Virgin Land Research Articles

Comparison of agrophysical parameters and humus content in the soil of virgin and arable land

Topicality. Currently, there is an urgent need to address the following challenges: loss of soil humus content, deterioration of soil agrophysical properties, reduction of the impact of soil agrophysical degradation, restoration and preservation of fertility. Purpose. Comparison of agrophysical parameters and humus content in the soil of virgin and arable lands and development of scientific recommendations on the formation of favourable agrophysical properties and regimes of chernozems to suspend the development of degradation processes in the soil and preserve fertility. Material and Methods. The study of ordinary chernozem was carried out in the virgin lands and experimental plots of the Erastivka Research Station of the Institute of Grain Crops of NAAS of Ukraine during 2010–2016. We studied: total humus content; structural and aggregate composition of the soil; soil structure coefficient; soil density; water resistance of agronomically valuable structural aggregates. In May, soil samples were selected at equilibrium density after mechanical tillage. Sampling was carried out from the soil profile at intervals of 5 cm, to a depth of 0–200 cm in quadruplicate according to DSTU 4287. Results. It was found that deterioration of agrophysical properties (structural and aggregate state, density, water resistance) and reduction of humus content and thickness in the humus horizon in comparison with virgin soil occurred as a result of long-term cultivation of ordinary chernozem. Conclusions. When comparing the properties of ordinary chernozem of arable land with virgin soil, we find that they are significantly degraded. Significant loss of humus and structure degradation leads to an increasing soil density and a partial loss of the ability to resist degradation. To preserve and sustainably use arable chernozems, an improved farming system should be implemented, with scientifically based crop rotations, the latest soil protection technologies, and the proper amount of organic and mineral fertilisers to increase the humus content as its main components. Key words: ordinary chernozem, soil degradation, humus content, structural and aggregate state, density, water resistance

Problems of establishment and activity of the antituberculosis service in Kazakhstan during Virgin Lands campaign (early 1960s)

The paper notes that after the formation of the Virgin Lands area in December 1960, the local health authorities faced a pressing issue of solving the problems of tuberculosis spread among the local population, as well as people resettled there. Tuberculosis, like other infectious diseases, was widespread in Kazakhstan. The establishment of tuberculosis dispensaries and the creation of fluorography and X-ray machines have provided an opportunity to expand preventive measures for the examination and detection of tuberculosis patients. The health authorities of the Virgin Lands area considered work in this direction as improving the quality of medical care. However, the quality of treatment was often reduced due to the facts that the treatment regimen was violated in several dispensaries, there were not enough specialists, control over the full and long-term treatment of tuberculosis patients was not imposed. The authors of the paper concluded that insufficient and not universal organization of medical care was one of the reasons for the high incidence of tuberculosis among the population.

Irrigation systems of the North-Kazakhstan region during the development of virgin and fallow lands (1970s)

Development of virgin and fallow lands in Kazakhstan has highlighted a number of problems in the economy of the republic. Introduction of huge territories into land turnover in extreme conditions required search and creation of irrigation system in the North-Kazakhstan region. Authors note that in the North-Kazakhstan region, having difficult natural-climatic conditions caused by sharply continental climate, there was a deficit of fresh artesian water. Therefore, one of the main directions of agrarian policy in the North-Kazakhstan region was to increase the efficiency of irrigated land use, liman irrigation, water supply to settlements, watering of the territory and qualitative improvement of irrigation and reclamation works. The authors conclude that despite the measures taken, the established irrigation systems did not meet the needs of agriculture and the population of the region.

Environmental Lessons of Virgin Lands: Organisational and Scientific Aspects

This article considers the reasons for the aggravation of the ecological situation which manifested itself in the wind erosion of soil over vast territories during the mass development of virgin lands in the Soviet Union through the prism of the history of agricultural science. The author refers to materials from central and regional archives, most of which are being introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time; the article also refers to special agricultural literature. The author outlines the main approaches to solving the grain problem in the eastern part of the USSR: the introduction of new territories into agricultural use, on the one hand, and the introduction of new varieties of grain crops into production, on the other. In conditions where the main attention of the state was directed to accelerated industrialisation, scientists considered these approaches the most accessible and realistic. It is substantiated that the subsequent reorientation of science towards selection as the main means of developing agricultural production led to the curtailment of research in the field of soil science and agricultural technology. According to the author, this negatively affected both the process of allocating land for virgin land development and limited the possibilities of science in terms of the operational development of a soil-protective system of agriculture. Later, by the end of the 1950s, the accumulation of virgin soil experience and research by scientists made it possible to propose recommendations to ensure soil protection from wind erosion. However, their implementation was restrained by the predominance of administrative approaches in implementation activities and the associated mistrust of production workers in the recommendations of science. The author concludes that the widespread introduction of a soil-protective system of agriculture became possible only in the second half of the 1960s when the necessary state-legal and organisational-scientific conditions were created for this and administrative “excesses” were eliminated. The development of the entire front of scientific research and the formation of a mechanism for the rapid introduction of scientific recommendations into production are necessary conditions for the implementation of major national economic programmes.

On the dermatovenereological service of the Tselinny kray (1962–1963)

This article deals with the organization of dermatovenereological services for the population in 1962–1963 in the Tselinny kray. The authors analyze the complex of reasons that led to the weak development of this area of medicine in the northern regions of Kazakhstan. The measures of regional and local executive authorities for the development of medical services for the population are considered. A sharp increase in the population of virgin lands put on the agenda the issues of accelerated development of medical services, the construction of dispensaries, hospitals and clinics. The authors emphasize that the fight against the growth of dermatovenereological diseases caused by the beginning of mass migration of people to the development of virgin and fallow lands became an important area of health development. The authors conclude that notable successes in the development of the dermatovenereological service in the region, however, did not fully solve the emerging problems of disease prevention and treatment, which in turn led to the periodicity of updating this issue.

Impact of virgin land development on morbidity and mortality from diphtheria in Kazakhstan

Authors consider the development of virgin and fallow lands in Kazakhstan in the 1950s–1960s which led to an unprecedented anthropogenic intrusion into the environment. The huge concentration of people in the northern steppe regions of Kazakhstan led to the spread of dangerous infectious diseases among which diphtheria was of particular concern of the health authorities of the republic. Authors made an attempt to analyze the issues of the spread of this disease in Tselinny district in the early 1960s and the history of its control in this article. The basic methods of medical services to prevent spreading of this infectious disease have been identified. The authors concluded that imperfect of medical service, violation of the regulations on vaccination and revaccination, inefficiency of medical and sanitary education of the population of virgin areas as well as other factors were the causes of diphtheria resistance against measures of sanitary and epidemiological services of the republic.

The impact of virgin lands development on the organization of medical education (on the example of the Tselinograd Medical Institute, 1964–1965)

The article presents the results of historical and medical research, revealing the impact of virgin and fallow lands development in Kazakhstan on the opening of a medical institute in Tselinograd in 1964. The analysis of the documents shows that the resettlement of a large number of people to the virgin land development has generated a complex of problems, primarily related to the shortage of medical workers in the Tselinny Krai. The development of the institute was slow, despite the help of the state. In general, the authors came to the conclusion that the work of state bodies on the opening of a medical institute, the creation of teaching staff and the establishment of the educational process has led to positive results. At the same time, the analysis showed that the shortage of classroom resources, understaffing of teaching staff, weak methodological base required further practical research by health and education authorities.

Мониторинг солнечного орла в национальном парке «Хвалынский» (Саратовская область, Россия)

Мониторинг солнечного орла в национальном парке «Хвалынский» (Саратовская область, Россия)

Soil-ecological assessment of soils of abandoned lands of diggerent age in the southeast of West Siberia

The aim of the study. Assessment of the current state of agrophysical properties of soils, their soil-ecological status by calculating the soil-ecological index (SEI), as well as the study of vegetation cover of different-age abandoned lands in the forest-steppe zone of West Siberia within the Novosibirsk region. Location and time of the study. Novosibirsk Region, 2017–2022. Methods. Soils of the Predsalair drained plain (right-bank part of the Novosibirsk region) were studied. Twelve soil sections were studied on leached and podzolized chernozems, as well as on dark gray forest soils. Some of the studied soils had different degrees of washout prior to abandonment. The abandoned lands were young (2–4 years), middle (5–15 years) and old (more than 15 years). The age of these lands, i.e. the duration of their spontaneous self-revegetation, was determined based on satellite imagery data, information from local authorities and the methodology developed by the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The study of vegetation cover was carried out according to standard methods. Soil samples were collected as a solid column; humus content, acidity, mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium, granulometric composition were determined. Samples were also taken to determine soil density (volumetric mass). For soil-ecological assessment the methodology of soil-ecological index (SEI) calculation was used. The methodology for SEI calculating combines soil fertility, climatic and geomorphologic soil factors. The SEI was calculated according to the methodology developed at the В.V. Dokuchaev Soil Institute by I.I. Karmanov. The following soil properties were also measured: granulometric composition by the sieve-pipette method, organic carbon (humus) by potassium dichromate digestion and pH by potentiometric method. Results. The article presents the agrophysical properties of soils, their soil-ecological assessment (SEI) and describes the vegetation cover of different-aged abandoned and revegetating lands in the forest-steppe zone of West Siberia within the Novosibirsk region. The vegetation revealed a smooth change in the species composition of plants, including a decrease in the proportion of annual and biennial species. The total aboveground production increased during the first 5–7 years of revegetation, afterwards reaching a plateau depending on the type of the formed community and conditions. Low values of SEI (38–41) were obtained for young and middle-aged abandoned lands in comparison with the virgin land (63), being caused by the lower content of nutrient elements and humus. In the long-term abandoned lands soils, that were not washed away, had an average SEI value of 55, while soils of old fallow lands previously washed away had an average 45. Conclusions. Based on the soil ecological condition in the studied abandoned lands, it can be concluded that the return of young and middle-aged lands to agricultural turnover makes sense as pastures and hayfields. Their use as arable land is inexpedient, mostly because of different degrees of washout due to their location on slopes of different length and steepness, as well as insufficient restoration of their properties. The old abandoned lands (in case of the absence of soil erosion) may well be returned to agricultural use, including as arable land.

Ecology of childhood health in Central Kazakhstan during the development of Virgin Lands

The article presents the results of historical and medical research showing the issues related to fighting against intestinal infectious and pulmonary diseases among Kazakhstani children during the development of virgin and fallow lands in the mid-1950s. The analysis of documents shows that the situation with infectious and pulmonary diseases among children was complex and characterized by a significant prevalence especially in the first year of life. Authors concluded that extensive sanitary and anti-epidemic measures at the national level, child care institutions supervision and the method of the Pirquet tuberculosis reaction had led to drop in childhood morbidity and mortality in some areas of the region. At the same time the analysis showed that the mortality rate among children in the first year of life in the region was higher than in the country as a whole. These data required further scientific and practical research by health authorities in terms of the study and practical application of medical-organizational mechanisms and measures.

The beginning of virgin lands development in Pavlodar region (in 1954)

The article focuses on the initial stage of the virgin and fallow lands development in Pavlodar region. The authors elaborated on the climatic features of the region, noting that this territory was characterized by complex natural and climatic zones and had huge deposits of minerals. The climate in north-eastern Kazakhstan was sharply continental, arid, and the soils were mostly unsuitable for farming, so the cultivation of grain crops was fraught with huge risks and difficulties. The authors conclude that, despite the natural, climatic and other difficulties encountered, the virgin land development activities were completed successfully and in the first years the sown area of grain crops in the Pavlodar region was significantly increased.

On the work of the Tselinograd city disinfection station (1968)

The article notes that after the beginning of the process of developing virgin lands in Kazakhstan in the 1950s, the health authorities faced the question of creating a disinfection station in the city of Tselinograd. The problem in those years was acute, since sewage treatment plants were under construction in the virgin land city and often sewage water was pumped without treatment and discharged into the Taldy-Kul storage lake, located 12 km from the city. The high population density led to an annual increase in the number of infections. The ongoing and final disinfection measures carried out by the health authorities undoubtedly gave certain positive results. However, in infectious diseases hospitals, the regime of chamber disinfection was constantly violated, there were not enough staff, which together lowered the quality of the complex of special measures aimed at destroying pathogens of infectious diseases. The authors of the article came to the conclusion that the measures carried out by the health authorities could not meet the needs of the local and visiting population, and the insufficient organization of the sanitary service was one of the reasons for the high incidence of various infections among the population.

Everyday Religious Life of German Population in North Kazakhstan Region in the late 1950s

The article examines the everyday religious life of the German population in the late 1950s. In these years Kazakhstan became a place of virgin and fallow lands development, there was also a tightening of anti-religious policy after the XX Congress of the CPSU and the intensification of anti-religious struggle. The harsh attitude of the Soviet state towards religion did not prevent the Germans from adhering to their religious principles and national cultural values. Since their arrival in Kazakhstan the German population managed to establish strong economic communities with their own culture, ethnic identity and religious traditions. The religious everyday life of the German population is analysed based on secret memorandums of the Commissioner of the Council for Religious Affairs of the North Kazakhstan region V.P. Lyapunov, which allowed the authors to examine the variability of the everyday religious life of the German population and demonstrated the vitality of religious traditions and rituals. The authors focus on the religious practices of German communities, who made efforts to preserve their culture and identity amidst the anti-religious struggle. The conclusion is that despite the opposition of state and party organs, the proportion of believers and sympathisers of religion in this period in northern Kazakhstan was quite significant

ДО ПИТАННЯ ІСТОРІЇ ВИНИКНЕННЯ ТА ЕВОЛЮЦІЇ ВИГІННОЇ СИСТЕМИ ЗЕМЛЕРОБСТВА

Summary The purpose of the research is to make a comprehensive historical-scientific analysis of the process of formation of the scientific and practical foundations of the cropping (multi-field-grass) system of agriculture, to find out the prerequisites for its emergence and to establish the patterns of development of its components. The research methods are historical-scientific, dialectical-logical, bibliographic-statistical, problem-chronological, which contributed to the comprehensive analysis of the research subject, which is based on the principles of multifactoriality, comprehensiveness, historicism and scientific objectivity of knowledge. Research results. Many years of research by scientists of the Bilotserki National University convincingly proved that the very low productivity of cattle breeding due to the constant shortage of fodder, and of low quality, and an excessively large share of steam (usually 1/3-1/2 of the entire area of arable land) under the steam farming system were the main reasons the emergence of a fallow (multi-field-grass) system of agriculture on the territory of Ukraine. In the estates of the nobles of the Black Earth belt, this system often arose from virgin or fallow land as a transitional form from primitive to interactive farming systems. Conclusion. It was noted that the yield system was gradually transformed into an improved grain crop by reducing the share of the area under perennial grasses and the growth under grain crops. The improved grain system, in turn, is transformed into a crop rotation (grain-grass rowing system) by replacing clean pairs with busy ones, as well as introducing row crops into crop rotations. Analyzing the data, it can be stated that in Ukraine, the no-till farming system was not very widespread in its pure form, but its individual components (multi-pollinated - grass, soil protection, fodder crop rotations) are successfully used even today in combination with crop rotations of other systems. V.O. is deservedly considered a pioneer of experimental field grass seeding and the creator of an improved grain system with a four-field crop rotation. Levshina, and the founders of field grass sowing on a large economic scale were D.M. Poltoratskyi and I.I.Samarin. Key words: evolution, system of farming (agriculture), crop rotation, culture, steam, tillage, soil, fertility, fertilizers.

EVOLUTION OF THE SOIL LAND USE (DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCE)

The production of crop production depends on the condition and level of use of agricultural land. (Research purpose) The research purpose is identifying general trends in the change of acreage from 1920 to 2020. (Materials and methods) We have identified three historical periods of the development of land use by soil lands. Characterized the reforms of the formation and development of agriculture in Russia (Results and discussion) A retrospective analysis of the dynamics of the acreage of agricultural crops of three time historical periods was carried out. It was established that in the first historical period (1920-1941), as a result of collectivization and industrialization of agriculture, the area of agricultural land increased from 113.0 to 150.4 million hectares. It was revealed that in the II historical period (1945-1990), the development of virgin and fallow lands increased the area of agricultural land by 56.7 million hectares and in 1960 amounted to 203 million hectares. The peak values of the increase were observed in 1985 - 210.3 million hectares. It was noted that in the III historical period (1991-2021) there is a systematic reduction of the tractor fleet, which led to the disposal of agricultural land. If in 1990 the acreage was 117.7 million hectares, then in 2020 this indicator decreased by 37.8 million hectares and amounted to 79.9. (Conclusions) It was established that the reproduction process in agriculture is impossible without land resources. Of the lost 32.68 million hectares of land, it is necessary to restore and return to active agricultural use, first of all, the most valuable lands for agriculture - arable land, pastures and hayfields.

Ecology and health of the population in the city of Tselinograd in 1964 (the case of infectious hepatitis and typhoid fever outbreak)

The article examines the outbreak of infectious hepatitis and typhoid fever in 1964 in the city of Tselinograd. During the development of virgin and fallow lands a large number of people arrived in northern Kazakhstan. The urban infrastructure that existed at that time was not always able to provide the population with the necessary services, which often led to failure and the emergence of a difficult epidemiological situation. On the basis of statistical materials, the authors show an increase in the incidence of hepatitis and typhoid fever in the population in a short time, and also analyse the accompanying reasons. It is concluded that a gross violation of sanitary rules when choosing a place for the technical water intake and its connection to a drinking water supply on the territory of the railway junction was the main cause of the epidemic.

Everyday Religious Life of German Population in North Kazakhstan Region in the late 1950s

The article examines the everyday religious life of the German population in the late 1950s. In these years Kazakhstan became a place of virgin and fallow lands development, there was also a tightening of anti-religious policy after the XX Congress of the CPSU and the intensification of anti-religious struggle. The harsh attitude of the Soviet state towards religion did not prevent the Germans from adhering to their religious principles and national cultural values. Since their arrival in Kazakhstan the German population managed to establish strong economic communities with their own culture, ethnic identity and religious traditions. The religious everyday life of the German population is analysed based on secret memorandums of the Commissioner of the Council for Religious Affairs of the North Kazakhstan region V.P. Lyapunov, which allowed the authors to examine the variability of the everyday religious life of the German population and demonstrated the vitality of religious traditions and rituals. The authors focus on the religious practices of German communities, who made efforts to preserve their culture and identity amidst the anti-religious struggle. The conclusion is that despite the opposition of state and party organs, the proportion of believers and sympathisers of religion in this period in northern Kazakhstan was quite significant

Problems of developing a culture of treatment of intestinal infections in Tselinograd in the 1970s

The paper notes that after the establishment of the Virgin Lands area, specialists from all republics of the former Soviet Union came to the reclamation of virgin lands. Intestinal diseases, like other infectious diseases, were widespread among the local and arriving population. The authors have shown that large epidemic outbreaks of intestinal infections were possible in organized and unorganized collectives of residents of Tselinograd in case of violation of sanitary and hygienic regulations. Attempts, made by the city’s health authorities, did not always lead to an improvement in the quality of medical care. The authors emphasize that the shortage of specialists and healthcare institutions, violation of the treatment regimen, and other reasons influenced the deterioration of the epidemiological situation. The authors pay attention to the main directions and specific actions of the city administration to carry out epidemic control measures on the example of the sanitary service of Tselinograd during the difficult period of reclamation of virgin lands in Kazakhstan in the 1970s.

Practice of permanent presence and equipment of Karshi main canal

The research aims to develop new energy-saving modes of operation of the Karshi main canal with a cascade of pumping stations designed to irrigate the virgin lands of the Karshi steppe with water from the Amudarya River. The article discusses some calculation methods and control parametric tests of pumps by measuring the main parameters: flow, pump head, electric motor power, NPSH, and pump efficiency. Normal operation of pumping stations requires compliance with cavitation conditions of pumps of certain levels downstream. The authors have given recommendations on the use of a new floodwater design and obtained the flow's main characteristics in the section under consideration, taking into account the hydrometric characteristics. Further work continues to improve the scheme of water supply facilities by introducing new means of regulating the operation of pumping station elements into the scheme.

Пространственно-временное распределение влажности и динамики эмиссии парниковых газов из верхних почвенных горизонтов в пойменных залежных землях Башмаковского района Пензенской области

In order to ensure the food security of our country, after more than 60 years since the experience of plowing virgin lands, the state decided to return to circulation lands that were abandoned for some reason and have not been used in agriculture in recent years. The uplift of deposits will contribute to the overall increase in acreage and partial removal of the "fatigue" of actively exploited arable lands by the introduction of innovative farming systems. When introducing fallow territories into agricultural circulation, it is necessary to take into account agroecological indicators of the soil, moisture saturation of the soil horizon, which directly affects land reclamation measures and land productivity, and it is also necessary to assess greenhouse gas emissions in order to control emissions that are provided for by the Climate Agenda. The work was carried out within the framework of the NCMU "Agrotechnologies of the Future" in the areas of "Research and development of new self-learning intelligent DSS for agroecological optimization of adaptive farming systems" and "Development and implementation of IoT systems for operational monitoring of effective fertility and ecological functions of soils". Keywords: FALLOW LANDS, GREENHOUSE GAS FLOWS, SOIL MOISTURE, RECLAIMED LANDS