Influence of biological preparations on yield and sowing qualities of peas (Рisum sativum L.) for organic seed production

According to the legislation of Ukraine, one of the requirements of organic crop production is using organic seeds and organic planting material. High productivity and quality of sowing material for organic production of agricultural products can be obtained only if the plants and soil are optimally provided with nutrients and plants are protected from diseases, pests and weeds. The aim of the work was to study the technologies of protection and nutrition of peas with the use of domestic biological products in organic agrophytocenoses for seed production. The influence of organic technologies for growing peas of the Starter variety (Germany) with the use of complexes of biological preparations of domestic producers on the quantitative and qualitative indicators of seeds (weight of 1000 seeds, germinative energy of seeds, seed germination) is studied. The positive influence of all variants of the use of biological products (combination of pre-sowing treatment of seeds, soil, crop treatment) on the quality of the obtained seed material and its compliance with the requirements of DSTU for reproductive seeds was established. It was shown that the use of biological preparations in organic technologies provides the production of pea seeds with a germination of 94–95% and an increase in the yield of pea seeds at the level of 0.45–0.85 t/ha. It is determined that among the pests common in organic crops of peas, the greatest damage is caused by an insect of a series of hard-winged insects — pea weevil or Bruchus (Bruchus pisorum L.). Moreover, the population of Bruchus increased in crop rotation, located on one common plot without spatial isolation of each field. The main criteria for the production of organic sowing material of legumes, including peas, are compliance with the basic principles of organic production, its ability to provide seeds with high sowing and varietal qualities and the absence of infection and damage by diseases and pests.

Variability in 1000 kernel weight of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes depending on ecological and agrotechnical factors

In the ecological conditions of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe (The V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat, NAAS of Ukraine) the influence of growing season conditions (2016-17–2018-19), sowing dates (September 26, October 5, October 16) and different preceding crops (green manure, mustard, soybean, sunflower, corn) on variability of 1000 kernel weight of seventeen modern genotypes of winter wheat was investigated. Under environments of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe, significant variability in the trait depending on the factors under study was revealed. Part of sum square for the growing season conditions in the variation of 1000 kernel weight of winter wheat was the most (63.2%). Part of sum square for genotype was 7.0%, for preceding crop it was 4.8%, for sowing dates it was 0.4%. In terms of growing season, the variation in part of sum square was 23.5–30.1% for genotype, 12.7–39.8% for preceding crop, 0.8–6.1% for sowing date, and 2.0–26.5% for interactions between them. During the period of the study, on average for all genotypes, the maximum 1000 kernel weight was obtained after green manure (42.6 g), the least one was after soybean (39.0 g). When changing the sowing dates from September 26 to October 16, it was revealed a general tendency of decrease 1000 kernel weight after the preceding crops mustard, sunflower, corn, and soybean. Significant differences in the response of genotypes under study on the sowing dates after different preceding crops were revealed. The most influence on 1000 kernel weight was established for preceding crops in the variety MIP Darunok and for sowing dates in the variety MIP Vidznaka. There were distinguished the varieties Trudivnytsia myronivska, Balada myronivska, MIP Dniprianka, Avrora myronivska, MIP Darunok which significantly exceeded the standard by 1000 kernel weight on average through the growing season conditions, sowing dates, and preceding crops.

Ecological advantages of using microbiomethod in an integrated plant protection system

The article presents an analysis of current domestic and world literature data on the use of microbiomethod in plant protection. It has been proven, that biological preparations based on different biotypes of entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, due to their high specificity to various insect species and harmlessness to adult bees, warm-blooded and freshwater organisms, remain at the forefront of integrated plant protection systems worldwide. Their amount is up to 95% of all bioinsecticides. Being natural elements of biocenoses, entomopathogenic microorganisms do not harm plants. Moreover, the introduction of a number of bacteria into the soil and on the surface of plants promotes the growth of crops and increase their yield.Given the economic non-competitiveness of bioinsecticides compared to chemical insecticides, their use in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Systems is appropriate for the control of phytophages against which they are highly effective. The negative result of chemical insecticides is not only the pollution of the environment and products, but also the formation and spread of resistant races and pest populations. The higher cost of microbiomethod is justified by the lack of negative long-term effects of massive use of chemical insecticides.

Identification of spring barley genetic sources of increased and stable 1000 kernel weight performance (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The trials were conducted in 2018–2020 at the V.M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of NAAS. The aim of the research was to identify new spring barley genetic sources with combination of increased and stable 1000 kernel weight performance for creation initial breeding material under ecological conditions of the central part of Ukrainian Forest-steppe. There were studied 96 spring barley collection accessions originated in different ecological conditions. To identify peculiarities among genotypes within different subspecies (two-rowed and sixrowed), groups of varieties (covered and naked), as well as among two-rowed covered accessions of different ecological origin the genotypes under study were divided into six groups. Within four groups of accessions there were selected genotypes combining the maximum 1000 kernel weight performance and high homeostatic (Hom) and selection value (Sc) indexes. The other two groups of accessions were characterized with the fact that genotypes with high1000 kernel weight through three years did not have high Hom and Sc indexes due to higher variability. The analysis of variance of the AMMI model revealed almost the equal contribution to the total variance for growing season conditions (34.02%), genotype (34.67%) and their interaction (31.32%). The identified features indicate both the significant genetic diversity presented in this panel of spring barley accessions and the significant influence of weather conditions on the formation of 1000 kernel weight, as well as the different reaction of genotypes on the conditions of individual years of the research. When using statistical parameters and visualizations of the GGE biplot, new spring barley genetic sources with the optimal combination of increased and stable the trait performance were identified. In particular, to improve 1000 kernel weight the accessions Sviatovit (UKR), Dar Nosivshchyny (UKR), Smaragd (UKR), Sunshine (DEU), Lilly (DEU), and Vladlen (KGZ) are recommended to use as parental components for two-rowed covered barley varieties, the accession NSGJ-1 (SRB) is for naked barley varieties, and Yerong (AUS) is for six-rowed barley varieties.

Hen reproductive function under the influence of technological stressor

Modern industrial poultry enterprises use cage equipment for keeping laying hens, which is located in 12 and even 15 tiers, forming 4–5 floors. This makes it possible to increase the birds concentration in the poultry house by 4–5 times as compared to 3-tier cage batteries, and by 8–10 times as compared to the outdoor method of keeping. When using a 4–5 floors arrangement of cage batteries, the number of hens in one poultry house can reach 590 thousand birds. However, there are no data on the effect of such keeping on the physiological state of hens. Therefore, it is relevant to study the effect of the height of the cage battery on the reproductive function of laying hens of an industrial herd, which forms the efficiency of production of edible eggs. For this, in the conditions of a modern complex for the production of edible eggs, 4 groups of hens were formed, each of which was kept on a separate floor-analogue in area and cage equipment, located in one poultry house. Each floor was equipped with 3-tier cage batteries: tiers 1–3 were part of the 1st floor, tiers 4–6 — on the 2nd, 7–9 tiers — on the 3rd, and tiers 10–12 — 4th floors of cage equipment. The reproductive function of hens was assessed by the egg production for the initial and middle hens, its intensity and the weight of eggs. The research results showed that the content of layers in the cages of the batteries of the second floor was accompanied by a slight decrease in the safety of livestock — by 0.2–0.5%, egg production per initial layer — by 1.9–2.2%, which led to a decrease in the gross production of eggs by 0.6–0.7 million eggs, egg mass — by 48.9–67.0 tons and a decrease in the European efficiency factor by 0.7–0.9 units.Whereas when keeping laying hens in the cages of batteries on the first floor, there was a decrease in preservation by 10.3–10.8%, egg production per initial hen — by 6.4– 8.4% and body weight — by 7.5–8.1%, which led to a decrease in the gross production of eggs by 1.9–2.6 million pieces, egg mass — by 143.8–210.8 tons and a decrease in the level of the European coefficient of efficiency of egg production by 1.7–2.6 units. Thus, an increase in the layering of the cage equipment does not have a negative effect on hens reproductive function and the keeping of laying hens in the cages of the batteries of the first floor leads to the development of a stress state in them, which manifests itself in a decrease in the safety and deterioration of hens reproductive function, which leads to decrease in the efficiency of egg production.

Antibiotics in the soil and their effect on the soil microbiot

Antibiotics have been crucial in the fight against infectious diseases for the past 50 years. In agriculture they are widely used in the treatment of animals, birds and aquaculture, to prevent spoilage of feed, as stimulators of growth and productivity of livestock, in the production of essential amino acids as impurities in feed, and so on. At present, the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry has become excessive due to the prevention of global epidemics. In turn, the ingress of antibiotics into water and soil, in particular through organic fertilizers, poses a potential threat to these environments. Thus, a variety of antibiotic resistance genes (GRAs) are spreading in soil microorganisms, which is currently a global health problem. It is believed that the stability of antibiotics after entering the soil is mainly due to their rate of decomposition and sorption to the organic soil matrix. A wide range of values of the half-life (DT50) of these compounds in soils indicates that their stability depends on a number of factors: soil properties, climatic conditions (temperature, precipitation, and humidity), physicochemical characteristics of antibiotics. High antimicrobial activity of antibiotics in the soil differentially inhibits the development of soil microorganisms, affects their species composition, which can cause changes in the ecological functionality of the soil. Thus, even low concentrations of antibiotics significantly reduce soil respiration. This phenomenon is especially noticeable in the presence of sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine, sulfadiazine and trimethoprim in the soil. The presence of antibiotics in the soil affects the processes of nitrification and / or denitrification, and the inhibition of these processes depends on the duration of exposure and the type of compound. Monensin and chlortetracycline at concentrations of 0.01–0.1 and 0.0003–0.3 mg/kg of soil do not affect nitrification at all. Antibiotics also affect the rate of iron transformation in the soil. Thus, sulfadiazine and monensin block the reduction of iron (Fe (III)) in the soil from a few days to 50 days. It should be noted that the lack of standardized tests hinders research that would lead to generalized conclusions about the effects of antibiotics on biogeochemical cycles, in particular on iron circulation. An important indicator of the response to antibiotics in the soil is considered to be the change in the enzymatic activity of dehydrogenase, phosphatase and urease of soil microorganisms, which may be associated with growth inhibition or death of sensitive microorganisms. In addition, the presence of some antibiotics in the soil can cause over-population of fungal populations, which are generally less sensitive to antibiotics than bacteria. There is evidence that antibiotics alter the enzymatic activity of soil microorganisms, especially they affect the ability to metabolize carbon of various origins. In addition, antibiotics not only affect the total number of microbiota, but also the relative content of different groups (gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, fungi) in microbial populations. The importance of GRA studies of soil microorganisms is that they have led to the discovery of new genes responsible for bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Soil erosion as a factor of desertification of agrolandscapes in Ukraine

The description of the typical structure of agricultural landscapes of Ukraine and the most common degradation processes are given. Water and wind erosion are considered as one of the largest contributors to soil degradation in Ukraine, accompanied by declining soil fertility, moisture loss to surface runoff, air and surface water pollution, and degradation of small rivers. The sown areas of main crops for 1990–2020 are analysed per administrative oblast according to the State Statistical Service of Ukraine. A global long-term satellite remote sensing land surface temperature dataset (NOAA AVHRR) was used to analyse the dynamics of the average sum of effective temperatures for the vegetation season in 1982–2019. Sentinel-5P satellite data was used to analyse the spread and exposure of a large-scale dust storm in Polissya region in April 2020. As a result of climate change and economic factors, the area under corn and sunflower has been significantly increased. Due to the increased frequency of stormy rains and strong wind under climate change, the conditions for intensification of water and wind erosion in agricultural landscapes has been created. The local manifestation of wind erosion is typical for Polissya, mainly on overdried peat bogs and cohesive-sandy soils. But in the spring of 2020 a large-scale dust storm was observed for the first time on the territory of Ukrainian and Belarusian Polissya on the area of about 3.5 million hectares.The growing risk of soil erosion due to the climate change and current agricultural practices requires the improvement not only of the state land management system, but also the agri-environmental monitoring system, scientific methodical and information-advisory support of regional governments, landowners and land users. In order to implement state policy and coordinate the work on the rational use and protection of soils, combating their desertification and degradation, as well as adaptation of land use systems to climate change, it is proposed to establish the governing body «Monitoring, land management and soil protection» on the basis of existing specialized units of central and regional governments in the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

Peculiarities in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) clones seeding on CSP (Cloning seed plantation) in western Polissya of Rivne region

The main purpose of seed orchards is to obtain regularly seeds of the highest genetic value for forest plantations. Long-term research in Ukraine and foreign experience show that there is a significant reduction in the cone yield on orchards that are over 26–28 years old even with free spacing of ramets. The aim of the study was to identify peculiarities in reproduction of Scots pine on Clonal Seed Orchards (CSO), based on comparison for performances of flowering intensity and seed production from different clones, their groups and CSO in Rivne region. The object of the study is the clonal seed orchards of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The subject of research is the reproduction of clones on clonal seed orchards of Scots pine. The intensity of «flowering» and seeding of clones on CSO was determined by continuous list of each ramet. To assess the intensity of female «flowering», we determined the growth and the reproductive layer of the crown, the rank position of pine clones on plantations, which we divided into three groups: high, medium and weak. We analyzed the intensity of growth, «flowering» and seed production of Scots pine clones (Pinus silvestris L.) for many years on the plantations of 1977 and 1984. At CSP of 1977, the «flowering» within clones is characterized by a mixed-sexual type; on the plantation of 1984, the most clones (54.2%) were dominated by female «flowering». The rate of microstrobiles formation in clones on the younger plantation (CSP-1984) is lower than the intensity of megastrobiles formation by 4.0%, while on the older one (1977), on the contrary, the intensity of microstrobiles formation was dominant by 118.2%. The average yield of strobiles from the number of megastrobiles on the CSP of 1977 and 1984 was 70.1 and 74.3%, respectively. The close correlations were found between the number of megastrobiles and the number of strobiles (r = 0.94 and 0.84). The variation in the number of strobiles per tree over the years of observation is quite high and varied in clones of 1977 from 40.2% in 2004 to 70.7 in 2003 and averaged 52.6%; clones of 1984 ranged from 43.6% in 2004 to 78.8% in 2005 and averaged 59.3%. The number of female strobiles for the six-year period at CSP of 1977 averaged 45.8% from the number of male ones; for three years — 4.0% in clones of 1984. Their number ranged from 25.5 to 61.3% in clones of 1977; in clones of 1984 – from 16.5 to 77.5%. Depending on the clone and the weather conditions of the growing season, the ratio between the number of female and male strobiles within each clone is from 29.8 to 166.7% on CSP of 1977 and from 49.4 to 1005.4% of 1984. The correlation between the number of mega- and microstrobiles on CSP of 1977 is weak (r = 0.17), and the ones of 1984 – high (r = 0.77). No dependences were found between the preservation of megastrobiles by their number (abundance of «flowering») in clones of 1984 and the average correlation (r = 0.33) was found in clones of 1977. According to long-term data on CSP of 1977, the most productive is clone No 22. The highest yield of strobiles from the number of megastrobiles on the plantation of 1984 – in clone No 130 (88.1%), the lowest — No 121 (46.7%). Only two clones (No 22 and 97) and eight clones of 1984 (No 116, 118, 127, 129, 130, 137, 138, 139) are included into the group of clones of 1977 with abundant «flowering», harvest and high yield of strobiles). The clones that have the high and medium growth intensity, with high and medium flowering intensity, with high and medium yield of strobiles are perspective for seed plantations among the selected groups.

Using multispectral images to determine the salinity of soils in Ingulets irrigation system in the justification of management measures for chemical reclamation

The publication presents the use of data from multispectral space images to substantiate management measures for chemical reclamation of saline soils of the Ukraine irrigation system. The study is to develop a method of using satellite data to remotely determine the salinity of soils to support the management measures on the chemical soil improvement by example some fields of Ingulets irrigation system. Landsat 8 OLI images were used to obtain NDVI, soil salinity assessment indices, namely VSSI, Salinity index and normalized soil salinity index (NDSI). The verification data on the spatial distribution of salinity are taken from the report on soil-salt survey of the Ingulets irrigated massif. Work with satellite images and calculation of indices was performed using ERDAS IMAGINE 2015. Quantitative analysis of pixels, their visualization using the color spectrum was carried out in ArcMap 10.8. Validation for the conditions of Ukraine on the southern chernozems of the salt indices (VSSI, NDSI, SI) showed the best suitability of NDSI. Using the calculated ranges of index that characterize the gradation of salinity, their area percentage has been determined for each experimental field of the pilot object. The salinity areas according to each gradation were obtained on the basis of NDSI. Quantitative values of the management measure, the dose of chemical ameliorants, differentially for each of the fields are obtained using calculation methods using the author’s information technology. The total amount of phosphogypsum for chemical reclamation is recommended. The results of the study show that Landsat 8 OLI images show a high potential for spatio-temporal monitoring of salinity of the upper soil layers. This study will be useful for planning agricultural activities by mapping the salinity of the soil with the calculation of doses of chemical ameliorants to reduce economic losses in climate change. The proposed norms of gypsum application can serve as a guide for the agricultural producer when making a decision on chemical reclamation of agricultural lands. Based on a combination of satellite monitoring data and calculations of chemical reclamation doses according to the author’s online calculator, the farmer will be able to assess the feasibility and economic efficiency of chemical land reclamation measures. An additional practical value of the method of remote determination of boundaries and area of salinity is the ability to plan the selection of soil samples from certain points of the field, optimizing the number of soil samples for their chemical analysis in the laboratory. Our proposed method, which estimates soil salinity using satellite images and suggests doses of chemical ameliorants using information technology, can be potentially useful as a rapid approach to detecting soil salinity in other regions of Ukraine and the world at low cost and high accuracy

Influence of forest technical measures on the reproduction of rare phytorification in forest ecosystems of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine

An interesting aspect is the issue of acquiring natural features by artificially created tree plantations on the territory of the forest steppe zone of Ukraine. This paper analyzes the conditions of emergence and formation of new habitats rare plant species populations in different types of artificial trees and shrubs of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Complexes of natural and anthropogenic factors of necessary conditions creation for realization of this process are defined. The peculiarities of the negative impact of various economic measures on the reduction of the number of individuals of sozophyte plants and even the disappearance of some of their populations are reflected. The peculiarities of the negative impact of various economic measures on the reduction of the sozophyte plants individuals’ number and even the disappearance of some of their populations are reflected. To improve the protection of sozophytes in the forests of the forest steppe zone, it is advisable to review the implementation of certain methods of forest management measures. In particular, it is necessary to completely ban continuous felling in forests of natural origin and the allocation of biofields for natural reforestation. To improve the condition of forest coenoses of protective plantations, including field protective forest strips, it is necessary to conduct a series of experiments with the subsequent development of technology for their coenotic correction in order to increase the general ecological, including phytososological, significance. The implementation of a set of phytomeliorative measures in the creation of protective forest plantations to some extent will help prevent possible climate change, local disasters and will have a positive impact on the processes of crop formation. The creation of sustainable forest plantations will allow the application of environmental protection measures using the regulatory and protective functions of forest ecosystems. Compliance with all these conditions will contribute to the manifestation of various environmental measures for the development and conservation of biological diversity.