Moisture Reserves Research Articles

Influence of the harvesting method on the processes of moisture accumulation and yield capacity

BACKGROUND: A feature of the climate of the steppe zones of Western Siberia is the frequent recurrence of droughts. Accumulation and preservation of solid precipitation in the form of snow on field in winter is a relevant task, since this directly affects the accumulation of productive moisture in soil by the time of sowing and, as a result, the formation of the future harvest.
 AIMS: To determine the influence of the snow cover level, moisture reserves and productive moisture in the soil on a stubble background, harvested with a thresher for direct combining and a rippler on the yield capacity of spring wheat.
 METHODS: The field experiment was carried out in 2021-2022 in the steppe zone of the Omsk region at the Novouralskoye Scientific and Production Enterprise of the Omsk Agrarian Scientific Center. In the autumn of 2021, sections of the field were marked out for measurements: wheat stubble field after the thresher for direct combining, wheat stubble field after the rippler. In March 2022, indicators of the height of the snow cover and moisture reserves in the snow were determined on the marked areas using the VS-43 balance snow gauge. In the spring, wheat was sown with the machine-tractor unit, consisting of the RSM 2400 tractor and the Amazone Condor 15001-C sowing facility. In autumn, the chosen field sections were harvested with the Sampo-250 seed-production harvester.
 RESULTS: It was found that after harvesting with the thresher for direct combining with a stubble background of about 15 cm, there is a decrease in the moisture reserve in the one-meter-depth layer by almost 2 times, down to 48.6 mm, by the spring period. The moisture reserve on a high stubble background, after the operation of the rippler, on the contrary, was able to persist, as there were 96.6 mm of productive moisture in the one-meter-depth layer by the time of sowing. The average grain yield on the field section sown after the rippler was 1.16 t/ha. The average grain yield on the field section sown after harvesting with the thresher for direct combining was 1.06 t/ha. Thus, the grain increase was 0.1 t/ha or 9.4%.
 CONCLUSIONS: The carried out field experiment indicates that, when harvesting with a rippler, there is a twofold increase in productive moisture by the time of sowing, while the increase in the yield of spring soft wheat grain was 9.4%.

Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Santalaceae R. Br.) in Volyn Polissia and Zhytomyr Polissia (Ukraine): current distribution, ecology and prediction of future spread

Background. One of the subspecies of the European mistletoe, the so called pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm.) is a hemiparasitic, evergreen, epiphytic phanerophyte that parazitizes predominantely on the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Ukraine. The pine trees infested with V. album subsp. austriacum lack moisture for transpiration and photosynthesis, which reduces their primary productivity, viability and health. The purpose of this study was: 1) to determine the current distribution of V. album subsp. austriacum in Volyn and Zhytomyr Polissia regions using GIS-technology; 2) study the main taxation parameters of pine stands infested with V. album subsp. austriacum; 3) predict the possible further spread of V. album subsp. austriacum in the studied Region. Materials and Methods. The grid mapping method based on GIS technology, with a grid size of 10×10 km and 20×20 km, was used to create the map of the species distribution. The spatial distribution of soil moisture in the forest soils of Drevlyanskyi Nature Reserve was determined using satellite images and data on soil moisture from the Earth Engine Data Catalog. The taxation parameters of the mistletoe-infested pine stand (i.e., participation of the Scots pine in the stand composition, area distribution of pine stands by age, relative completeness, stand quality class, trophotope, and hygrotope) were obtained from standard taxation descriptions. Results and Discussion. The study found that V. album subsp. austriacum is more widespread in Volyn Polissia than in Zhytomyr Polissya – 87 and 20 localities respectively. It was shown that the forest plantations colonized by V. album subsp. austriacum in Drevlyansky Nature Reserve are located in areas with the lowest moisture content, with a moisture reserve of 16–70 mm in the 0–100 cm soil layer, which corresponds to dry and fresh hygrotopes. Conclusions. V. album subsp. austriacum is more widely distributed in such nature reserves of the region as Shatskyi National Nature Park and Drevlianskyi Nature Reserve, and less so in Rivne, Cheremskyi, Polissia Nature Reserves and Pripyat-Stokhid National Nature Park. In the region under study, V. album subsp. austriacum mostly affects pure pine forests aged 80‒140 years, of medium completeness (0.5‒0.7), and relatively high and high stand quality classes – Ic–II, in fresh hygrotopes – 67.3 % of the area and in fairly infertile pine site type (trophotope B) – 51.5 %. Based on the distribution of forest site types in the region and their susceptibility to V. album subsp. austriacum, the possibility of its further intensive spread in the study region can be predicted.

Dynamics of physical properties of soils and humus reserves in salted soils under desertification

The dynamics of the physical properties and reserves of humus in saline soils of an arid semi-desert zone is presented. The basis for the research was observational data for 2010-2022. in a typical hilly landscape of the Astrakhan region. A grid of 100 × 100 m was laid. Soil studies were carried out at the grid nodes along the sampling layers. We studied the change in physical properties (soil moisture; salt content according to the amount of dense residue; soil density; filtration coefficient; soil porosity; moisture reserve), humus reserves and salt state of saline soils under desertification. Comparative analysis showed that negative changes have taken place in the study area and it can be stated that the processes of soil degradation and desertification are intensively developing. It has been established that in the soil layer of 0–40 cm there was a significant reduction in soil moisture reserves against the background of an increase in maximum air and soil surface temperatures, as well as changes in the hydrological regime because of the embankment of the territory. Dehumification processes are observed. The most clearly negative trend was revealed for meadow solonchaks. The change in the hydrological regime of the territory because of embankment contributes to an increase in the areas of automorphic soils in the landscape and a reduction in the areas of meadow soils. An increase in the degree of salinity and compaction was recorded for automorphic zonal soils. The physical destruction of the Baer's hills exacerbates the processes of degradation and the development of desertification in such conditions.

Soil cover structure and transformation of morphometric parameters of Haplic Chernozems under no-tillage

The results of the field experiment have been analyzed, it was set up on two experimental fields (with an area of 2.4 hectares each), where two different agricultural techniques – traditional and no-till – were applied. Diagnostics of morphometric parameters of typical chernozems such as: the thickness of the A1 horizon, A1 + AB horizons and the depth of carbonates reaction with 10% HCl, has shown that some changes in soils and soil cover had occurred in the fields over 8 years. The integral indicator of soil productivity is the thickness of the humus horizon, it demonstrated trends to decrease and increase in the soil cover structure of the experimental fields with different compositions of chernozem subtypes. The trends result from both climate change and periodic dry periods, which are not typical of the region, and from the change of traditional technology to no-till. The carbonates leaching from chernozem profiles in all variants of the experiment decreased, which correlates well with climatic indicators, changing with the seasons of the year. Chernozems with thin humus layaer and reacting with HCl close to the surface do not require liming. The revealed changes are not statistically significant, they reflect the resistance of chernozems to the variability of natural and anthropogenic factors of soil formation. Crop residues on the soil surface under no-tillage reduce physical evaporation, which contributes to moisture accumulation in the soil. The use of cover crops in winter also increases the moisture reserves, which are consumed by the plants during the summer growing season. Information on the transformation of morphometric parameters allows making temporal and spatial corrections in the applied agricultural practices (crop rotation, fertilization, the use of cover crops, herbicides and pesticides).

Почвенно-климатические условия Крайнего Севера как среда выращивания многолетних трав для биологической рекультивации

The study of water and temperature regimes was carried out at the bottom of a 25‑year-old sand pit in the forest-tundra zone of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (15 km from Salekhard). Based on the analysis of the results of field studies, the dependence of the moisture content of sandy soil on the amount of precipitation (r = 0,58–0,93) was established. In the conditions of the forest-tundra zone of the Yamalo-Nenets
 Autonomous Okrug, the moisture reserves in the agrocenoses of perennial grasses depend on the moisture supply of the growing season and can vary from excessive moisture (in early spring and autumn) to an acute deficit in summer (20–30 % HB in the soil layer 0,4 m).

Sowing time of winter crops in Belarus and recommendation for optimization in conditions of modern climate change

Assessment of agroclimate conditions of the autumn period on the territory of Belarus under the conditions of modern climate change with the distribution of cumulative temperatures during autumn period for 2000–2020 is presented. The results of analysis of estimates of moisture indicators for the autumn period (precipitation amounts, Selyaninov’s hydrothermal moisture coefficient, and productive moisture reserves in the arable soil layer of 0–20 cm) are provided. Based on literary sources, recent research by Belarusian scientists, data from observation points of the state hydrometeorological network for the phases of development of winter crops (wheat, triticale, rye) in autumn, results of studies on tillering of winter crops depending on the sowing time and weather conditions in the autumn period, an analysis was carried out and criteria for cumulative temperatures were clarified to calculate the optimal sowing time for winter crops on the territory of Belarus. The optimal time for sowing winter grain crops has been calculated for administrative regions and points of the state network of hydrometeorological observations, taking into account the predicted air temperature for September. Recommendations are given for calculating the optimal sowing time for winter crops for points with no hydrometeorological observations, as well as with possible consideration of soil types and field location.

The influence of biologized crop rotations on organic matter and agrophysical soil layers in the arid steppe of the Southern Urals

Relevance. The continuing deterioration of the state of agricultural lands and the natural environment in general requires a transition to conservation agriculture, of which biologized crop rotations are a part.The purpose of the research is to establish the influence of biologized crop rotations on the content of organic matter and agrophysical properties of the soil in the arid steppe of the Southern Urals.Methods. Field experiments and laboratory analyses were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The soil of the experimental field is ordinary medium loamy chernozem. The climate is arid. During the years of research, the hydrothermal coefficient was 0.27–0.65. In the experiment, we studied sevenfield biologized crop rotations with four grain fields, two alfalfa fields and pure steam (type I), with five grain fields and two alfalfa fields (type II). As a control, a six-field grain-pair crop rotation was taken. We created food backgrounds: without fertilizers, organic, mineral.Results. It was revealed that biologized crop rotations in the alfalfa link of the first and second years of use accumulate 7.8–9.1 t/ha of crop-root residues in the soil layer 0-40 cm, which is three to seven times more than the grain-pair crop rotation. The increased amount of PKO in biologized crop rotations has a loosening effect on the arable (0–30 cm) and sub-arable (30–40 cm) soil layers. The density of the arable layer is 1.10 g/cm³, the sub — arable layer is 1.05 g/cm³. Accordingly, the indicators of grain — pair crop rotation are 1.12 g/cm³ and 1.12 g/cm³, or 6% more. Biologized crop rotations contained higher moisture reserves in the soil. Spring reserves of productive moisture in the soil layer of 0–100 cm in biologized crop rotations — from 97 to 112 mm for fertilizer backgrounds, which is 8–22 mm more than in the grain-steam crop rotation. Thus, biologized crop rotations in the conditions of the arid steppe of the Southern Urals contribute to the optimization of agrophysical properties and improvement of the water regime of the soil.

Agrotechnological evaluation of spring barley cultivation in the conditions of the Middle Urals

The studies were carried out in 2016–2020 on dark grey forest soil in the conditions of the Sverdlovsk region in a long-term stationary experiment. The object of observation was the spring barley Sonnet. The agrotechnological methods of spring barley cultivation were assessed in a two-factor experiment: factor A - crop rotations (precursor); factor B - food background. It was established that in the 0–50 cm layer during the sowing period, soil moisture availability on average for the predecessors varied in the range of 64.4–80.3 mm. The introduction of mineral fertilisers and their combinations with organic fertilisers in field crop rotations increased the reserves of productive moisture by 7–10 mm. The highest total nitrate and ammonium nitrogen content was noted during barley germination. The systematic use of fertilisers increased mineral nitrogen in the arable layer by 6.3–14.3 m/kg compared with the control (11.5–12.8 mg). A close positive relationship was found between the moisture content and mineral nitrogen in the 0–20 cm layer in the phase of barley seedlings. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.67. During the crop rotation, there was no noticeable difference between the predecessors regarding the effect on the barley yield. In control, it varied at 2.63–2.77 t/ha. On fertilised nutrition backgrounds, an excess of grain harvest by 0.2–0.47 t/ha was revealed hectares when placing it as the second crop after the pure fallow to the occupied. On average, for predecessors, fertilisers provided an additional grain harvest at 1.53–1.54 t/ha compared to the control (2.71 t/ha). The organometal background of nutrition was not inferior to mineral fertilisers in terms of its impact on the productivity of grain forage crops—payback 1 kg a.i. Depending on the predecessor on the mineral background of nutrition, Fertilizers varied from 13.2 to 19.1 kg of grain. The maximum was noted in the grain-grass crop rotation. With a combination of organic and mineral fertilisers, the return decreased to 8.4–12.0 kg. A strong correlation was revealed between barley yield and mineral nitrogen content in the arable layer. On average, for the growing season, it was r = 0.97.

Optimization of the production of varieties of grain crops using a satellite navigation system in the forest-steppe of the Priobye region

The results of complex experiments on studying the effectiveness of the use of geoinformation technologies on grain crops of CJSC breeding farm "Irmen" of the Ordynsky district of the Novosibirsk region, which is part of the drained forest-steppe of Western Siberia, are presented. Varieties of soft spring wheat, spring barley and oats place increased demands on environmental factors and are characterized by high variability. The use and implementation of modern satellite navigation systems makes it possible to increase the yield and quality of the main grain crops in the zone of risky farming in Western Siberia. The purpose of the research is based on optimizing the technology of growing grain crops using a satellite navigation system in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia. The studies were carried out in 2029-2022. in the soil-climatic zone of drained forest-steppe, which is part of the northern forest-steppe of the foothills of the Ob. The soil of the experimental plots is leached chernozem with a humus content of 6.18%, gross nitrogen - 0.34, phosphorus - 0.22 and potassium - 1.23%. The content of easily hydrolysable nitrogen is 10.8, mobile phosphorus 21.9 and exchangeable potassium 19.8 mg/100 g of soil at pH 6.57. In the experiments we used a variety of spring soft wheat Likamero, spring barley Paustian and oat Rovesnik. The paper establishes regression equations between the yield and the sum of productive moisture reserves and precipitation in the interphase periods of different varieties of grain crops. Correlation parameters for each interphase period are marked. The dependence of the yield on the amount of precipitation for the interphase periods of grain crops was revealed. The role of geoinformation technologies in increasing the yield and quality of grain of spring wheat, spring barley and oats is determined.

Moisture supply of the sown winter common and durum wheat

The current study was carried out in the southern part of the Rostov region in the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2019–2022. The purpose of the study was to determine the moisture content of the winter common and durum wheat sown after various forecrops. There has been found that during the study, precipitation fell unevenly over the seasons. The amount of useful precipitation during the vegetation period of winter wheat (mean for three years) was 319.80 mm. There has been established that when sown in weedfree fallow, the total moisture consumption both over the years (278.90–445.00 mm) and on average over three years (381.40 mm) exceeded the amount of useful precipitation. On the formation of grain yield winter wheat has spent, in addition to precipitation, the productive moisture accumulated from the soil. There has been found that when sown after non-fallow forecrops, in the absence of reserves of productive moisture in the soil, the productivity formation proceeded mainly due to precipitation. When sowing winter wheat, the total moisture consumption (mean in 2019–2022) was 322.00 mm after peas and 315.50 mm after sunflower. There has been determined that the highest grain yield of the varieties ‘Zodiak’ (7.90 t/ha) and ‘Yantarina’ (6.28 t/ha) was obtained when sown in weedfree fallow, while they spent the least amount of moisture per yield unit, being 487.10 and 649, 70 m3/t respectively. When sown after sunflower, grain yield of the varieties was the lowest, and the total moisture consumption per ton of grain was the highest, being 5.60 t/ha and 599.20 m3 (the variety ‘Zodiak’); 4.02 t/ha and 869.70 m3 (the variety ‘Yantarina’). The forecrop ‘peas’ occupied an intermediate position between weedfree fallow and sunflower both in terms of productivity and total moisture consumption per ton of grain, being 6.36 t/ha and 528.60 m3 (the variety ‘Zodiak’) and 4.92 t/ha 823, 60 m3 (the variety ‘Yantarina’).

Влияние изменений климата на урожайность культур и запасы почвенной влаги

Abstract. The aim of the research is to study the influence of the changed climatic conditions of the Belgorod region on the reserves of productive moisture in the soil and the yield of field crops using various methods of basic tillage. Research methods. Based on our own long-term research, the analysis of the effect of the increase in air temperature and the decrease in precipitation per year on soil moisture reserves and crop yields under various methods of basic tillage is made. Scientific novelty. An overview of the changes in the climatic conditions of growing field crops in the Belgorod region that have occurred in recent decades is given. Results. Agrometeorological observations have shown that in the period from 2006 to 2021, the air temperature in the surface layer increased, and the amount of precipitation decreased. Cases of extreme weather manifestations have become more frequent. Observations of the dynamics of moisture in a meter layer of soil in a stationary experiment determined that the climate changes that have occurred have affected its reserves. So at the time of sowing crops, there was a decrease in the amount of moisture in the soil by 15% of the average over the years, and when the crops were fully ripe, it decreased by 35-43%, without significant connection with the methods of basic tillage. The influence of extreme weather manifestations during the period of crop formation on crop yields is noted. According to the results of the research, it was concluded that there is a steady trend of decreasing moisture reserves in the meter layer of the soil, both at the time of sowing and during harvesting, regardless of the method of its main processing. There is no direct connection between the yield of field crops and the reserves of moisture available to plants at the time of their sowing and harvesting in the meter layer of soil and the method of its main processing.

A FCM Runoff Model for Small Rivers with Rainfall Recharge. 1. The Concept and Algorithms

The flood cycle model FCM is a lumped conceptual water-balance model designed to simulate rain runoff at a scale of a small river basin. The development of the FCM model includes the description of the dynamics of the major components of the total moisture reserves of a basin and reproduces the effect of spatial expansion of the drainage network through temporary surface and subsurface streams during extraordinary floods. The accepted conceptual assumptions of the model, which are in agreement with the rational hydrological considerations, lead to three runoff-formation regimes, referred to as intravolume, surface and breakthrough. The concept and algorithms of FCM are given in detail.

Photosynthetic activity of sunflower hybrids under growth regulators in the Steppe of Ukraine

The climate of the southern steppe zone of Ukraine in recent years has been characterized by substantial warming, with a low, uneven amount of precipitation during the growing season of plants, which leads to a decrease in the reserves of productive moisture in the soil, and hydrothermal stress occurs in plants. Opportunities to increase the adaptation of plants to adverse factors are the use of plant growth regulators and the use of various methods of tillage aimed at preserving moisture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the plant growth regulator AKM+Ca on the operation of the photosynthetic apparatus of sunflower hybrids against the background of various methods of basic tillage in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. The following methods were used during the study: field, chemical (to determine qualitative indicators), and statistical (to assess the reliability of data). Field studies were conducted during 2017-2019 on southern heavy loamy chernozems. In the experiment, modified plant growth regulator AKM+Са was used for pre-sowing seed treatment and foliar spraying of sunflower plants (beginning budding phase) of Talento and Colombi hybrids against the background of deep loosening or ploughing. It was found that the use of deep loosening, in contrast to ploughing, helps increase the dry matter content in sunflower plants and the net productivity of photosynthesis due to better preservation of moisture in the soil. The use of plant growth regulator AKM+Са, regardless of the method of soil cultivation, contributes to the increase in the leaf surface area up to 31.2%, increases the photosynthetic potential of plants to 21.6% and the net productivity of photosynthesis to 15.9% during the growing season, and also increases the content of dry matter, compared to the control. The proportion of influence of the plant growth regulator AKM+Ca on the formation of the leaf surface area is 54.2%. The maximum positive effect was obtained with the combined use of AKM+Ca for pre-sowing treatment and spraying of sunflower plants during the growing season against the background of deep loosening of the soil. The research results can be used to adjust elements of agricultural technologies for growing sunflower seeds, increase crop productivity and conduct profitable agribusiness

The effect of natural moisture availability on the yield of Agropyron in arid conditions of the south of Russia

The Volgograd right bank belongs to a very arid natural and climatic zone (HTC 0.3-0.7), the main limiting factor of which is the moisture supply of plants. Therefore, this study was aimed at establishing the influence of the moisture availability of the region and meteorological factors, as well as the timing and methods of sowing on the yield of Agropyron cristatum and Agropyron fragile in arid agro-climatic conditions on light chestnut salty soils of southern Russia. The research was carried out at the experimental production field of the Research Centre of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the period from 2019 to 2022. Field experiments, records, analyses and statistical processing were carried out in accordance with the methodology of field and agrotechnical research with forage crops. Methods of mathematical statistics of the STATGRAPHICS program and the MatLab package were used to process and analyze the results obtained. A close correlation was noted between the yield of Agropyron and moisture reserves (r=0.935) at the autumn sowing period. A close positive relationship (r=0.859-0.856) was noted with the ordinary and cross-seeding method between the moisture reserves in the soil and the crop yield, which indicates a high value of moisture availability during the formation of the phytomass of the crop. Close links between the hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) of the growing season and the yield of Agropyron were noted in April (r=0.960), when plants grew intensively and required sufficient moisture. A promising species can be called Agropyron fragile, the yield of which is 5.0-8.4% higher than the yield of Agropyron cristatum. Moreover, Agropyron produces the highest yields in the third year of life (3.16-3.30 t/ha).

Аgrophysical state of podzolized chernozem in agrocoenosis during the different types of transition to no-till technology

Aim. To scientifically substantiate the significance of the transition period after the abandonment of plowing and the transition to the No-till system for changing the agrophysical conditions of fertility, as the basis for optimizing the regime of moistening of chernozem of podzolized highly regraded low-humus soil in a 5-fold grain rotation for the conditions of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, agrochemical (selection of samples and determination of total humus, structure density, structural state, in the 0-30 cm layer of the soil, productive moisture reserves of a meter thick, statistical and calculation (to justify the reliability of the obtained results and develop statistical models of relationships).. The research was carried out in a stationary field experiment of the Cherkasy State Agricultural Research Station of the NSC “Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences”. Results. When abandoning plowing per unit increase in the density of the structure, the optimization of the ratio of gaps occupied by moisture to air (1 to 1) increases under No-till systems by plowing in 1.81 times, for surface tillage - 1.98 times, and for No-till systems for surface tillage - 2.68 times. Implementation of the No-till system for surface tillage formed an average reserve of productive moisture in the crop rotation at the level of 154 mm, which was at the level of stock on plowing and significantly higher than under systematic surface cultivation. Deviation from the average o the value of the moisture reserve under the component crops was the lowest compared to systematic plowing, the No-till system after plowing and surface treatment and systematic surface treatment, which is associated with the optimization of the agrophysical properties of the 0-30 cm soil layer and the presence of a layer of plant mulch on the soil surface from predecessors. Conclusions. When switching to the No-till system in a 5-field grain rotation, it is necessary to apply a transition period with soil-protective shallow tillage, which in 5 years helps to overcome the manifestation of agrophysical degradation of podzolized chernozem due to the reproduction of the humus, structural state and water resistance of the structure, will ensure the achievement of an equilibrium state of density structures, the most optimal ratio of the volume of cracks occupied by moisture to air, which will provide a mechanism for regulating the consumption of the productive moisture reserve for physical evaporation compared to systematic plowing and the No-till system for plowing where the manifestation of agrophysical degradation remains at a high level.

Reserves of available soil moisture, productivity and mass of root residues of winter wheat and post-harvest white mustard depending on cultivation, precursors and fertilizer

Three-year (2020–2022) research at the experimental field of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, make it possible to calculate the economic and energy efficiency and to recommend a differentiated system of the main tillage on typical deep, low-humus medium-loamy chernozems of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in a five-field specialized (cereal) crop rotation, which involves deep plowing only for row crops, and for winter wheat after both predecessors (peas and buckwheat) and post-harvest mustard for green manure cultivation with heavy disc harrows, respectively, to a depth of 8–10 and 10–12 cm with the introduction of N140P60K100 under the bread plant and N120P60K90 – after peas, and under cabbage – N80P60K80 after both predecessors. For the placement of winter wheat after legume and cereal crops and recommended agricultural measures, the cost of one ton of grain was 3.82 and 4.06 thousand hryvnias respectively, conditional net profit was 18.11 and 16.06 thousand hryvnias/ha, profitability 44.4 and 37.1 %, energy efficiency ratio 2.4 and 1.9. Reserves of available soil moisture under winter wheat are higher in the link with peas than buckwheat. The highest reserves of it in the upper, arable and meter layers in the seedling phase of the culture after both predecessors under differentiated cultivation in crop rotation. In the phase of entering the tube, this indicator is the lowest in the arable layer under differentiated, and in the meter layer - under disk cultivation in crop rotation. On the date of sowing white mustard in the row with peas, the reserves of available soil moisture in the upper layer differed insignificantly according to tillage options, and in arable land they are the highest under shelf-disc tillage. In the meter layer, this indicator did not undergo significant deviations from the control, although it increased compared to it by 1.2–2.5 mm. For the predecessor of buckwheat, the content of soil moisture in the investigated layers (0–10, 0–30 and 0–100 cm) on the date of sowing white mustard increased significantly under differentiated and decreased significantly under disk tillage. In the upper layer of the soil, this indicator is slightly higher in the link with peas (by 0.5 mm), in the arable one with buckwheat (by 2.6 mm), and in the meter layer – it is almost the same for both predecessors. The yield of winter wheat is 0.59 t/ha higher in the link with peas than with buckwheat. After both predecessors, it is the largest under differentiated cultivation of fertilized and unfertilized plots. With chisel-disk and disk processing, this indicator is significantly reduced. Only on unfertilized plots under shelf-disk and disk tillage, the yield of green mass of white mustard is higher in the link with peas than with buckwheat, in the remaining variants of the experiment, the preference is for the grain predecessor. This indicator in the link with peas decreased, for all tillage options, compared to the control, but significantly only for disc tillage. In the link with buckwheat, its significant decrease is observed under disc cultivation and a significant increase under differentiated cultivation of fertilized areas. The dry mass of root residues of winter wheat is significantly lower for chisel-disc and disc than for shelf-disc treatments in both predecessors. Under differentiated processing, this indicator increased, compared to the control, but insignificantly. The mass of the dry root of white mustard in the link with leguminous crop is less for all tillage options, compared to the control, but it is significantly (by 0.19–0.25 t/ha) less for discing the soil. With an increase in fertilizer application rates, the dry weight of the root residues of the studied crops grows more slowly than the yield. At the same time, a slower growth of both above-ground and underground mass of both agrophytocenoses was established for placing them after the leguminous than for the cereal predecessor. Calculations of economic and energy efficiency give reason to recommend a differentiated system of the main soil cultivation on typical deep, low-humus, medium-loam chernozems of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine in a five-field specialized (cereal) crop rotation, which involves deep plowing only for row crops, and for winter wheat after both predecessors (peas and buckwheat) and post-harvest mustard for green manure tillage with heavy disc harrows, respectively, to a depth of 8–10 and 10–12 cm with application of N140P60K100 under the bread plant after 1 buckwheat and N120P60K90 – after peas, and under cabbage – N80P60K80 after both predecessors. For placing winter wheat after leguminous and cereal crops and recommended agromeasures, the cost price of one ton of grain was UAH 3.82 and 4.06 thousand respectively, conditional net profit was UAH 18.11 and 16.06 thousand/ha, profitability 44.4 and 37.1 %, energy efficiency ratio 2.4 and 1.9. Key words: soil, cultivation, productivity, fertilizers, predecessors, cultures, root residues, crop rotation.

Influence of agricultural practices and sowing dates under different weather conditions on soybean yield

The article is devoted to determining the optimal sowing time for soybeans with stable warming of the soil, considers the processing with a stratifier PRSM-5 and chisel processing against the background of pre-sowing rolling. Using soil-cultivating units of three types, an analysis was made of the effectiveness of various methods of basic cultivation against the background of various agricultural practices. The optimal timing of soybean sowing was determined with stable heating of the soil to 8–10 o С when treated with a stratifier PRSM-5 and up to 10–12 o С during chisel cultivation against the background of pre-sowing rolling. The obtained results of the research showed that the soil density depends primarily on the method of basic cultivation. The analysis of soil density indicators as a whole showed that after treatment with the stratifier PRSM-5 it was somewhat less and averaged 1.04 g/cm3 , and after chisel treatment – 1.09 g/cm3 . The analysis of the structural composition of the soil showed that the best structural structure of the soil was noted when processing with a stratifier PRSM-5 due to the removal of the most agronomically valuable soil lumps from the lower layers to the surface, here the structural coefficient was high and reached 2.36, and with chisel processing – 2.08. An analysis of the reserves of productive moisture at the end of the growing season showed that during chisel processing they were used more rationally, and significantly decreased in the phase of full ripeness after processing with a stratifier PRSM-5 – they amounted to 57 mm, and after chisel processing – 69 mm. The experimental data obtained indicate that under dry weather conditions, the best yield was formed when treated with a stratifier PRSM-5 at the second sowing date, and when chisel loosening - during the first and pre-sowing rolling. Key words: soybean, tillage, stratifier PRSM-5, density, structure, yield.

Results of the dendroflora inventory and assessment of the plantations of the Tomylivskyi Park, a monument of landscape art

A landscape assessment was carried out and the integral value of the plantations of the Tomylivskyi Park-Monument of Landscape Art of local importance was determined. According to the integral assessment, the plantations of the park's I and III sections are classified as particularly valuable, and II and IV sections as of limited value, which is explained by the presence of a slightly larger number of mistletoe-infested, dead and dry-top trees, as well as the spread of self-sowing invasive species. The landscape of the park corresponds to the first stage of recreational digression, as the area of roads, paths and grounds occupies less than 5 % of its territory. The high total recreational score of the Tomylivskyi Park-Monument allows it to be classified as the highest first class in terms of recreation. The taxonomic composition of the park-monument is represented by 76 species. It has been established that the Pinophyta division includes 8 species grouped into one class, one subclass, two orders, two families and 5 genera. The Magnoliophyta division includes 64 species, 2 hybrids, 2 cultivars, which are grouped into 47 genera, 22 families, 19 orders, 6 subclasses and 1 class. As a result of the inventory, it was established that currently there are 2446 woody plants on the territory of the Tomylivskyi Park-Monument, of which 596 are trees, 1843 are shrubs, and 7 plants have a tree-shrub life form. The average age of the greenery in the park is approximately 60–70 years. The first trees were planted in 1940. Among the trees, the most common are Robinia pseudoacacia L. – 96, Ulmus capriofolia L. – 72, Tilia platyphylos Scop. – 56, Celtis occidentalis L. – 38, Corylus colurna L. – 37, Acer platanoides L. – 36, which is 56 % of the total number of trees found in the park. 77 specimens of dead and dry-top trees that are drying out and have lost their decorative effect are to be removed. Sanitary pruning is required for 87 trees, which is 14.5 % of the total number of trees in the park. The main reasons for the deterioration of the sanitary condition of the trees in the plantations of the park are the invasion of Viscum album L.; changes in climatic conditions, in particular, a decrease in precipitation and a decrease in soil moisture reserves, which led to the loss of Betula pendula, Juglans cinerea L.; excessive tree density and competition between trees for light, moisture and mineral nutrients, which affects their weakening and pest damage (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst, Buxus sempervirens L.) Key words: landscape analysis, integral assessment, stages of degradation, taxonomic composition, durability, sanitary condition, introductions, invasive species, recreational value.

Stripping as a snow retention method in the steppe conditions of Western Siberia

The process of snow cover formation on the fields with different surface conditions was studied. The research was conducted in the spring of 2022 in the steppe farming zone of the Omsk region. The effect of high plant stand of cereal crops remaining after harvesting by standing crop stripping on the amount of snow cover and the volume of spring moisture accumulation in the soil as a reserve for increasing the yield in the steppe regions of Western Siberia is considered. The results of determining the height of snow cover on a fallow field (complete fallow), on fields under grain crops harvested by different methods: with a direct harvester followed by flat tillage; with a direct harvester without subsequent tillage; with a combing harvester at the height of the stem during harvesting up to 0.55 m are presented. In the course of the study it was found that during harvesting by the stripping method, the moisture reserves in the snow cover were 2.2 times higher compared to the stubble background, 3.7 times higher compared to the stubble background treated with a flat cutter, and 4.1 times higher compared to the fallow field (control). Based on the data obtained, the conclusion is made about the possibility of using this method to form the conditions for moisture accumulation in the arid steppe zone without additional measures for snow retention, which should have a positive impact not only on the yield of cultivated crops, but also on the agro-economic indicators.

Agroecological assessment of short crop rotation on sod-podzolic soil

In the conditions of drained lands with unsatisfactory work of reclamation systems, in the Polissia zone it became possible to grow commercially attractive crops, in particular, such as winter rapeseed and corn for grain. A short-rotation crop rotation was analyzed: lupine — winter rapeseed — winter rye — corn, on the basis of which various variants of the fertilization system were studied, including by replacing litter manure with siderate and by-products of all crops in combination with the recommended for the zone and increased (intensive) mineral norms fertilizers. The goal of the task was to determine the optimal agrochemical support for grain crop rotation to obtain stable crop productivity and preserve soil fertility. It was noted that during the 2016–2020 research, during the growing season of agricultural crops, the reserves of productive moisture in the meter-long layer of drained sod-podzolic sandy soil decreased to 60–80 mm, that is, to a critical level. It was established that the overall productivity of the crop rotation depended on its saturation with corn, the grain yield of which was 6.01–7.13 t/ha on average over 5 years at different levels of organic and mineral nutrition. The highest yield of grain and fodder units from 1 ha of crop rotation area (4.23 and 4.52 tons, respectively) was obtained when by-products were applied together with an increased rate of mineral fertilizers (N67P84K91). It was established that the replacement of litter manure with the by-products of grain, leguminous and oilseed crops as an organic fertilizer, together with the use of the recommended (N45P56K61) and increased (N67P84K91) mineral fertilizer rates, does not reduce the productivity of crop rotation, ensures a deficit-free nitrogen balance and the annual accumulation of humus in the amount of 320 and 440 kg, respectively, which guarantees extended reproduction and increased soil fertility.