Winter rye yield depending on the types of fallows

Winter rye is of great importance in strengthening and developing the grain economy of the Non-Chernozem region of Russia. In recent years, due to the high cost of fertilizers and plant protection products, agricultural producers have begun to pay more attention to the biologization of agriculture. One of the main means of biologizing agriculture is the use of sideration. The article presents the results of the research on the influence of pure, green-manured and occupied fallows on the growth and development of winter rye, crop contamination, soil microbiological activity and grain yield in the eastern part of the Volga- Vyatka zone. It was revealed that the weather conditions of the growing season of the Republic of Mari El allowed the cultivation of winter rye on the green-manured fallow. With timely plowing of siderite, the amount of productive moisture in the soil before sowing winter crops is sufficient. The use of sideration improves the phytosanitary state of the agrocenosis – the contamination of winter rye crops when cultivated with green-manured fallow is significantly lower in comparison with cultivation with occupied fallow. Being a valuable food and energy material for the soil microflora, the plowed organic mass of green fertilizers contributes to a significant increase in the microbiological activity of the soil. The replacement of pure and occupied fallow with green-manured fallow cultivation of winter rye on this fallow allows you to get a significant increase in grain yield.

Wastewater silt sludge application in the case of Carthamus tinctorius cultivation on light chestnut soils of the Volgograd Region, Russia

Aim. The aim of research was to study various methods of basic soil cultivation and a domestic wastewater silt sludge application which could possibility be directed to soil fertility saving and increase in crop yields.Materials and Methods. The object of research was a safflower variety called Alexandrite. Experimental variants were carried out according to a 4-fold repetition. Experiment installation, observations and accounting were carried out in accordance with the field experiment methodology named after B.A. Dospehov.Results. Field research was undertaken in order to study the various methods of a basic tillage and a domestic wastewater silt sludge application possibility under arid conditions of the Volgograd region on light chestnut solonetz soils. The amino acid composition of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds has been estimated. The data from the study of soil microbiological activity and the effect of non-traditional fertilizers on the increase in the activity of soil biota are presented. The crop yields and economic evaluation of the Carthamus tinctorius cultivation were determined.Conclusion. Modern resource-saving soil cultivation technologies and nontraditional fertilizers are required to: maintain the fertility of slightly humus soils in this arid climate zone, increase amino acids levels in plants, increase soil biological activity, as well to increase safflower crop yields. The proposed technical solutions, employing Rancho chisel tillage with as the basic tillage together with the introduction of non-traditional fertilizers-meliorants, provides structural restoration of soil aggregates, intensification of the humus formation process, increase in soil microbiological activity and - as a result - an increase in the yield of the cultivated Carthamus tinctorius crop.

Ecological features of No-till technology in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine

Ecological features of No-till technology in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine The effect of No-till technology on soil density, soil moisture reserves, soil microbiological activity, and crop yields was studied. The increase in crop yield up to 14.3-22.9% by No-till technology allowed us to draw a conclusion about optimizing soil fertility indicators in the climatic conditions of the southern Steppe zone of Ukraine in comparison with traditional intensive technologies. It was shown that the introduction of No-till technology will allow improve environmental processes in the soil, reduce the anthropogenic load on agroecosystems and the manifestation of erosion processes, increase crop yields and reduce energy costs for their cultivation. Keywords: soil, No-till technology, soil density, soil moisture, fertility, yield.

SOIL MICROBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE FODDER WITH LEGUMES AND MANURE DOSES

ABSTRACT Maize is an important cereal and it is widely consumed in the world, both as food for humans and animals. Nitrogen (N) is a nutrient required in large quantities by maize, but unfortunately, soils are limited in meeting this need. Nodulating legumes can serve as a source of Nitrogen, because they are symbiotically associated with bacteria capable of fixing atmospheric N. Another important source of this nutrient is cattle manure, which is widely used in agriculture. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of using legumes and cattle manure on the production as well as the microbial and biochemical quality of the soil used for maize cultivation. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design, in a sub-subdivided plot scheme [(2x4) +2], two leguminous plants (pigeon pea and macassar bean), four doses of cattle manure (0, 20, 40 and 60 t ha-1) and two controls; one with mineral fertilization and the other cultivated without the use of fertilizers. Treatment using a manure dose of 60t ha-1 and pigeon pea legume, recorded higher dry mass production per plant. The increase in manure doses was directly proportional to the length and weight of the cobs for the two legumes. The enzymatic activities were affected by the different doses and legumes, with greater results being recorded at the 60 t ha-1 dose with the macassar legume. The use of legumes with manure improved maize production as well as the microbiological and biochemical quality of soils.

Do cover crops enhance soil greenhouse gas losses during high emission moments under temperate Central Europe conditions?

SummaryCover cropping is a key agro-environmental measure in Europe. Cover crops may reduce N2O emissions by reducing soil nitrate content, while easily decomposable residues can enhance greenhouse gas losses. In a field study, emissions from the cover cropped fields compared to the fallow at two climatically different sites (semi-arid vs. humid) in Austria were measured with closed chambers and different driving factors were studied. The height of post-cover crop emissions was compared to gaseous losses during the management operations in the subsequent main crop maize. N2O and CO2emissions following the cover crops were low even at high emission moments compared to the losses induced by the main crop management operations. Highest risk of N2O losses was from mustards due to low C/N ratio and possibly as a consequence of glucosinolate decomposition. CO2emissions in the cover cropped plots were generally higher compared to the fallow, indicating an enhanced soil microbiological activity. Dissolved organic carbon was found as a sensitive indicator related to the greenhouse gas emissions. We concluded that the environmental benefits from cover cropping are not achieved at the cost of an enhanced greenhouse gas emission and that pure stands of late sown brassica cover crops should be avoided to prevent any risk of increased N2O losses.

Impact of temperature on the biological properties of soil

The aim of the study was to determine the response of soil microorganisms and enzymes to the temperature of soil. The effect of the temperatures: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C on the biological properties of soil was investigated under laboratory conditions. The study was performed using four different soils differing in their granulometric composition. It was found that 15°C was the optimal temperature for the development of microorganisms in soil. Typically, in the soil, the highest activity of dehydrogenases was observed at 10-15°C, catalase and acid phosphatase – at 15°C, alkaline phosphatase at 20°C, urease and β-glucosidase at 25°C. The highest colony development index for heterotrophic bacteria was recorded in soils incubated at 25°C, while for actinomycetes and fungi at 15°C. The incubation temperature of soil only slightly changed the ecophysiological variety of the investigated groups of microorganisms. Therefore, the observed climate changes might have a limited impact on the soil microbiological activity, because of the high ability of microorganisms to adopt. The response of soil microorganisms and enzymes was more dependent on the soil granulometric composition, organic carbon, and total nitrogen than on its temperature.