TRANSFORMATION OF FLOODPLAIN LANDSCAPES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ZAKHARKOVO FLOODPLAIN OF THE MOSCOW RIVER)

The Zakharkovskaya floodplain of the Moscow River is located directly above the Moscow Ring Road. It is an example of a natural structure that is spontaneously restored after long-term economic use (hayfields, pastures, long-term plowing, summer cottege settlements, drainage and irrigation channels, silt sites, etc.) under conditions of cessation of intensive anthropogenic impact. The article deals with the history of the formation and development of the Zakharkovskaya floodplain in prehistoric times (late Holocene), in the early historical period (beginning-middle of the second millennium AD), and in the late historical period-XIX-XXI centuries. The regulation of water flow, which has occurred in recent decades, is accompanied by a relative stabilization of the Moscow riverbed, turning it into a canal, reducing the intensity of channel deformations, leveling the bottom relief with its general deepening. As in other floodplain plots, the territory of floodplain leaves the flood zone; depressions are filled in, lakes are degraded, and man-made terrain is formed. At the same time, the current restrictions on access to the territory of the Zakharkovskaya floodplain for 10-15 years have created conditions for the restoration of natural structures, in particular, forest and shrub tracts, and increased the landscape and ecological attractiveness of floodplain lands.

COMMERCIAL FAUNA OF WA-TERBODIES IN THE MOSCOW RIVER BASIN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY

Based on the data from economic notes to the General Land Survey, the ranges of commercial fish and crayfish species that inhabited waterbodies of the Moscow River basin in the second half of the 18th century are reconstructed. Eighteen maps showing the distribution of 22 fish species, including Acipenser ruthenus L., Abramis brama L., Barbatula barbatula L., Lota lota L., Sander lucioperca L. and others are compiled. Comparison of commercial fish species that lived in the Moscow River basin in the second half of the 18th century with data from ichthyological studies in the beginning of the XXI century and materials of archaeological surveys shows that almost all of these species have lived in the Moscow River basin since ancient times and have survived to the present day.

Results of variety testing of medium-late varieties and hybrids of white cabbage and their keeping capacity

Капуста белокочанная – важнейшая овощная культура. Минздрав России рекомендует потреблять не менее 40 кг/человека капустных культур в год. Безусловный лидер среди разновидностей капусты в нашей стране – капуста белокочанная, хотя некоторые распространенные у нас капустные культуры немногим ей уступают. На потребительском рынке по-прежнему востребованы широко востребованные сорта капусты разных групп спелости. Однако для современного овощеводства особую ценность представляют среднепоздние сорта и гибриды, отличающиеся от обычных сортов более высокой урожайностью, выравненностью, хорошей лежкостью и при этом высокими вкусовыми качествами. В лаборатории хранения отдела земледелия и агрохимии ВНИИО – филиала ФГБНУ ФНЦО в течение пяти лет (2015–2019 годы) проводились исследования по комплексной оценке новых сортов и гибридов среднепоздней капусты на урожайность, лежкость и болезнеустойчивость. Всего испытывались 11 среднепоздних сортов и гибридов из различных регионов России. Опыты проводили по единой методике во ВНИИО – филиале ФГБНУ ФНЦО на аллювиально-луговых почвах поймы реки Москвы на одинаковом фоне удобрений (N120P120K180), одинаковой схеме посадки растения (70×40 см) при использовании единых агрономических приемов выращивания растений. Уборку проводили одновременно, хранили продукцию в холодильной камере овощехранилища ВНИИО – филиала ФГБНУ ФНЦО, где проводили учет болезней и определяли выход товарной продукции. Наибольший выход продукции после хранения был выявлен у гибридов F1Фаворит (78,8%), F1 Княгиня (75,7%). Сорта капусты существенно уступали гибридам по сохраняемости (61,3–69,2%). Наименьшая убыль массы кочанов (20,2%) была отмечена у гибрида F1 Княгиня, а F1 Фаворит не подвергался поражению болезнями. Для обеспечения бесперебойной поставки капусты белокочанной населению в осенне-зимне-весенний период сортообразцы капусты белокочанной были разделены на группы по максимально критическим срокам реализации: III декада января – Черкаш; I декада февраля – Финал; I декада марта – Вьюга, Кневичанка, Флорин; II декада марта – F1 Княгиня; I декада апреля – F1 Фаворит. White cabbage is the most important vegetable crop. The Russian Ministry of health recommends consuming at least 40 kg/person of cabbage crops per year. The undisputed leader among the varieties of cabbage in our country is white cabbage, although some common cabbage cultures are not much inferior to it. In the consumer market, widely demanded varieties of cabbage of different ripeness groups are still in demand. However, for modern vegetable growing, medium-late varieties and hybrids are of particular value, which differ from ordinary varieties by higher yield, equalization, good keeping quality and at the same time high taste qualities. In the storage laboratory of the Department of Agriculture and Agrochemistry of ARRIVG – branch of FSBSI FSVC, for five years (2015–2019), studies were conducted on the comprehensive assessment of new varieties and hybrids of medium-late cabbage for yield, keeping quality and disease resistance. In total, 11 mid-late varieties and hybrids from various regions of Russia were tested. The experiments were carried out according to the same method in ARRIVG – branch of FSBSI FSVC on alluvial-meadow soils of the Moscow river floodplain on the same background of fertilizers (N120P120K180), the same planting scheme (70×40 cm) using the same agronomic techniques for growing plants. Harvesting was carried out at the same time, products were stored in the refrigerator of the ARRIVG – branch of FSBSI FSVC vegetable storage, where diseases were recorded and the output of marketable products was determined. The highest yield after storage was found in hybrids F1Favorit (78.8%), F1 Knyaginya (75.7%). Cabbage varieties were significantly inferior to hybrids in terms of preservation (61.3–69.2%). The smallest decrease in the mass of heads (20.2%) was observed in the F1Knyaginya, and the F1 Favorit was not exposed to disease. To ensure uninterrupted supply of white cabbage to the population in the autumn-winter-spring period, white cabbage varieties were divided into groups according to the most critical implementation dates: III decade of January – Cherkash; I decade of February – Final; I decade of March – Vyuga, Knevichanka, Florin; II decade of March – F1 Knyaginya; I decade of April – F1Favorit.

STABILIZATION AND DECOMPOSITION RATE OF STANDARD MATERIAL IN HERBACEOUS COMMUNITIES OF THE FOREST ZONE

The rate of plant litter decomposition depends on two simultaneous processes: the decomposition and stabilization of organic matter. To compare the rates of these processes in various ecosystems now a Tea Bag Index (TBI) is widely used. The samples of standard material (green tea and rooibos) were buried into soil at the depth of 8 cm in four herbaceous plant communities of Central Forest State Nature Biosphere Reserve (CFSNBR) and seven communities of the Moscow river floodplain near the MSU Zvenigorod biological station (ZBS). Considering the mass losses of samples during the incubation time we calculated the values of decomposition constant and stabilization factor according to the protocol by J. A. Keuskamp et al. (2013) and estimated the links of these parameters with Ellenberg’s ecological indicator values. The stabilization factor values ranged from 0.122 g/g in Filipendula community of CFSNBR to 0.379 g/g at the natural levee of the Moscow river, and the decomposition constant values ranged from 0.0089 g/g/day in Filipendula community of CFSNBR to 0.0308 g/g/day at the slope of the high floodplain. The mean values of these parameters were significantly positively correlated. The decomposition rate was lower in the communities of CFSNBR and was positively correlated with the soil pH Ellenberg’s indicator values. The stabilization factor values did not depend on the region and decreased with the increase in soil moisture and nitrogen. The mainland meadows of CFSNBR and the meadows of the high floodplain of the Moscow river, belonging to Cynosurion cristati alliance, had the most similar parameters of decomposition.

Do History Lessons Ever Pay off? A Diplomat’s Memoir

Sir Rodric Braithwaite was educated at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, from where he went to serve in HM Diplomatic Service, having worked in Jakarta, Moscow, Washington, Warsaw, Rome, and Brussels, where he was a member of the British delegation to the European Community. From 1988 to 1992, Sir Rodric served as HM Ambassador in the Soviet Union during the decisive years of the Perestroika and the first British ambassador in Russia. Subsequently, he was appointed foreign policy adviser to the Prime Minister in the second John Major ministry and chaired the UK Joint Intelligence Committee between 1992 and 1993. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1994. As a career diplomat, Sir Rodric gained decades of insight into the troubled relations between Russia and West, having taken part in numerous negotiations on arms control. His affinity with the decision-making circles in both Russia and Britain alongside with the mastery of the Russian language allow him to skillfully dissect the underlying causes of ups-and-downs in Moscow’s relationship with the West, employing the works of both English- and Russian-speaking analysts. Among his recent books are Across the Moscow River (2002), Moscow 1941: A City and Its People at War (2006), Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan, 1979–1989 (2012), Armageddon and Paranoia: The Nuclear Confrontation (2017). In this essay, Sir Rodric reminisces of the years spent as a diplomat and provides his view on the usefulness and applicability of historical lessons while devising a foreign policy course.

Colonel É.-F.-R. Pouchelon report about battle at Moscow River on 5–7th September 1812

In the article which comes before our publication of the report (from Service Historique de la Défense – S.H.D.) of the colonel of the 33rd regiment of line infantry Baron of the Empire and officer of the Legion of Honour Pouchelon we give analysis of the conditions in which this source was created. This document is dedicated to the events of 5–7 of September 1812 and its full text is published completely for the first time. We discover the importance to use in our research written sources. Also we make source analysis of this text.

LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SQUARE AND PARK OF THE NOVODEVICHY MONASTERY

In 2024, the five - hundredth anniversary of the outstanding historical and cultural monument of world and Federal significance-the Novodevichy monastery, which is being restored for the anniversary, will be celebrated. The monastery is famous not only for its unique architectural ensemble and famous cemetery, where many outstanding statesmen, military leaders, representatives of science, literature and art are buried, but also for its remarkable natural landscape, artificially transformed in the 16th and 20th centuries. and represented by a public garden on the upper terrace at the approach to the monastery and the lower landscape-regular Park adjacent to the embankment of the Moscow river. The square in front of the entrance to the monastery and the lower Park of the Novodevichy monastery have the status of a cultural heritage site (OKN) of regional significance works of landscape art (SPI). It is shown that the preservation and adaptation of the square and Park to modern use should be methodically and practically linked to the requirements of ensuring the safety of the architectural ensemble. The results of field surveys of Park territories and squares of different years (2016 and 2020) and the experience of their improvement are summarized. The features of natural, historical, cultural, urban planning and landscape factors of the square and Park that affect their restoration and improvement and their role in shaping the perception of the monastery ensemble are considered. The experience of restoration and improvement of the square and Park in recent years is considered. It is recommended to adjust the subject of protection and the boundaries of the object.