STRUCTURE OF CEREAL-LEGUME HERBALS WITH DIFFERENT METHODS OF SOWING AND IRRIGATION IN ARID CONDITIONS OF THE LOWER VOLGA

In recent years, livestock farms in the Astrakhan region have mainly used grasses from natural hayfields and pastures for fodder. But, due to the sharp aridization of the climate, and, as a consequence, the more frequent droughts, as well as the unregulated growth of the number of animals on farms, the reserves of natural herbage are often insufficient. Therefore, the region began to increase the area of sown hayfields for irrigation. The aim of the work is to study the effect of various irrigation methods on the productivity of cereal-leguminous mixtures with multi-cut use in the conditions of light chestnut soils of the Northern Caspian region. The studies were carried out in 2017-2020 in the Astrakhan region. All studied irrigation methods (sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation with a belt laying depth of 0.0, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45 m, periodic flooding), with the exception of subsoil irrigation, with an ordinary method of sowing contributed to the development of both cereals and legumes. In these variants of the experiment, cereals occupied a significant part in the total herbage - from 40.0 to 61.0%. When using the spread sowing method, only in one variant, the share of cereal grasses was 54.0% (periodic flooding). In all others with this method of sowing, the amount of cereals in the total mass was insignificant, or they were completely absent. The widespread method of sowing was also the most productive in all the years of research. The maximum yield in the experiment was noted in all variants of the experiment in the third year of the life of grasses in 2019.The highest productivity with the spread method of sowing was noted in 2019 in the variants of the experiment with a belt laying depth of 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45 m and amounted to 98.1, 104.4 and 111.0 t/ha, respectively. In the variants with the row-sowing method, the yield was lower than with the wide-spread one. The highest yield with this method of sowing was also noted in 2019 in variants with subsurface drip irrigation with a belt laying depth of 0.35 and 0.45 m and amounted to 105.5 and 104.8 t/ha, respectively

Redescription of Apomyelois cognata (Staudinger, 1871) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Phycitinae) with first record from the South Urals

Until recently, Apomyelois cognata (Staudinger, 1871) was known only from the type series collected 150 years ago in the Lower Volga region, as well as old records from Iran and Cyprus (the latter unconfirmed). In 2011 and 2020, more specimens of this little-known species were collected in the South Urals (Russia), presenting a new record for the area. The species identity was confirmed via examination of syntypes preserved in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. A lectotype designation for the species is made and a detailed redescription with illustrations of male and female genitalia is given.

Biological and economic evaluation of AMISTAR Gold fungicide against sunflower rust in the Lower Volga region

Rust is one of the most economically important foliar diseases of sunflower. The problem of sunflower disease control was considered. The article presents the results of a two-year experiment studying the efficiency of AMISTAR Gold fungicide, concentrated suspension (active ingredient: Azoxystrobin 125 g/L, Difenoconazole 125 g/L) in sunflower hybrids in the Lower Volga region. Flowerbud development stage was the best application timing for increasing productivity. Therefore, sunflower yield averaged 34 c/ha. The biological efficiency of the fungicide ranged from 85 to 90 %. The calculation of economic efficiency showed 145255 % profitability depending on the year.

Царицынская сторожевая линия и военно-политические изменения на юго-восточных границах России в 1720-х гг.

Introduction. The Tsaritsyn defense line has attracted the attention of historians since the 18th century, but so far, no special study of the history of the Tsaritsyn line in the 1720s has been undertaken. The period is of interest for its policy of strengthening the military-political influence of Russia in the Caspian region, with the Persian campaign undertaken and control over the movements of the Kalmyks increasing. The article aims to show the role of the Tsaritsyn defense line in these events. Materials and methods. The study intends to systematize and reconsider the information about the Tsaritsyn line presented in the historiography of the Persian campaign, in the history of the Kalmyks, and in the history of the regiments of the Russian imperial army, supplementing them with data of legislative acts and office documentation. Results. Tsaritsyn and the Tsaritsyn line were staging points on the path of the formation and movement of the Nizovoi (Lower), or Persian, Corps; practically all military units involved in the Persian campaign passed through the Tsaritsyn line, which was used for rear functions by the Corps as long as it existed. Tsaritsyn, the fortresses on the line, and the villages of the Don Cossacks closest to the line served as winter quarters for the Corps cavalry: here the dragoon regiments were re-equipped, and individual units were sent on missions along the southern borders of Russia. The Tsaritsyn line introduced serious changes in the life of the nomadic population of the Lower Volga region; passages through the line acquiring great military and political importance. Groups of Kalmyks who passed ‘inside’ turned out to be cut off from the Kuban and Crimeans and from other groups of Kalmyks. There was a symbolic meaning to the crossing of the Tsaritsyn line for Kalmyks who feared that their uluses would be taken away from them or they would be converted to Orthodoxy against their will. The study clarifies the data on the number of troops that served on the Tsaritsyn line in the 1720s. Constant was the presence of at least 500 Cossacks, sent on their mission by the Don army, as well as of several dragoon regiments. In the 1720s, units of the Kronshlots, Olonets, Vologda, Tobolsk, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Dmitrov, and Saratov dragoon regiments served on the Tsaritsyn line from several months to several years. Conclusions. From the very first years of its construction, the Tsaritsyn line not only protected the southern borders of the Russian Empire, but also became an instrument of the imperial diplomatic and military-political influence on neighboring peoples and states.

Biochemical evaluation of grain quality parameters of soybean varieties from the world collection of VIR in the conditions of the Lower Volga region

In 2019-2020, biochemical evaluation of grain quality indicators of soybean varieties from the VIR collection by main groups of nutrients under the conditions of the Lower Volga region was conducted. The differences and peculiarities of the gross energy value of grain were revealed according to the results of the research. The samples with high content of protein and fat in the grain were selected for further use in various directions of selection work on this crop. The coefficient of variation of biochemical grain parameters in soybean varieties varied between 2.7-8.7 %, which indicates its low variability. Keywords: SOYBEAN, BREEDING, WORLD COLLECTION VIR, BIOCHEMICAL EVALUATION, GRAIN QUALITY, GROSS ENERGY VALUE

SIGNS, STAMPS AND THE JOCHIDS' TAMGA ON THE CERAMICS FROM THE SELITRENNOYE FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT (BASED ON THE 2019-2020 EXCAVATIONS)

В статье представлены материалы исследований Селитренного городища - остатков столицы Улуса Джучи, города Сарай ал-Джедид (Харабалинский район Астраханской области), проведенных в 2019-2020 гг. Рассматриваются обнаруженные в ходе работ фрагменты золотоордынской керамики с нанесенными на них различными способами разнообразными знаками и символами, в том числе встреченное впервые на нижневолжских памятниках изображение тамги Джучидов-Батуидов. Приводятся варианты предназначения знаков. Вводятся в научный оборот знаки и символы, ранее не встречавшиеся на Селитренном городище и других поселениях эпохи Золотой Орды. The paper presents materials from the excavations of the Selitrennoye fortified settlement, i. e. ruins of the city of Sarai al-Jedid which was the capital of the Jochi ulus (Kharabali district, Astrakhan region). The excavations were carried out in 2019-2020. The paper examines discovered fragments of Golden Horde ceramics with various signs and symbols made on the ceramics with the use of different methods. The image of the Jochids-Batuids tamga has been found at the Lower Volga sites for the first time. Several explanations of such signs' intended use are provided. Signs and symbols never found at the Selitrennoye fortified settlement and other hillforts dating to the Golden Horde period before have been introduced into scientific discourse.