Thermo-resistant enzyme-producing microorganisms isolated from composting

Organo-mineral fertilizers supplemented with biological additives are an alternative to chemical fertilizers. In this study, thermoresistant microorganisms from composting mass were isolated by two-step procedures. First, samples taken at different time points and temperatures (33 days at 52 ºC, 60 days at 63 ºC, and over 365 days at 26 ºC) were pre-incubated at 80 oC for 30 minutes. Second, the microbial selection by in vitro culture-based methods and heat shock at 60 oC and 100 oC for 2h and 4h. Forty-one isolates were able to grow at 60 °C for 4h; twenty-seven at 100 °C for 2h, and two at 100 °C for 4h. The molecular identification by partial sequencing of the 16S ribosomal gene using universal primers revealed that thirty-five isolates were from eight Bacillus species, one Brevibacillus borstelensis, three Streptomyces thermogriseus, and two fungi (Thermomyces lanuginosus and T. dupontii). Data from amylase, phytase, and cellulase activity assays and the enzymatic index (EI) showed that 38 of 41 thermo-resistant isolates produce at least one enzyme. For amylase activity, the highest EI value was observed in Bacillus licheniformis (isolate 21C2, EI= 4.11), followed by Brevibacillus borstelensis (isolate 6C2, EI= 3.66), Bacillus cereus (isolate 18C2, EI= 3.52), and Bacillus paralicheniformis (isolate 20C2, EI= 3.34). For phytase, the highest EI values were observed for Bacillus cereus (isolate 18C2, EI= 2.30) and Bacillus licheniformis (isolate 3C1, EI= 2.15). Concerning cellulose production, B. altitudinis (isolate 6C1) was the most efficient (EI= 6.40), followed by three Bacillus subtilis (isolates 9C1, 16C2, and 19C2) with EI values of 5.66, 5.84, and 5.88, respectively, and one B. pumilus (isolate 27C2, EI= 5.78). The selected microorganisms are potentially useful as a biological additive in organo-mineral fertilizers and other biotechnological processes.

The Effect of Mineral N Fertilization and Bradyrhizobium japonicum Seed Inoculation on Productivity of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Soybean yields can be considerably improved by inoculation with selected Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains and fertilization. The aim of this study was to assess the productivity of two soybean cultivars depending on the applied N mineral fertilizers and seed inoculation with B. japonicum. The study showed that on average, for both cultivars, the soybean yield was most favorably affected by the combined use of inoculation and nitrogen fertilization (increase in seed yield by 42%, protein yield by about 28%). The application of mineral nitrogen at the dose of 30 or 60 kg·ha−1 allowed the increase in the seed yield by about 17% and protein content by about 14% compared to the control. Inoculation of soybean seeds with B. japonicum increased the yield of soybeans by about 20%, proteins by about 10% compared to the control, and inoculation of Hi®Stick Soy favored a better yield than Nitragina. Inoculation of seeds with Nitragina or Hi®Stick Soy and fertilization with mineral nitrogen increased the content of protein and fiber in seeds of both soybean cultivars, as well as reduced the amount of ash and fat. The seeds of cv. Aldana had a higher amount of protein and ash than cv. Annushka, but a similar amount of fat and fiber.

The influence of methods of basic tillage and fertilizers on the content of basic nutrients in leached chernozem

Relevance. The preservation, reproduction and rational use of agricultural soil fertility is the main condition for the stable development of the agro-industrial complex. Mechanical tillage systems, the use of mineral and microbiological fertilizers are one of the main links in adaptive landscape farming systems. In the conditions of a sharp decrease in the rates of fertilizer application, an increase in the imbalance of elements of mineral nutrition of plants observed in recent years in agroecosystems, the function of improving the regimes of chernozems, preserving their fertility is designed to perform resource-saving technologies of soil cultivation in combination with effective methods of using agrochemicals that combine environmental and economic feasibility.Methods. The experiments were laid in 2017–2019 on chernozem heavy loamy soils typical for most farms in the Ulyanovsk region. The object of the study is spring wheat, the variety Ulyanovskaya 100. The subject of the study is the methods of tillage, doses of mineral fertilizers, the biological product "BisolbiFit". The following technological methods of using the biological product were studied: seed treatment before sowing, non-root treatment of vegetating plants and a combination of these methods. The experiment was carried out on three backgrounds: N0P0K0 (control); 2) N30P30K30; 3) N60P60K60.Results. It was found that the best nitrification ability was possessed by variants with fine combback and comb-back with soil-deepening treatment, in which the weighted average content of nitrate nitrogen was 3.29–3.33 mg/100 g, which is 35–36%; 26–28%; 43–44% more than with fine, conventional non-dump and dump treatment respectively. Plowing improved the conditions of phosphorus and potassium nutrition of plants by 25–37% and 6–14% compared to other treatments. When N30P30K30 and N60 P60 K60 were applied to the soil, the content of nitrate nitrogen increased by 46 and 91%, phosphorus — by 0–14% and potassium — by 6 and 21% compared to the nonfertilized background. More effective in terms of the effect on the productivity of spring wheat were comb-shaped treatments, where the average yield was 2.89–2.94 t/ha, which exceeded the usual plowing by 0.19–0.24 t/ha. The greatest increase in yield was obtained when combining the methodsseed treatment + spraying of vegetative plants with the biological preparation "BisolbiFit". On an unfertilized background, the increase in grain yield was -0.71, on the background of N30P30K30 — 1.04, on the background of N60P60K60 — 1.56 t/ha.

Influence of soil treatment and mineral fertilizers on structural indicators of summer soybean crops

It has been established that on each variant oftillage use of mineral fertilizers have a positive effect on the structural indicators of the yield when sowing summer soybeans. When the soil was cultivated to a depth of 8–10 cm, the number of beans per plant was 3.0–10.2 pieces, the number of grains per plant was 5.7–21.8 pieces, the grain yield per plant was 1.0–3.6 g, the weight of 1000 grains was 7.0–7.4 g; when disking the soil to a depth of 13–15 cm these indicators reached, respecttively, 3.3–11.4 pieces, 6.0–22.5 pieces, 1.2–3.8 g, 3.5–8.0 g; when plowing to a depth of 20–22 cm these indicators increased and amounted to 3.8–13.3 pieces, 6.9–24.9 pieces, 1.7–4.5 g, 4.3–8.6 g and this contributed to an increase in yield compared to control. Thus, the highest structural indicators were obtained when plowing the soil to a depth of 20–22 cm and at a rate of mineral fertilizers N60P90K60 kg/ha of active substance.

Impact of Safe Rock® Minerals, Mineral Fertilizers, and Manure on the Quantity and Quality of the Wheat Yield in the Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Rice–wheat (RW) rotation is the largest agriculture production system in South Asia with a multifaceted role in maintaining the livelihood of people. The customary practices and indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers have culminated in the decline of its productivity and profitability during the past two decades, thus affecting the sustainability of wheat. Safe Rock® Minerals (SRM) is a multi-nutrient rich natural rock mineral with great potential to manage soil degradation, reducing the input of fertilizers, improving soil fertility, and plant health. Thus, a field trial was conducted at the research farm of ICAR—Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi from 2016 to 2018 to evaluate the impact of Safe Rock® Minerals (SRM) on biometric parameters, productivity, quality, and nutrient uptake by conventional wheat and System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) in the wheat–rice cropping system. The results indicate that SWI performed better in terms of growth, yield, and quality parameters than conventional wheat. Among nutrient management practices; the highest growth, yield, and yield attributes of wheat were achieved with the use of SRM application 250 kg ha−1 + 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF). SRM application also increased grain protein content significantly. In conclusion, the integrated use of SRM with organic manures can serve as an eco-friendly approach for sustainable wheat production.

Productivity of fodder crops and their mixed planting depending on fertilizers and soil treatments

Relevance. The problem associated with the continuing decline in the yield of the main crops and soil fertility in most of the arable lands leads to the need of developing comprehensive measures, including the optimal selection of crops and methods of tillage and planting in order to increase the collection of plant protein and preserve soil fertility.Method. The work devoted to the study of the influence of tillage methods, mineral fertilizers and biological products on the productivity of forage crops and their mixed planting was carried out on the experimental fields of the Chechen Research Institute in 2019–2020 in the forest-steppe climatic zone. The experiment was multifactorial. Mineral fertilizers were used for crop rotation with a view to the planned yield. The biopreparation V417, created at the Institute of Agricultural Microbiology on the basis of the Bacillus subtilis strain, was used in the processing of seed material and crops during the period of intensive plant growth.Results. As a result of the research, it was revealed that each of the studied methods of tillage should correspond to the cultivated crop and the technology used. The introduction of mineral fertilizers provided an increase in the productivity of forage plants in their pure and mixed planting by 11–44%. The treatment of crops with biopreparation V417 reflected in the best way: an increase in yield was from 24 to 52%. At the same time, the highest yield of the green mass of 42.6 t/ha was obtained in a three-component mixture (wheat, peas, oats) in the variants where disking and chiseling were carried out. Mixed planting is a serious reserve for increasing the quantity and quality of plant products. It's feed productivity in the collection of dry matter and feed units was not inferior to pure planting of cereals, and in terms of the provision of 1 feed unit with digestible protein exceeded it by 3–14%.

Responsiveness of cauliflower varieties to the use of biocompost and mineral fertilizers

Цветная капуста – одна из наиболее ценных овощных культур по своим питательным и лечебным свойствам. Эта культура отличается высоким содержанием полноценного растительного белка, ее используют как диетический продукт при диабете и заболеваниях желудка, кишечника, печени. Однако выращивание цветной капусты сопряжено с большими проблемами ввиду очень высокой требовательности этой культуры к уровню плодородия почвы, элементам минерального питания, влажности почвы и воздуха. В почвенно-климатических условиях ЦНЗ России уровень урожайности цветной капусты колеблется в пределах 10–20 т/га, в среднем по России – 9,7 т/га, что не всегда компенсирует затраты на ее выращивание. Важнейшее условие повышения урожайности и рентабельности этой культуры – оптимизация питательного режима и внедрение новых высокоурожайных сортов и гибридов. Цель работы: поиск способов оптимизации питания капусты цветной с помощью органических удобрений (компостов) и их комбинаций с минеральными удобрениями. В 2020–2021 годах отделом земледелия и агрохимии ВНИИО-филиале ФГБНУ ФНЦО были проведены комплексные исследования по изучению отзывчивости некоторых сортов и гибридов цветной капусты на применение органических (птичий компост в дозе 6 т/га) и минеральных (N120P120K180) удобрений и их сочетаний, а также по влиянию этих удобрений на качество продукции. Было изучено семь сортов и гибридов капусты цветной отечественной и зарубежной селекции. Результаты исследований показали, что совместное применение минеральных и органических удобрений в наибольшей степени увеличивает продуктивность капусты, в среднем на 30%, в то время как чисто минеральные – на 25%, а чисто органические – на 19%. Совместное применение минеральных и органических удобрений позволяет получать в среднем 28,3 т/га головок цветной капусты, по отдельным сортам и гибридам – от 23,9 до 38,1 т/га. Качество продукции остается хорошим при применении минеральных и органических удобрений как раздельным, так и совместным способами. Cauliflower is one of the most valuable vegetable crops for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Differs in a high content of complete vegetable protein, is a dietary product for diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver and diabetes. However, the cultivation of cauliflower is fraught with great problems due to the very high demands of this crop on the level of soil fertility, elements of mineral nutrition, soil and air moisture. In the soil and climatic conditions of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia, the yield level of cauliflower fluctuates between 10–20 t/ha, on average in Russia 9.7 t/ha, which does not always compensate for the costs of its cultivation. The most important condition for increasing the yield and profitability of this crop is the optimization of the nutritional regime and the introduction of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids. The aim of our work was to find ways to optimize the nutrition of cauliflower using organic fertilizers – composts and their combinations with mineral fertilizers. In this regard, in 2020–2021, the Department of Agriculture and Agrochemistry of the ARRIVG-branch FSBSI FSVC conducted comprehensive studies to study the responsiveness of some varieties and hybrids of cauliflower to the use of organic (bird compost at a dose of 6 t/ha) and mineral (N120P120K180) fertilizers and their combinations, as well as the effect of these fertilizers on product quality. Seven varieties and hybrids of cauliflower of domestic and foreign selection were studied. The research results showed that the combined use of mineral and organic fertilizers to the greatest extent increases the productivity of cabbage, on average by 30%, while purely mineral fertilizers – by 25%, and purely organic – by 19%. The combined use of mineral and organic fertilizers allows to obtain an average of 28.3 t/ha of cauliflower heads; for individual varieties and hybrids from 23.9 to 38.1 t/ha. Product quality remains good when mineral and organic fertilizers are used both separately and jointly.

Does Climate Change Influence Russian Agriculture? Evidence from Panel Data Analysis

Agriculture is one of the economic sectors primarily affected by climate change. This impact is very uneven, especially for countries with large territories. This paper examines the contribution of climate change to the improvement in agricultural productivity in Russia over the past two decades. Several ensembles of fixed effects regressions on yields and gross harvests of grain, fruits, and berries, potato, and vegetables were evaluated for a sample of 77 Russian regions over the 2002–2019 period. In contrast to similar studies of the climate impact on Russian agriculture, we considered a larger set of variables, including both Russian and global climate trends, technological factors, and producer prices. Russian weather trends such as winter softening and increase in summer heat have a significant but opposite effect on yields. An interesting finding is a significant and mostly positive influence of global climatic variables, such as the CO2 concentration, El Niño and La Niña events on both harvests and yields. Although technological factors are the main drivers of growth in Russian agricultural performance over the past 20 years, we found a strong positive effect on yield and gross harvest only for mineral fertilizers. The influence of the other variables is mixed, which is mainly due to data quality and aggregation errors.

СТАЛИЙ РОЗВИТОК СІЛЬСЬКОГО ГОСПОДАРСТВА ТА ЙОГО ВПЛИВ НА ПРОДОВОЛЬЧУ БЕЗПЕКУ УКРАЇНИ

The article attempts to explore the agriculture sustainability issues and its implications for food security in Ukraine. The study discusses a critical importance of agribusiness development for Ukraine's economy. However, it is observed that currently, this sector is facing a serious decline in production. A special emphasis is put that agriculture affects the national food security. In this context, the purpose of this study is to identify negative factors and offer pathways to enhance the agricultural sector productivity. To attain the research objectives, the empirical and theoretical scientific approaches as well as the research methods of observation, analysis and synthesis have been employed. This study also presents a ‘sustainable development’ concept interpretation along with revealing its core structural elements that characterize the contemporary state of agriculture from the three perspectives: economic, social and environmental. Accordingly, insights into each of these three aspects were provided that allowed to evaluate the agricultural performance, to assess a salary range in the industry as well as to examine soil fertility. The research findings have detected some negative trends in the agricultural sector development. In particular, the economic aspect perspective has demonstrated a yield decline and a reduction in livestock as well as a drop in labor productivity in agribusinesses. As it is reported, the social settings are characterized by large fluctuations in the payroll budgets in agricultural enterprises and the shortage in certain food products consumed by Ukrainians against physiologically justified norms of consumption of these products. The environmental aspect shows a decrease in the application of organic and mineral fertilizers which negatively affects the soil fertility. Given the above research outcomes, this study offers an action plan to promote sustainable development, boost productivity and enhance the agricultural industry efficiency.

Agrotechnological passport of the potato variety Azart

Цель исследований: изучить реакцию нового среднераннего сорта картофеля Азарт селекции ФГБНУ «ФИЦ картофеля имени А.Г. Лорха» на густоту, сроки посадки и способы внесения минеральных удобрений, по комплексу хозяйственно ценных признаков (морфологические и биологические особенности, потребительские и столовые качества клубней, урожайность, показатели качества клубней, устойчивость к болезням, лежкость при хранении). Опыты проводили на экспериментальной базе «Коренево» ФГБНУ «ФИЦ картофеля имени А.Г. Лорха» (Московская область) в 2018–2020 годах на дерново-подзолистой супесчаной почве с низким содержанием гумуса (1,8–1,9%), высоким – подвижного фосфора (269–278 мг/кг почвы) и ниже среднего – обменного калия (128–130 мг/кг почвы). Минеральные удобрения (азофоска с добавлением калимагнезии) вносили локально двумя лентами при нарезке гребней культиватором КРН-4,2 с туковысевающими аппаратами в середине апреля. Изучали три приема внесения: 1. Единовременное N90P90K135(контроль); 2. Дробно-локальное (стартовое N60P60K90+ подкормка N30P30K45) через 7–10 дней после всходов; 3. Дробное (стартовое N30P30K45 + подкормка N30P30K45) через 7–10 дней после всходов + подкормка N30P30K45 в фазе бутонизации. Посадку картофеля проводили в два срока: ранний (третья декада апреля при температуре почвы не ниже 5–7 °C) и базовый (контроль) – через 7–10 дней после первого срока. Клубни массой 50–80 г высаживали клоновой сажалкой СН-4Б-К на глубину 8–10 см. Исследовали три густоты посадки: 44 (контроль), 50 и 56 тыс. клубней/га по схеме 75×30, 75×27, 75×24 см. Определен наиболее эффективный агрокомплекс приемов, включающий раннюю посадку (третья декада апреля при температуре почвы не ниже 5–7 °C) с густотой 44 тыс. клубней/га на фоне дробно-локального внесения удобрений (стартовое N60P60K90при нарезке гребней + подкормка N30P30K45) при междурядной обработке через 7–10 дней после всходов. В условиях дерново-подзолистой супесчаной почвы Центрального региона Нечерноземной зоны сорт дает прибавку урожая в размере 3,9 т/га, или 10,3%. При этом условный доход составил 39,0 тыс. р/га. The purpose of the research: to study the reaction of a new medium-early potato variety Azart selection of the Russian Potato Research Centre on the density, planting dates and methods of applying mineral fertilizers, according to a complex of economically valuable characteristics (morphological and biological features, consumer and table qualities of tubers, yield, quality indicators of tubers, resistance to diseases, storage shelf life). The experiments were carried out at the experimental base Korenevo Russian Potato Research Centre (Moscow region) in 2018–2020 on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil with low humus content (1.8–1.9%), high – mobile phosphorus (269–278 mg/kg of soil) and below average – exchangeable potassium (128–130 mg/kg of soil). Mineral fertilizers (azofoska with the addition of kalimagnesia) were applied locally with two ribbons when cutting the ridges with a KRN-4,2 cultivator with tow-raising devices in mid-April. We studied three methods of making: 1. One-time N90P90K135 (control); 2. Fractional-local (starting N60P60K90 + top dressing N30P30K45) 7–10 days after germination; 3. Fractional (starting N30P30K45+ top dressing N30P30K45) 7–10 days after germination + top dressing N30P30K45 in the budding phase. Potato planting was carried out in two terms: early (the third decade of April at a soil temperature of at least 5–7 °C) and basic (control) – 7–10 days after the first term. Tubers weighing 50–80 g were planted with a clone planter CH-4B-K to a depth of 8–10 cm. Three planting densities were studied: 44 (control), 50 and 56 thousand tubers/ha according to the scheme 75×30, 75×27, 75×24 cm. The most effective agrocomplex of techniques has been determined, including early planting (the third decade of April at a soil temperature of at least 5–7 °C) with a density of 44 thousand tubers/ha against the background of fractional-local fertilization (starting N60P60K90when cutting ridges + top dressing N30P30K45) with row-to-row processing 7–10 days after germination. In the conditions of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone, the variety gives an increase in yield of 3.9 t/ha or 10.3%. At the same time, the conditional income amounted to 39.0 thousand rubles/ha.