Southern Steppe Research Articles

Disentangling the Medieval Climatic Anomaly in Patagonia and its impact on human societies

This paper revises paleoenvironmental data from Patagonia (southern South America) to discuss the occurrence, characteristics, and human impact of the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA). The analysis of continuous paleoenvironmental archives with multidecadal-to-centennial resolution is based on a quality assessment regarding data interpretation, chronological control, and time range adequacy within the MCA lapse. After applying this three-stepped quality filters on the total dataset ( N = 48), 18 cases can accurately be ascribed to the MCA. Except for two sites indicating wetter conditions, these records show dry and/or warm conditions between ca. 750 and 1350 CE (core period at ca. 800–1200 CE). Even though MCA records come mostly from forests and forest-steppe ecotones, all previous archeological hypotheses about the MCA effects on past hunter-gatherers were proposed for the steppes, particularly in southern sectors, thus requiring an assessment of the source of the signal, their synchronicity and causality between human-environmental processes. In the southern steppe, paleoenvironmental records partially overlapping with the MCA time window actually show a predominance of wet conditions between 47° and 50° S, whereas a generalized aridity is recorded in southern tip of the continental Patagonia between 51° and 52° S. Thus, a complex scenario of landscape fragmentation can be supported in the southern steppes during the MCA, produced not only by enhanced aridity in dry environments, but also because of the presence of wet and more resilient areas. This landscape heterogeneity must be considered to deepen the understanding of behavioral changes contemporaneous to the MCA. However, a scenario of demographic growth suggested around 1000 CE for the entire Patagonia could have promoted human changes similar to those expected for the MCA. Finally, no-archeological discussions linked to the MCA were developed for forest regions, despite their robust paleoenvironmental records, implying that changes in proxy data might not have necessarily involved important environmental changes.

Informal economic practices as a mechanism of adaptation of migrants in the south of Western Siberia in the late 19th — early 20th centuries

During the process of development of remote regions of Russian Empire, the state played the most important role, legislatively regulating the resettlement process and penal colonization. Despite the efforts of the state, in-formal economic practices became the means of adaptation of migrants to the new climatic and social circum-stances they were exposed to as a result of migration. The variety of the practices was most vividly manifested during the years of large-scale peasant resettlements to Siberia at the turn of the 19th — 20th c. This phenomenon was reflected in the reports, essays and travel diaries of officials, which supervised the land management matters of the resettlement, which made possible the comparison of informal economic practices in different climatic zones — the taiga and the steppe. The methodological basis of the study is the concept of the informal economy by T. Shanina, which considers the informal practices as a universal restorative mechanism that makes it possible to “soften” the most acute social and economic contradictions. That mechanism provides survival in such condi-tions when other social mechanisms fail. The resettlement households of the taiga regions were characterized by primitive methods of deforestation and felling for sale to the steppe districts, which prompted chances in the na-ture of urmans. As a consequence of the informal economic behavior of late settlers in the areas with abundant forests, the building density of homesteads became high, which resulted in that even newly formed settlements appeared as solid wooden walls. Such dense building development contradicted the directives of the resettlement officials, which appealed to the building statute regulations. In the southern steppe regions of Western Siberia, the settlers used land holdings on the basis of a seizure right using shifting cultivation system and seeding the fields mainly with wheat without applying crop rotation. In the settlements located at the bitter-salt lakes, hydraulic engi-neering works were carried out. However, the late settlers ignored such improvements; they denied the suitability of the filters, did not monitor their condition, and even contributed to the pollution of the water reservoirs arranged for drinking. The adaptive result of the informal practices is the increased stability of the peasant economy. De-pending on the yields, the new settlers was able to transfer the center of economic operations to and survive diffi-cult times. The development of promysels saved peasant families from hunger and financial collapse, yet contrib-uted to the spread of non-progressive, backward forms of land and resource use, which were based on extensive agriculture and a predatory attitude towards nature.

Weeding of safflower crops under the influence of agricultural treatments on non-herbicide and herbicide background

Weeds are a big problem with safflower crops. To control weeds, it is necessary to develop an effective system of herbicide use and mechanical methods of weed control for arid conditions of the Southern steppe of Ukraine. In weed–infested fields, the protein content of cereals decreases and that of oilseeds in oil fields. Weed reduction reduces the productivity of agricultural machinery and implements, increases production costs. Weeds reduce the effectiveness of fertilizers, irrigation and other measures aimed at increasing crop yields. The article presents the main results of research for 2017–2019 to study the impact of agricultural practices for the care of safflower crops on herbicide and herbicide–free backgrounds on the weediness of safflower crops. The research was conducted in the fields of the Institute of Oilseeds of NAAS. The system of the main tillage: classical. Variants of the crop care system: 1 – without care (control); 2 – harrowing before and after germination; 3 – 2 row spacing; 4 – harrowing and inter–row cultivation. Application of soil herbicide led to a decrease in the total number of weeds before harvesting in crops of safflower variety Zhyvchyk by 9,3–16,0 and in crops of variety Dobrynya by 8,3–17,7 pieces/m2. The number of weeds before harvesting was the lowest in the variants with two inter–row treatments and was equal to: 16,0 pieces/m2 – on a background with out herbicide and 6,7 pieces/m2–on a herbicide background in crops of Zhyvchyk variety; 14,3 and 6,0 pieces/m2, respectively, in crops of Dobrynya variety. The lowest values of air–dry mass of weeds before harvesting: 81,5 and 39,6 g/m2 in crops of Zhyvchyk variety and 84,3 and 36,9 g/m2 were obtained in the variant with two inter–row treatments. The highest yields were provided by growing safflower varieties using post–emergence harrowing + inter–row cultivation: on a herbicide–free background – 1,35 t/ha in the variety Zhyvchykand 1,40 t/ha in the variety Dobrynya, on a herbicide background 1,54 and 1,64 t/ha, respectively. Key words: safflower, variety, agricultural production, herbicide, weed, yield.

Productivity of soft winter wheat varieties of various ecological groups in the Middle Volga region

Relevance. Creation and introduction of high-yield varieties of soft winter wheat into production is one of the important ways to increase the production of wheat grain and increase its export potential.Materials and methods. The research was conducted in 2017–2019. according to the methodology of the State Commission for variety testing of agricultural crops. Statistical data processing was performed by the method of one-factor analysis of variance according to B.A. Dospekhov (1985) in Excel. In 2017 55 varieties were evaluated, in 2018 – 98 varieties, in 2019 – 150 varieties of north caucasian, forest-steppe southern (Ukrainian), steppe southern (Ukrainian), Volga forest-steppe, north russian, central european, north european, north american ecological groups of soft winter wheat.Results. Phenological observations made it possible to establish ecogroups with the minimum duration of the spring vegetation renewal – earing period in the experiments – the north caucasian – 47 days and the maximum – the north russian – 57 days. Under favorable conditions of humidification, the yield of varieties of the north caucasian, southern steppe (Ukrainian), Volga forest-steppe, and north Russian ecological groups was: 7.06; 7.43; 7.24; and 7.08 t/ha, respectively. In the conditions of drought, the varieties of north caucasian, southern forest-steppe (Ukrainian), southern steppe (Ukrainian), and Volga forest-steppe were distinguished by yield: 3.03–3.27 t/ha. Sharply reduced the yield of varieties of the north russian ecogroup – 0.0–1.18 t/ha.

Into Russian Nature: Tourism, Environmental Protection, and National Parks in the Twentieth Century by Alan D. Roe

Reviewed by: Into Russian Nature: Tourism, Environmental Protection, and National Parks in the Twentieth Century by Alan D. Roe David Ostergren Roe, Alan D. Into Russian Nature: Tourism, Environmental Protection, and National Parks in the Twentieth Century. Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2020. xiv + 344 pp. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. £25.99. Into Russian Nature is a comprehensive, excellent and engaging history of the Russian national park system from the early twentieth century to their creation in the 1980s. The author's background research and personal experience provide a unique and comprehensive perspective. Roe reveals the complicated relationship between citizen advocates for nature protection, the divided academic-scientific community and the ponderous Soviet bureaucracy. The bureaucracy opposed national parks in part because it was a 'Western idea'. The Soviet response was to support 'their' idea; that is strict nature preserves called zapovedniki. In the end, this is a history of bold aspirations, partial successes and unrealized expectations over 100 years. This is an excellent resource for scholars and students interested in the development of national parks in Russia and more broadly, how culture, government structure and society influence the protection of large natural areas. While the national park idea is near universal, each park in each of 100 countries has its own story. Into Russian Nature investigates histories from four regions: Lake Baikal — the Sacred Sea, the tiaga of Karelia and Arkhangelsk, the Pechoran Alps of the Ural Mountain range and the Komi peninsula and, finally, the Samara Bend of the Volga River including the Zhiguli Mountains. Several commonalities emerge in the case studies. Each had a few leaders who promoted the fantastic natural features through print, word of mouth, recruitment, and later with video. Each area typically had a group of nature advocates or 'friends of the park'. These groups were often comprised of young people seeking the solace and challenge of open natural spaces. The youth never grew quite powerful enough to generate sufficient political support. Each area had scientists who either supported the national park concept or opposed the park idea to protect biodiversity for science or management. Each area had at least a trickle of tourists that was promoted as a potential economic driver as mass tourism. But mass tourism requires infrastructure. The reality was that most Soviet citizens (and then Russians) were not mobile enough to access remote natural areas, lacked sufficient disposable income, or preferred known destinations. In general Russians do enjoy the outdoors but still do not visit national parks in the same numbers as other nations. Historically this has been a political liability. Ironically, even where there is mass tourism the natural areas may suffer two fates. For instance, Pribaikal´skii and Zabaikal´skii National Parks on the 'sacred sea' were established because people were willing and able to access the area. However, soon the Lake Baikal national parks suffered because [End Page 192] funding did not keep up with notoriety. The Kamchatka Peninsula has long been a natural area that attracts visitors willing to travel. But whereas Lake Baikal received national parks status, Kamchatka did not, and advocates settled for several regional nature parks — famous areas of spectacular natural phenomenon that depend upon regional political and financial support. Both results are less than ideal. Additional opposition was from industry such as mining, forestry or, in the western and southern steppe, agriculture. Other forces working against parks included that land was, and is, largely owned by the government. In a sense, why set up areas for recreation when people can access the areas at will and without regulation? And finally, in the 1990s zapovedniki started to have more tourism in part to justify their existence. Each factor worked against national parks. Too often the roots for creating national parks grew and then failed either through active opposition or debilitating neglect. Although park advocates thought that emerging environmentalism and the collapse of the USSR would mean more Western and internal political support, the emerging policies and practices rarely matched expectations. The author's conclusion is that the 2000s have been a dark chapter. Protected areas were shuffled from one department to another and at one point threatened to...

The Handsome Cross Grasshopper Oedaleus decorus (Germar, 1825) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) as a Neglected Pest in the South-Eastern Part of West Siberian Plain.

Simple SummaryThe handsome cross grasshopper is one of the most abundant and widely distributed grasshopper species over the steppe and semi-desert territories of Eurasia. In many areas, especially in east Mongolia and north-east China, it is a very common and dangerous pest on agriculture fields and pasturelands. However, the species was relatively rare in the steppes of west Siberia until the 1960s, but by the end of the last century, the geographic and ecological distribution of the handsome cross grasshopper was changed significantly. Nowadays, it often occurs across all steppes of the south-eastern part of West Siberian Plain, its abundance is high, and its populations are found in the forest-steppes and also on the eastern side of the Ob River. The authors tried to use ecologo-geographic modelling to estimate how species distribution may change in the near future.Oedaleus decorus is a widely distributed acridid over the Eurasian semi-arid territories, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. In many semi-arid territories, O. decorus was and is the most important pest, but in the south-eastern part of West Siberian Plain, it was not considered a pest until the 1960s. We compared two sets of data on the acridid distribution in the region: before 1960 and from 1961 until 2021. Until the 1960s, the species occurred mainly in the southern steppes. Since the 1960s, its distribution changed significantly. Nowadays, it occupies almost all local steppes and the southern part of the forest-steppes and can be also found on the eastern side of the Ob River. These shifts may be explained by both climatic changes and changes in human activities. During upsurges the densities of O. decorus were often more than one to two adults per square meter. It is often abundant in the same habitats and in the same periods as the Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus)—one of the most important acridid pests. This means during joint outbreaks these two species can simultaneously damage almost all spectrum of plants.

Phytosanitary state of Sarepta mustard agrocenosis at different levels of biologization of technology for growing crops in the southern steppe

Phytosanitary state of Sarepta mustard agrocenosis at different levels of biologization of technology for growing crops in the southern steppe

Analysis and semantic interpretation of the Scandinavian ornament of the new early medieval war axe of the Volga-Kama type from the southern part of Republic of Moldova

This study is devoted to the full-fledged introduction into scientific circulation of a unique early medieval iron war hatchet inlayed with silver originating from the southern steppe zone of the Dniester-Prut interfluve of present-day territory of Republic of Moldova. The ornamented battle axe of 10th–11th centuries was found near the village of Răzeni. The type of form of war axe from Răzeni is similar to type of war axes originated in the Middle Volga region, where there was a tradition of making similar ornamented war axes of this type. The main feature of the war ax from Răzeni is the Scandinavian ornament in Ringerike style. The semantics analysis of the ornamented motif and its interpretation — is one of the main tasks of this research work of the description and introduction of the unique find into scientific circulation. The image is interpreted as the tree of life Yggdrasil sprouting from the deck of the boat, which is worshiped by an anthropomorphic figure interpreted as a Viking. The present scientific work has widely direct and indirect analogies of Scandinavian origin from the Bronze to the Viking Age. The methodology of this research includes a deep and extensive comparative analysis of the motif elements on the surface of the war hatchet. The work makes a deep structural and semantic analysis in the broad context of ancient Germanic sources and previous scientific research on the worldview of the Vikings, reflected in their mythopoetic and mythological concepts and traditions. The ceremonial-battle axe from Răzeni was presumably made and ornamented in the Volga Bulgaria by order of a Viking-man, and then got in the borderland of Ancient Rus in the area of the Bugeac steppe of the Dniester-Prut interfluve of territory of present-day Republic of Moldova. The ceremonial-battle axe could have been brought in Bugeac steppe of the Dniester-Prut interfluve by means of circulation the international water arteries “from the Varangians to the Persians” along the Volga river, and “from the Varangians to the Greeks” along the Dniester river. The uniqueness of the ornamented war hatchet from Republic of Moldova is due to the fact that it is the first find of this type of axes in the Dniester-Prut interfluve of modern Republic of Moldova, and this axe no have direct analogies in eastern Europe. The early medieval ceremonial battle axe decorated with silver, contain the image of Old Norse cosmogonic representations in a stylized motif form on the surface of the hatchet. The unique item that captures the combination and interaction of different cultures at the junction of their intersection in the Medieval world.

Fauna and biotopic distribution of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve, Russia

Curculionoidea (hereinafter – weevils) comprises the largest group of phytophagous beetles. They are an integral component of terrestrial and freshwater communities and are associated with a wide range of plants. Therefore, weevils can serve as one of the model taxa for assessing the diversity and specificity of biota, including those in Protected Areas of various ranks. This article is based on the results of original studies (in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021) and a critical review of literature sources. The species composition was identified, and the characteristics of the weevil fauna of the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve (Samara Region, Russia) was carried out. The weevil fauna of the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve is characterised by a very high species richness and considerable originality. As a result of research, 355 species from five families of this group were identified. Of these, 66 species were recorded for the first time in the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve, including 52 species that were recorded for the first time in the fauna of the Samara Region. In terms of the number of species, the studied fauna considerably exceeds similar faunas of Protected Areas in the forest-steppe of the Southern Urals and is twice as rich as the faunas of Protected Areas of the southern steppe in the Orenburg Region. It is characterised by a complex composition, which is caused by sympatry of species of European, Siberian and Kazakh-Turanian faunas (including narrow endemics of the River Volga Region and a heterogeneous group of relicts), and steppe, nemoral and boreal forms in the study area. In the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve, we distinguished weevil complexes of forb-feather-grass steppes (120 species) and petrophytic steppes (113 species), broad-leaved (117 species) and pine (97 species) forests, floodplain and islands of the River Volga (92 species), as well as ruderal habitats (126 species). Trophically specialised weevil species of the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve are associated with plants from 34 families. The largest number of weevil species were found on Fabaceae (66 species), Asteraceae (39 species) and Brassicaceae (27 species). In general, the weevil fauna of the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve can be considered as a reference for the forest-steppe of the Volga Upland, which confirms its great importance for the preservation of the original natural ecosystems of the Middle Volga Region.

Agrophysical Properties of the Soil Depending on the Surface Treatment with Various Tillage Units

An important direction in the greening of tillage is to preserve and improve the physical properties of soils in the optimal range of values, which is a necessary condition for the effective use of other agronomic measures that affect the formation of crop yields. With the advent of new, modern energy-efficient tillage tools, there is a need to conduct research on their effectiveness on the first stubble cultivation on the southern chernozem. The purpose of the research was to establish the influence of surface (stubble) cultivation with tillage tools of the “Lozovsky mashiny” brand after harvesting winter barley on the agrophysical properties of Southern heavy loamy low-humus chernozem in the conditions of the Southern steppe of Ukraine. In the research process, methods were used: field, laboratory, comparative-calculation, statistical. It was found that DUCAT-2,5 (short Harrow-Husker) best structured the soil among the studied aggregates. The lowest soil hardness values (0.48-1.33 MPA) and the tendency to form a plow sole were obtained in the version with vertical processing – Verti-till (turbo disk). The obtained scientific results of the research will contribute to the wider introduction into the production of new units of the “Lozivski mashini” brand for surface soil cultivation, which will contribute to the reduction of mechanical stress and the preservation of moisture in the soil

INFLUENCE OF SEED DENSITY OF UNIVERSAL AND GRAIN AMARANT VARIETIES ON YIELD AND PHYSICAL-TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF GRAIN

In the conditions of global warming, in particular the growing aridity of the steppe zone of Ukraine, as well as the deficit of organic matter and declining nitrogen reserves in the soil, agricultural producers are faced with the task of finding effective cultivation of drought-resistant crops that are competitive in the market, have economic feasibility and unpretentiousness in cultivation. The experiment was established in 2021 in the research field of the Department of Field and Vegetable Crops within the land use of LLC «Iceberg» Rozdilna district of Odessa region. The administrative center is located in the village Grebinky. The experiment is two-factor: factor A – varieties of amaranth, factor B – the density of standing amaranth plants. Variants of the experiment are arranged sequentially in 3 repetitions. The total area under the experiment is 10 thousand m2, the total area of the plot is 555,0 m2, the accounting area is 300,0 m2. The predecessor is Sudanese grass for hay and green fodder on 2 cuts. Agricultural techniques in the experiment are adopted for the cultivation of organic amaranth, without fertilizers and plant protection products. Amaranth was sown with 60 cm row spacing with the help of ASTRA NOVA 5б4 seed drill. One of the features of amaranth plants is the specificity of the location of leaves on the stem, which determines the effective use of sunlight even in thickened crops. Our research studies have established a certain effect of changes in the density of amaranth crops on its productivity. The best yields of amaranth grain are observed at a sowing density of 150 thousand pieces/ha. It was found that the highest yield of amaranth grain in the experiment was obtained by Lera variety and was in the version of 150 thousand pieces/ha – 3,34 t/ha, which exceeds the control version by 0,53 t/ha, or 18,9%, and we prove mathematically (LSD05 for AB = 0,21 t/ha). The same applies to the variety Kharkivsky-1, where under the conditions of the year the largest grain yield was obtained in the variant with a sowing density of 150 thousand pieces/ha and amounted to – 3,06 t/ha, exceeding the control variant by 0,25 t/ha, or by 8,9%, which is a significant difference. Further increase or decrease in sowing density provided a decrease in yield. To obtain quality products from harvesting to direct processing into amaranth grain, a set of technological operations of post-harvest processing is used, the purpose of which is to prevent losses and preserve all its useful properties. From the conducted research studies, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the nature of amaranth grain is very variable indicator. The main factors that influence the nature of amaranth grain include the method of grain laying, grain density, variety, surface condition, fullness, moisture content of the grain mass. With an increase of humidity there is the increase in the mass of 1000 grains, the speed of soaring and the angle of natural slope. Studies have shown that the optimal sowing density for growing amaranth in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine is 150 thousand pieces/ha. Under such conditions, the highest yield of amaranth grain is formed, which under the conditions of the year was for the variety Kharkivsky-1 (universal) 3,06 t/ha and for the variety Lera (grain) – 3,34 t/ha. Knowledge of the basic physical and technological characteristics of the grain mass is a prerequisite for determining the optimal modes of technological equipment for post-harvest processing and reliable storage of grain for processing.

Patterns of Growth and Development of Young Herd Horses of Eurasia

The aim of the research in a comparative aspect is to study the patterns of postembryonic growth and development of the herd horse population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Teva of the Russian Federation. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the experimental part of the work was carried out in the farms "Urker" of Moyinkum and "Kaldybay" of Zhualy districts of Zhambyl region, respectively engaged in breeding Kazakh horses of the zhabe type of the southern population and the Kazakh breed of the southern population. In the Republic of Tuva, Tuvan horses from the State Unitary Enterprise "Choduraa" of the Tes-Khem district (southern steppe zone), ACF "Seserlig" of the Piy-Khem district (central mountain zone) of the Republic of Tyvaserved as the material for research. It was established that the young horses of the Kazakh breed in all periods of the experiment had superiority over the Kazakh horse of the zhabe type in almost all the studied measurements. Thus, at the age of 2.5 years, Kazakh horses surpassed the peers of the Kazakh horse of the zhabe type by 8.2 cm in height at the withers; the oblique length of the trunk by 7.10 cm; the chest girth behind the shoulders - 10.60 cm and the pastern girth - 0.70 cm, which characterizes the energy potential of growth and the possession of a massive physique. The colts of the Tuvan horse from the southern steppe zone are inferior to their peers from the central mountain zone in height at the withers, oblique length of the trunk, chest girth, but exceed the pastern girth by 0.2 cm. The same pattern is observed at 18 and 30 months of age. It was found that the live weight of colts of experimental groups increases unevenly from the age of three days to the age of 1 month. So foals received from the Kazakh breed at the age of 3 days weighed an average of 39.8, 1 month – 80.1 kg and foals from mares of the zhabe type in the same periods weighed 39.3 and 78.5 kg, young Kazakh horses at the age of 3 months on average had a live weight of 130.2 kg, 6 months - 179.6 kg, 12 months - 255.8 kg, 18 months - 307.3 kg and 30 months - 410.7 kg, which is more than their peers received from mares of the zhabe type at the studied ages respectively by 4.30; 8,9; 35.40; 26.80 and 58.20 kg (P<0.05).

Effect of forecrop on yield of spring durum wheat and soil potassium in chernozems of southern steppe zone in Southern Urals during long-term research

The goal of the study was to determine the infl nce of forecrops on spring durum wheat productivity and content of soil potassium in monoculture, double-cropping and six-year crop rotation at two types of nutrient statuses. The information obtained as a result of long-term experiments is of great interest, since systematic determination of nutrient elements in soil gives a correct assessment of the effect of the longterm use of fertilizers on soil fertility. Content of available forms of potassium in soil under spring durum wheat depending on different forecrops and nutrient statuses was studied. The best forecrops for durum wheat in 31-year experiments were black, soil-protecting and green fallows. The yield of durum wheat after black fallow was 1.20 t/ha under fertilization and 1.27 t/ha without using fertilizers. Vegetative mass of cropped fallow ploughed into soil and use of mineral fertilizers led to an increase in content of soil potassium. The use of mineral fertilizers has a positive effect on yield of durum wheat; the yield increase was 0.10 t/ha after soil protecting fallow, 0.11 t/ha after common wheat and 0.13 t/ha after winter rye. Content of soil potassium was higher in six-year crop rotation and it increased durum wheat productivity compared to double-cropping and monoculture.

THE WORKS OF SPIRIDON MIKHAILOV (YANDUSH) IN THE ASPECT OF SOME HISTORICAL ETHNOLOGY PROBLEMS

S.M. Mikhailov (Yandush) distinguished two ethnographic groups and two dialects of the Chuvash ethnos. The scientist attributed the population of Kozmodemyansky and the northern part of Yadrinsky uyezds to the upper (Virjal) Chuvash, and that of Tsivisky and Cheboksary uyezds of Kazan province – to the lower (Anatri) ones. Starting with the works of G.I. Komissarov, a third (middle-level) group began to be allocated from the lower group. According to the scientist, the Chuvash, being a separate community of Turkic-speaking peoples, used to live in Zakamye, where they had migrated from Siberia. He developed the Turkic-Bulgarian theory of the Chuvash language origin and the main ethnographic groups (middle lower and lower) of the Chuvash ethnos. He considered the upper dialect to be a mixed group, in whose culture, in addition to Turkic-Bulgar elements he found many elements of the Finno-Ugrians (the mountain Mari and the Mordvins-Erzya), and partly Kazan Tatars. Prior to annexation of the Chuvash Region to the Moscow state, two ethnographic groups of the mountain Chuvash functioned on the right bank of the Volga – the upper and the middle lower. After settling the southern steppe regions, in the process of cultural dialogue with the Mishar Tatars, a third ethnographic group was formed, known to the middle lower Chuvash as the khirti “steppe”. In Modern times, the geographical location of the ethnographic groups of the Chuvash ethnos contributed to penetration of the ideas of the European-Russian Enlightenment in the Chuvash Region (from the western territories to the eastern and southern ones). In the 1950s of the XX century the ideas of the Chuvash enlightenment were first formulated by S.M. Mikhailov, and later they began to spread in the academic circles of the entire Volga region. His works remain a valuable source for identifying the adaptive scheme of the ethnos, which the Chuvash built by localizing the “evil” principle outside of themselves, their society, ethnos.

Applying poultry manure and irrigation in cultivating potatoes in the southern forest-steppe of the Bashkortostan Republic

The goal of this research is to determine the effect of poultry manure and irrigation on the yield and quality of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) grown in fields located on the southern steppe of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Before the poultry manure was added, it was treated with a microbiological fertilizer to suppress pathogenic microflora. Potato tubers were pretreated with an insectofungicide to avoid infestation. During vegetation, potato leaves and tubers were studied at the stage of the full blossom, leaves’ decay and potato harvest. The results showed tuber yields with the application of pretreated poultry manure to be 120 t/ha, both on the rainfed and irrigated plots (from 0.23 to 0.82 kg/plant and from 0.24 to 1.02 kg/plant, respectively). On the rainfed and irrigated plots where poultry manure was not applied (control fields), the tubers’ weight ranged from 0.08 to 0.31 kg/plant and from 0.16 to 0.5 kg/plant, respectively. Along with this, poultry manure utilization also affected the starch content of potatoes—it ranged from 12.9% (for irrigated plots with 80 t/ha poultry manure applied) to 19.2% (for rainfed plots without fertilizers). Laboratory analyses revealed that the nitrate content increased from 171.80 to 232.98 mg/kg on rainfed plots (depending on the introduced amount of poultry manure) and by 7.91%–15.19% on irrigated plots. Upon application of 40 t/ha of manure, under irrigation, the highest marketable value of tubers was 78%. On the rainfed plots, the same value was 72% when applying poultry manure at a dose of 120 t/ha.

Taxonomic structure of the southern chernozem under application of biological preparations and different farming systems

The study of the taxonomic structure of the southern chernozem under influence of microbial preparations and various farming systems in the conditions of the southern steppe zone has been carried out. Metagenomic analysis of the microbiome of southern chernozem showed the presence of 174 genera representatives of prokaryotes, among which 17 are dominant, representing more than 1%. Farming systems cause changes in the taxonomic structure of the microbiome in comparison with virgin soil in the steppe zone. The influence of microbial preparations of complex action on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiome of southern chernozem and increasing under no-till farming system has been established. The maximum content of water-soluble organic matter was found in virgin soil, which has higher amount of plant residues, up to 491 mg/kg of soil. Under the influence of farming systems its amount decreased in 4.2-8.5 times. The use of a complex of microbial preparations in the southern chernozem contributed to an increase in the amount of water-soluble fraction of humus depending on the farming system: 1.7 times with the conventional farming system and 3 times with no-till compared to the control without CMP.

Ефективність використання органічних добрив як засобу адаптації до змін клімату

Abstract. The article presents the results of research on the use of liquid organic fertilizer in the cultivation of winter wheat in compliance with the requirements of organic farming in the grain-steam crop rotation of the experimental field of the South-Ukrainian branch of L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT in 2020-2021. The purpose of research is to analyze the effectiveness of organic fertilizers as a strategic priority for the development of low-carbon agricultural land use (agrochemical direction of adaptation to climate change). Determining the impact of liquid organic fertilizer "Riverm" on the quality of the soil and its ability to retain moisture, as well as to increase the productivity of winter wheat in crop rotations on non-irrigated lands of southern Ukraine. Research methods: field quantitative-weight, visual and laboratory methods. Mathematical and statistical methods used to systematize and generalize the obtained results. Research results. It has been experimentally established that the use of new generation organic fertilizers suspends the reduction of humus content and contributes to the achievement of its deficit-free balance. In particular, during the study period there was a significant increase in the content of organic matter (labile humus) in the soil by 6.01 %, which in two years rose to the level of average values (2.10 %), against a low level of security (1.98 %) to use of “Riverm” fertilizer. Conclusions. The effectiveness of liquid organic fertilizer "Riverm" in the cultivation of winter wheat Khersonskaya-99 in the southern steppe of Ukraine, which improves nutrition and significantly increases the content of mineral nutrients (NPK), and as a result helps to increase the yield of winter wheat on average at 14 %.

Influence of artificial forest plantations on dielectric constant and electrophysical parameters of southern chernozems

The peculiarities of the influence of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Quercus robur L. forest plantations on dielectric constant and electrophysical indicators (specific electrical conductivity, mineralization and salinity) of chernozems of the southern steppe zone of Ukraine are considered. Samples for the study were taken near the city of Zelenodolsk (Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk region) on 3 test plots with soil sections. Determination of electrophysical parameters (specific conductivity, mineralization and salinity) was performed using a conductometer-salt meter-thermometer Ezodo-7021, which measured these indicators in the soil extract (in the ratio of 1 part soil to 5 parts distilled water). Determination of the dielectric constant of soils was performed using a digital capacity meter CM-9601A with simultaneous determination of the density of the soil sample. As a result, it was found that among the upper horizons of the studied soils, the highest value of dielectric constant is zonal southern chernozem, and the smallest – southern chernozem under the planting of Q. robur. This may indicate an improvement in the structural and aggregate state of the southern chernozem under the influence of forest plantations. The upper horizons of the zonal southern chernozem and the southern chernozem under the planting of R. pseudoacacia do not differ significantly in terms of electrophysical parameters. The upper horizon of the southern chernozem under Q. robur is characterized by increased values ​​of specific conductivity, mineralization and salinity compared to the upper horizons of other studied soils. This may indicate a certain increase in water-soluble salts in the upper horizon of southern chernozem under Q. robur compared to the upper horizons of zonal southern chernozem and southern chernozem under R. pseudoacacia. The obtained conclusions coincide with the results of the study of the influence of forest plantations on the dielectric constant and electrophysical parameters of ordinary chernozems.

Utilization of poultry manure when cultivating potatoes in the southern steppe of the Republic of Bashkortostan

The goal of the research is to determine the effect of pretreated poultry manure and irrigation on the yield and quality of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) grown in fields located on the southern steppe of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Field experiments were repeated every three years. During vegetation, potato leaves and tubers were studied at the full blossom, leaves’ decay, and potato harvest. The results showed that applying pretreated poultry manure at the rate of 120 t/ha favored higher tuber weight both on the rainfed and irrigated plots (from 0.23 to 0.82 kg/plant and from 0.24 to 1.02 kg/plant, respectively). On the rainfed and irrigated plots where poultry mature was not applied (control fields) the tubers’ weight ranged from 0.08 to 0.31 kg/plant and from 0.16 to 0.50 kg/plant, respectively. Upon application of 40 t/ha of manure, under irrigation, the highest marketable value of tubers was 78%. On the rainfed plots the same value was 72% when applying poultry manure at a dose of 120 t/ha. Soil moisture monitoring showed that the potatoes did not get adequate water during the growing season. When the soil moisture on irrigated plots was 70% less than its minimum water capacity, potato plantings were watered.

ФАУНА И БИОТОПИЧЕСКОЕ РАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ДОЛГОНОСИКООБРАЗНЫХ ЖУКОВ (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONOIDEA) УЧАСТКА «ТАЛОВСКАЯ СТЕПЬ» ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО ПРИРОДНОГО ЗАПОВЕДНИКА «ОРЕНБУРГСКИЙ»

Based on research results 2018-2020 the species composition was established and the analysis of the fauna of weevils (Curculionoidea) of the Talovskaya steppe site of the Orenburg natural reserve was carried out. The research area is located in the very south-west of the Orenburg region near the border with Kazakhstan, in the subzone of the southern steppes of the East of the Russian Plain. 199 species of weevils from 4 families were identified (27 % of the fauna of the Orenburg region). Of these, 9 species are first reported for the fauna of the Orenburg Province. The characteristic features of the weevil fauna of the Talovskaya steppe are: a high proportion of Central Palaearctic species (35 %) (with an insignificant participation of Western Palaearctic forms); a sharp predominance of species of the subboreal complex (steppe and desert-steppe) (58 %) (with a very small number of forest species) and a noticeable proportion of species of the halophilic complex. The data presented in the article allow us to consider the fauna of the Talovskaya steppe as a typical southern steppe fauna. It is characterized by a fairly high species richness and the presence of a number of rare species. This is confirmed by the importance of the protected area for the preservation of the peculiar natural complexes of the southwestern outskirts of Obshchy Syrt.