Sod-podzolic Sandy Loam Soil Research Articles

ASSESSMENT OF THE AVAILABILITY OF 137Cs AND 90Sr RADIONUCLIDES TO AGRICULTURAL PLANTS IN CHANGING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

In field experiments conducted on sod-podzolic soils, it was found that 35 years after the Chernobyl accident, the largest share of 137Cs is in a strongly bound form, which determines the low transfer of 137Cs into crops. The share of easily available 137Cs forms (water-soluble + exchangeable) for plants is 10,9 % in sod-podzolic sandy soils – 5,1 % in sandy loam and – 3,9 % in loam of the total content in the soil. The share of easily available of 90Sr forms (water-soluble + exchangeable) is 67,2 % in sod-podzolic sandy soils 59,5 % sandy loam and 75,5 % loam of the total content in the soil. This fact determines the high transfer of 90Sr into crops. The research results show that for the studied crops there is a significant increase in the transfer of 90Sr to plants from sod podzolic sandy loam soil in warmer and drier growing seasons. It can be noted that with the warming of the climate on the territory of radioactive contamination, the problems with high transfer of 90Sr into crops will worsen.

THE INFLUENCE OF SOD-PODZOLIC SANDY LOAM SOIL LIMING ON THE NUTRIENT REMOVING AND BALANCE DURING CORN CULTIVATION

The research results about sod-podzolic sandy loam soil liming on crop yield and nutrient accumulation in the corn green mass are presented. The data of nutrient removing by the corn yield are showed. It is considered the nutrient balance and its intensity using dolomite flour, defecate and carbide lime ameliorant. The research results show the possibility of using calcium-containing industrial wastes for the liming acidic soils. This technique reduces the ameliorants production and transportation costs.

Varietal Characteristics of Jerusalem Artichoke as a High Nutritional Value Crop for Herbivorous Animal Husbandry

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is considered to be one of the most promising multipurpose bioenergetic crops. The goal of this study was to carry out laboratory and field research regarding the tops and tubers of 16 Jerusalem artichoke (JA) cultivars grown on sod-podzolic sandy loam soils, taking into account varietal characteristics in order to point out advances in JA potential as alternative feedstock in herbivorous animal husbandry. The height of JA plants produced was from 147 to 280 cm. Having formed by the beginning of September, the size of the assimilating leaf apparatus surface was 0.41 to 2.31 m2/plant. In early September, the productivity of JA green mass amounted to 23.6 to 86.0 t/ha for late-maturing cultivars on average; correspondingly, this was 13.0 to 25.4 t/ha for early-maturing cultivars. At the end of October, the “late” cultivars produced 28.2 to 86.9 t/ha of green mass; on the contrary, the herbage of the “early” ones mostly withered and even dried up. The highest gross yield of tubers in early September was obtained from cultivars Diyeticheskiy (43.5 t/ha) and Nadezhda (40.8 t/ha). The average yield of early-maturing cultivars was 13.4 … 43.5 t/ha; as for “late” ones, it was reported to be 6.0 … 35.9 t/ha. In the third ten-day period of October, tubers of all cultivars gained weight significantly: the average yield of early-maturing cultivar tubers increased up to 33.1 …51.1 t/ha, whereas the average tuber yields of “late” cultivars were 14.4 … 43.9 t/ha. On average, the distribution of dry matter content in JA was 28.8 to 29.8% in aboveground biomass and in tubers, 23.8 to 24.0%. According to the chemical composition, cellulose (10.9 to 13.1%) and sugars (4.0 to 4.2%) could be noted to predominate in the green mass, but tubers were high in sugars (16.9 to 17.6%). The analyses on the trace elements (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Si and Zn) showed that crop green mass contained more Mg (45 to 72 mg/100 g) and Mn (44 to 65 mg/100 g), but for JA tubers, late-maturing cultivars were rich in Si (27.2 to 79.0 mg/100 g) and early-maturing cultivars were mainly high in Zn (32.8 to 46.5 mg/100 g). The highest total coefficient of energy efficiency was displayed by the following cultivars: Novost VIRa (3.09); Tadzhikskiy (2.78); Spindle (2.68); Korenevskiy (2.43); Interes (2.10); and Skorospelka (1.98). In this respect, Jerusalem artichoke certainly has potential as a forage crop that can reach high yields with low external inputs. The data obtained may be useful for farmers who want to adapt and produce this useful and essential crop for the sustainability of feed production.

Jerusalem Artichoke as a Strategic Crop for Solving Food Problems

Jerusalem artichoke is a staple for the raw material base of healthy food, beverages, feed, medicine, and fuel, in addition to being the source of its herbage and tubers. The choice of conditions for cultivating a variety depends on the purpose or direction for the crop and the products obtained from it. This research involved laboratory and on-farm studies of 16 Jerusalem artichoke varieties of different maturity groups cultivated on sod-podzolic sandy loam soils to determine their suitability for further use in feed production. The list of varieties in question is presented in this work. The gross yield of tubers obtained from varieties with early leaf wilting was 33.1–51.1 t/ha, whereas that from varieties with late leaf wilting was 14.4–43.9 t/ha. The total yield of Jerusalem artichoke raw biomass was 36.8–98.1 t/ha. Moreover, early varieties had a dominant mass of tubers in the total feed value structure (68%), whereas herbage mass (59%) prevailed in the total feed value structure of varieties with late leaf wilting. The highest total solids in tubers (25.0–26.4%) were found in varieties Korenevskiy, Novost VIRa, and Blank Brekos; whereas high inulin content was found in varieties Dieticheskiy, Kaluzhskiy, Korenevskiy, Nakhodka, Novost VIRa, and Blank Brekos. The aggregate feed value amounted to 37.0–103.4 thousand MJ/ha of metabolized energy; this exceeded energy production costs on properly selected varieties by two- to three-fold. The data obtained can be useful for growers in the introduction and evaluation of Jerusalem artichoke varieties to be cultivated for further usage and processing, including fodder purposes.

ESTIMATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE APPLICATION OF BIOCOMPOSTS ON AGROCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF SODDY-PODZOLY SANDY SOIL

The paper presents the results of a lysimetric experiment to study the aftereffect of the use of biocompost on the change in agrochemical parameters of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil. The positive influence of the aftereffect of the use of biocompost and effluent on the agrochemical properties of the soil has been experimentally established. The best result in improving the agrochemical indicators of soddy-podzolic sandy loam soil is observed with the aftereffect from the use of 10 t/ha of biocompost based on the joint composting of animal waste with sewage sludge from housing and communal services. Thus, the amount of absorbed bases increased by 1,9 mmol/100 g; the degree of soil saturation with bases increased by 1,6 %; organic matter content increased by 0,64 %; the content of mobile phosphorus increased by 250 mg/kg; the content of mobile potassium increased by 19 mg/kg.

Dynamics of physicochemical indicators using various fertilization systems on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil and their Influence on Crop Productivity

As a result of the studies carried out by the Department of Chemistry, Agrochemistry and Agroecology to improve the physicochemical parameters of sod-podzolic soils in the conditions of the Pskov region, positive results were obtained. It was noted that on the sod-podzolic sandy loam soil in the period from 2016 to 2019, in the control option, there was a gradual increase in soil acidity over the years. For 5 years, the exchange acidity increased by 0.1 units, and the hydrolytic acidity of the soil by 0.07 meq/100 g of soil. Against the background with mineral fertilizers, as well as in the control, during the study period there was no decrease in the value of exchangeable acidity, and the increase in hydrolytic acidity was not significant by 0.02 meq/100 g of soil, respectively, in relation to 2016. Application of manure in the amount of 30 and 40 t/ha contributed to a significant improvement in the acid-base state of the soil. During the years under study, exchangeable acidity decreased by 0.7-1.1 units (from 5.8 to 6.1 units), and the hydrolytic acidity of the soil decreased by 0.08 meq/100 g of soil due to the influx of stubble-root residues. Application of manure reduced the negative indicators of the Ca and Mg balance by 564 kg/ha or by 83 %, and in the organomineral and mineral options only by 64 and 39 %, respectively. The results of studies on sandy loamy sod-podzolic soil also showed a high efficiency of the influence of fertilization systems on the productivity of crops in the crop rotation link. The best performance indicators were obtained from the organomineral fertilization system.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СРЕДООБРАЗУЮЩИХ ФАКТОРОВ НА УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ КАРТОФЕЛЯ

Favourable temperature, aeration, and moisture conditions must be maintained in the tuber nest area to obtain a good potato crop. To develop the theoretical prerequisites and principles of designing the environment for growing potatoes, the authors conducted studies on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil at Lorch Potato Research Center in 2019-2020. The work aimed to study the influence of the complex application of environmental factors, such as moisture-saving superabsorbent polymers Aquasin (Agro) and the width of row spacing on the main agrophysical parameters of the soil and the yield of tubers when optimizing environmental formation in potato growing technology. The field experience tab, records, and observations were carried out in accordance with the requirements of the field experiment methodology and the potato research methododology. The experiment scheme included a variation of three parameters: the Meteor (early) and Favorit (medium-ripening) varieties; row spacing of 120 + 30 cm (for beds) and 75 cm (for ridges); application rates of superabsorbent polymers of 0.200 and 400 kg/ha in the first treatment. The experiment was laid according to the scheme by the method of systematic plot arrangement in a fourfold repetition. The experiment plot area was 21 m2. It was experimentally found that increasing the row-spacing and introducing SAP improved medium formation components in the tuber nest zone: the soil temperature decreased by 0.3°C; soil humidity increased from 47.4% to 59.2% of limiting field moisture capacity; values of soil hardness decreased by 2.7…11.0 kg/cm2. The crop capacity of the early potato Meteor varieties increased from 30.7 t/ha (in the variant with the ridging technology without application of superabsorbing polymers) up to 37.7 t/ha (in the variant with the ridging technology and a SAP application rate of 400 kg/ha); the crop capacity of the middle-season Favorit variety has increased from 32.3 to 39.6 t/ha, respectively. The autors conclude that the SAP application in combination with the ridge technology is a promising method.

ВЛИЯНИЕ РЕГУЛЯТОРОВ РОСТА НА ДИНАМИКУ НАКОПЛЕНИЯ ПЛОЩАДИ ЛИСТОВОЙ ПОВЕРХОСТИ И ФОТОСИНЕТИЧЕСКОГО ПОТЕНЦИАЛА КОРМОВОЙ СВЕКЛЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ НЕЧЕРНОЗЕМНОЙ ЗОНЫ РФ

Intensification of agricultural production provides for the development and introduction of new, progressive and cost-effective techniques. In the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation, the issue of increasing the productivity of forage crops with high quality indicators that provide the livestock industry with juicy feeds is extremely acute. One of the ways to obtain a guaranteed high, stable crop yield, on the example of fodder beet experiencing a number of stressful situations during the growing season, is the use of modern, highly effective growth regulators that positively affect the growth and development of the crop. The research was carried out on the basis of the experimental field of the Kaluga branch of the RSAU – MTAA named after K.A. Timiryazev in 2019-2020 on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil in the Kaluga region on fodder beet of the Eckendorf yellow variety type. The aim of the study was to study the influence of various growth regulators on the dynamics of leaf surface growth, photosynthetic potential of fodder beet in the Non-Chernozem zone. The positive effect of the use of growth regulators on crop yield was established, the effect of seed pickling was 26,5-62 t/ha or 4,9-11,5%, with foliar application of 22,5-66 t/ha or 4,2-12,3%, the dynamics of the accumulation of the leaf surface area by the time of full ripeness increased by 4.1-12.3% and 1.8–10.0%, respectively, according to the application options in the culture cultivation technology relative to the control.

Increase in Humus Content of Sod-Podzolic Sandy Loam Soil

Increase in Humus Content of Sod-Podzolic Sandy Loam Soil

Adaptability of Potato Varieties as an Important Factor of Sod-Podzolic Sandy Loam Soil

Adaptability of Potato Varieties as an Important Factor of Sod-Podzolic Sandy Loam Soil

Agrochemical indicators of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil under the influence of fertilizer mixtures with sewage sludge

The paper presents the data of a three–year field experience on the study of the effect of the combined introduction of sewage sludge (WWS) and additional organic substrates (sawdust, peat, straw) in different ratios (1: 1, 1: 2, 1: 3) on the content of basic nutrients sod–podzolic sandy loam soil and the yield of field crops in the crop rotation link: vetch–oat mixture – winter rye – spring barley. For comparative characteristics, the experiment included a variant with ready–made compost based on WWS. The content of the main nutrients in the plow horizon of the soil was in direct proportion to the share of WWS in the composition of the mixture. The most effective influence on the studied parameters was provided by the introduction of WWS with peat in a 1:1 ratio. For 3 years, the content of mineral nitrogen exceeded the effect of compost by 12.5–32.6%, mobile phosphorus – by 7.0–32.9%, exchangeable potassium – by 15.6–18.5%. With the introduction of WWS and peat (1: 1), there was a significant increase in the yield of field crops relative to the option with ready–made compost: vetch–oat mixture – by 37.5%, winter rye – by 9.2%, spring barley – by 10.0%. Other types of fertilizer mixtures with the participation of WWS also had a positive effect on the agrochemical characteristics of the soil and yield in comparison with the control. In the year of direct action, the biomass increase was 30.9–74.5% (vetch–oat mixture), in the first year of aftereffect – 21.5–53.4% (winter rye), in the second year of aftereffect – 56.4–94.8. The studied dose of WWS of 30 t / ha did not cause excessive accumulation of toxic elements in the grain of winter rye and spring barley.

Assessment of soil erosion hazard and its mapping using GIS technologies

The article presents a method for creating a territory erosion hazard integrated map using RUSLE integral model, Earth remote sensing data and GIS technologies. The studies carried out on this topic are presented, the analysis of which has shown a more active use of integral indicators of water-erosion processes in foreign scientific works. Urgency of updating methodology for studying erosion processes has been substantiated. Theoretical foundations of the application of integral models of soil erosion are given, the application of the RUSLE model is substantiated, and the optimal way of using this model is proposed. The research methodology has been developed, consisting of primary processing of remote sensing data, calculation of the factors of erosion development and creation of a territory erosion hazard integrated map. Based on the processing of aerial photography materials, a point cloud, a digital elevation model and an orthomosaic map of the study area were created. The results of the geoinformation analysis of the remote sensing data, which included calculation of the soil erodibility factor and the topographic factor, are presented. Based on the integral indicator of watererosion hazard, a complex map of the erosion hazard of the territory has been created. Main patterns of geographical distribution of the values of the integral indicator of the water-erosion hazard of the territory are revealed, devised methodology is assessed. It was found that the schematic map reflects the general pattern of water erosion processes: they are more active in places where more dissected relief is spread. Influence of the soil factor on the pattern of the schematic map is shown: the pattern in the territories occupied by sod-podzolic loamy soils qualitatively differs from the pattern on the lands where sod-podzolic sandy loam soils are widespread. Patterns on the schematic map of different parts of the developed linear forms of relief, formed by temporary streams, are described. It is shown that the proposed method can be used to assess the water-erosion hazard of the territory. The need to take into account a larger number of factors and to refine the assessment of existing ones is concluded.

TORCHILO M. M. THE INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER SYSTEMS ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY INDICATORS OF WINTER WHEAT GRAIN ON SOD-PODZOLIC SANDY LOAM SOIL

In a field technological experiment on sod-podzolic sandy loamy soil, the agro-economic efficiency of various winter wheat fertilization systems was studied, depending on the method of basic tillage. The incorporation of straw without a compensating dose of nitrogen, both during traditional and surface tillage, did not adversely affect the uniformity of seedlings and the development of winter wheat plants on soddy-podzolic sandy loamy soil. On sod-podzolic soils in field experiments, on average for 3 years, due to the effective fertility of medium-cultivated sandy loam soil, 40,9 centners/ha of winter wheat grain was obtained, the most optimal on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil in the plowing block was a fertilizer system, including the application of N70+40+40P55K45 against the background of straw, which ensured the formation of a winter wheat grain yield of 68,6 centners/ha, with surface tillage of the soil, a fertilizer system that includes the application of N70+40+40P65K115 against the background of straw treated with the microbial preparation Zhytsen in a dose of 3 l/ha ensured the formation of a winter wheat grain yield of 733 centners/ha. Grain quality indicators are determined.

INFLUENCE OF GREEN TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES ON PRODUCTION OF HIGH-QUALITY POTATO TUBERS

The article presents the results of studies on the effect of eco-friendly cultivation technology on the quality of potato tubers on sod-podzolic sandy-loam soil in the Minsk region conditions in 2013–2014. It was found that the cultivation of potatoes using green technologies in comparison with the traditional ones increases the content of dry matter, starch, Vitamin C, amino acids and reduces the nitrates and radionuclides content in tubers.

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.

Features of environmentally-friendly product obtaining from sugar and fodder beets in conditions of zinc contamination of sod-podzolic sandy loam soils

This article presents the results of a field experiment on obtaining environmentally friendly products from sugar and fodder beets in conditions of zinc contamination. It was found that various intensification factors during the cultivation of sugar and fodder beets significantly change the agrochemical and agroecological properties of sod-medium podzolic sandy loam soil. The zinc content in sugar and fodder beets was almost two times lower within the treatments with the simultaneous introduction of lime as N60P60K60 + Zn + lime and N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure. Liming significantly increased the yield of products. In general, using a fairly minimal set of intensification factors on sod-podzolic soils without a combination with supporting liming caused the suppression of sugar and fodder beets on sod-podzolic soils under conditions of zinc contamination. Agroecological regimes were changed quite pronouncedly on soddy-podzolic soils of light granulometric composition, susceptible to zinc pollution, when lime fertilizers were applied, which makes it possible to reduce the mobility of zinc in the soil environment. The introduction of dolomite flour in the treatments N60P60K60 + Zn + lime and N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure reduced the translocation of zinc in the soil-plant system within concentrations above the established norms. However, in the production of fodder beets, this effect was established only in the treatment N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure. Thus, obviously the application of mineral fertilizers in combination with liming and manure as N60P60K60 + Zn + lime and N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure on sod-podzolic soils of light granulometric composition in conditions of zinc pollution make it possible to obtain environmentally-friendly products of sugar and fodder beets due to the negative impact reduction.

Optimization of elements of varietal agricultural technology in potato cultivation

The research was carried out in 2018-2020 on a new early potato variety Azart in Russian Potato Research Centre in the conditions of sod-podzolic sandy loam soils of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone. In the experiment, we studied a complex of agrotechnical techniques, including the timing, density of planting and methods of applying mineral fertilizers in order to accelerate growth, subsequent development, increase plant productivity and uninterrupted supply of nutrients throughout the growing season. It was found out that early planting accelerated the emergence of seedlings by 6-7 days, and the onset of the budding and flowering phase of plants by 4-6 days. The mass of the tops, and the area of the assimilation surface of the leaves increased by 1.5 t/ha and 2.6 thousand m2 / ha. The yield increase from early planting for an average of 3 years reached up to 1.8 t/ha or 4.5%, and from fractional fertilization up to 2.1 t/ha or 5.3% in comparison with the corresponding controls. The combined use of agricultural techniques in the experiment allowed us to obtain a yield increase of 3.7 t/ha or 9.7%. Conditional income amounted to 39 thousand rubles/ha, and the cost price – 3.7 rubles/kg, which is 0.3 rubles/kg less than in the control. Thickening of plantings to 50 and 56 thousand tubers/ha contributed to an increase in the yield of tubers by an average of 2.8-3.3 t/ha or up to 8.7%, compared with the control. Conditional income increased on these options to an average of 8.0 thousand rubles/ha.

Biological activity of sod - podzolic sandsand soil with meloriative application of hydrogels

Biological activity of the soil is an indicator characterizing the number of organisms living in the soil, and quantitatively evaluating the results of their vital activity. High biological activity is a factor in increasing soil fertility and its phytosanitary state, achieved by creating optimal living conditions for soil microorganisms: providing nutrients, especially organic matter, moisture, heat and soil aeration. In this paper, we assess the effect of hydrogels of different chemical bases on the microbiological activity of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil. The effect of hydrogels on the microbiological activity of sod-podzolic soil was studied in a microfield experiment in a special installation (“dry place”) under conditions of soil drought and field conditions (Menkovsky branch of the FSBIU API, Gatchinsky district, Leningrad region). The experience was laid with two types of hydrogels (potassium and sodium base) with a single dose (40 g/m2). In the experiment, the indicators of soil biological activity were compared in the following variants: soil - control with the addition of 90 kg ha-1 NPK in the form of an azofoska, hydrogel introduced to a depth of 10–12 cm + N90 P90 K90, hydrogel introduced to a depth of 20–22 cm + N90P90K90. Samples of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil were taken from depths (10–12 cm and 20–22 cm) at the beginning and at the end of the growing season. In the course of the studies, it was found that when the hydrogel is introduced, both in the upper root-inhabited soil layer and in the 20–22 cm layer, favorable conditions are created for the microbiological activity of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil. It has been established that the chemical basis of the hydrogel does not inhibit the activity of the microbial community.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ МИКРОЭЛЕМЕНТОВ ПРИ ВЫРАЩИВАНИИ КАРТОФЕЛЯ -ПРЕДПОСЫЛКИ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ДРОНОВ

The use of trace elements in the form of a chelated fertilizer can increase the yield and shelf life of potato tubers. When processing plantings with a tractor unit after closing the tops, severe damage to the plants by the tractor wheels is likely to be caused. In this case, it is advisable to use drones. The aim of the study was to make a comparative assessment of the eff ect of innovative preparations: sulfur-containing and containing trace elements in chelated form: Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, Co, B, and the Aquarin-12 preparation on the yield and shelf life parameters of potato tubers of the Udacha and Kolobok varieties, as well as to perform preliminary calculations of the spray (capture) width when spraying potato plantings with a drone. The studies were conducted in 2018-2019 on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil. The experiment was carried out according to the requirements of the fi eld experiment and potato research methodology. The experiment was laid out according to the scheme, by the method of systematic placement of plots in four-fold repetition with a planting density of 44.4 thousand bushes/ha and the inter-row width of 75 cm. The use of the tested preparations allowed increasing the yield by 3.4…8.7 t/ha (12…37%) and reducing the total storage losses by 1.6…2.3%, especially in a good weather year. According to the calculations performed, it turned out that at the height of the drone fl ight of 9 m, the value of the spraying width or the sprayer’s operating width was 10.4 m. When conducting fi eld tests on potato plantings in a fi eld of 120x20 meters with a plant height of up to 1.0 m, the drone performed that task in 15 minutes (including refueling). A signifi cant increase in yield and a reduction in total losses during storage confi rm the feasibility of using preparations with trace elements in a chelated form when growing potatoes.

New protectants for potato protection

In field experiments in the conditions of sod-podzolic sandy loam soils of the Moscow region, protectants were tested. Before planting potatoes, tubers were treated with a new two-component insectofungicide AVG – 0190 (Idikum, SC, iprodion, 133 g/l + Imidacloprid, 100 g/l + diphenoconazole, 6.7 g/l)-1.0 – 1.5 l/t and a mixture of the fungicide Syncler, SC (75 g/l fludioxonyl) and the insecticide Tabu Super, SC (Imidacloprid, 400 g/l and fipronil, 100 g/l)-0.2-0.3 l/t. According to the results of three-year tests, it was found that the etching of potato tubers before planting does not have a negative impact on the germination and biometric indicators of growth and development of potatoes. Their use helped to reduce the development and spread of rhizoctoniosis and provided almost complete protection of potatoes from the first generation of the Colorado beetle – during the mass appearance of older larvae and during the beginning of the departure of larvae for pupation. Biological efficacy against Rhizoctonia amounted to 58.8-66,3%, the Colorado potato beetle – 93,7 95.5 per cent. The use of new potato tuber protectants allowed to increase the gross yield by 6.2-7.1 t / ha or 30.9-35.3% compared to the control. Treatment of seed tubers with protectants helped to obtain a crop free from rhizoctoniosis and increase the yield of standard healthy potatoes by 57.7