Melilotus Research Articles

Potato Farming Biologization as a Food Security Basis

The paper discusses the experimental results of growing potatoes based on scientifically grounded crop rotations and biologized technologies. The main biological agriculture problem is to maintain the ecological balance in the biosphere based on the search for natural reserves to increase crop productivity while improving soil fertility and quality of crop products and reducing costs for energy and resources required for their production. The studies have revealed that green manure affects not only the yield of potatoes but also the population of soil microorganisms, which leads to increased reproduction of bacteria and actinomycetes. The highest yield was recorded in the crop rotation with sweet clover – 16.8 t/ha; when plowing the pea-oat mix, it reached up to 15.4 t/ha, and when plowing oats - up to 16.3 t/ha, which increased yield by 0.5-2.9 %. From among the most effective environmentally sound technologies, organic fertilizers, growth stimulants, and various fungicides are also applied. When using various organic fertilizer doses in combination with mineral fertilizers, the yield of potatoes and the content of phosphorus and potassium increase. Complex treatments of plants with ‘Ridomil Gold’ and ‘Cuproxat’ fungicides during the growing season reduce the incidence of fungal and bacterial diseases in both plants (by 3.7-3.9 %) and tubers (by 2.7-3.5 %) during the storage period.

Creation of a New Highly Productive Parent Material of Sweet Clover (Melilotus Adans.) based on Varietal and Microbial Systems

Creation of a New Highly Productive Parent Material of Sweet Clover (<i>Melilotus Adans</i>.) based on Varietal and Microbial Systems

ЛАБОРАТОРНЫЙ СКРИНИНГ СОРТОВ ДОННИКА БЕЛОГО ОДНОЛЕТНЕГО ПО УСТОЙЧИВОСТИ К СОЛЕВОМУ СТРЕССУ

The purpose of the research was to laboratory diagnostics of the resistance of released varieties of white sweet clover to chloride salinization in the juvenile stage of development based on the assessment of the variability of the morphometric parameters of seedlings. The object of the study was the varieties of annual white sweet clover, bred by the Samara Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Povolzhsky, Srednevolzhsky and Zavolzhsky. To determine the salt tolerance of sweet clover varieties, the method of seed germination in sodium chloride solutions was used. It has been established that chloride salinization significantly reduces the germination of sweet clover seeds at a test solution concentration of 0.25 mol/l. With an increase in NaCl concentration to 0.30 mol/l in the studied varieties, the number of germinated seeds decreased by 80.2–85.9% relative to the control variant. In terms of seed germination under the influence of a stress factor, the Povolzhsky variety stood out, the Zavolzhsky variety was noted as the most resistant to the negative effects of a high degree of salinity. With chloride salinity of 0.10; 0.15 and 0.20 mol/l variety Povolzhsky provided the best morphometric parameters of seedlings. The level of growth processes at the maximum level of salinity (0.25 and 0.30 mol/l) in Zavolzhsky variety was the highest. The use of the method of laboratory assessment of salt tolerance by seed germination in saline solutions made it possible to differentiate the studied varieties of annual white sweet clover in terms of sensitivity to the impact of a stress factor at the initial stages of ontogenesis. Taking into account the high field productivity and ecological plasticity of the studied varieties, they can be recommended for use as a source material in breeding programs to create highly productive varieties resistant to chloride salinity.

Functional bread enreached with regional bioactive food additives

The scientific work presents materials of theoretical and experimental substantiation of the use of regional bioactive food additives, namely wild plants of the legume family (Fabaceae), permitted for use in the food industry: sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), red meadow clover (Trifolium pratense), white acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) in the production of functional foods [1]. Experimental studies of the safety indicators of food wild-growing plants (FWP) have been carried out. It was found that the studied FWP growing in ecologically clean areas of the North Ossetia-Alania are distinguished by a low mass fraction of toxic substances. Two fractions of cellulose were investigated: 1 - water-soluble (pectic acid, pectin, methylcellulose); 2 - water-insoluble (protopectin, cellulose, hemicellulose). The increased content of dietary fiber in WGP powders has been established, corresponding to the physiological norms of satisfying the daily requirement for FWP and, in this regard, indicating the expediency of using functional food in formulations for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The sorption capacity of WGP powders with respect to lead has been investigated. All studied powders of WGP modification products are characterized by high sorption capacity. The technologies of flour products with the addition of FWP powders have been developed. The results of clinical and preclinical studies of the developed functional bread show a corrective effect of glycemic blood parameters, as well as a decrease in the lead content in the blood of fed laboratory rat pups by almost two times, compared with the control.

Promising agricultural technologies for growing winter wheat for sustainable agricultural development

In the arid zone of light chestnut soils of the Lower Volga region, in order to increase the influx of organic matter and basic nutrients into the soil, winter rye and yellow two-year-old clover should be cultivated in occupied fallows as sideral crops. To increase the replenishment of potassium in the soil, it is also recommended to grow phacelia on siderate as a fallow crop. Plowing oats in the form of green fertilizer led to a decrease in the input of organic matter and mineral nutrition elements into the soil compared to the control. The highest content of nitrate nitrogen, mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium in the arable layer of the soil during the sowing of winter wheat, when its plants leave for winter and spring regrowth, as well as during harvesting, was provided by the predecessors of the occupied fallows by winter rye, two-year-old clover and phacelia for siderate. The highest yield of winter wheat was obtained by the predecessors the pure fallow and occupied fallows by winter rye, sweet clover and phacelia for siderate. According to the predecessors, the occupied fallows by spring ginger and oats for siderate showed a significant decrease in the yield of winter wheat.

Evaluation of White Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba Desr.) Genotypes in terms of Secondary Metabolite Contents.

Baklagiller familyasında yer alan taş yoncaları içermiş olduğu ikincil metabolitler ile hayvan besleme ve sağlığı açısından önem teşkil etmektedir. Diğer taraftan, kıraç ve fakir topraklarda kurulacak kısa süreli meraların kalitesinin artırılmasında kullanılan taş yoncalarının yem kalitesi yüksek olmakla birlikte, yonca ve üçgül türlerine göre şişme problemi daha azdır. Bu araştırma, Bilecik ili doğal florasından toplanan 17 adet aktaş yoncası genotipinin (Melilotus alba Desr.) toplam fenolik, toplam flavonoid, radikal kovucu aktivite (DPPH) ve kondanse tanen içeriklerinin belirlenmesi amacı ile yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucuna göre, genotiplerin ortalama fenolik, flavonoid, DPPH ve kondanse tanen içerikleri sırasıyla 3.901 mg GA g-1, 17.962 mg QE g-1, %26.523 ve %0.611 olarak belirlenmiş olup, söz konusu bileşikler bakımından aktaş yoncası genotipleri arasında farklılıklar olmuştur. Ayrıca, çalışmada belirlenen bu bileşikler yem kalitesi ve hayvan sağlığı açısından çok önemli olup, sonuçlar ileride yapılacak çalışmalara ışık tutacak niteliktedir.

Seasonal content of heavy metals in the "soil-feed-milk-manure" system in horse husbandry in Kazakhstan.

Background and Aim:The quality of food, especially animal-based food, is crucial for human health. However, the quality of milk and other animal products has become an acute cause for concern in Kazakhstan. Technogenic dispersion of heavy metals (HMs) causes adverse effects on living organisms and creates unfavorable conditions for the existence of humans, animals, and plants. The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of several HMs in samples of soil, horse feed (hay, mixed feed, and bran), mare’s milk, and manure to assess bioaccumulation and possible adverse effects on the bodies of horses. An additional purpose was to identify areas with acceptable conditions for obtaining environmentally safe horse breeding products in the agricultural zones of the Almaty region, Kazakhstan.Materials and Methods:Samples were obtained from two farms in the Almaty region in 2020 (spring, summer, and autumn). In total, 72 soil samples were analyzed, which were taken from the upper humus horizon to the depth of the arable layer. Eighty-six samples were taken from the feed of horses. Green feed was represented by perennial and annual grasses (alsike clover, Medicago sativa, sweet yellow clover, as well as pea and oat mix). Barley and wheat bran stored in the warehouses of the farm were sampled for the research as feed supplements. The mixed feed comprised components such as maize and sunflower. In addition, 46 samples of mare’s milk and 28 samples of horse manure were collected. The HM analysis was performed in the laboratory of the Kazakh-Japanese Innovation Center. The residual amounts of HMs were determined using an absorption spectrometer with a voltammetric analyzer. The content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in all the studied samples of soil, feed, mare’s milk, and manure did not exceed the threshold limit values (TLVs), suggesting that the intake of these toxic elements into the human body with food was low.Results:The average Cd concentration was in the range of 0.29-0.31 mg/kg in soil samples and in the range of 0.20-0.27 mg/kg in feed samples. In milk, the Cd concentration varied from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/L and was lower in summer and higher in fall. The total average Cd content in horse manure was 0.1844 mg/kg. The concentration of Pb in soil samples ranged from 1.09 to 1.30 mg/kg with the lowest value in spring and the highest in fall. In the feed, the concentration of Pb varied from 0.14 to 0.76 mg/kg and in milk from 0.03 to 0.15 mg/L. The average concentrations of Hg and As in soil samples averaged 0.022 and 0.019 mg/kg, respectively, and were within the TLVs.Conclusion:In the study areas, the calculated transition rates in the soil–feed–milk–manure system revealed that the greatest transition of HMs was observed for Pb and Cd, and a smaller migration was observed for Hg and As. The tendency of accumulation of trace elements continued in the feed.

Clover Species Specific Influence on Microbial Abundance and Associated Enzyme Activities in Rhizosphere and Non-Rhizosphere Soils

Legume cultivation, especially the clover species, has shown promoting effects on soil biological properties. However, the ways in which various clover species contribute to beneficial plant-rhizosphere soil interactions have remained neglected in the past. Therefore, we performed a field experiment to assess and compare the species-specific influence of five different clover species on plant traits, microbial soil health indicators, namely soil enzymes, microbial biomass and abundance and their potential nutrient cycling abilities under rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. For this, soil samples from bulk soil and rhizosphere of each clover species were collected and analyzed for soil enzymes including β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, phosphatase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and urease and microbial communities’ abundance. Results revealed that the soil biological properties were more affected in the rhizosoil than in the bulk soil, although the individual legume crop variants differed in the rate and extent of the differential impact on either rhizosoil or bulk soil. The most significantly affected species-specific properties were ammonium oxidizing bacteria and phosphorus-solubilizing microbiota in the rhizosoil of white clover and alsike clover variants, whereas the least impact was exerted by sweet clover. The biological properties of rhizosoil showed a significant effect on the plant qualitative and quantitative properties. We further detected antagonism among N and P + K transfer from the rhizosoil to plants, which influenced above ground and root biomass. Overall, these results suggest that the positive effects of clover species cultivation on rhizosphere soil properties are species specific.

Pharmacoinformatics-based phytochemical screening for anticancer impacts of yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis (Linn.) Pall

To date, much attention has been paid to phytochemicals because of their diverse pharmacological effects on a variety of diseases such as cancer. In this regard, computer-aided drug design, as a cost- and time-effective approach, is primarily applied to investigate the drug candidates before their further costly in vitro and in vivo experimental evaluations. Accordingly, different signaling pathways and proteins can be targeted using such strategies. As a key protein for the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication, mini-chromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7) overexpression is related to the initiation and progression of aggressive malignancies. The current study was conducted to identify new potential natural compounds from the yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis (Linn.) Pall, by examining the potential of 40 isolated phytochemicals against MCM7 protein. A structure-based pharmacophore model to the protein active site cavity was generated and followed by virtual screening and molecular docking. Overall, four compounds were selected for further evaluation based on their binding affinities. Our analyses revealed that two novel compounds, namely rosmarinic acid (PubChem CID:5281792) and melilotigenin (PubChem CID:14059499) might be druggable and offer safe usage in human. The stability of these two protein-ligand complex structures was confirmed through molecular dynamics simulation. The findings of this study reveal the potential of these two phytochemicals to serve as anticancer agents, while further pharmacological experiments are required to confirm their effectiveness against human cancers.

Natural-climate zonal distribution of the beekeeping industry in the west of Kazakhstan

Analysis of the features of Western Kazakhstan for the presence and level of thermal regime, phytocenotic diversity as a source of food for bees and other important indicators are necessary to establish the level of intensity and search for ways to increase the efficiency of the beekeeping industry, which will become a significant replenishment of the fodder base for farm animals. In addition, the use of such honey plants as sweet clover, alfalfa, clover, sainfoin significantly improves soil fertility in crop rotation structures, since the use of leguminous herbs significantly increases soil nitrogen. In cases where sweet clover is sown on lands with a high salt content, their salinity is significantly reduced, which today makes it possible to stop soil degradation, and this is a solution to global problems. The climate of the western regions of Kazakhstan is characterized by a sharp continentality, which increases from northwest to southeast. The signs of continentality are distinguished by sharp temperature contrasts of day and night, winter and summer, and a rapid transition from winter to summer. Instability and scarcity of atmospheric precipitation, intensity of evaporation processes and an abundance of direct sunlight throughout the growing season are typical throughout the region. Intensive crop production is mainly concentrated in the steppe and dry-steppe zones located in the northern part of the West Kazakhstan and Aktobe regions. The territory of intensive agriculture in the west of Kazakhstan for many years has formed a range of agricultural crops, priority for crop production, the main of which are winter cereals, spring breads, legumes. The entire grain wedge accounts for 50% of all sown area. On average, 12% of the area is sown annually with oilseeds and 36% is allocated for sowing forage crops, including typical nectar-bearing crops: sunflower, safflower, alfalfa, sainfoin, sweet clover. Mustard, buckwheat, camelina are sown in small amounts. The natural and climatic conditions of Western Kazakhstan in terms of indicators and characteristics that affect the activity of bee pollination are complex, unstable, but quite acceptable for targeted involvement in agricultural production. Seed production of field crops with the involvement of cultivated species of pollinating insects in the process of pollination can increase the yield of seed production by 45-50%.

The Ecological State of the Soils of the Industrial City of Usolye-Sibirskoye

The results of a study of the state of soil cover in the sphere of influence of an industrial city in the conditions of Eastern Siberia are presented. In the town of Usolye-Sibirskoye (Irkutsk region), industrial nature use dominates. The acid-alkaline conditions of the soils of the city were transformed relative to the background soils. An assessment of the biochemical activity of soils is given as an integral indicator, which was assessed by the express method. Three groups of soils were identified according to the level of their activity. The diversity of soil microbiocenosis has been established. A tendency towards a decrease in the qualitative composition of microscopic fungi in industrial zones has been noted. It is recommended to increase the planting area of woody vegetation (poplar, birch, Siberian pine, fir, bird cherry, wild rose) and sowing herbs (clover, sweet clover, timothy grass, and bluegrass) to improve the environment.

The conidia Bipolaris sorokiniana Sacc. Shoem. distribution in the soil of Altai and Kazakhstan arid regions

The purpose of the study was to assess the number and state of populations of B. sorokiniana conidia in the soil of agrocenoses and virgin areas. Studies were carried out in 2017-2021 in dry steppe regions of the Altai Territory (Russia) and Pavlodar Region (Kazakhstan) by conventional methods. For the experimental data analysis variance and correlation analytical methods were used. A comparative analysis of Bipolaris sorokiniana conidia populations in agrocenoses and virgin soils of arid areas was carried out. A significant phytopathogen conidia population in agrocenosis soils has been established, reaching 10.8 regional economic harmfulness thresholds in Altai and 16.6 thresholds in Kazakhstan. A lower population number in virgin soils was revealed in comparison with agrocenoses’ ones, which is associated with more active resting structures degradation. A clear tendency towards a decrease in the number of conidia with increasing depth was revealed, which manifests itself to different degrees in the regions and tillage systems, but has the same orientation: the upper layer (0-5 cm) is populated several times stronger than the lower (10-15 cm) one. The phytosanitary precursors in both regions (fallow, sunflower, pees, oat with vetch, sweet clover) reduced the conidia number in the soil on average 59%; they significantly increased the conidia proportion with the degradation signs-average by 27.1%. Soil suppressive activity against B. sorokiniana increased significantly (on 19.8-38.3%) after cultivation of phytosanitary predecessors, especially rape.

Nutrient matter, fatty acids, in vitro gas production and digestion of herbage and silage quality of yellow sweet clover (&lt;i&gt;Melilotus officinalis&lt;/i&gt; L.) at different phenological stages

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Preservation of Soil Fertility Using Sidereal Clover

This study examined the use of intermediate groundcover sideral crops, such as perennial leguminous herbs, to conserve soil fertility though enriching the soil with fresh organic matter, an effective and low-cost method. Studies show that the use of direct sowing technology allows the preservation of all plant residues on the soil surface, which ensures the best accumulation of snow in the winter. Through the preservation of numerous biodrenes from the root system of sweet clover and other cultivated crops, as well as soil channels from earthworms, this direct sowing technology increases the moisture content of the soil and reduces moisture loss. The effectiveness of various soybean, corn and sunflower cultivation technologies with a minimal tillage period was studied. When sweet clover was used for green manure in April, the maximum yield was obtained, and the maximum yield for corn (57.3-82.3 c/ha) was obtained using the no-till technology. As a consequence, the ground cover crop had a noticeable effect on the yield of the second crop rotation - spring wheat, which had a higher yield. The use of direct sowing technology with sweet clover as green manure provided the highest yield of spring wheat - from 37.2 to 39.8 c / ha. The grain quality of spring wheat, placed as the second crop after melilot on green manure, was higher, both under no-till technology and under mini-till technology.&#x0D; Keywords: biologization, soil fertility, green manure, clover, direct sowing, productivity

Long-Term Growth of Alfalfa Increased Soil Organic Matter Accumulation and Nutrient Mineralization in a Semi-Arid Environment

Land use patterns and vegetation coverage in semi-arid areas of the Loess Plateau have undergone great changes due to the implementation of the “Grain for Green” project. The introduction of legume pasture species, such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.), is one of the most efficient methods of vegetation restoration and reconstruction in this region. However, there is a need for an effective assessment of the root system distribution and its interaction with soil after long-term introduction. An experiment involving the introduction of alfalfa and sweet clover on abandoned farmlands was initiated in 2003 to assess the long-term effects. After 17 years, root and soil samples at depths of 0–20 and 20–60 cm were collected to characterize the root biomass, root carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil N and P. The results showed that the root biomass density of alfalfa in the 0–20 and 20–60 cm layers (63.72 and 12.27 kg m–3, respectively) were significantly higher than for sweet clover (37.43 and 8.97 kg m–3, respectively) and under natural abandonment (38.92 and 9.73 kg m–3, respectively). The SOC, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3–-N), MBC and MBN in the 0–20 and 20–60 cm layers were higher after alfalfa introduction compared with sweet clover introduction and natural abandonment, although the ammonia-nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentration in the 0–20 cm layer was lower. There were significantly positive correlations between root biomass density and both soil nutrients and microbial biomass, while there was a negative correlation between the soil NH4+-N and root biomass density. These results indicate that alfalfa root growth improved soil organic matter accumulation and nutrient mineralization. The accumulation and mineralization of soil nutrients also guaranteed root and microorganism growth. Therefore, it was concluded that alfalfa introduction will promote soil nutrients immobilization and mineralization and may enable sustainable land use in the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau, China.

WATER CONSUMPTION BY AGROECOSYSTEMS OF LEGUMINOUS PERENNIAL GRASSES DEPENDING ON VEGETATION YEARS

At the end of the growing season of the first year of life of perennial legumes, the highest soil moisture - 27.45% was observed in the agroecosystem of alfalfa, and the lowest - 24.14% - in the agroecosystem of the horned lily. The coefficient of water use by agroecosystems of legumes of perennial grasses in the first year of their growing season was 455.1-1738.0. The smallest coefficient of water use was in the agroecosystem of the white melilot, and the highest in the eastern goat's rue. At the end of the growing season of perennial legumes of the second year of life, soil moisture in agroecosystems was 11.67-17.00%. It was the largest in the agroecosystem of white melilot, which forms only one cut in the middle of summer in the second year of its life and then dies off, and the smallest in the agroecosystem of sandy sainfoin. The coefficient of water use by agroecosystems of perennial legumes in the second year of vegetation was 429.2-696.7. It was the smallest in the agroecosystem of white melilot, and in perennial legumes that grow by autumn - in the agroecosystem of sandy sainfoin, and the highest was in horned beetle. By the end of the third year of the growing season of perennial legumes, soil moisture had been 18.00-23.11%. It was the largest in the agroecosystem of sandy sainfoin, and the smallest in the horned sainfoin. The coefficient of water use by agroecosystems of leguminous perennial grasses for the third year of growing season was 484.0-619.6. The smallest was in the agroecosystem of the sandy sainfoin, and the largest was the horned sainfoin. At the end of the fourth year of the growing season of perennial legumes, soil moisture was valued in 22.60-25.07%. It was the largest in the agroecosystem of sandy sainfoin, and the smallest in alfalfa. The coefficient of water use by agroecosystems of perennial legumes in the fourth year of their growing season was 489.3-1130.7. Less moisture is used for the formation of a unit of dry matter by the agroecosystems of sainfoin, the coefficient of water use of the agroecosystem of alfalfa is higher by 13.4%. The agroecosystem of Lyadvenets horned had the highest coefficient of water use - 2.3 times more than in the agroecosystem of sainfoin. In conditions of the greenhouse effect, in particular, with an increase in air temperature, an increase in moisture evaporation from the soil and a decrease in the amount of atmospheric precipitation, it is necessary to grow herbs that consume moisture most economically and have the lowest water consumption coefficient: the first year of growing season - white melilot - 455.1; second year - white sweet clover - 429.2 and sandy sainfoin - 472.1; the third year - sandy sainfoin - 484.0 and alfalfa - 510.3; the fourth year - sandy sainfoin - 489.3. When using perennial legumes as precursors of winter crops, it is necessary to use those species that leave behind the largest reserve of moisture in the soil: in the second year of growing season - white sweet clover - 57.6 mm in a 30-cm soil layer; the third year - sandy sainfoin - 81.1 mm; the fourth year - sandy sainfoin - 88.7 mm in a 30-cm soil layer and eastern goat's rue - 84.8 mm.

Biological Evidences of Dicoumarol: A Review

Dicoumarol, a natural anticoagulant drug chemically designated as is metabolized from Coumarin in the sweet clover (Melilotus alba and Melilotus officinalis) by molds, such as Penicillium nigricans and Penicillium jensi. Coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone), the parent molecule of Dicoumarol, is the simplest compound of a large class of naturally occurring phenolic substances made of fused Benzene and Pyrone rings . In addition, the Coumarin anticoagulants, Dicoumarol (Dicumarol) and its synthetic derivative Warfarin sodium (Coumadin), have been shown to decrease metastases in experimental animals. Warfarin sodium, largely replacing Dicoumarol therapeutically as an anticoagulant, has been used for the treatment of a variety of cancers and shown to improve tumor response rates and survival in patients with several types of cancer. However, despite numerous studies, little information has been acquired on the cellular mechanism of action of Coumarin compounds in the treatment of malignancies. Possibly for this reason, the Coumarin compounds have not received much attention for the treatment of cancer.

Crop rotation yield depending on from the receptions of biologization

Among the methods of cultivation that increase the productivity of crops, a prominent role is assigned to crop rotation. In a properly constructed crop rotation, the efficiency of all agrotechnical methods aimed at improving the use of land increases, the biological needs of crops are satisfied, the rational use of technology is achieved, and the cost of production is reduced [1]. The soils are low in nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and high in potassium. The humus content is 1.2–2.0%, pH = 7–8. Studies have shown that green manure (sweet clover, oats, phacelia) have a positive effect on the balance of organic matter. The negative balance of organic matter is noted for pure steam. The stock of productive moisture in the 0–0.3 cm soil layer varied from 4.1 to 29.5 mm for winter wheat, 28.1–32.7 mm for chickpea and 28–35.3 mm for spring barley, depending on the weather conditions. conditions and methods of biologization. On average, over three years, the highest yield was in winter wheat for a busy fallow (phacelia) and amounted to 1.0 t/ha, which depended on weather conditions. A reliable correlation was revealed for the factors of yield-precipitation; temperature; batteries, etc.

Plant community responses to integrating livestock into a reduced‐till organic cropping system

AbstractThe problems with herbicide‐ and tillage‐based weed management in agriculture are well documented and have precipitated research into finding alternatives. Integrating livestock grazing into organic agroecosystems has benefits and is a viable method for terminating cover crops, yet its impacts on weed communities are largely unknown. This lack of knowledge is particularly true in semi‐arid environments, including the Northern Great Plains, where we conducted our research. We compared weed community responses (biomass, species richness, Simpson’s diversity, composition) of a sheep‐grazed organic cropping system with those of two contrasting cropping systems (high input conventional no‐till, tilled organic) across a five‐year crop rotation (safflower, sweet clover, winter wheat, lentils, winter wheat). We found that the conventional no‐till and tilled organic systems suppressed weed biomass and reduced species richness and diversity, while the grazed organic resulted in higher weed biomass, species richness, and diversity. During the first two years of the study, the composition of the two organic communities were distinct from the conventional no‐till communities but were indistinguishable from one another. Over the final three years of the study, grazed organic communities were tightly grouped and became distinct from both the tilled and conventional communities. We found that weed biomass and diversity were highest in the sweet clover and lowest in the winter wheat. The spring annual crops, safflower and lentil, demonstrated similar weed biomass, species richness, and composition. Our findings indicate that integrating livestock into cropping systems alters plant communities and increases the agroecosystem plant biodiversity of semi‐arid organic farming and that specific crops interact with cropping systems to alter agroecosystem plant communities. However, the increase in weed biomass associated with our grazing treatment makes this approach impractical as the sole weed management strategy and necessitates that integrating livestock into semi‐arid organic cropping systems must be part of a larger integrated weed management program.

Тестирование клубеньковых бактерий для природно и техногенно засоленных почв и грунтов

Abstract. The area of natural saline lands in Russia is about 30 million hectares. At present, the growth of technogenically saline areas is associated with the extraction of minerals (agro-ore) and the formation of drill pits when drilling wells for the purpose of exploration and production of hydrocarbons. The number of drilling pits with a high salt content in the Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous okrug is about 3 thousand, about the same number of them in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous okrug, in the south of the Tyumen region their number is increasing in the Uvat region. Reclamation of these territories includes technical and biological stages of reclamation. The biological stage is associated with the use of phytomeliorant cultures. The inclusion of a legume component in the composition of phytomeliorants assumes its joint use with the preparation of an active strain of nodule bacteria. The aim of the research is to identify the most salt-tolerant strain of lupine nodule bacteria at different chemistry and degree of salinity of the environment. Research methodology and methods. Laboratory experiments in Petri dishes were used to test lupine nodule bacteria for salt resistance and salinity chemistry. Nodule bacteria of lupine strains 363a, 367a, 375a were taken directly from rhizotorphin preparations, the degree of dilution was brought to a certain titer corresponding to about 80 colonies per Petri dish. Nodule bacteria for melilot were represented by strains 282, 292 (CL) and 291, and for alfalfa, respectively, 451b, 404b, 412b, 423b, 408b and 425a. They were seeded with the same titer. Results. The presented results of experiments showed that colonies of lupine nodule bacteria react extremely negatively to the salt concentration in the nutrient medium of 0.3 % or higher. This is typical for both neutral and soda salinity. Of the three studied strains of nodule bacteria, sample 367a was the most salt-resistant. Of the presented strains of sweet clover and alfalfa, strains 282 and 423b had the highest salt tolerance, respectively. Scientific novelty. For the first time, strains of lupine nodule bacteria have been tested for salt tolerance in relation to different chemistry and degree of salinity identical to technogenic soils and saline soils.