No 4 (2024)

Long-term monitoring (1998–2023) of the yield of clover-timothy grass stands of the first year of use was carried out in order to find patterns of influence of landscape environmental conditions on it in various agroclimatic conditions. The research was conducted within the moraine hill located at the Gubino VNIIMZ agro-testing site in the Tver region. Soil-forming rocks are two-membered deposits consisting of an upper layer composed of relatively light rocks, underlain by moraine bouldery loam. The grass stands were exploited without fertilizers in a single-cut mode on a field divided into 120 plots. Using regression analysis, the influence of landscape and soil environment factors was determined: relief, physical and agrochemical properties of soils on grass yield, as well as the dependence of the degree of this impact on climatic conditions. It was found that the yield of perennial grasses is most strongly influenced by various fractions of the granulometric composition of soils – from stones to dust (up to 16 % of its variability) and the altitude of the location (up to 38 %), since the thermal and water-air characteristics of soils and vegetation largely depend on them. Terrain characteristics such as steepness and curvature of the surface have a minor impact on grass yield (up to 12 %). The degree of influence of agro-landscape environmental factors on the growth of grasses is largely regulated by fluctuations in weather conditions. “Climate scenarios” of a specific factor – sets of weather parameters under which its effect on the production process of a crop is manifested – in the years of sowing and mowing, as a rule, do not differ fundamentally. Knowing the nature of the influence of climatic factors allows us to more accurately predict crop yields within an agricultural landscape and, thus, optimize the location of crops on the territory of a particular farm.

We studied the effect of microbiological preparations on increasing the yield of soybeans of different varieties. The work was carried out in the conditions of the Oryol region in 2019–2023. Objects of research: soybean varieties Leader 1, Mezenka, Orleya, Osmon, Zusha, as well as Biostim Start preparations, Rizoform Soya, Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3, Biodux, used in pre-sowing seed treatment and foliar feeding of soybean plants in phases 1…3 of trifoliate leaves and budding. The highest increase in soybean yield (6.0 %) compared to the control is provided by inoculation of seeds of the Zusha variety with Rizoform Soya in combination with Biostim Start. Pre-sowing seed treatment in combination with foliar fertilizing with preparations Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3, Biodux in the presence of native races of rhizobacteria in the soil contributed to the introduction of microorganisms included in their composition into the rhizosphere community of plants with subsequent participation in the activation of nitrogen nutrition processes of the latter. On average, for varieties, the number and weight of nodules in the variant with pre-sowing treatment and 2 foliar applications increased by 57.6 and 65 %, respectively, compared to the control, nitrogenase activity – by 67.3 %. The use of a combination of the preparations Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3 and Biodux by pre-sowing seed treatment and one foliar feeding in the phase 1…3 of trifoliate leaves provided the greatest increase in the yield of the Leader 1 variety 0.29 t/ha, Zusha – 0.35, Mezenka – 0 .40 t/ha. The maximum increase in protein content in grain was observed in the Mezenka variety in the variant with pre-sowing seed treatment and 1 or 2 foliar fertilizers – by 1.1 and 1.0 %, respectively.

The research was conducted in 2019–2023 in Belgorod region with the purpose of breeding evaluation of alfalfa cultivars with different resistance to «witches’ broom alfalfa» (WBA). Fifty-two selection samples belonging to species Medicago sativa L., M. varia Mart., M. falcata L. The soil is typical chernozem, humus content (according to Tyurin) 4.7…5.0 %, The year of sowing – 2019. Predecessor – pure fallow. Plots – two-row long 3.5 m, row spacing width – 0.3 m. Repetition – five times. Standard – variety Belgorodskaya 86, sown through 5 numbers. Seeding rate of 100 germinated seeds per 1 linear meter. It was found that the group of varietal samples (n = 10) with low resistance to WBA (variation of prevalence 24.3–34.9 %) is characterized by a greater accumulation of protein (by 44.6 g/kg, t = 8.0, p < 0.05), higher foliage (by 4.8 %, t = 3.7, p < 0.05) and height (by 25.3 cm, t = 6.2, p < 0.05), compared to the group of varieties resistant to WBA (n = 12) (prevalence variation 4.6… 9.1 %). Varieties with high resistance to WBA, belong to yellow and yellow-hybrid alfalfa varieties: Pavlovskaya 7, PO-172, Marusinskaya 425, PO-173, Sarga, PO-174, Victoria, 20–89 H, 193–95d, PO-175, SGPR-8, Vela×Sarga. Varieties with low resistance to VML belong to blue alfalfa and partially – blue-hybrid varieties: Krasnoyaruzhskaya 2, SI-139, SI-138, Plateau, Verko, Luzelle, Salsa, Kreno, Galaxi, Planet.

The aim of the research is a comparative analysis of the response to soil stressors according to the biochemical and productive characteristics of the initial genotypes of oats (line 2h15) and regenerative forms (RA, RA_Al, RA_Mn, RA_Cd) in the framework of evaluating the effectiveness of applied cell selection schemes. In the vegetation experiment, the effect of soil stressors on plants was studied – increased acidity (pH = 4.3), toxicity of manganese ions (65.2 mg/kg, pH = 5.2) and cadmium (2.87 mg/kg, pH = 5.2). The Arkhan variety was used as a standard. The control was soil with a neutral pH (7.2). Regenerants were previously obtained in vitro on artificial media without stress (RA) and with selective agents: alumina acid (RA_Al), increased Mn²⁺ (RA_Mn) and Cd²⁺ (RA_Cd). On soil with stressors, the pigment content in regenerant leaves exceeded the baseline values by 1.4…1.6 times. In control, the differences between RA and the baseline are unreliable. All regenerative lines, regardless of growing conditions, were characterized by significantly lower levels of polyphenols in grain (11.2…12.4 mg/g dry weight), compared with the baseline and the standard by 1.2…1.3 times. On backgrounds with artificial addition of metals, an excess of the manganese level in the grain was noted: 1.7 times in RA_Mn (256.1 mg/kg), compared with the baseline, and there were no differences between them in the cadmium content in RA_Cd (1.82…1.67 mg/kg). On the control background, RA and the baseline significantly lagged behind the standard in terms of grain weight from the plant: in regenerants – 1.29 g; baseline – 1.38 g; standard – 1.65 g. With increased acidity and cadmium, all genotypes decreased productivity relative to the control, but to a lesser extent regenerants (1.6 and 1.4 times, respectively), the baseline – 2.8 and 2 times, the standard – 2.4 and 1.9 times.

In 2022–2023 in Leningrad region at potato Liga variety trials were conducted to evaluate mixture of herbicides Nexus (240 g/l of fomesafen) and Traser (480 g/l of clomazone) in the following schedules: 1.0 l/ha + 0.25 l/ha; 1.0 l/ha + 0.5 l/ha; 1.25 l/ha + 0.25 l/ha and 1.25 l/ha + 0.5 l/ha. The use of herbicides in their pure form acted as standard. The experiments were carried out in accordance with the methods of herbicide registration trials (2013; 2020). The use of tank-mix of herbicides Nexus + Traser made it possible to most fully control of mixed type of weediness, typical for the North-Western region. When applying a tank-mix herbicides in the regulations of 1.0…1.25 l/ha + 0.5 l/ha, the decrease in the weight of annual dicotyledonous weeds was at a level exceeding 75.0 %; the decrease in the weight of annual cereal weeds reached 88.3 %. The use of the herbicide Nexus in its pure form was most noticeably inferior to the application of tank-mix of herbicides Nexus + Traser (1.0…1.25 l/ha + 0.5 l/ha) in terms of effect on plants of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv.)) and baconweed (Chenopodium album L.). The main advantage of a tank-mix of herbicides over the herbicide Traser in its pure form was realized in relation to the effect on pale persicaria (Polygonum lapathifolium L.). Reduced competition from weeds contributed to the preservation of potato yields of Liga variety cultivated in the North-Western region. Under normal moisture conditions, the potato yield after using a tank-mix of herbicides Nexus and Traser (31.0…35.8 t/ha) significantly exceeded the crop yield after using these herbicides in their pure form (17.5…23.3 t/ha).

The study was conducted to investigate the selection and genetic parameters of productivity of fine-wool sheep of the Trans-Baikal breed of the Khangil typein order to increase the efficiency of the selection process. The relationships between the selected traits (live weight, wool yield) and the exterior and constitutional features were determined using the method of correlation and regression analysis. Of the assessed parameters, the greatest variability was observed for body weight (11.9…19.4 %), wool yield (9.9…11.1 %) and latitudinal linear measurements (8.2…12.4 %). According to the constitution indices, rams differed from ewes by greater leg length, better chest development, stronger skeleton, while ewes were characterized by a more stretched, compact and massive body with a better developed back part. Live weight and wool yield of rams were more closely associated with linear measurements than those of ewes. Live weight of both males and females correlated more strongly with chest girth (respectively +0.916, p < 0.001 and +0.740, p < 0.001), wool yield – with chest depth in rams (+0.737, p < 0.001) and hip width in ewes (+0.469, p < 0.001). In Trans-Baikal breed of the Khangil type rams, with an increase in the hip width measurement by 1 cm, it is possible to predict an increase in live weight by 5.50 kg (r = 0.839; p < 0.001), in ewes with an increase in chest girth by 1 cm – by 1.04 kg (r = 0.740; p < 0.001). The analysis of paired regression equations shows that the live weight of Trans-Baikal breed of the Khangil type ewes is largely determined by the linear measurement of the chest girth: in rams – 83.9 %, in ewes – 54.7 %, the influence of other factors accounts for 16.1 and 45.3 %, respectively. At the same time, in the multivariate regression models, 94.3 and 74.7 % of the change in body weight is explained by the effect of a complex of linear measurements, and the remaining share is attributed to the influence of other factors.

To reduce the negative effects of hyperthermia on the body of farm animals and poultry, various drugs and feed additives are currently used. Which do not have sufficiently adaptogenic and antitoxic properties. We studied the effect of a hepatoprotective composition consisting of dried live yeast, amorphous silicon dioxide, propylene glycol, calcium propionate, ascorbic acid, manganese, copper and zinc chelates, methionine and choline chloride on the variability of biochemical and morphological parameters of the body of laying hens under temperature stress. It was simulated by increasing the air temperature in a building where laying hens were kept from 18.0 ± 1.0 °C to 28.0 ± 1.0 °C for 48 hours. Due to hyperthermia, changes in biochemical and morphofunctional parameters were observed in the tissues and organs of birds. The obtained values of the biochemical parameters of blood serum in the birds of the control group indicated the intensity of the adaptive capabilities of their body. A complex of morphological changes confirmed a violation of protein metabolism and the regenerative-compensatory process. Pathological changes in the structure of the duodenum, characteristic of catarrhal-necrotic duodenitis, were identified. The stress reaction was also reflected in the condition of the heart muscle, in which an inflammatory process developed against the background of granular dystrophy of cardiomyocytes. The results of biochemical studies of blood serum in birds of the experimental group indicated an increase in the anti-stress response to a temperature stimulus under the influence of the studied composition (tendency to increase glucose and calcium, increase alkaline phosphatase activity by 47.4 %). The introduction of a hepatoprotective composition into the diet of laying hens during periods of temperature stress did not lead to disruption of the structure of tissues and organs, preserving cellular metabolic mechanisms. The

The article proposes a principle for forming a machine system using the object-process approach to modeling technical systems as a methodology of systems engineering. It has been shown that the central concept of a machine system is scientific and technological progress (STP): a machine system should simultaneously promote progress in the agro-industrial complex (AIC) and reflect it. The article presents a definition of a machine system, its functions, main goal, architecture, stakeholders, and external environment. A machine system is positioned as a mixed system that combines conceptual, substantive, and physical components. The conceptual part is an information product – the machine system itself, presented in the form of a computer program, website, standards, databases, on paper, etc. The physical component is a group of experts in developing a machine system. It has been shown that in a market economy, a machine system should be built not on the basis of specific brands and models of technical means, but on the basis of their types. A definition of the type was proposed based on the division of technical means characteristics into functional and non-functional. To substantiate the machine types, an approximate list of types of non-functional characteristics of agricultural machinery was formed. Diagrams of the architecture of the machine system and the development of types of agricultural machines were constructed. The architecture of the machine system is a combination of the structure of the machine system and the activities of experts in the development of the machine system, which ensures the performance of the machine system of its functions, the main ones being the systematization of agricultural machines and technologies and the formation of ideas among interested parties about the state and directions of scientific and technological progress in the agro-industrial complex.