather conditions and a rich forage base for bees. Тhe honey potential of the studied resources is a dynamic indicator and is of interest both for forest beekeeping and for scientific research. We used the sums of effective temperatures to determine the flowering sequence and characteristics of melliferous plants. The dwarf Russian almond blossoms first among arboreal melliferous plants of the legume family, while the Japanese pagoda tree blossoms last in the middle of the summer honey flow period. Black locust forest stands (497 kg/ha), lands dominated by Japanese pagoda tree (484 kg/ha) and honey locust (245 kg/ha) have the highest honey productivity. The research results showed that the black locust plantations with a bioresource potential of 7111.29 ton in the eastern and central areas of the region are significant for honey flow on the forest fund lands. Forest lands with predominance of spring melliferous plants of boxthorn and dwarf Russian almond on non-forest lands of the forest fund provide a supporting honey flow with a bioresource potential of 2749.168 ton. The studies that were carried out are of practical importance and will allow determining the resource potential of forest lands for honey flow more accurately in the future. In case of a high level of forestry and beekeeping practices, even under adverse weather conditions during nectar harvesting, it will be possible to obtain a productive honey flow, while ensuring timely and effective pollination of forest plants.

Renewable Energy Potential Estimation Using Climatic-Weather-Forecasting Machine Learning Algorithms

The major challenge facing renewable energy systems in Nigeria is the lack of appropriate, affordable, and available meteorological stations that can accurately provide present and future trends in weather data and solar PV performance. It is crucial to find a solution to this because information on present and future solar PV performance is important to renewable energy investors so that they can assess the potential of renewable energy systems in various locations across the country. Although Nigerian weather provides favorable weather conditions for clean power generation, there is little penetration of renewable energy systems in the region, since over 95% of the power is fossil-fuel-generated. This is because there has been no detailed report showing the potential of clean power generation systems due to the dysfunctional meteorological stations in the country. This paper sought to fill this knowledge gap by providing a machine-learning-inspired forecasting of environmental weather parameters that can be used by manufacturing companies in evaluating the profitability of siting renewable energy systems in the region. Crucial weather parameters such as daily air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, and rainfall were obtained from NASA for a period of 19 years (viz. 2004–2022), resulting in the collection of 6664 high-resolution data points. These data were used to build diverse regressive neural networks with varying hyperparameters to find the best network arrangement. In summary, a low mean-squared error of 7 × 10−3 and high regression correlations of 96% were obtained during the training.

STUDY OF BIODIVERSITY IN PRESERVING THE PRODUCTION AND MARKET POTENTIAL OF THE HONEY MARKET IN UKRAINE IN CONDITIONS OF DISTURBANCE

Objective. The purpose of this work is to present the results of the study of the Ukrainian honey market, to analyze the factors of formation of the production and marketing potential of the honey market in Ukraine during the period of disturbances, to systematize the characteristics of bee breeds in the context of biodiversity analysis in the context of environmental genocide and to develop directions for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in order to preserve the production and marketing potential of the honey market in Ukraine. Design/methodology/approach. The research on honey market conditions included various methods such as synthesis and analysis, comparison, and scientific generalization. Statistical methods were also utilized to evaluate the structure and dynamics of the market, and data from different sources such as the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAOSTAT, and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine were collected and analyzed. Conclusions. The impact of the disturbances has significantly affected the production and sales potential of the honey market and has exacerbated the need to address a number of pressing sectoral and macro-level issues. The main factors influencing the production and demand for beekeeping products at the industry level are the following: a 9.2 % increase in the number of bee colonies in 2016–2019, favorable weather conditions, the use of branding to promote the demand for a wide range of honey and its derivatives, the development of logistics and e-commerce (which have a positive trend). The main factors of macro-influence are the impact of disturbances, such as the spread of the pandemic, which stimulated a sharp increase in consumption in the domestic and foreign honey markets, as well as the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in terms of increasing honey export quotas (with a 0 % duty rate on honey (which contributes to the development of the industry). The war in Ukraine in 2022 will have a negative impact on the beekeeping sector, given the concentration of a large share of producers in the combat zone, losses of apiaries and bee colonies, threats to biodiversity due to the environmental crisis in the temporarily occupied territories, theft of products in distribution centers and retail chains. Practical implications. The results of the study are of interest to both honey market participants, such as organized apiaries and private beekeepers, and related industries: farms and agroholdings for growing honey crops and other producers of honey crops who are interested in implementing regional logistics systems in the beekeeping sector based on clustering, cooperation and other forms of cooperation; cooperation of honey producers, retail chains and intermediary organizations in the field of honey marketing who are interested in developing the honey market on the basis of marketing. The proposals for the development of the production and marketing potential of enterprises in the honey market are also of interest to the NGO “Association of Beekeepers of Ukraine” and the NGO “Union of Beekeepers of Ukraine”, which are proposed to register beekeepers in accordance with the Map of Breeding Apiaries of Ukraine, and to regulate the use of the honey base, maintaining an accounting system, forming a marketing system, controlling the import-export of honey, planning the development strategy of the industry, registering clusters of beekeeping communities, providing incentives for the introduction of modern technologies and innovations in honey production, and promoting job creation in the field of beekeeping. Originality/value. The results of the analysis and the contribution of biodiversity in the beekeeping sector to the preservation of the production and marketing potential of the honey market in Ukraine are presented. The state and development trends of the Ukrainian honey market are analyzed, the factors influencing its development in the face of disturbances are identified. The SWOT-analysis of the Ukrainian honey market in the conditions of disturbances is carried out.

Departure, routing and landing decisions of long-distance migratory songbirds in relation to weather.

Migrating birds flexibly adjust their individual migratory decisions, i.e. departing, routing and landing, based on intrinsic (e.g. energy stores) and extrinsic (e.g. landscape features and weather) factors modulating the endogenous stimuli. So far, these decisions have mostly been studied separately. Notably, we lack information on which factors landing decisions during active flight are based on. Therefore, we simultaneously recorded all three decisions in free-flying long-distance migratory songbirds in a coastal stopover area via regional-scale radio-telemetry and related them to the prevailing weather. Birds departed under favourable weather conditions resulting in specific nights with increased departure probability. Once departed, birds could either fly offshore or take a route along the coast, which was predicted by wind support. Radio-tracking revealed that departed individuals more likely interrupted their migratory endurance flight under overcast or headwind conditions. Studying departure, routing and landing decisions in concert, we highlight the importance of weather as a common driver across all migratory decisions. By radio-tracking individuals between stopovers, we provide evidence that avoidance of adverse weather conditions is an important function of stopover. Understanding how birds adjust migratory decisions and how they affect the timing of migration and survival is key to link migration performance to individual fitness.

A Comparative Study of Air Pollutant Concentrations before the COVID-19 Pandemic and in the New Normal in the Región de Murcia (Spain)

The management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required global lockdowns and mobility restrictions, positively impacted air quality (especially the concentrations of primary pollutants). With the progressive return to normal activity during the last few months of 2020 and 2021, air pollutant concentrations were expected to rise again. In this work, together with meteorological conditions and traffic intensity, the concentrations of NO, NO2, O3, PM10, and SO2 measured at three different locations (urban, industrial, and rural) in southeast Spain, from January 2016 to December 2021, were analyzed. For the three locations, PM10 concentrations did not change significantly in 2020 or 2021. SO2 concentrations did not experience changes at the industrial site in 2020 or 2021, but SO2 concentrations did slightly increase in five months of 2021 in the urban location (with a maximum monthly average concentration of 11 μg·m−3). In 2020, NO and NO2 concentrations were, in general, lower than those measured in previous years (2016–2019). Interestingly, at the urban site (San Basilio), the levels of NO and NO2 were significantly lower in 2021 than in 2020 despite the higher traffic intensity in 2021. While the concentrations of NO and NO2 decreased, in VOC-limited areas, O3 concentrations increased. This was clearly observed at the industrial and the urban sites. Despite the increase, O3 concentrations were still below the European O3 target value for the protection of human health. An analysis of new registrations of EVs and HEVs in the latter years and their impact on the vehicle fleet of Murcia and, subsequently, on road emissions was carried out. Regardless of the steep increase in environmentally friendly vehicles in 2021, their share of the vehicle fleet is still negligible; thus, the lower concentrations of NO and NO2 are likely due to more favorable weather conditions in 2021 than in 2020.

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ И РАЗВИТИЕ СПЕЦИАЛИЗИРОВАННЫХ ВЫСОКОТЕХНОЛОГИЧНЫХ ЗОН ПРОИЗВОДСТВА ПРОДУКЦИИ СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА

Changes in the development of agricultural production are associated not only with market transformations, but also with the existing economic restrictions on the part of the EU countries. This necessitated a wider implementation of the achievements of innovative developments in the process of production, procurement and storage of agricultural products and the use of elements of scientific and technological progress even in regions of their effective production. The main reason hindering the efficiency of growing crops and producing livestock products, is the poor provision of agricultural organizations with machines, tractors and equipment. Not only is the innovative path of development of the industry as a whole not traced, but its technical and technological lag behind countries with a high level of provision with high-performance technique is also observed. It does not correspond to the level of modernization of highly developed world analogues, where, for example, more than half of the wheat crops use high-performance equipment and innovative technologies. In recent years, the fleet of grain harvesters and agricultural machinery has increased, but this is not enough for the formation and development of zones with a high technological level. Therefore, the growth of productivity here can be achieved only under favorable weather conditions and high soil fertility.

Climate change in the Debrecen area in the last 50 years and its impact on maize production

The average yield of maize is significantly dependent on the meteorological conditions of the growing year. Both the most favorable weather conditions and the weather anomalies that tend to cause damage depend on the given phenophase. The aim of this research is to analyze the climatic changes that are important in maize production in the Hajdúság region. For the climatological study of the area, homogenized temperature and precipitation data from the Hungarian Meteorological Service was used for the Debrecen region, which are freely available for download from the data repository of the institution. Trend analysis was performed for the last 50-year (1973–2022) and 30-year (1993–2022) periods. In total, 40 meteorological data series matching the study objective were analyzed. Linear regression calculations were performed using the SPSS 27 statistical software. For the non-parametric procedure, the MAKESENS Excel application was used, based on the Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen's slope estimation. This research shows that the choice of the length of the study period affects the results of trend analysis. The numerical values of the trend slope for the 30-year vs. 50-year period differ, and for some parameters there are also substantial differences (e.g., trend sign). The results of the parametric and non-parametric trend analyses differed only marginally for the temperature variables included. Also, for precipitation data that do not follow a normal distribution (e.g., monthly), there were only a few significant differences. The trend in mean annual temperature shows an increase of 0.39 and 0.52 °C in 10 years, and an increase of around 2 °C in 50 years and 1.5 °C in 30 years. There is a significant warming in both the summer and winter half-years, with the summer half-year showing a steeper upward trend in the 50-year data series and the winter half-year in the 30-year data series. There is a clear pattern of large, highly significant warming in the summer months and less significant changes in the two spring and two autumn months that were observed. A negative, non-significant trend in annual precipitation is observed. The decreases of 17 mm and 24 mm/10 years obtained for the 50- and 30-year time series are not negligible from a practical point of view. For the summer half-year, the precipitation amount is decreasing, with a slope of -27 mm/10 years for the last 30 years, but even this value is not significant due to the high variability. There is no significant change in the amount of precipitation in the winter half-year over the last decades. Significant trends cannot be detected from monthly or even semi-annual or annual precipitation data. The Mann-Kendall test showed a trend decrease only in the 30-year April data series at the p=0.1 significance level. Overall, the changes are negative for maize production. It should be highlighted that the obvious warming, combined with a slight decrease in precipitation, is leading to a deterioration in crop water availability and a reduction in crop yields. The impact of the identified adverse climatic changes can be compensated to a significant extent by the proposed agrotechnical responses.

Modeling of Transportation Process in a Technological Complex of Beet Harvesting Machines

Based on a critical review of known research and developments in recent years, the article presents a methodology for analyzing the capacity of the sugar beet sweeping-transport complex. The research aims to find rational use of machinery resources in the technological complex. A reloading method of transportation of root crops was considered. Its peculiarity was flexibility, adaptability to weather, and climatic and economic conditions during the gathering of sugar beet. Under favorable weather conditions and the availability of a sufficient number of vehicles, dug roots, removed from the combine from the field by a tractor semi-trailer, were reloaded into the heavy trucks. They were on the road from the edge of the field and transported to the plant. In case of changing conditions (in rainy weather, when the soil was too wet, or when there were not enough vehicles), a cleaner loader was added to the machines complex. After, the production process was carried out in a transshipment or flow-transshipment way. Beet harvesting and transportation of root crops were considered as work of the technological chain, which consists of three links: “field – beet harvester”, “beet harvester – tractor semi-trailer”, and “tractor semi-trailer – vehicle”. The basic steps of the capacity analysis allowed for determining the capacity of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd links, their comparison, and subsequent analysis and selecting rational options to overcome the possible difference between their values.

Effect of hydrostatic pressure on seed germination and subsequent growth of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. seedlings in Middle Ural introduction

The influence of pre-sowing treatment of holy thistle seeds (Silybum marianum) by hydrostatic pressure (from 10 to 200 MPa) on the dynamics of the emergence of seedlings and the subsequent development of seedlings in the open ground in the Middle Urals has been studied. It is shown that the treatment of seeds with a pressure of 10 MPa during their subsequent sowing a day later (after drying) provided good germination and accelerated the passage of all stages of the ontogenesis of holy thistle plants in the dry growing season of 2021. At the same time, earlier and more friendly maturation of seeds was observed in comparison with the control group of plants. Under more favourable weather conditions in 2022, holy thistle seeds after the same pressure treatment (10MPa) and drying showed very good field germination (76%), a high rate of ontogenesis of seedlings similar to the reference and the best development of generative structures.

Modelling the Critical Success Factors of Net-zero Energy Buildings in India

Amidst the widespread consciousness and several awareness programs to combat the adverse impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate, Net-zero energy buildings (NZEB) have emerged as one of the potential solutions. Various factors, including the need for heavy initial capital investment, weather conditions, government regulations, policies, training and development, technology, and so forth, were figured out by carrying out a literature review and interviewing the area experts. Further, investigating the inter-contextual relationships helps to have key success factors of NZEBs in India that are multidimensional in nature. To achieve this goal, the Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach was employed to compute the mutual influence of the ten key success factors in the Indian context. The results report that favorable weather conditions, government policies, and regulations are the most crucial factors for the NZEB sectoral development in Indian contexts.

Morphological aspects of rumen papillae of lambs fed agro-industrial wastes.

Sheep meet production systems require roughage feed of good nutritional quality. However, the production of sorghum or corn silage, besides expensive, also depends on large cultivable areas and favorable weather conditions. Thus, agro-industrial residues have stood out as a feed alternative that contribute to the reduction of production costs and to the conservation of the environment. Fragments of the ruminal mucosa of 30 healthy lambs fed with agro-industrial residues and slaughtered with a final weight of 36 kg were analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. We observed that the coproducts grape residue and wet brewery residue affected the shape, dimensions, and cytoarchitecture of the rumen epithelium in contrast to traditional sorghum silage. The rumen papillae of lambs fed grape waste were larger, and their epithelium was thinner when compared to the papillae of lambs fed wet brewery waste and sorghum silage. It can be assumed that the increased mucosal surface area of the rumen contributed to greater weight gain and reduced time to slaughter. The use of a greater variety of agro-industrial residues as a substitute for traditional feedstuffs contributes to the increase in animal protein production in many countries, making the confinement of sheep more viable and sustainable.

Түркістан облысында агрометеорологиялық жағдайлардың ерекшеліктері

Анализированы тенденции изменения агрометеорологических показателей в Туркестанской области за период с 1991 по 2022 год. Наблюдается тенденция роста суммы температуры воздуха за вегетационный период, тенденция снижения суммы осадков за вегетационный период, тенденция снижения значений коэффициента увлажнения К и индекса засухи ГТК. Такие условия предполагают рост теплообеспеченности вегетационного периода, рост количества жарких дней, снижение влагообеспеченности и усиление засушливости вегетационного периода. Годы с благоприятными погодными условиями имеют повторяемость 30 % в горной полупустынной зоне. Годы с удовлетворительными погодными условиями имеют повторяемость 20% в горной полупустынной зоне и 10 % в горной пустынной зоне. Годы с неблагоприятными погодными условиями имеют повторяемость 100 % в пустынной зоне, 90 % в горной пустынной зоне и 50 % в горной полупустынной зоне.

ПРОСВІТНИЦЬКО-НАУКОВА ТА ПРАКТИЧНА ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ПАСІКИ УМАНСЬКОГО УЧИЛИЩА ЗЕМЛЕРОБСТВА І САДІВНИЦТВА (КІНЕЦЬ XIX – ПОЧАТОК ХХ СТ.)

The article deals with the educational, scientific and practical activity of the apiary of Uman School of Agriculture and Horticulture at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries, based on references and publications. A number of source materials, containing information on the research topic, were used and analyzed as a part of study, namely: archival documents, periodicals, reports of the Department of Agriculture, rules and programs of courses on agriculture and its individual branches. The methodology is based on the use of general scientific and special historical research methods, such as the problem and chronological method, the comparative-historical method, the searching method, the descriptive method etc. Uman secondary school of agriculture and horticulture, a separate unit of which was an apiary with an exemplary organized economy, which had its own museum, a workshop for making beehives and a library, played a main role in the development of rational beekeeping on a scientific basis. The educational, scientific and practical activity of the school apiary was associated with the names of such teachers and outstanding scientists as V. P. Maksymchyk – the organizer of the apiary, H. S. Derevianko – an animal husbandry teacher, I. I. Korablov – a well-known scientist-beekeeper, professor, teacher of beekeeping and sericulture, head of the educational and research apiary and sericulture station etc. It was found that together with the significant practical training in the educational process, the school apiary also paid great attention to scientific research. It developed and collected statistical data on the beekeeping development not only in Uman district, but also throughout the Kyiv province, based on which a map on the state of beekeeping in Uman district was compiled. It was a significant contribution to the beekeeping statistics. I. I. Korablov carried out his own scientific research on urgent issues of theoretical and practical beekeeping, in particular on the hive system influence on the temperature inside the beehive and on honey collection, the efficiency of natural swarming of bees, the dependence of bribe on favorable weather conditions, the area, the number and variety of honeybees cultures, the effect of stimulating feeding on the growth of the bee colony etc. He is the author of the “Ukrainian” beehive with a narrow-high revolving frame of standard dimensions, which beekeepers still use today. In order to spread rational knowledge of beekeeping among the population and teach innovative methods of bee care, permanent agricultural courses on beekeeping for folk teachers and adult peasants were held on the basis of the apiary, which contributed to active educational work, the development of agrarian economy and increasing the culture of the rural population. Achievements of the apiary of Uman School of Horticulture and Agriculture were demonstrated at the All-Russian and regional agricultural exhibitions. They were also recognized with gold and silver medals and other awards.

Public Health Preparedness in the Era of Weather Modification and Climate Engineering.

The use of technological and chemical means aiming to achieve favorable weather conditions or reduce the risk of weather extremes is known as Weather Modification (WM). The United States of America, the People's Republic of China, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe have employed WM in an effort to prevent hurricanes and storms, control precipitations, mitigate deforestation and drought, and enhance agriculture. Recently, the use of WM has been expanded toward decreasing air pollution and creating favorable weather conditions for major political and athletic events. The increasing significance and use of WM call for consideration upon its positive and negative effects on human health, close collaboration among health experts and WM decision makers, and relevant public health emergency contingency planning.

Оценка туристско-климатического потенциала территории Западного Казахстана

The article presents the results of assessing the favorableness of bioclimatic conditions as an important element of the tourism potential of the territory of Western Kazakhstan. Calculations of the tourist climate index (TCI) and analysis of its spatial and temporal variability based on data from representative weather stations for 1976–2020 have been performed. It has been determined that the territory of Western Kazakhstan is homogeneous in terms of the average annual TCI, but is extremely variable in terms of the intra-annual course of the index: from an “extremely unfavorable” level in winter months to a “comfortable” level in summer. The differentiation of tourist activities types in Western Kazakhstan is presented, taking into account the favorable weather and climatic conditions. Based on territorial studiesand in connection with them, it was found that TCI in its current form is not entirely correct for arid and semi-arid territories with high average daily temperatures, and in the light of modern trends in increasing the average global surface temperature, this index needs to be updated.

Influence of regional agrometeorological conditions on the yield of potatoes in the Leningrad region

Potato production is one of the main branches of crop production in the Russian Federation. The Leningrad region is the leading potato-growing region in the northwest of Russia. The sustainability of potato production depends on many factors, such as the level of agricultural technology, seed quality, soil characteristics, weather, climatic conditions, etc. Among weather and climatic factors, air temperature and precipitation are the main meteorological variables. The article analyzes the relationship between regional agrometeorological conditions and potato yields over the past 15 years. Based on the results of the study, it is possible to identify favorable weather conditions for the production of potatoes and increase its yield in the region, in order to optimize the decisions made on the sustainable provision of the population of the region with potatoes.

Monitoring of the spread and development of pests and diseases in sugar beet stands

Goal. To determine the spread and development of pests and diseases in sugar beet crops and their threat to crop plants.
 Methods. Analysis of the reports of regional forecasting and signaling laboratories of the State Vetphytosanitary Service of Ukraine and the results of own observations conducted at research and breeding stations of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and beet farms of Ukraine regarding the prevalence and development of phytophages and pathogens, their reservation in agrocenoses. Determination of the threat from them to crops according to the Methodology of research in entomology and phytopathology and the Methodology of conducting research in beet growing.
 Results. It was established that certain types of pests have a significant reservation in agrocenoses and other stations and annually threaten sugar beet crops in various beet harvesting zones. In particular, from year to year, the greatest danger to crop seedlings and plants during their growing season is caused by beetles of the common beet weevil Asproparthenis punctiventris (Bothynoderes punctiventris Germ.), the number of which significantly exceeds the economic threshold of its harmfulness. Among other types of harmful insects that annually threaten sugar beet crops, the gray beet weevil (Tanymecus palliates F.), beet fleas (Chaetocnema sp.), shieldworms (Cassida sp.), stem weevil (Lixus sultilis Beh.) will be dangerous in future years.), the number of which varies within the thresholds of their harmfulness. Regarding diseases, there is still a threat of significant damage to culture plants by cercospora (Cercospora beticila Sacc.), fomosis (Phoma betae Frank), powdery mildew (Erysiphe communis (Wallr Grev f.betae Jacz.)), and others. In particular, according to observations, cercosporosis is gaining pace of intensive development due to favorable weather conditions, so we recommend farms to take measures to reduce plant damage. Precipitation, which passes through centers at the end of summer in most regions of Ukraine, can lead to significant susceptibility of root crops to various types of rot, which can also lead to a decrease in crop yield and quality deterioration.
 Conclusions. In recent years, favorable conditions have been created in Ukraine for the development and spread of many types of pests and diseases in sugar beet crops, which leads to an increase in their harmfulness compared to previous seasons. In particular, the population density of beetles of the common beet weevil was 2—18 specimens/m2, which is ten times higher than the standard. The same applies to other pests and diseases, a significant reserve of which may threaten crops in the coming year.

The rate of moisture release of alfalfa and its mixtures with cereal grasses under dynamic flow flattering

Purpose. To experimentally substantiate the effectiveness of the processes of mowing alfalfa and alfalfa-cereal mixtures with mower-conditioners with a roller and hammer types working bodies. Methods. The research was carried out in the technological process of intensive harvesting of pressed hay into rolls with the use of a trailed mower-conditioner with side traction, equipped with chevron ribbed rollers and metal vshaped hammers. Raw material: freshly cut green mass of alfalfa in the phase of budding-the beginning of flowering; alfalfa-cereal mixture (perennial ryegrass ‒ at the beginning of earing), the share of cereal grasses ‒ 22.4-36.8% of dry matter. Results. It was established that the indicators of the intensity of dehydration for alfalfa in pure crops were 1.66-1.81%/h; alfalfa-perennial fenugreek mixture ‒ 1.24-1.48%/h (I and II mowers), drying time in optimal weather conditions ‒ 3 days. The technology of active field drying of leguminous grasses with the use of a disc mower-tender with roller and bitter working bodies involving wideband stacking of the mass for drying, significantly accelerated the rate of moisture release of leguminous grasses and mixtures. Harvesting technology involves: mowing with a disc mower with flattening and stacking of the mass in a wide-band roll; one-time turning at 60-65% humidity; introduction of preservatives. The capacity of the rolls when mowing according to the technology variants was: for the Sinyuha variety alfalfa ‒ 12.9 kg/running m, for the alfalfa-cereal mixture (with perennial fenugreek of the Ruslana variety) ‒ 15.3 kg/running m. Conclusions. To intensively increase the rate of field moisture transfer of the green mass of alfalfa and its mixtures with perennial fenugreek, it is advisable to use the process of the stream dynamic flattening (under favorable weather conditions) and combine it with wide-band stacking. The prepared pressed bean hay is suitable for long-term storage and can be used in feeding all sex and age groups of ruminants.

Productivity of corn as affected by the accumulation of heat units and different nitrogen fertilizers

Purpose. To establish the effectiveness of the application of different fertilizers in corn cultivation technologies in the Left Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine, depending on the weather conditions of the years of research.
 Methods. Field research was conducted in the years 2019–2021 in dark grey podzolized soil. The results of the study were calculated using the SAS 9.4 software package. Analysis of variance was performed using the Duncan rank criterion.
 Results. Calculations of the accumulation of heat units showed a significant difference by year, which largely determined the level of corn productivity. During vegetation, the sum of active temperatures in the conditions of the northern regions of the Left Bank Forest Steppe varied, on average for 2019–2021, from 3235 (May–September) to 3731 (April–November). The largest range of difference between the sums of heat units was for the period April–October, from 3550 in 2019 to 3845 in 2021, which indicates the potential for earlier corn sowing dates in this region under favorable weather conditions. Corn hybrids ‘EU Concord’ and 'EU Asteroid' are quite plastic and respond positively to optimization of nutrition. Application of N22Р57К57 in the form of diamophoska provides an increase in the yield of their grain by 0.99–1.01 t/ha, or 16.3–16.4%. Additional application of nitrogen fertilizers against the background of diammonium phosphate provides an increase in yield from 0.57 to 1.33 t/ha, or by 8.0–18.6%. With the introduction of potassium ammonium nitrate (KAN 32), the yield increase in ‘EU Concord’ was 2.19 t/ha and in ‘EU Asteroid’ 2.34 t/ha compared to the control.
 Conclusions. The sum of the accumulated heat units during vegetation more objectively characterizes the thermal resources of the area compared to the sums of positive, active and effective temperatures, which makes it possible to more accurately determine the optimal dates for sowing and the end of the crop vegetation season in the conditions of the research region. Applying nitrogen in several ways optimizes the nutrition of corn plants, ensuring an increase in individual productivity and grain yield up to 18.6%.

Productivity formation and processability of sugar beet in the conditions of continental climate

Purpose. To reveal the peculiarities of yield formation and processability of sugar beet roots in the conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine through optimizing the cultivation technology.
 Methods. The field experiment was conducted in the years 2020–2021 in the conditions of Chkalov Agrocompany LLC (Kirovohrad region). A drought-resistant diploid sugar beet hybrid ‘Magister’ (SESVanderHave) was grown against the background of the application of a moisture retainer (without hydrogel and hydrogel Aquasorb, 300 kg/ha) and different fertilization systems [without fertilizers – control; manure, 20 t/ha; N170P180K350; Leonardyt, 400 kg/ha; Parostok-20, 400 kg/ha]. Organic and mineral fertilizers (PK) were applied in autumn under plowing, while nitrogen component was applied under early spring cultivation. The adsorbent was applied to the soil two weeks before sowing the crop locally in the zone of the row to be, based on the data of the GPS tracker. The rest of the agricultural activities carried out were generally accepted components of cultivation technology in the research area.
 Results. As a result of rather difficult weather conditions in 2020, the yield of root crops was only 30.3 t/ha on average in the experiment. The lowest level yield (26.0 t/ha) was obtained in the plots of both controls without fertilizer, while the application of 20 t/ha of manure yielded 29.0–30.0 t/ha. The mineral system (N170P180K350), despite its significantly lower efficiency in the treatment without Aquasorb hydrogel (31.0 t/ha), when it was applied to the soil before sowing the crop, ensured the maximum productivity of sugar beets – 34.0 t/ha. In addition, against the background of the hydrogel, the effectiveness of Leonardyt and Parostok-20 increased significantly – yield increases by 7.0 and 6.0 t/ha, respectively. The maximum content of sugars in roots was noted under the mineral fertilization system against the background of Aquasorb hydrogel – 16.3 against 15.0% in the control. However, in the same treatment, the highest content of α-amine nitrogen was also obtained, which significantly reduces the yield of sugar at the factory. In 2021, due to favorable weather conditions during the crop vegetation, the yield of root crops was 55.6 t/ha on average in the experiment, which is almost twice as high as the previous year. As predicted, the lowest yield was obtained in the treatments without fertilizers – 49.7–50.2 t/ha, with manure application – 50.7–53.3 t/ha. Significantly higher, however, unlike in 2020, the indicators for the mineral fertilizer system were 56.9–58.1 t/ha. The most effective from the point of view of the formation of sugar beet productivity were Leonardyt and Parostok-20 yielding 58.1–58.6 and 59.2–61.6 t/ha, respectively. The maximum sugar content of roots was ensured by the use of Parostok-20 fertilizer, both on the background of Aquasorb hydrogel and without it (17.8% compared to control 15.8%).
 Conclusions. Weather conditions during the vegetation of sugar beets are the most significant factor that determines the level of their productivity, as well as the effectiveness of applied agricultural measures. In all treatments with fertilizers, a significant increase in crop yield was observed, and the amount of the obtained increments largely depended on both their type and the use of hydrogel, especially under unfavorable growing conditions. On average, during the research period, the highest indicators of sugar yield were obtained in the treatment with the use of organic fertilizers of the new formulation Leonardyt and Parostok-20 on the background of Aquasorb hydrogel, which indicates the feasibility of their further implementation in the cultivation technology for sugar beet.