Insufficient Moisture Research Articles

АГРОЕКОНОМІЧНЕ ОБГРУНТУВАННЯ ВИРОБНИЦТВА КУКУРУДЗИ ТА СОЇ В КУЛІСНО-СМУГОВИХ ПОСІВАХ

We researched the formation of maize and soybean grain productivity in conditions of insufficient moisture at coulisse-strip planting with mineral fertilizer application in a rate of N30Р30К30 under primary tillage and rational use of moisture. In conditions of insufficient moisture and at the alternation of maize and soybean rows, it was found that the illumination of the agrocenosis significantly changed, especially in adjacent rows. In this case, there were differences in temperature and humidity of air, on soil surface and between rows on the plot. The best results were obtained with the wide-row sowing maize and soybeans with 45 cm row spacing compared to 70 cm row spacing. Under the canopy of closed soybean leaves in 30 and 45 cm row spacing, the air temperature at afternoon (1:00 p.m.) was by 4.5–6.2 ° C lower than in open soil areas and above the agrocenosis surface. In adjacent rows, maize plants shaded soybean plants in the morning and afternoon; they were less exposed to sunlight and had more favorable conditions for growth and development. The soybean and maize plot with 45 cm row spacing was the most productive. Grain productivity of soybean and maize plants from the whole plot was 2.04 and 4.55 t/ha, respectively, and was maximum. The cost of 1 ton of soybean and maize grain was the lowest at coulisse-strip planting with 45 cm row spacing. When growing soybeans in coulisse-strip planting with row spacing of 30 cm, the cost of production was slightly higher. In case when row width was 70 cm, a cost increased and a profit decreased by 240 and 98 UAH, re-spectively. The profitability of soybean and maize cultivation at coulisse-strip planting with 45 cm row spac-ing was 114 and 128%, respectively. Keywords: maize, soybeans, coulisse-strip planting, sowing method, production costs, cost price, profit, profitability.

Просторово-часова трансформація якості поливних вод на Південнобузькій та Кам’янській зрошувальних системах

Much of Ukraine is located in areas of insufficient moisture, and therefore the food supply and export potential of the state largely depends on the availability, condition and efficiency of irrigated land use. A factor that significantly affects the development of irrigation in the South of Ukraine is the quality of irrigation water. The aim of the article is to highlight the results of the study of spatial-temporal aspects of various indicators of agronomic quality of irrigation waters of the South Bug Irrigation System (SBIS) and Kamianska Irrigation System (KIS). The task of the research was to determine the degree of danger of salinization of soils, the hazard of physical degradation of soils, the danger of toxic effects on the plant of certain toxic anions and cations and the pH value. In terms of the risk of soil salinization, these waters have a medium level of hazard. Such irrigation water has certain limitations in use. If there is no noticeable reduction in the yield of the main crops at the SBIS, then watering with this water will lead to a noticeable loss of yield at the KIS for the most sensitive to salinity crops. KIS and SBIS irrigation water have medium risks of potential salinization of soils, which makes the application of gypsum a mandatory technological measure in the process of growing crops. Regarding the impact of sodium cations on agricultural plants, the quality of irrigation water on the lands of SBIS is low and medium, and on the lands of KIS – average. But at the end of the irrigation season under the influence of temperature and probable inflow into reservoirs along the route of transportation of mineralized groundwater, the use of such water on KIS lands requires significant restrictions due to the high risk of injury to plants with excess sodium cations. The low initial content of chlorine anions in the Southern Bug River, which does not change significantly in the process of water transportation, does not lead to toxic effects on plants in all lands of both irrigation systems hydrocarbonates dominate among all anions in irrigation water, both on SBIS and on KIS, but the content of bicarbonates does not exceed the normative indicators inherent in "average danger of influence on soil solution". At the same time, the presence of large relative amounts of hydrocarbonate anions and sodium cations leads to high values of the "residual sodium carbonate index" (RSCI), especially in the KIS, which indicates the potential danger of rising sodium in water, which can have negative consequences for soil and for the plant. The pH values of irrigation water on the entire transport route in all terms of measurement often fall into the range of values acceptable for agricultural plants. Thus, the assessment of water used in SBIS and KIS, for most parameters shows an average and low agronomic quality, and therefore only limited use of this water for irrigation is possible. This is especially true of KIS lands.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ КЛИМАТА НА БИОПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ НАЗЕМНЫХ ЭКОСИСТЕМ В БЕЛОРУССКО-УКРАИНСКОМ ПОЛЕСЬЕ

The influence of interannual and long-term climate change impacts on net primary production (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystems in the central part of the Belarusian-Ukrainian Polesie region (50.7°-53° N, 25.5°-31.5° E) are investigated using satellite observations and reanalysis data. The results show that nowadays Polesie belongs to the zone of excessive heat and solar radiation resources and insufficient moisture resources. The interannual variations in NPP in Polesie are 2-3 times higher than in the other parts of Eastern Europe. Climate change in the recent 50 years led to the reduction of the total carbon stock in the vegetation cover of the region (at the rate of ~750000 t/year). However, a number of natural and anthropogenic processes not related to the climate compensate the climate-related carbon loss in the terrestrial biomass. Moreover, these processes cause a slow growth of carbon at the rate of 140000 t/year in the region.

Сорт горчицы сарептской Алиса

Brown mustard is one of the valuable oil crops which allows increasing the production of edible vegetable oil. In the conditions of insufficient moisture in the Rostov region, new cultivars of brown mustard are being developed, which combine yield, early maturity with high product quality and are resistant to stress factors. A new cultivar of brwon mustard Alisa was bred by the method of individual selection from the hybrid population G-2384 (G-2319 × 50041). According to the results of competitive trials for 2017–2019, the cultivar Alisa exceeded the standard cultivar Lux by seed yield by 0.31 t per ha, seed oil content – by 0.8%. The brown mustard cultivar Alisa is characterized by a lower plant height, increased tolerance to major pathogens, and greater resistance to lodging. Plants are well uniformed in height, blooming and maturity. The cultivar was registered in 2020 in the State Register of breeding achievements approved for production. It is recommended for cultivation for grain in all regions of the Russian Federation.

Ecological trial of the winter wheat varieties of the ARC “Donskoy” in the area of dark chestnut soils of the Volgograd region

The current paper has presented the trial results of the winter wheat varieties developed by the ARC “Donskoy” in 2018 -2020. Currently, the farmers have bred a lot of different wheat varieties, but they are not able to take into account all the peculiarities of their cultivation. The purpose of the current work was to study the features of the autumn and spring-summer vegetation periods of the winter wheat varieties developed by the ARC “Donskoy” in the area of dark chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. There have been selected 10 winter wheat varieties for the trials. The field trial was laid down on dark chestnut soils of the lands of the Serafimovichsky district in the Volgograd region. The study was carried out according to the generally accepted B.A. Dospekhov’s methodology. The field trials showed that the germination of winter wheat was influenced by a seeding depth, which was 7-9 cm. The best germination was found among the varieties ‘Asket’, ‘Etyud’, ‘Lilit’, ‘Donskaya Step’ and ‘Zhavoronok’. During the trials, the formation of a productive stand was greatly influenced by the weather (the length of a spring tillering period, precipitation in May), as well as the traits of the variety. The winter wheat varieties ‘Etyud’, ‘Shef’, ‘Donskaya Step’, ‘Krasa Dona’ were able to form a large number of productive stems under favorable weather conditions. Under insufficient moisture supply, the largest number of productive stems was formed by the varieties ‘Lidiya’ and ‘Lilit’. The highest tillering intensity during an autumn vegetation period was shown by the variety ‘Lidiya’ (4.7–6.2 shoots), including the varieties ‘Zhavoronok’ (4.2–5.4 shoots) and ‘Etyud’ (4.0–5.3 shoots). The largest productivity was produced by the varieties ‘Donskaya Step’ (4.97 t/ha), ‘Zhavoronok’ (4.95 t/ha), ‘Krasa Dona’ (4.90 t/ha) over three years.

Leaf surface index as an indicator of moisture responsiveness and drought resistance of winter bread wheat samples

The growth and productivity of drought-prone varieties are strongly influenced by the chlorophyll pigment content and the development of plants’ foliage. The current climate changing, characterized by long no-rain periods followed by short intense rainfalls, is forcing plants to adopt different strategies to cope with drought. The purpose of the current study is to estimate the effect of growing conditions on the indicators of the total leaf area, leaf surface index (LSI) of sowing, the concentration of chlorophylls (Chl) in the leaves and the yield of winter wheat, depending on the value of their moisture supply. There have been established that the leaf surface index change and the preservation of chlorophyll pigment in foliage during the vegetation period is closely related to plants’ drought resistance, soil moisture reserve and a genotype. Under conditions of insufficient moisture supply, the maximum values of the leaf surface index in the heading phase were formed by the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (5.99 r.u) and ‘Etyud’ (2.49 r.u.). The highest content of chlorophyll pigment, both in the heading phase and in the flowering phase, was identified in the varieties ‘Krasa Dona’ (3.7; 3.0 mg/100 g of raw material), ‘Etyud’ (3.4; 3.2 mg/100 g of raw material) and ‘Volny Don’ (3.2; 3.0 mg/100 g of raw material), respectively. Acording to the value of productivity, the reliably standard variety ‘Don 107’ has exceeded the varieties ‘Etyud’, ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Asket’, ‘Volny Don’.

Solution of A Complex of Problems of Operational Planning And Management In The Conditions of A Mining Landmark In Azerbaijan

The main direction of the economic and social development of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the intensification of agricultural production. Irrigation is a powerful means of intensifying agricultural production in the context of its specialization. In areas with insufficient moisture (especially typical for mountainous areas), irrigation is one of the decisive factors in growing high and stable crop yields. This requires the development of new technical solutions and the introduction of automated systems for low-intensity irrigation of agricultural crops that meet the requirements of ecology and environmental protection of their habitat, which makes it possible to improve the ecological state of irrigated lands and reduce water consumption. per unit of production and increasing the yield of individual crops in irrigated fields.

Current Scenario, Recent Advances in Developing the Systems of Agroforestry and its Sustainable Impact on Agriculture Development

Agroforestry helpful for maintaining the environmental a balance between soil and degradation of hazardous chemicals. Different ecological factors also playing important role in agricultural forestry. Agroforestry has multidimensional approaches for growing the new varieties of plants, cross breeding, and genetic exchange by developing the new varieties of trees. Agroforestry also playing important role in recycling of waste water through efficient treatment water plants. Cacao agroforestry systems are wieldy important in order to grow the specific number of pants growing the different varieties. Consuming of cacao at the optimum level can help with issues such as depression, stress, blood pressure and heart health. Sometimes, nature of soils able to regenerate into new trees. Poorly drained soils, excessive water or insufficient moisture can cause stunted growth and plant decline. Agroforestry strategies such as taungya system and silvopastoral system are reliable for growing the trees. Biofuel for large production of energy in industrials and commercial level by conserving the sustainable development.

Dependence of spring wheat seed productivity on mineral fertilizer doses and seeding rates

The article presents the results of field studies conducted in 2018-2020 on the leached chernozem of the Volga foreststeppe. The objects of the research are the varieties of spring wheat Tulaykovskaya 10 (control), Yoldyz and Tulaykovskaya 108. At seeding rates of 5.0 and 5.5 million viable seeds per 1 ha the effect of mineral fertilizers was studied. The fertilizers were represented by a complete NPK mineral fertilizer of 16 kg a.i. and by top-dressing with mineral nitrogen fertilizer in the tillering phase at the doses of 30, 60 and 90 kg a.i./ha against this background. An increase in the seeding rate of seeds from 5.0 to 5.5 million seeds per 1 ha led to a significant increase in the yield of spring wheat in all years of study (by 0.11-0.26 t/ha), the weight of 1000 seeds – by 1.44 g (LSD05 = 1.14), the nature of grain - by 8 g/l (LSD05 = 5). The effect of top-dressing with nitrogen fertilizers has been proved – the increase in yield ranged from 0.15 to 0.28 t/ha over three years on the average, the maximum from a dose of 60 kg a.i. A statistically significant increase in the weight of 1000 seeds was provided by nitrogen fertilization in doses of 60 and 90 kg a.i./ha – by 2.79 and 1.87 g, respectively (LSD05 = 1.47), grain nature increased at doses of 30, 60 and 90 kg a.i./ha by 34, 23 and 16 g/l, respectively (LSD05 = 2). The average yield of spring wheat varieties with the selected combination of factors (5.5 million seeds/ha, N60) was in the range of 2.64-2.70 t/ha with a mass of 1000 grains 44.03-44.56 g, the nature of grain 765-783 g/l. The studied varieties differed in responsiveness to nitrogen fertilization (N60 against the NPK background): Tulaykovskaya 10 (+0.43 t/ha), Tulaykovskaya 108 (+0.39 t/ha), Yoldyz (+0.24 t/ha). Increases in yield from an increase in the seeding rate were 0.20 (Yoldyz), 0.25 (Tulaykovskaya 108) and 0.26 t/ha (Tulaykovskaya 10). In general, according to the experiment relative to the control variety Tulaykovskaya 10, the variety Yoldyz stood out with a stable increase in yield over the years of research (+0.08 t/ha), statistically significant in years with insufficient moisture. The Yoldyz variety was distinguished by an increased profitability of cultivation – up to 59.4 % at a seeding rate of 5.5 million viable seeds/ha against the background of applying mineral fertilizers N16P16K16 for pre-sowing soil cultivation.

Сахарное сорго как сахаронос и альтернативный источник биоэнергии (обзор)

The ability of sugar sorghum plants to accumulate 18-24% of water-soluble sugars in the juice of stems expands the potential of the crop as a raw material for the production of not only feed (green feed, silage), but also in various areas of the processing industry for food (glucose-fructose syrup, sorghum honey) and technical purposes (bioethanol, biofuels). The brief review presents data on the origin; biological features of sorghum; on the fractional composition of water-soluble sugars; on global trends in the use of renewable energy sources. The advantage of growing Sorghum saccharatum as a sugar carrier in regions with insufficient moisture is reflected. Keywords: SUGAR SORGHUM, WATER-SOLUBLE SUGARS, FRUCTOSE, GLUCOSE, SUCROSE, SUGAR SYRUP, BIOETHANOL, BIOFUEL

Влияние полезащитных лесных полос ажурной конструкции на характер снегораспределения

Snow in agricultural landscapes is a reserve of moisture, as well as protection of soils from deep freezing and protection of wintering plants from destructive effects of low temperatures. In the zone of insufficient moisture to which the study area belongs, the snow cover is one of the main sources of water resources, as the moisture reserves in the soil, necessary for growth and development of agricultural crops, are formed to a greater extent by meltwater infiltration. Forest belts have a direct impact on snow accumulation and character of snow deposition. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of openwork forest shelter belts on snow accumulation and snow distribution in agricultural landscapes in Ilovlinsky District of Volgograd Oblast. The snow cover was studied in the top-down direction along the slope (perpendicular to the forest belt (FB)) by laying snow measuring profiles, along which the height of the snow cover was measured with a snow measuring rod M-46 in triplicate (in the field part every 4 m, in the forest belt and plume zones every meter). According to the results of the studies, the main zones of snow accumulation were identified: the first zone (I) – the forest belt, the second (II) – the zone of snow plume formation, the third (III) – the zone of FB influence (up to 30H, where H is the plantation height), the fourth (IV) – the entire field part of the agricultural landscape. It was found that the maximum values of snow cover were recorded in the forest belt, as well as in the plume zone (1-2H). The average snow height in the field part at the level is 7 cm, which is 14 cm lower than the snow height in the FB influence zone (1-30H). In some parts of the field, the snow cover height is reduced to 5 cm. The results obtained can be used to solve various agronomic as well as anti-erosion problems.

Results of ultrasonic effects studied in pre-sowing barley seed stimulation

This research aims to study the process of stimulation and the choice of optimal modes of seed treatment by ultrasonic exposure. Agricultural production faces providing the population with high-quality and affordable agricultural products, raw materials, and food. It is also an important task to provide livestock breeding with a full-fledged feed base. Barley is one of the high-protein cereals with 8-15% protein content in the grain. According to several scientists, field germination of barley seeds averages 65.8% [1]. In most cases, this is due to insufficient moisture during the growing season in difficult soil and climatic conditions. In most cases, this is due to insufficient moisture during the growing season in difficult soil and climatic conditions.It is necessary to conduct exploratory studies to determine the intensity of ultrasonic radiation and its duration, to determine the influence of the selected ultrasonic effect on the process of swelling and oxygen penetration into the seeds.

Effect of fertilizer doses on bioenergy productivity of sugar sorghum

It was found that sugar sorghum for growing in conditions of insufficient moisture on typical chernozem responds positively to the application of mineral fertilizers. The use of fertilizers increased the accumulation of sugars in plant stems in the phase of wax ripeness by 0.5−2.3%, biomass yield by 3.0−18.1 t/ha, bioethanol yield by 0.2−1.1 t/ha, solid fuel by 1.2−6.8 t/ha, total energy yield by 24−135 GJ/ha. The maximum bioenergy productivity of sugar sorghum was reached by growing hybrid ‘Nektarnyi’ and applying N120P120K120. The yield of bioethanol was 3.7 t/ha, solid fuel 22.2 t/ha, total energy yield 446 GJ/ha with excess of control without fertilizers by 1.1 t/ha, 6.8 t/ha and 135 GJ/ha, respectively.

Comparative characteristics of yellow alfalfa accessions in the nursery of competitive variety testing

In the context of the progressive trend of aridization of the climate of the main agricultural regions in the forest-steppe and steppe zones, the problem of increasing and stabilizing the high productivity of forage crops is becoming more acute. Yellow alfalfa (Medicago falcata L.) is highly resistant to abiotic stresses such as drought and low temperatures. This crop is resistant to extremely stressful conditions for cultivation in arid conditions, high production potential for the production of various types of bulky forage. The limiting factor of the effective economic use of yellow alfalfa in the Central Black Earth region of Russia is the insufficient number of zoned varieties, only three. The zoned varieties of alfalfa that exist today do not fully meet the requirements of modern forage production, and the tasks of developing new varieties with increased productivity, competitive ability in grass mixtures and increased longevity are becoming urgent. A highly productive variety of yellow alfalfa Pavlovskaya 7 was previously created at the Voronezh Experimental Station for perennial grasses. The Pavlovskaya 7 variety is characterized by high resistance to fungal diseases and mycoplasmosis, drought resistance, and long (up to 12 years) productive longevity. Currently, the station is completing selection work to develop a new variety of yellow alfalfa with a complex of economically valuable traits and properties for conditions of insufficient moisture.

Water stress resistance of the new self-pollinated maize lines and hybrids

The directions of the economic use of maize are different, namely fodder, food, technical. Considering that maize belongs to mesophytes, the most harmful stress factor for it is drought. The breeding maize for drought tolerance is considered the most important direction for this crop. The purpose of the current paper was to present study results of the drought resistance of the initial material, namely the self-pollinated maize lines and hybrids. The study was carried out at the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, located in the zone of insufficient moisture in 2018–2020. Drought tolerance was determined by the method of residual water deficit (RWD). As an initial material, there were used 24 self-pollinated maize lines and 50 test-cross hybrids. There have been identified the new drought-resistant middle-early and middle-ripening self-pollinated lines ‘KS 317 A’,’ KV 240’, ‘LSh 16’, ‘S 86’, ‘LSh 17’ and ‘LSh 2’, ‘SP 246 / 276-2’, ‘DS 498 / 203-4’, ‘DS 298 / 203-3’, ‘DS 257 / 85-0’, ‘SP 280-3’, ‘KB 373’, which had a low residual water deficit in the flowering phase (7.7–10.4%) and did not significantly increase it during the period from vegetation to milky-wax ripeness (up to 10,3–12.6%). The drought-resistant hybrids include ‘Stepnyak MV’, ‘GK 26 AM × DS 257 / 85-0’, ‘P 101 × Zp 498 A’, ‘KB 399 × S 232’, ‘GK 26 AM × KB 373’, ‘GK 26 AM × SP 246 / 276-2’, ‘C 204 × KS 318’. They were characterized by a low water deficit during the flowering period (7.4–10.4%) and its low increase (1.4–3.7%) during the growing season. Drought-resistant hybrids, as a rule, included drought-resistant lines. According to the results of the State Variety Testing, the new middle-ripening three-line maize hybrid ‘Stepnyak MV’ ((KB 262 M × KB 326 ZM) × KB 498 MV)), developed on the basis of the drought-resistant lines ‘KB 262 M’ and ‘KB 498 MV’, has been included into the State Register since 2019. The hybrid possessed a high grain yield (4.55 t/ha) in the dry years of 2018–2020. it was characterized by high values of the main economically valuable traits, such as high resistance to lodging (0.5% of lodged plants), high starch content in grain (72.0%), optimum grain moisture (14.0%) by the harvesting time.

Influence of nitrogen fertilizers on protein productivity of vetch-wheat grain under different water supply conditions

The peculiarity of nitrogen nutrition for legume-cereal mixtures is that due to the intravital transfer of mineral nutrition elements from the legume component of the mixture to the cereal component and vice versa, the cereal component receives nitrogen from the air symbiotically fixed by the legume component. This explains its better development in the mixture than in single-species sowing without the use of nitrogen fertilizers. In unfavorable conditions for legume-rhizobial symbiosis, when the assimilation of air nitrogen is weakened, and the legume and cereal components of the mixture are deficient in nitrogen, therefore, the issue of nitrogen fertilizer use expediency for legume-cereal mixtures is relevant. We have studied the effects of low and medium doses of nitrogen fertilizers including 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 (as treatments N30, N60 and N90) on the content and yield of crude protein with the grain yield of the vetch-wheat mixture under the conditions of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil in the central region of the Non-Chernozem zone with insufficient and optimal moisture. The protein content (% of dry matter) was determined by the calculation method according to the nitrogen content (N% × 6.25). On the control without nitrogen fertilizers, the protein content in vetch seeds and in wheat grain under the conditions of optimal moisture (2019) was higher than under the conditions of insufficient moisture (2018), by 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizers increased the protein content in wheat grain by 0.2 - 0.4% during both years of study. The protein content in vetch seeds under the influence of nitrogen fertilizers increased only under the conditions of insufficient moisture by 0.2-0.7%. The protein yield with the wheat grain yield during both years of study upraised, as the dose of nitrogen fertilizers elevated by 1.6 - 2.7 times, and by the vetch harvest and insufficient moisture it remained unchanged, and by optimal moisture it droped by 13.7-34.7%. The protein yield with the grain yield of the mixture elevated by 44.4-91.1% under the influence of nitrogen fertilizers in arid conditions completely due to the wheat protein increase, while in conditions of sufficient moisture it droped by 5.2-17.8% due to the vetch protein decrease. Nitrogen fertilizers increased the competitiveness of wheat mixed with vetch under the conditions of insufficient moisture by 1.7-3.0 times, and under the conditions of optimal moisture by 1.9-4.1 times.

Mode of moistening ordinary chernozem using the “no-till” technology

Studies of the influence of different technologies of conventional chernozem cultivation on the reserves of productive moisture for the cultivation of maize over grain and winter wheat in the Steppe zone of Ukraine were carried out. The parameters of productive moisture in the technology of growing field crops using “no-till” soil treatment in relation to shelf ploughing were determined. It was established that the “no-till” system substantially reduces moisture loss due to unproductive evaporation with a high coefficient of precipitation assimilation and provides reliable protection of the soil from erosion. If the soil surface is covered close to 100% in the summer under maize, the reserves of productive moisture in the root layer are over 1.5 times higher than the corresponding reserves under conventional technology; in the absence of mulch, the moistening regime for no-till technologies is more intense compared to the conventional one. The mode of moistening the soil under winter wheat over maize for silage is preferable according to the “no-till” technology, but there was no substantial difference between the variants on average for 3 years. In a winter with little snow, the height of the snow cover was 3.2 times higher with the “no-till” technology with mulch compared to the conventional technology. It was found that a prerequisite for growing crops without tillage in the zone of insufficient moisture is the creation of a powerful layer of mulch due to the non-commodity share of the crop, which stays on the soil surface in crushed form. Projective mulch coverage of 100% or close to this level is the key to the widespread introduction of technologies for growing without tillage in arid Steppe conditions

Geosystem approach to using surface and groundwater in agricultural water supply

The water resources required for agricultural water supply in the zone of insufficient moisture in the south of the European part of Russia have been assessed based on the geosystem approach. Global warming has changed the conditions for the surface and ground waters formation, which leads to water resources shortage. To ensure irrigation and agricultural water supply, it is necessary to analyze the geosystem conditions of water exchange basins, assess the need for water and justify additional sources of water resources to overcome the shortage. To substantiate the use of water resources, the south of the European part of the Russian Federation was zoned in terms of water availability regarding the agroclimatic features, hydrogeological conditions, the river runoff regularity, the climatic changes influence. The analysis of the agricultural production characteristics, the assessment of the current volumes and the need for water resources for irrigation and agricultural water supply until 2035 with regards to agricultural production development, the population size and the dynamics of climate change are presented. For the conditions of the Republic of Kalmykia, the data of forecast calculations of the needs of agricultural water supply for multipurpose use have been presented. The possibility of complex use of surface and ground waters for irrigation has been determined. The volumes of groundwater potentially available for use in acute arid periods for 1-2 years have been assessed. For the Republic of Kalmykia, the short-term groundwater reserve is 70.1 thousand m3 per day, for the Krasnodar Territory – 3135.1 thousand m3 per day, for the Astrakhan region – 19.9 thousand m3 per day, for the Volgograd region – 519.1 thousand m3 per day The results of studies carried out using the geosystem approach can provide the basis for developing long-term plans for water use and a detailed study of issues on increasing the water supply in the south of the European part of the Russian Federation with water resources.

Productivity of sweet sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum L.) depending on the elements of plant сultivation technology for biofuel in the zone of insufficient moisture in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. To reveal the influence of harvest timing of biomass of sweet sorghum various varieties and hybrids on their productivity and biofuel yield in the zone of insufficient moisture in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods. Biological (conducting field research during 2017–2020) and statistical (descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, correlation and regression analyzes).
 Results. The lowest yield of sweet sorghum green biomass was during harvesting in early August. In ‘Sylosne 42’ and ‘Favoryt’ varie­ties it was 52.6 and 61.1 t/ha, in ‘Medovyi F1’ and ‘Dovista’ hybrids – 76.3 and 77.7 t/ha, respectively. The postponement of harvesting to mid-September allows increasing the yield of varieties ‘Favoryt’ and ‘Sylosne 42’ to 97.1 and 103.5 t/ha, ‘Dovista’ and ‘Medovyi F1’ hybrids up to 146.6 and 132.9 t/ha, respectively. With even later harvesting periods, an increase in the yield of green biomass was observed only in ‘Dovista’ (up to 152.5 t/ha). In the full ripening phase (BBCH 92–98), sugar sorghum plants accumulate the maximum amount of sugars in the sap. The highest cap sugar content was in plants of ‘Medovyi F1’ hybrid – 17.5%, in the other studied cultivars it varied from 14.8 to 15.5%. The hi­g­hest yield of biofuel and energy per unit area was achieved with gro­wing ‘Dovista’ (up to 815.8 GJ/ha) and ‘Medovyi F1’ (up to 792.0 GJ/ha) hybrids. Despite the high level of plasti­city, ‘Favoryt’ variety is inferior in total energy yield (up to 547.2 GJ/ha). ‘Sylosne 42’ has the lowest plasticity index (b = 0.79); however, it is the most stable variety, which allows to obtain a stable, though not high, energy yield (up to 559.6 GJ/ha).
 Conclusions. In the zone of insufficient moisture in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, the hi­ghest productivity indicators and the maximum energy potential can be provided by the hybrids of sweet sorghum ‘Dovista’ and ‘Medovyi F1’ for their harvesting not earlier than the phase of full maturity

Formation of seedlings of white lupin, Lupinus albus L. and blue lupin, Lupinus angustifolius L. in laboratory and field experiments

Modern varieties of white lupin can be an alternative to soy in overcoming vegetable protein deficiency: to produce or import? Unlike soybeans, lupin seeds do not contain trypsin inhibitors; they don’t need heat treatment to be used in feed. Lupin has a high attachment of beans. It is drought-resistant, adapted to environmental conditions with insufficient moisture. The formation of seedlings is a critical period in the ontogeny of lupin, preceding sprouting. At this time, parameters of seedlings such as the speed and vigor, density, distribution uniformity on the soil surface are determined. The objective is to determine the dynamic characteristics of seedlings of white and blue lupin seeds by alterations in the wet and dry weight of the seedling and its individual organs in laboratory and field experiments. In the laboratory experiments, seeds of white and blue lupins were germinated on sifted and calcined sand, moistened to 80% of the total moisture capacity at 20 oC. On the 4th and 7th days, the wet and dry weight per 100 seedlings, morphological alterations in the seedling bodies and their mass were determined, as well as the expenditure of seed reserve nutrients for the formation of seedlings was calculated. In field experiment, the same parameters of seedlings were determined, considering their laboratory germination (according to the number of viable seeds per 1 m row). The formation features of seedlings of white and blue lupins in laboratory and field experiments have been studied. The certain features influencing the parameters of seedlings in field during the critical sowing-seedlings” period have been determined.