Forest-steppe Research Articles

Agroecological assessment of arable soils in the southwestern part of the foreststeppe zone of the forest steppe zone of the Central Black Earth region of Russia

Agroecological assessment of arable soils in the southwestern part of the foreststeppe zone of the forest steppe zone of the Central Black Earth region of Russia

Quality indicators of new sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) varieties for high oleic and oilseed use under different growing conditions

Purpose. To study the influence of steppe and forest-steppe climatic conditions on the yield, oil content in seeds and fatty acid composition of oil in new sunflower varieties of high oleic and oilseed use. Methods. The research was conducted in accordance with “Methods of qualification examination of plant varieties for their suitability for distribution in Ukraine (general part)” and “Methods of qualification examination of plant varieties for their suitability for distribution. Methods of determining quality indicators of plant production”. The following methods were used in the research: laboratory, comparison, generalisation, mathematical statistics, analysis and synthesis to draw conclusions. Results. The fatty acid composition of the seeds of new varieties of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) of high oleic and oilseed use, grown in different soil and climatic conditions, was studied. According to the results of the analysis in the steppe zone, the variety ‘LG50648’ has the highest economic and value characteristics: oil content (51,0%), oleic acid (85.1%), yield (3.11 t/ha); varieties ‘SULIANO’ and ‘MAS 908HOCP’ – yield (3.40 and 3.91 t/ha) and oleic acid content (85.8 and 86.1%) regardless of the gro­wing conditions. It was found that high oleic sunflower varieties ‘MAS 908HOCP’, ‘LG50648’, ‘SULIANO’ grown under steppe and forest-steppe conditions yielded higher quality oil. The maximum content of oleic acid in 2022–2023 was characteristic of the seeds of the varieties ‘MAS 908HOCP’ (86.1% in the steppe and 85.8% in the forest steppe) and ‘SULIANO’. The hi­ghest linoleic acid content was obtained in the seeds of the oilseed use varieties ‘STK104’ (62.9% in the steppe and 58.5% in the forest steppe) and ‘STK103’ (61.2% in the forest steppe). Among the high oleic varieties, the best results were obtained with ‘LG50648’ (5.7% in the steppe and 5.9% in the forest steppe). Conclusions. Oil content of sunflower varieties and fatty acid composition are determined by varietal characteristics of sunflower and environmental conditions. Modern sunflower varieties, which are included in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine, have high yield potential and can provide a large yield of vegetable oil per unit area. Agroclimatic conditions have different effects on the gross seed yield and oil quality in the conditions of the forest steppe and steppe of Ukraine.

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Trends of Vegetation Cover Evolution and Its Driving Forces from 2000 to 2020—A Case Study of the WuShen Counties in the Maowusu Sandland

The WuShen counties in the hinterland of the Maowusu Sandland are located in the “ecological stress zone” of the forest–steppe desert, with low vegetation cover, a strong ecosystem sensitivity, and poor stability under the influence of human activities. Therefore, it is important to study and analyze the changes in vegetation growth in this region for the purpose of objectively evaluating the effectiveness of desertification control in China’s agricultural and pastoral intertwined zones, and formulating corresponding measures in a timely manner. In this paper, the spatial and temporal variations in the vegetation NDVI in the WuShen counties of the Maowusu Sandland and their response relationships with driving factors were investigated by using a trend test, center of gravity transfer model, partial correlation calculation, and residual analysis, and by using the MOD13A3 vegetation NDVI time series data from 2000 to 2020, as well as the precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration data from the same period. The results showed the following: ① The regional vegetation NDVI did not fluctuate significantly with latitude and longitude, and the NDVI varied between 0.227 and 0.375 over the 21-year period, with a mean increase of 0.13 for the region as a whole and an increase of 0.61 for the region of greatest change. Of the area, 86.83% experienced a highly significant increase, and the trend in increase around rivers and towns was higher than that in the northwestern inland flow area, with the overall performance of “low in the west and high in the east”. ② Only 2.07% of the vegetation NDVI center of gravity did not shift, and the response with climate factors was mainly characterized by having consistent or opposite center of gravity changes with precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. ③ Human activities have been the dominant factor in the vegetation NDVI change, with 75.89 percent of the area positively impacted by human activities, and human activities in the southwest inhibiting the improvement of vegetation in the area. The impact of human activities on the unchanged land type area is increasing, most obviously in the farmland area, and the impact of human activities on the changed land type area is gradually decreasing in the area where the farmland becomes impervious. The vegetation in the area above 1300 m above sea level is degraded by the environment and human activities. The research results can provide scientific support for the implementation of ecological fine management and the formulation of corresponding ecological restoration and desertification control measures in the Maowusu Sandland. At the same time, it is expected to serve as a baseline for other studies on the evolution of vegetation in agro-pastoral zones.

Palaeoenvironmental Analysis of the Southern Part of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve (Hungary): The Northern Loess Wall of Katymár and the Hay Meadows and Loess Banks of Hajós

This study presents a comprehensive palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the southern part of the Danube–Tisza interfluve in the Carpathian Basin from the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene, addressing the region’s response to global climate forcings and local environmental factors based on multi-proxy analyses of two key protected areas: the Katymár brickyard and the hay meadows and loess banks of Hajós. By integrating radiocarbon-dated malacological, macrobotanical, pollen, phytolith, geochemical, and sedimentological analyses, it was possible to provide a picture of past climate–ecosystem interactions. The Katymár North sequence provides an extended chronology from Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3, ca. 36,000 cal BP) through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and into the Early Holocene, while the Hajós sequence offers high-resolution data for the LGM–Holocene transition. By the late Ice Age, humidity and surface moisture superseded temperature as primary palaeoecological limiting factors, promoting ecotone-like forest–steppe environments during cooling periods.

Net primary productivity of Betula platyphylla woodland and the response of current-year shoots to vegetation degradation in Mongolian forest steppe

At the southern margin of forest steppe vegetation in Mongolia, Betula platyphylla woodlands occur on north-facing slopes and hill tops, where congeneric shrub Betula fusca often coexists. Woodland degradation results in B. fusca scrub with scattered B. platyphylla trees. We studied structure and productivity of a B. platyphylla woodland and the current-year shoot allometry in the Hustai National Park of central Mongolia. For the B. platyphylla woodland examined, stand basal area and estimated aboveground biomass for stems ≥ 3 cm diameter were 3.9 m2 ha–1 and 13.3 Mg dry mass ha–1, respectively. Leaf area index was 0.93 indicating open canopy layer. Aboveground net primary productivity as the sum of coarse wood production and current-year shoot mass amounted to 1.89 Mg dry mass ha–1 year–1, which was high relative to small aboveground biomass. Analysis of current-year shoot allometry demonstrated that B. platyphylla had more xeromorphic shoots in the scrub, with smaller specific leaf area, lower mass ratio of leaf laminae to supporting parts, and smaller lamina mass against sum of petiole basal area, than in the woodland. Our results indicate that current-year shoot allometry characterizes tree response to woodland degradation at the dry margin of forest steppe.

Landscape and soil cover diversity in Polissia and Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Recent research has revealed the patterns of spatial and temporal variability of crop yields for the Polissia and the Forest-Steppe regions of Ukraine. In addition, the approaches to differentiating agroeconomic and agroecological components in the variability of the productive potential of the territories were developed. Approaches have been developed to quantify the spatial and temporal variability of soil erosion for individual areas of the region. The issue of assessing the impact of erosion processes on crop yields at the regional level remains unresolved. The diversity of landscapes and soil cover in Polissia and the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was assessed in this article. The research covered 10 administrative regions of the north and northwest of Ukraine, which are located mainly within mixed forests (Polissia) and the eastern European forest steppe (Forest-Steppe). Part of the territory is tangential to the Carpathian mountain forests and the Pontic steppe. Within the study area, 30 WRB soils were identified. The largest area is occupied by Phaeozems Albic (21.7% of the total area of the region). These soils are located mainly in the southern and central parts of the region. In the north of the region, Phaeozems Albic form an almost continuous cover, and to the north, the areas of these soils become island-like. Phaeozems Luvic cover 12.1% of the region's territory. The Phaeozems group also includes Phaeozems Gleyic (0.93%), Phaeozems Haplic (0.13%), and Phaeozems Sodic (1.78%). Albeluvisols Umbric (17.1%) occupy a significant part of the region's territory. These soils occupy the north of the region and extend south along the Dnipro River floodplain. Spatially close to these soils are Albeluvisols Gleyic (12.8%). In the western part of the region, in Prykarpattia, there are Albeluvisols Stagnic (0.82%). The organic carbon content in the soils of the administrative districts of the region in the 0-5 cm layer was 5.2±3.3% and ranged 0.5% to 23.9%. In the layers of 5–15 and 15–30 cm, this figure decreased to 1.9 ± 1.1% and 1.9 ± 1.0%, respectively. In the 30–60 cm layer, the organic carbon content was 1.4 ± 0.8% and ranged 0.1% to 6.1%. The lowest organic carbon content was observed in the north central part of the region, and the highest content was observed in the north-east and north-west of the region. In the south of the region, there was found a strip of soils with moderate organic carbon content. The lowest content of organic carbon is characteristic of Albeluvisols and Podzols, which are located in the north of the region. In turn, the highest content of organic carbon is characteristic of organogenic Histosols, which, together with Albeluvisols and Podzols, form the basis of the soil cover structure of the territories in the northeast and northwest of the region. It should be noted that the agronomic role of these soils is insignificant, and their organic carbon content cannot be considered as a traditional indicator of fertility. Nevertheless, organic carbon is a reliable indicator of the anti-erosion properties of both natural and agricultural soils. The organic carbon content of Chernozems is quite high, which is a factor in the high fertility of these soils and their importance in agricultural production. The organic carbon content of Fluvisols and Gleysols is naturally high. The importance of these hydromorphic soils is due to their high productive potential, which ensures their use in agriculture. It is also worth noting their high seed protection potential. Phaeozems cover a large area of the region and contain a high level of organic carbon. These soils form the basis of agricultural production and forestry in the region. The silt content in the region's soils measured 45.6 ± 8.5%, ranging 19.1% to 57.6%. The north of the region is represented by soils with the lowest silt content (19–41%). In the center, in the west of the region, there is a zone with the highest silt content (53–58%). In other parts of the region, there are transitional levels of silt content in the soil. The clay content in the soils was 30.7 ± 13.8% and ranged 7.4% to 36.0%. The zone with the lowest clay content in soils has been formed in the north. The highest clay content in soils is typical for the southern part in the center of the region. The sand content in soils is highest in the northern part of the region, and the lowest in the southwestern and southern parts of the region.

МОНИТОРИНГ ПОТОКОВ ДИОКСИДА УГЛЕРОДА НА РАЗНОВОЗРАСТНЫХ ЗАЛЕЖАХ В РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ПРИРОДНО-КЛИМАТИЧЕСКИХ ЗОНАХ ЮГА ЗАПАДНОЙ СИБИРИ

The paper reflects the spatial and temporal variability of CO2 fluxes on fallow lands. The aim was to determine the soil CO2 emissions from fallow lands of different ages, taking into account the natural and climatic zones of the south of Western Siberia. The research was carried out in three natural and climatic zones of the Omsk region: steppe, forest-steppe, subtaiga; in each zone, three sites with different age fallow lands were identified: 5-10, 10-20 and older than 20 years. The soil CO2 emission was measured using exposure chambers with determination on a gas chromatograph. When comparing the intensity of CO2 emissions from fallow lands, depending on the natural and climatic zone, it can be noted that in the warm season the maximum level was in the subtaiga zone (on average for May-September 54.1 g of CO2 ∙ m-2 ∙ day-1), followed by the magnitude of flows in the forest-steppe zone (29.4), the minimum It was observed in the steppe zone (25.0). At the same time, the maximum value of the flows was observed in the subtaiga zone in July, in the forest–steppe and steppe zone in June. Younger deposits are characterized by a large amount of soil carbon dioxide emissions compared with older ones: in the subtaiga zone, the average seasonal emission of deposits 5-10 years old is 1.30 times higher than deposits older than 20 years, in the forest–steppe zone, respectively, 1.51, steppe – 1.63 times. The daily dynamics of soil CO2 fluxes has an increased level in the morning and afternoon hours, decreased in the evening and night hours, regardless of the zone.

Relationship between extreme species richness and Holocene persistence of forest-steppe grasslands in Transylvania, Romania

The most species-rich grasslands worldwide are known from the Carpathian Mts and their periphery in East-Central Europe. They occur in forest-steppe regions, transitional between temperate forest and arid steppe biomes. Their climate, largely suitable for forests, raises questions about the origin of these grasslands. Have they been forested in the past, or locally maintained through a disturbance regime? We addressed these questions to contribute to the broader understanding of Holocene dynamics of open habitats in temperate Europe. We employed soil charcoal analysis and soil morphology to reconstruct past representation of woody species with fine spatial resolution. Our study area was Romanian Transylvania, a region renowned for a well-developed forest-steppe. Six soil profiles along a climatic gradient were assessed: four in forest-steppe grasslands, two in grasslands in adjacent forest region (forest grasslands). The results revealed profound differences between forest-steppe and forest grasslands. Forest-steppe profiles showed Phaeozems with low specific anthracomass of woody species and continuous dominance by Juniperus, suggesting a long-term presence of grasslands. Forest grasslands showed Luvisols with higher anthracomass and abundant charcoal of broad-leaved trees, indicating establishment after deforestation. The high radiocarbon ages of charcoals in basal soil horizons point to a glacial origin of soils and the link of forest-steppe grasslands to glacial forests. Siberian hemiboreal forests and related grasslands may be modern analogues of the reconstructed ecosystems, sharing many species with present day forest-steppe. We suggest that disturbances such as fire, herbivore grazing, and human activities have played an important role in shaping the forest-steppe over time, contributing to the formation of today’s richest grasslands.

Sensitivity of temperate vegetation to precipitation is higher in steppes than in deserts and forests

Recognizing the sensitivity of vegetation to precipitation is fundamental to monitoring and assessing ecosystem health and predicting ecosystem response to climate change. However, there is a lack of detailed, large-scale assessment of the sensitivity of temperate vegetation to climate variability. We analyzed the spatiotemporal trends of NDVI in Inner Mongolia (IM) for the period from 2000 to 2020, evaluated the sensitivity of NDVI to precipitation by constructing a linear mixed-effects model, and assessed the relative importance of an array of biotic and abiotic factors in affecting the vegetation sensitivity to precipitation using random forest models. We found that (1) the NDVI in IM had a significant or slight increase in 80.86% of the region during the studied two decades, though it showed a large inter-annual fluctuation, and the areas with stable or decreasing NDVI were mainly in the desert areas. Precipitation and wind speed were the two major drivers for the NDVI changes. (2) The typical steppes demonstrated the highest sensitivity to precipitation, followed by desert steppes and forest steppes, broad-leaved forests, and deserts and coniferous forests. (3) The major factor affecting the vegetation sensitivity to precipitation varied with vegetation types; it is temperature in the coniferous forests, forest steppes and steppe deserts, but it is the sunshine hours in the deciduous broad-leaved forests, the typical steppes, and the desert steppes. The high sensitivity of the typical steppe vegetation to precipitation is related with its location on climate gradient, it has a high production potential but limited by precipitation under a semiarid climate. Our analysis deepens the understanding of the NDVI sensitivity to precipitation and its influencing factors in different vegetation regions, and is valuable for predicting vegetation changes and developing vegetation management strategies to adapt to climate changes.

Simulation of High–Product Soy Crops Based on the Application of Foliar Fertilization in the Conditions of the Right Bank of the Forest steppe of Ukraine

Simulation of High–Product Soy Crops Based on the Application of Foliar Fertilization in the Conditions of the Right Bank of the Forest steppe of Ukraine

Особливості вирощування плідників сибірського осетра (Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869) у плавучих садках за природної температури води Лісостепу України

Purpose. Study of the technological processes and results of the cultivation of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) in floating cages at the natural water temperature of the forest-steppe of Ukraine to ensure caviar production. Methodology. The study was conducted in the conditions of the cage area of the industrial-type farm (limited liability company - the agricultural aquaculture enterprise “Osetr”) located in the right-bank part of the Kaniv Reservoir on the Dnipro River. Different age groups of sturgeon were grown in floating cages with an area of 24 m2 (4×6 m). The walls of the cages were submerged in water for 2.5–3.0 m. Depending on the fish age, cages with mesh sizes of 10–24 mm were used. Fish of different ages were fed at a water temperature not lower than 5.5–6.0°C with compound feed containing 45–52% crude protein and 12–15% crude fat. Individual and average body weight (g, kg), relative and absolute annual weight gains (%, kg) and fish survival rate (%) were determined. The amount of fish yield per unit area of cages (kg/m2) and the average daily consumption of feed per average body weight of fish (%) were calculated. The study of productive parameters and physicochemical factors of water was carried out according to generally accepted methods in ichthyology and hydrochemistry. Findings. Average monthly values of water temperature in the summer season during 2018–2023 were within 20.9–25.3°C. The period with a water temperature of 15–25°C did not exceed 160 days. The duration of the fish feeding period was 225–260 days. The dissolved oxygen content in the summer ranged from 3.8 to 9.4 mg O2/dm3. Average seasonal oxygen concentration in water were in the range of 5.8–6.3 mg O2/dm3. During the cultivation of different age groups of sturgeon, periodic moderate exceedances of the normative values for certain hydrochemical parameters were registered. No mass death of fish was detected. Feed consumption per day, depending on the age of the sturgeon, was on average within 0.7–2.5% of the fish weight. The average seasonal gains of age-1+ to age-10+ sturgeon were in the range of 0.47–1.11 kg, with maximum values for age-3+ fish. The average weight of age-10+ sturgeon reached 6.8 kg. High survival rates of fish of various ages were recorded (93.5–100.0%). The fish yield of cages with different age groups of sturgeon were 5.7-12.9 kg/m2. Originality. Peculiarities of the formation of the brood stock of Siberian sturgeon with the use of floating cages installed in a reservoir with natural water temperature of the forest-steppe of Ukraine for caviar production were studied. Practical value. The results of the study are of interest for the development of the sturgeon caviar aquaculture in Ukraine in the conditions of industrial-type farms, primarily using water bodies with a natural temperature regime. Keywords: sturgeon Acipenser baerii, brood fish, floating cages, intensive cultivation, caviar, environmental conditions.

Assessment of Phytomass and Carbon Stock in the Ecosystems of the Central Forest Steppe of the East European Plain: Integrated Approach of Terrestrial Environmental Monitoring and Remote Sensing with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

The rapid and accurate estimation of aboveground forest phytomass remains a challenging research task. In general, methods for estimating phytomass fall mainly into the category of field measurements performed by ground-based methods, but approaches based on remote sensing and ecological modelling have been increasingly applied. The aim is to develop the scientific and methodological framework for the remote sensing estimation of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of forest stands, using the combination of surveys and machine learning models to determine phytomass of forest stands and calculate the carbon balance. Even-aged stands of different tree species growing in the forest steppe zone of the East European Plain were chosen as test objects. We have applied the modernized methodological approaches to compare and integrate forest and tree stand characteristics obtained by ground-based and UAV-based comprehensive surveys; additionally, we developed computer vision models and methods for determining the same characteristics by remote sensing methods. The key advantage of the proposed methodology for remote monitoring and carbon balance control over existing analogues is the minimization of the amount of groundwork and, consequently, the reduction inlabor costs without loss of information quality. Reliable data on phytomass volumes will allow for operational control of the forest carbon storage, which is essential for decision-making processes. This is important for the environmental monitoring of forests and green spaces of various economic categories. The proposed methodology is necessary for the monitoring and control of ecological-climatic and anthropogenic-technogenic transformations in various landscapes. The development is useful for organizing the management of ecosystems, environmental protection, and managing the recreational and economic resources of landscapes with natural forests and forest plantations.

Influence of humic preparations on the development of honeysuckle in the forest steppe of Western Siberia

Blue honeysuckle is a winter-hardy and unpretentious crop; in folk medicine, its berries and juice are used for hypertension, anemia, and intestinal disorders. The environmental situation and the general rise in prices of pesticides and mineral fertilizers stimulate the choice of alternative technologies and the use of biological plant protection products, growth stimulants, and bacterial fertilizers. In this regard, our research aimed to study the effect of various humic preparations on the growth and development of green cuttings of blue honeysuckle variety Berel. This variety has a medium ripening period, gives a high yield, is slightly crumbling, and is highly winter-hardy. The research was carried out in the Novosibirsk region on the territory of the Agro Seed Company in 2019 - 2021. The average annual growth and general condition of blue honeysuckle plants of the Berel variety were determined according to generally accepted methods. Data analysis showed that all studied indicators of honeysuckle plants are greatly influenced by the year’s conditions when the difference between years reaches 25 - 30%. In addition, it was found that all the studied drugs positively affect the growth and development of plants and, in particular, the survival rate and overwintering of green honeysuckle cuttings (up to 45%). Thus, the ZhT “Ekozhizn” preparation provided better survival and overwintering of plants. Cytohumate had a better effect on the development of vegetative mass, but in terms of survival and overwintering, it was inferior to using the ZhT “Ecozhizn” preparation.

Features of using Tropicana 1 on potatoes in the forest steppe of Western Siberia

The results of experimental studies on the effectiveness of using the medicine Tropikanka 1 during the growing season of potatoes of the Vega (early) variety are presented. Arid conditions were observed during the experiments, especially in May and June. Tropikanka 1 was used during the potato growing season by spraying plants at the beginning of budding and mass flowering in concentrations of 0.005, 0.01, and 0.02% with a working fluid flow rate of 300 l/ha. Spraying with water was used as a control. The research aims to develop ways to use environmentally friendly organic fertilizer to stimulate the growth and development of potatoes and increase their yield with good quality and product safety. It was shown that on gray forest heavy loamy soil of the forest-steppe of the Ob region under conditions of acute moisture deficiency in May, June, and early July 2023, the use of Tropikanka 1 during the potato growing season accelerated the rate of progression of the phenological phases of potatoes by two days compared to the control (water). The maximum leaf area was formed during the use of the drug Tropikanka 1, especially at a concentration of 0.01% - 1.4 times higher than the control. Against the background of spraying potato plants during the growing season with Tropikanka 1, the yield of tubers increased by 1.3 times. The total yield in the variants with spraying plants with Tropikanka 1 at a concentration of 0.01%for the early variety Vega was 27.1 t/ha, 21% higher than the control. An increase in marketable yield of up to 30% was noted when using liquid fertilizer based on dilution of poultry manure treated with nitric acid. An increase in the quality of potato tubers was established with an increase in dry matter content by 0.3%, starch by 0.4%, and vitamin C by 0.6% mg/kg. The concentration of nitrates was below the MPC. It was noted that using liquid fertilizer Tropikanka 1 did not reduce the safety indicators of the early potato variety Vega tubers during long-term storage.

Transformation of regional vegetation driven by climate change during the last deglacial–early Holocene at Chaohu Lake, eastern China: New pollen insights

Reconstructing the vegetation history of east China during the last glacial–interglacial transition is crucial for understanding the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) evolution. Here, we present a new high-resolution pollen record from Chaohu Lake to determine the detailed process of regional lowland vegetation succession and its response to the EASM changes during the last glacial–Holocene transition (13.9–9.1 cal ka BP) in the lower Yangtze Valley, eastern China. During the Older Dryas (OD, 13.9–13.5 cal ka BP) period, regional forest-steppe indicative of co–dominance of Artemisia, Poaceae, and deciduous Quercus was present under a cool and dry climate. During the Allerød Interstadial (AI, 13.5–12.9 cal ka BP), significant arboreal expansions of deciduous Quercus, Hydrangea type and evergreen Quercus occurred, while herbs retreated significantly, presumably driven by the relatively warm, humid climate. Forest-steppe readvanced during the Younger Dryas (YD) interval, as indicated by increases in Poaceae and Artemisia, suggesting a cool and dry climate. During the early Holocene, extensive oak-pine forest flourished as regional vegetation, responding to pronounced climatic amelioration.Our pollen-based climatic record is closely correlated with stalagmites δ18O records from EASM region and Greenland ice cores δ18O records, indicating the teleconnection between EASM variation and North Atlantic climate during the last deglacial–early Holocene. However, our record indicates an intensified EASM during the early AI and a prolonged onset excursion during the YD, diverging from North Atlantic climate but closely correlated to sea surface temperature (SST) variations in the western tropical Pacific.

Beyond cemeteries – excavation of a settlement of Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca Culture in Ivancea, Republic of Moldova

Summary The Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca-culture (late 3rd to second half of the 1st century BC), which is distributed in the forest steppe between the east Carpathian Mountains and the river Dniestr, is seen as the result of an immigration of groups from the Jastorf area in North-East Germany. This concept is based on cemeteries: both the form of the grave4s and their material culture (ceramics, jewellery, costume) are foreign in the area, but show clear connections to the North and the North-West. Up to now large settlement excavations are missing that would allow for an evaluation of that concept based on settlement and economic structures as well as on the material culture of everyday life. The project that is presented here with first results, aims to that desideratum. With surveys and test excavations as a starting point on different sites in Central part of Republic of Moldova, the authors are excavating the Poieneşti-Lucaşeuca settlement of Ivancea-Sub Pădure on a large scale. The project is funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The paper presents first results like different post buildings and pit dwellings, the spectrum of small finds and a selection of the numerous ceramics including greek imports, and discusses the connectivity that becomes visible. The post buildings have no regional parallels and seem to have the best parallels in the Northwest. In opposite to that the small finds show a broad entanglement especially to the south and West and thus contradict the evidence from the grave. Also, in opposite to the graves the settlement ceramics show clear regional traditions, bus also relations to the North and the Northeast.

The effectiveness of use of liquid organic-mineral fertilizers of the chelated type Batr in sugar beet crops in the conditions of forest steppe of the Central Black-Earth Region

The effectiveness of use of liquid organic-mineral fertilizers of the chelated type Batr in sugar beet crops in the conditions of forest steppe of the Central Black-Earth Region

Atlas Florae Europaeae notes, 34. Distributions and two conservation profiles of East European species of the Cytisusratisbonensis group (Fabaceae).

The Cytisusratisbonensis group (Fabaceae) includes small shrubs with attractive yellow flowers, used in ornamental cultivation. It is widely distributed in southern forest, forest steppe and steppe zones of Eastern Europe, both in the lowlands and low mountains. This group is notorious for its taxonomic complexity and difficulties in identification, which accounted for incongruent taxonomic treatments and common identification errors, and resulted in a poor understanding of the distribution areas. The increasing availability of herbarium collections and accumulation of human observations through digital resources require their critical taxonomic revision and update in order to provide reliable data for plant species mapping, conservation and analysis of distribution areas. This paper describes a distributional dataset of East European species of the Cytisusratisbonensis group, which was prepared for the pan-European grid mapping project, Atlas Florae Europaeae. The taxonomic revision includes seven species and two interspecific hybrids and is based on the critical evaluation of diagnostic characters, nomenclature and synonymy. The territorial scope of this study is Eastern Europe, but it also includes some data from Central Europe, the Caucasus and the neighbouring territories of Siberia and Kazakhstan, which are included in order to trace eastern and south-eastern limits of the species distributions and to establish reliable synonymy. We report 3699 native occurrence records included in the dataset; these records are based on major herbarium collections which are known to hold specimens from Eastern Europe (DNZ, KRA, KRAM, KW, LE, LW, LWKS, MHA, MSK, MSKH, MSKU, MW), complemented by selected specimens from other herbaria (BUNS, CSAU, H, NNSU, NS, NSK, OXF, PVB, RWBG, TUL). The herbarium collections were examined largely de visu, but partly online. Besides the herbarium specimens, recognisable photographs documenting human observations on online platforms (florafauna.by, iNaturalist, Plantarium, UkrBIN) were also examined and included. All specimen records are accompanied with textual data and georeferences, which were produced for this dataset. Point and contour distribution maps are created for each accepted species. According to the distributional data, the Cytisusratisbonensis group may be classified as temperate lowland and steppic in Eastern Europe. Among European endemic shrubs, C.cinereus (as C.paczoskii) was assessed in 2017 as Near Threatened, whereas its new IUCN protection status is proposed as Least Concern because the new data demonstrated that its distribution area is much greater than previously believed. A species restricted to the Crimea, C.wulffii, is assessed here for the first time as Vulnerable because of its restricted area and small population size (criteria D1,2).

Assessment of common bean varieties for adaptability and productivity in the forest-steppe conditions of the Priobye

The adaptive ability and productivity of common beans in the conditions of the forest steppe of the Ob region are studied in work. Genetic evaluation of varieties will speed up the breeding work to create forms that combine ecological plasticity and productivity based on exploring the adaptive potential of productivity elements. An urgent task of breeding is to develop varieties with a high stable yield, which can combine high quality, productivity and environmental plasticity in the genotype. Based on the UPH “Michurintsev Garden” of the Novosibirsk State Agrarian University, an assessment was carried out (2015-20) of grain bean varieties of different ecological and geographical origin with a bush type of growth according to the characteristics: the number of beans per plant, the weight of seeds per plant, the weight of 1000 seeds, seed yield. The work aims to evaluate the varieties of common beans for adaptability and productivity in the conditions of the forest steppe of the Ob region. Adaptability was assessed according to the methodology developed by A. V. Kilchevsky and L. V. Khotyleva. According to the “number of beans per plant”, the varieties Rubyn (Sgi = 6,5 %), Stringless (Sgi = 9,9 %), Zolotistaya (Sgi = 14,2 %), Zusha white (Sgi = 17,6 %), Zusha black (Sgi = 18,6 %) are classified as forms with low and medium levels of ecological variability. The Zolotistaya variety has high indicators of the parameters OAСi (4.2) and bi (4.96), the average level of BVGi (2.05) by the weight of seeds from the plant. Based on «1000 seed weight», most varieties are classified as stable – the Sgi value does not exceed 10 %. The genotypes of grain beans combining high yield with environmental resistance of Zusha black and Zolotistaya have been identified. Veenoorl, Zolotistaya, Brunot, and Rubyn samples are recommended for inclusion in breeding programs to create new adapted varieties of common beans.

Effectiveness of applying the preparation Tropikanka 1 on potatoes in the forest steppe of the Obie region

The results of complex experiments to study the effectiveness of using the drug Tropikanka 1 on early potatoes of the Vega variety are presented. The studies were conducted in arid conditions on grey forest soils of the northern forest-steppe of the Novosibirsk Ob region. Before planting, the tubers were soaked for 15 minutes in a solution of Tropikanka 1 with a dilution of 1:50 depending on the options: 1:100, 1:200 and without using the drug with soaking in water (control). The research aims to develop methods for using the environmentally friendly organic fertiliser Tropikanka 1 to stimulate the growth and development of potatoes, increasing their yield and product quality. It was established that on grey forest heavy loamy soil of the forest-steppe of the Novosibirsk Ob region under conditions of acute moisture deficiency in May, June and early July 2023, the use of pre-planting soaking of early potato tubers of the Vega variety for 15 minutes in a solution of Tropikanka 1 fertiliser, obtained based on bird droppings, accelerated the growth and development of potatoes by seven days compared to the control (using water). The largest area of potato leaves was observed against the background of pre-planting treatment of tubers with Tropikanka 1 at a dilution of 1:100, exceeding the control by 1.8 times. The yield of early potato production (the beginning of the third decade of July) with a dilution of the drug 1: 100 is 1.7 times higher than the control. The total yield against the background of soaking tubers with Tropikanka 1 fertiliser for the Vega variety when diluting the drug 1: 100 reached up to 33.8 t/ha, which is 38% higher than the control. At the same time, the yield of marketable products increased to 30 t/ha, exceeding the control by 52 %. The quality indicatorsof commercial products also improved. When the drug was diluted 1:100, there was an increase in starch content by 0.2 %. The concentration of nitrates during the use of the medication is 6.5 times lower than the maximum permissible concentration for potatoes.