Organic Farming Technologies Research Articles

Sustainable Agriculture: Impact on Public Health and Sustainable Development

Sustainable agriculture involves the use of organic farming technologies, which excludes the use of growth stimulants, hormones and chemical additives in animal feeding as well as fertilisers with pesticides and other hazardous chemicals. Sustainable land management practices are aimed at preserving soils, water resources and biodiversity. They mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural environments. Organic agriculture produces environmentally friendly food that contains fewer harmful chemicals, potentially reducing the incidence of diet-related disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis (via VOSviewer 1.6.16, Bibliometrix / Biblioshiny App) to explore the sustainable agriculture impact on public health and sustainable development of nations. Applying the Scopus database, 427 relevant papers were reviewed to identify trends, influential works, and key research themes. The analysis reveals that sustainable agricultural practices, which aim to reduce environmental impact, conserve resources and enhance productivity, have gained increasing attention since the mid-1990s. Noteworthy, contributions include fundamental works, influential studies and various UN and WHO publications. The research highlights keywords such as agriculture, public health, nutrition, and food security. Leading countries in this research domain include the USA, China, Canada, India, and the UK, demonstrating extensive international collaboration. The findings underscore the critical role of sustainable agriculture in addressing global challenges, promoting environmental stewardship, and supporting socio-economic progress, which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The study provides valuable insights into the development of sustainable practices and policies essential for future research and implementation.

ORGANIC FARMING: DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

The production of organic agriculture products has become one of the most growing areas of economic activity, with projected annual growth of 10-12%. At the same time, the demand for organic products significantly exceeds the supply, which is largely due to the lack of land that can be allocated for this production. Russia, which has significant areas of virtually unused land on which mineral fertilizers and pesticides have not been used for a long time, reaching 19.7 million. ha, has a significant potential for development in this direction. At the same time, considering that a significant part of unused territories is located within the zone of risky agriculture, and also has soils with a low level of natural fertility, degraded, arid, waterlogged, etc., the actual amount of land resources that can be involved in organic agriculture is significantly less. For the most complete introduction into circulation of unused agricultural lands, it is necessary to increase the knowledge intensity and manufacturability of organic agriculture, for which research work in the following areas is highly relevant: 1) optimization of the balance of humus and nutrients in soils, 2) breeding and seed production of crops for organic agriculture, 3) development of biological products for disease and pest control, 4) development of optimal farming systems taking into account local soil and climatic conditions, 5) optimization of agricultural landscapes based on increasing the diversity of agricultural land use. Along with the involvement of unused lands in the organic production system, the development of the industry largely depends on the system of training qualified personnel in this area, which should take into account the specifics of the technologies used, which differ significantly from traditional farming systems. To do this, it is necessary to update existing professional standards, which should include generalized labor functions related to the development and implementation of organic farming technologies, as well as knowledge and skills in organizing organic production. On the basis of updated professional standards, universities should form new professional competencies and a corresponding set of academic disciplines. The personnel training system for the industry should include various levels of training: agricultural classes, higher education, additional professional education.

Selecting a stirrer and optimizing the process of mixing the substrate in the fermenter of biogas unit

The relevance of the work is related to the problem of soil degradation as a result of pollution by livestock waste and the need for timely disposal of waste into effective organic fertilizer and biogas. Increasing the share of the use of organic fertilizers makes it possible to develop organic farming technologies, and accordingly leads to the production of healthy crop products. The work investigated the process of substrate mixing in the fermenters of an operating pilot biogas plant. The technological line is designed for processing liquid organic waste, mainly manure or litter, by anaerobic digestion to produce innovative environmentally friendly organic fertilizers on an industrial scale. The purpose of the study was to select a stirrer and optimize the conditions for mixing the substrate in the fermenters of a biogas plant. The physicochemical properties of the substrate were studied by laboratory methods. The mathematical model of the mixing process is based on a semi-empirical description of the hydrodynamics of flows in the reactor, modernized taking into account the current state of the issue under the conditions of a fermenter with specific geometric characteristics. As a result of the work carried out, the optimal options for the geometric dimensions of the stirrers were determined (three variants for three-blade stirrers intermittent with a blade angle of 30°, differing in the size of the impeller and rotation speed) and the parameters of the mixing process were calculated. Based on a laboratory experiment and the results of calculating the sedimentation rate, the frequency of turning on the stirrer (once a day) and the time of its continuous operation to homogenize the suspension were determined. The results of the work can be used in the design of mixing devices and substrate mixing modes in bioreactors.

Economic Analysis Of Production Technologies Of Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) Among Smallholder Farmers In Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to analyze the economics and production technologies of water melon among small holder farmers in Akwa- Ibom State. Multistage sampling technique was used in data collection. The data were collected from 240 organic and non-organic small holder watermelon farmers. The primary instrument used for data collected was structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analyzed by Enterprise budgeting method, Anova and descriptive statistics. The technologies used in the study area in water melon production were Organic and Non-organic (conventional system). The total revenue and the gross margin of conventional water melon producers realized per farmer per annum were N407,000 and N207,000 respectively, while the total revenue and gross margin for organic water melon producers were N562,385 and N433,141 respectively. The study suggests that awareness should be created by the extension officers on the use of organic farming technology.

SELECTION OF MICROORGANISM STRAINS TO PROTECT GRAIN PLANTS FROM FUNGI OF GENUS FUSARIUM

Currently, due to climate change and a number of unfavorable environmental conditions, there is a tendency to decrease the global production of wheat - one of the main grain crops. It is undeniable that the increase in grain production is closely related to the effectiveness of controlling one of the most harmful diseases of grain crops - Fusarium wilt, since there are no wheat varieties in the world that are completely resistance to Fusarium wilt. The development of biotechnological approaches to obtaining new microbial preparations to protect winter wheat from Fusarium pathogens is relevant for the biological protection of winter wheat in organic farming technologies and in integrated protection systems, significantly reducing the xenobiotic pressure on agrocenoses. The purpose of the work was to isolate and screen strains of bacteria of the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas, active against mycopathogens of the genus Fusarium, detected in seed material of winter wheat. Infection with mycopathogens of the genus Fusarium depended on the field resistance of the sort, was quite high and amounted to more than 75 % of cases. The main causative agent of Fusarium wilt was F. graminearum, but F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum were also isolated. 79 strains of Bacillus spp. and 34 strains of Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from natural sources. The best antagonists to all isolated Fusarium strains were Bacillus spp. R14, R31, S19 and Pseudomonas spp. WR5 and WR7. Methanolic extracts of secondary exometabolites of the studied strains showed 1,5-2 times higher activity against Fusarium spp. when the producers were cultivated on organic nutrient media. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of extracted metabolites of Bacillus spp. R14, S19 were determined in the range of 1 mg/ml - 4 mg/ml, Pseudomonas sp. WR5 - in the range of 2 mg/ml - 4 mg/ml.

SIDERATION — A FACTOR OF THE FORMATION OF THE MAIN INDICATORS OF THE SOIL IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

The article proves the relevance of using sideral crops in organic farming technologies. The results of scientific research on the use of sideration as an ecologically safe factor in the formation of the main indicators and properties of the soil are analyzed. It is noted that nowadays the cultivation of sideral crops is one of the main alternatives for replacing chemically synthesized fertilizers. Examples of the use of siderates as environmentally safe types of fertilizers that contribute to the restoration of soil fertility and the increase in the yield of agricultural crops are given. It was noted that side crops under organic land use are an effective and productive component of the technology of growing agricultural crops, contribute to improving the structure and quality of the soil, providing mineral nutrition and creating favorable conditions for the growth and development of plants, which affects the increase in yield with the complete rejection of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. It is noted that when using sideration in organic technologies for growing agricultural crops, it is necessary to make a reasonable selection of sideration crops with a high adaptive potential, taking into account their biological characteristics. The selection of siderates must be carried out taking into account the soil and climatic zone of cultivation, moisture availability and temperature regime of the soil, biological features of growing siderate cultures and the agronomic value of their introduction, features of the effect of siderate on the structure of the soil, its density and porosity, providing the soil with organic matter (humus) and nutritional mineral elements, as well as the yield and quality of agricultural products.

Organic management of tuberous intercrops for resilience, higher yield and profit from coconut plantations: Insights from validation experiments in Kerala, India

Fifteen on-farm experiments were conducted in tropical tuber crops intercropped in coconut gardens in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts, Kerala, during 2018-2021 for validation of organic production technologies. The validation experiments were performed under the aegis of the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, in a project funded by the Coconut Development Board, Kochi, Kerala. Three treatments viz., T1: organic farming technology (OF), T2: POP recommendation (POP) and T3: farmer's practice (FP) were evaluated in cassava, elephant foot yam and greater yam intercropped with coconut. System productivity and profitability were worked out for the different treatments based on yield and income from coconut and tuber crops in the respective treatments. Pooled analysis indicated that the coconut yield under intercropping with tuber crops in organic mode was high by 7-13% in comparison to monocrop of coconut maintained by the farmers. Tuber yield under organic management was superior over POP by 14% and FP by 27%. On an average, the net income from coconut-tuber crop intercropping system under organic management was ₹ 2,36,133 ha-1, whereas it was ₹ 1,56,904 ha-1 in POP and ₹ 1,32,706 ha-1 in FP and significantly outperformed sole coconut (₹ 7,764 ha-1). Thus, the results indicated that organic management of coconut-tuber crop system offered resilience with higher system productivity and profitability.

Sustainable Soil Utilization and Agriculture Production: Recommendations towards Achieving Sustainability

In particular, the nutrient cycle, soil erosion, carbon sequestration, and many different ecological systems are all impacted by current agriculture tactics. Sustainable development's negative environmental and ecological effects can be reduced through organic farming. Utilizing more organic materials in cultivation practices might decrease environmental damage by preserving the natural cycles of the environment's vegetation during the restoration process. Organic farming can also raise food quality. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones, and feed additives for farm animals may also be substantially avoided in organic farming. To minimize the constraints and difficult circumstances of natural farming, a combination of organic farming and new technology is of utmost importance. Innovative techniques and cutting-edge ideas are bringing farming systems closer to sustainability while also improving rural productivity and the quality of life for many farmers in a way that is good for the environment. Not only does soil provide food and nutritional support, but it also has many environmental benefits to give. Although it takes centuries to form one millimeter of soil, soil is regarded as a non-renewable resource. The phrase "Soil health" is one of the most frequently used one in agriculture. Agriculture can only continue to be sustainable if the soil is healthy. Numerous issues have put "soil health" in danger, including declining soil fertility, a lack of natural carbon and biodiversity in the soil, salinization, acidification, pollution, and soil erosion and degradation. As stated by FAO, "Soil management is sustainable if it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

FEATURES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF PRODUCTION AND SALES ACCOUNTING OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS IN BUSINESS STRUCTURES OF SMALL BUSINESSES

The purpose of the article is to study approaches to accounting and reporting of production and sales of organic products by business structures of small businesses for further unification, the possibility of determining real financial results and cost optimization. Based on the results of the research, the main problems of accounting and analytical support for the production and sale of organic products are determined, which are characterized by the organizational and technological features of the production process, the specifics of storage, the characteristics of sales channels, and the organizational features of the activities of small business entities on the market of organic products. For small business entities, the biggest problem remains low analytical accounting and reporting in terms of detailing the costs of production, logistics and sales of organic products, therefore the proposals are aimed at simplifying the mechanism of calculating its cost price, determining the full cost, forming the price, calculating the financial results, the possibility of cost management and real-time budgeting. Particular attention is paid to the accounting and reporting of costs for the implementation of the latest organic farming technologies (regenerative technology, IntraLight carbon farming), storage and packaging of organic products in order to further assess their payback. Since the promotion of one's own products and the search for sales channels, which determine the terms of sale, the structure and amount of circulation costs, are problematic in small businesses, ways of optimizing logistics and sales costs are proposed depending on the size of the farm, types of the commercial products, including exotic crops, and their production volumes. Attention is drawn to the need for the development of the so-called «organic logistics», optimization of the elements of sales costs in direct sales, which are preferable for small business agricultural producers of organic products.

Indigenous technical knowledge of Assam for pests management – Exploit potential in organic agriculture

One neighborhood investigation was conducted amongst 500 farmers of Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat and Dibrugarh districts of Central Brahmaputra valley Zone and Upper Brahmaputra valley Zone of Assam. Only 21.8% of farmers completely practiced the indigenous technology knowhow (ITK) for pest management, though 48.4% were aware about ITKs, whereas 41.8% famers apply synthetic chemical driven approaches. A total of 30 different types of ITKs had been collected which weresorted out crop wise and placed in different groups based on their use i.e. rice (20), pulses (1), tuber crops (3), vegetables (2) and fruits (4). It is speculated that a comprehensive study on different ITKs of Assam and their appropriate validation could be the valuable components for organic farming technology.

Naturalistic technologies development for the cultivation of agricultural plants for the innovative development of rural areas as an element of organic farming

The Laboratory of Genomic Research and Breeding and Seed Technologies of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Additional Professional Education "Russian Academy of Personnel Support for the Agro-Industrial Complex" presented an action plan for the development of biologized technologies for the agricultural plants cultivation in the conditions of technogenically polluted soils of domestic agrobiocenoses. The object of research is vegetable crops of domestic selection that are strategically important for the food security of the Russian Federation. The study results confirmed the hypothesis that the fungal microbiota is able to interact synergistically with probiotic bacteria, improving their survival, stimulating growth and increasing biodiversity and recovery of the saprotrophic soil microbiota. An original complex scheme has been proposed, which interconnects variety-specific features and primary seed production of new varieties for usage in biologized and organic farming technologies.

Emmer wheat productivity formation depending on pre-sowing seed treatment method in organic and traditional technology cultivation

Determination of chlorophyll and carotenoid content is an important way of obtaining information about the plant's photosynthetic activity as well as an indirect method of assessing the productivity of plant crops, particularly grain crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of chlorophyll and carotenoid in the productivity formation of emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum (Schrank.) Schuebl) grown under the traditional and organic farming systems and the different pre-sowing seed treatment methods. The base indicators of the photosynthetic apparatus (chlorophyll and carotenoid content, ratio of photosynthetic pigments) were evaluated in the emmer wheat plants as a function of the cultivation technology and pre-sowing seed treatment. The cultivation of the emmer wheat under organic technology was carried out in crop rotation: winter rye – mustard – T. dicoccum wheat. The pre-sowing seed treatment in the traditional technology of emmer wheat cultivation was carried out only by the UV-C irradiation. In the organic technology, both UV-C irradiation and treatment with humic preparation of natural origin “1r Seed Treatment” were used. The content of chlorophyll a (by 9.2%) and chlorophyll b (by 14.5%) increased in the emmer wheat plants under the organic technology cultivation compared to the traditional technology, but with the same method of seed treatment (UV-C irradiation). As a result, the yield increase was 21.0%. The application of the “1r Seed Treatment” humic preparation in the pre-sowing seed treatment led to the increase in yield by ~ 8.0% compared to the plots with UV-C irradiation seeds treatment under organic farming cultivation. An inverse correlation between the ratio of chlorophyll a/ chlorophyll b and the crop yield has been established. The evaluation of economic indicators of the emmer wheat cultivation in the rotation: winter rye-mustard-emmer wheat under organic farming technology, proved its high profitability. So, the photosynthetic pigments’ content and their ratio can be used as the indicators of the efficiency of the introduced elements of agrotechnologies and for predicting future yields.

Research results on the chemical elements' absorption from the soil of the agricultural crops in organic farming technologies

Research results on the chemical elements' absorption from the soil of the agricultural crops in organic farming technologies

The influence of agrotechnologies of organic farming on the content of humus, phosphorus and potassium in the soil.

Organic agriculture is becoming an increasingly popular direction in modern agriculture. At the same time, some researchers and practitioners still have doubts about the ability of this technology to maintain the balance of nutrients in the soil. The article is a contribution to the study of the influence of long-term organic farming on agrochemical soil parameters. The aim of the study was to study the influence of organic farming technology on the content of humus, mobile forms of potassium and mobile forms of phosphorus in the soil of the most important components for fertility - humus, mobile forms of potassium and mobile forms of phosphorus in the non-carbonate chernozems of Western Siberia. The chernozems of Western Siberia are characterized by a high content of humus and nutrients, have optimal properties for agricultural crops. A statistically processed comparison of the quantitative content of humus, mobile forms of potassium and mobile forms of phosphorus in fields with long-term use of organic farming technology, and in similar fields where this technology was not used, was carried out. The article includes a brief geographical, geological, climatic characteristics of the place of the experiment, a description of the applied agricultural technologies and fertilizers. As a result, it was found that the use of organic farming technology has a positive effect on the state of soils, which is confirmed by an increase in the content of humus, mobile forms of potassium and mobile forms of phosphorus.

Winter wheat grain production using organic farming technology

The influence of microbiological preparations on the soil fertility of leached chernozem and the productivity of winter wheat was studied. Treatment of seeds with preparations of various preparative forms (CE and powder) increases microbiological activity and balances the nutrient regime of the soil. When seedlings appeared, the number of ammonifying microorganisms in the studied variants was 126-185 % higher than the control variant. The introduction of drugs in the indicated dosage at the rate of 300 l/ha of the working solution further contributed to the growth of this group of microorganisms, they were 4-9 times higher than the number of bacteria in the control variant. Microbiological preparations increased soil fungistasis. The number of soil micromycetes decreased by 46-62 % during the entire growing season of wheat. The development of fungi of the genus Fusarium was also inhibited. Their number was an order of magnitude lower in the studied variants, compared with the control. Microbiological preparations, converting phosphorus and potassium compounds into an easily accessible form, contributed to an increase in the content of P2O5 in winter wheat crops, in the studied variants by 1.6-1.9 times, and K2O 1.3-1.6 times higher than the control variant. The yield of winter wheat on the variants of using biological preparations in 2021 exceeded the control variant by 6.5 and 12.4 %, and in 2022 by 7.3-10.2 %. The yield of winter wheat under the traditional technology of its cultivation practically did not exceed the options for using the studied preparations.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ПРОИЗВОДИТЕЛЬНОСТИ МАШИН ДЛЯ РАБОТЫ С ТЕПЛИЧНЫМ ГРУНТОМ

Hothouse plant growing based on the organic farming soil technology includes hothouse soil preparation, use, and removal from the hothouse upon the termination of the growing cycle. A complex of machines of new designs, consisting of a combined paver, a loader-mixer and a soil removal machine, is proposed to carry out these works. One of the main efficiency indicators of these machines is their performance Analytical expressions describing the influence of design and operating parameters on the performance of machines were obtained in the course of theoretical studies. The conveyor chain speed, the angular rate of the dosing drum, the number of conveyor scrapers, and drum bars have been determined to have the maximum impact on the performance of the combined stacker, while for the soil removing machine these parameters include the height of the removed soil layer and the machine travelling speed. A series of two-factor experiments have been carried out to define the optimal values of the above parameters. Based on the analysis of the experimental data, regression equations and respective 3D response surfaces have been obtained describing the impact of defined parameters on the performance. For the combined stacker, the following optimal parameter values have been determined, at which its performance reaches maximum value: 0.33-0.37 m/s chain speed, 7 to 8 conveyor scrapers (for the 2.5 m long conveyor); 6.0-6.5 rad/s angular rate and 6 dosing drum bars. The maximum performance of the soil-removing machine corresponds to the following parameters: 0.2-0.25 m/s travelling speed with the dump surface inclination of 22-24 degrees at the removed soil layer height of 0.18 m. Based on the obtained results, the performance of the hothouse soil preparation and removing machines has been determined.

Photosynthetic Pigments Content in Emmer Wheat Plants as Criteria of Productivity in Traditional and Organic Farming Technology

Background. Estimation of chlorophyll and carotenoid content is an informative way to obtain ideas about the plants photosynthetic process and is an indirect method for assessing the productivity of plant crops, including cereals. As the worldwide interest at now for traditional and natural foods is growing, in the work we used one of the oldest grain crops – emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum (Schrank.) Schuebl.) which was cultivated in traditional and organic farming system. Objective. The study aim was to determine the role of chlorophyll and carotenoids in the emmer wheat productivity formation by traditional and organic farming technology under different pre-sowing seed treatment systems. Methods. Field experiment was establishment during 2019–2021 on low-humus, hard-loam chernozems, the condition of which meets the “virgin land” criterion. The emmer wheat cultivation in organic technology was carried out in crop rotation: winter rye (green manure crop) – mustard (to improve the field phytosanitary condition and soil organic matter indicators) – emmer wheat. Two variants of pre-sowing seed treatment were studied: irradiation with ultraviolet light of the C range (100–280 nm) and seed treatment with 1r Seed Treatment humic preparation. The pre-sowing seed treatment in the traditional technology of the emmer wheat cultivation was carried out by the UV-C irradiation. In organic technology both UV-C irradiation and treatment with 1r Seed Treatment humic preparation of natural origin were used. Statistical data processing was performed by methods of descriptive statistics, regression and analysis of variance by the program Statistica 10.0. The experimental data significance was evaluated by using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) to calculate the least significant difference (LSD05). Results. It was found the use of UV-C seeds irradiation in organic and traditional cultivation technologies leads to increase in the chlorophyll a (Chl a) content by 9.2 % and chlorophyll b (Chl b) content by 14.5 % in plants grown by organic technology, however to decrease in carotenoid content (Ct) by 14.9 %. The increase in the photosynthetic pigments content by UV-C seeds irradiation lead to yield increase from 4.26 t/ha by the traditional technology to 5.17 t/ha by the organic technology, ie by 21.4 %. In organic technology based on the comparison of the photosynthetic apparatus main indicators of the emmer wheat and yield, the most effective method for seed treatment was determined. It was established that at result of 1r Seed Treatment humic preparation application in pre-sowing seed treatment, the Chl a concentration decreased by 2.4 %, the Chl b and Ct concentration increased by 5 and 25.5 %, respectively, compared with plants grown from UV-C irradiated seeds. When 1r Seed Treatment was used for pre-sowing treatment yield was 5.58 t/ha, while at UV-C seed treatment – 5.17 t/ha, ie, the yield increase was 8 %. An inverse correlation between the ratio of the photosynthetic pigments Chl a/Chl b content and the emmer wheat yield was determined. Conclusions. According to the study results, it can be assumed that the introduction of organic farming technology with pre-sowing seed treatment by the 1r Seed Treatment humic preparation can increase the emmer wheat yield by 31% compared to the traditional technology. Thus, the photosynthetic pigments content and their ratio can be the effectiveness indicators of the implemented agricultural technologies.

The effect of biofertilizers on cotton productivity and quality

Currently, in the agriculture of the Turkestan region, all agricultural products are obtained as a result of the use and introduction of chemicals and pesticides. Nevertheless, all these chemicals have done more harm than profit, they primarily pollute the soil and the environment with biogenic elements. In recent years, optimal norms of organic and biological fertilizers have not been applied in irrigated lands, based on this, dehumification is progressing in gray-earth soils and leads to soil salinization. In this regard, the question of restoring soil processes arises, and, above all, organic fertility, ensuring an increase in organic matter reserves in the soil and obtaining environmentally friendly cotton products using only organic and biological meliorants. Therefore, scientists-cotton breeders, in conditions of medium-saline gray-earth irrigated soils, conducted scientific research on intensive methods of organic farming technology on cotton plantations in the south of Kazakhstan.

Organic management for yams (Dioscorea spp.) intercropped in coconut (Cocos nucifera) plantation: Evidences from a validation trial in the coastal humid tropics of Kerala, India

A field experiment was conducted under Network Project on Organic Horticulture during 2015–17 (April-January) at ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CPCRI), Kasaragod, to validate the ICAR-CTCRI developed organic farming technologies in yams under intercropping in an organically raised mature coconut garden (>48 years). Three species of Dioscorea [(greater yam (D. alata), lesser yam (D. esculenta) and white yam (D. rotundata)] were tested under four production systems, viz. traditional, conventional, integrated and organic, and replicated thrice in split plot design in a mature coconut garden. Organic practice was similar to conventional as revealed from the identical impacts on yield, tuber quality and soil chemical properties. Yield under organic management was 98.6% of conventional farming. D. alata and D. esculenta were more responsive (+8 to 10%) to organic management, but organic management lowered yield by 30% in dwarf white yam (D. rotundata). The organic farming package comprising farmyard manure, green manure cowpea, neem cake and ash resulted in higher available N, exchangeable Ca and available Zn in soil and significant improvement in K, higher P and Mg contents in yam tubers. However, the highest profit was realized from coconut + D. alata in integrated system (`1,87,057/ha). Among yams, greater yam (D. alata) was the most productive and profitable under organic management (`1,46,634/ha) in intercropping set up.

Improvement of the breeding process in hemp growing to saturate the varieties with useful cannabinoids

Today the group of companies “Arnika”, Hlobyne town, Poltava region, is one of the largest companies in Ukraine and in the world that grows agricultural crops using organic farming technologies. It is clear that in the transition from classical technologies to organic production there were a number of problems to solve which had to use both existing experience and new research. One of the branches of agriculture in Ukraine, which best meets the requirements of organic farming, is hemp growing. The biological properties of the crop play an important role in this matter, namely that they require almost no chemical protection against pests and diseases. The scope of raw materials from hemp is significantly expanding. Besides the traditional use in light, construction, pulp and paper, automotive and aircraft, chemical industries, hemp products began to be used for the manufacture of medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, high-quality oil, additives to many foods and others. It is the latest uses of hemp that require the use of environmentally friendly products that would be of high quality, greater demand and cost. The creation of varieties and hybrids of plants that meet the needs of the market is devoted to the research conducted during 2014-2020 and still currently continues. In this article, we have tried to show our research, achievements and conclusions. Initially, the plants with a reduced content of THC (0.01-0.001%) and an increased content of CBD (0.50-1.50%) and CBG (0.02-0.70%) in the variety Zolotoniski 15 were selected, and later the breeding work was continued with the varieties Globa, Lara, Sula and a number of future varieties that will be submitted for the state variety testing. In the first three years, the targeted selection in the direction of increasing the content of CBG in cannabis plants proved to be quite effective. But life sets new challenges and our search continues. Key words: cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (СBN), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), enzymes, precursors, breeding, technical hemp, variability, correlation.