Agrotechnics, plant protection and immunity in improving the phytosanitary condition of crops Flax in Russia

The Federal scientific center for bast crops has long been creating varieties with high resistance to 2 diseases (rust and Fusarium wilt), and now successfilly solves the problem of forming resistance to 3 (rust, Fusarium and Anthracnose) and even to 4 diseases (rust, Fusarium, Anthracnose and Pasmo). New proposals for phytosanitary monitoring and forecasting racionalize plant protection in relation to flax production. Ecologized biological preparations (for example, Vitaplan, Sternifag) are effective against flax diseases (Bacteriosis, Anthracnose, Mottling, etc.) and contribute to the preservation of the flax crop.

THE IMAGE OF FLAX IN FOLKLORE AND LITERATURE: PSKOV AND LATGALE FRONTIER

The article presents reflections on flax as a floral symbol of Pskov land and Latgale. The folklore of neighbouring lands describes how flax was grown, processed and used for ritual purposes as a protective charm against negative energy. The semantics of flax reflects the archaic character of the homeland in the cultural knowledge of the people of the Pskov-Latgale frontier and their loyalty to tradition.Flax has always been the main field plant and source of income in frontier lands of Pskov and Latgale. In the world market the most valuable flax among all other types of Baltic and Belorussian flax was Pskov flax fibre.In the flax growing territories long-lasting folklore traditions were set up, which indicates that flax has always had not only practical but also a symbolic meaning for the peoples of the Baltic States, Belarus and Russia. In the territory of Pskov region the crop fertility rites were practised to ensure the flax crops, for example, horse riding for “tall flax”. Flax fibre was considered to be an amulet, a protection from negative energy. Flax linen sheets were used during childbirth in Latgale, in Pskov land the afterbirth was wrapped in it and given to the midwife; the sick children were wrapped up in the flax prayer tablecloth, etc.In Russian folklore in the territory of Latgale flax growing and flax processing are frequently reflected in couplets (chastushkas), riddles and lyrical songs. Flax is the symbol of strength and persistence. Numerous contacts on frontier territories have contributed to the plot commonalities of fairy and non-fairy prose, e. g. flax can save man from the evil spirit. Such plots are registered both in the territory of Pskov region and Latgale. The image of flax left the realm of folklore for literature, which is common for both Pskov and Latgale.Latvian poets create a vivid image of “flax crop fields” which reflect the landscape peculiarity of Latgale. Quite often the image of flax crop fields brings them back the memories about their past life (V. Krāslavietis, P. Antropov – O. Alekseyev). So V. Krāslavietis remembers his native Latgale with the blue lakes, where blue flax is growing, where he rides to visit someone on a horse of cheerful memories. Flax often takes Pskov writers on a journey into the memory (O. Alekseyev, L. Malyakov).There is an inseparable link of flax with the landscape of Latgale and with the people living there. A. Kūkojs marks parallelism in his daughter’s appearance: curly and thin as Latgalian flax is daughter’s hair. Pskov poet O. Alekseyev uses such comparisons to reveal the power and tenderness of the folk soul.At the same time flax is associated with human character and soul of people, who are known for such typical traits as hard work and holiness, sufferings and belief. Purity and tenderness of flax corresponds to the shyness of Latgalian girls (Madsolas J.). Latgale is portrayed as a barefoot “orphan girl” who endures patiently life hardships “under the grey woolen sky” among “the fields covered with flax stalks” (A. Kūkojs).For the Russian writers (immigrants who used to live in Pskov land and were attracted to it and associated Pskov with Russia) flax symbolizes unbreakable bond of times and loyalty to the traditions of Pskovites (L. Zurov). The image of flax in literature can be not only visual but olfactory as well. Poet Y. Ivask recalls Pskov with its “retted autumn flax”. Stinking smell, “repelling, but healing stench” has the highest spiritual value for the homesick poet. Not the beauty of the blue flax but its repelling stench is taken by the poet as a gift – as it cleanses the spirit.For Pskov writers of the second half of the 20th century flax field also symbolises the Motherland (S. Zolotsev, E. Borisov, A. Аbrosimov) – “golden” and happy, despite the grief periods. The flax field causes them to contemplate, feel tenderness and sadness. The loss of flax, which is the floral symbol of the native land, has been lately regarded by our contemporaries as a break with traditions and oblivion of the past (Е. Еrmak).Flax in the literature of Pskov and Latgale is the symbol of the Motherland. It acts as a human being and embodies natural beauty and persistence. In Latgalian poetry the image of flax supports the myth about people who suffer or are orphans, who are hardworking and selfless. In Pskov literature flax depicts fading patriarchal character of the native land; no wonder Pskov is called the land of “flaxen Rus” (V. Sergeyeva).

137Cs accumulation in the yield of agricultural crops depending on the impact of agrochemical factors

We summarized the results of long-term research of fertili zing system and chemical melioration on radio cesium transition info yield of agricultural crops. The effect of such heavy fertilizer elements as magnesium and sulfur, participating in the nitrogen, phosphoric and carbohydrate metabolism in plants, on the crop formation and quality is studied. The influence of liming, level of providing soil with phosphorus and potassium, doses of nitrogen fertilizers in top-dressing, on buildup of radionuclide in crop yields is shown. The influence of the complex nitrogen-free fertilizer «Ekoplant» and its inclusion doses on the straw flax crop is defined. It has been shown the possibility of using the angustifolins lupine on sod-podzolic sandy soils with 10 Ci/km2 radio cesium contamination. It has been shown the dependence of radionuclide accumulation on perennial grasses hay harvest that were grown on sod-podzolic sandy soils of Polissia with 10 Ci/km2 radio cesium contamination.

Emergence Timing and Recruitment of Volunteer Spring Wheat

With the recent interest in genetically engineered (GE) wheat and the commercialization of novel-trait imidazolinone herbicide-resistant wheat in North America, volunteer wheat as a weed has also been the subject of renewed interest, specifically, its recruitment and persistence in annual cropping systems. The recruitment of seed from a wheat seedbank established the previous autumn was monitored in a flax crop at two field sites in southern Manitoba, Canada, in 2003 and 2004. Seeds of eight Canadian Western Hard Red spring wheat cultivars, which exhibit a range of preharvest sprouting-resistance characteristics, were broadcast and incorporated into the soil in the autumn at 500 seeds m−2. Tillage treatments consisted of autumn tillage only, and autumn and spring tillage. Recruitment the following spring occurred very early in terms of accumulated growing–degree days (base temperature of 0 C) but expressed as a proportion of total seeds broadcast was low and variable. Total cumulative emergence of wheat over all 4 site yr ranged from 0.9 to 13.1%, with an overall average of 4.3%. There was no relationship between preharvest sprouting-resistance characteristics and recruitment proportion, and no significant influence of tillage treatment on wheat recruitment. Wheat seed that did not recruit was rapidly degraded in the soil and did not persist for more than 12 mo. However, some emerged volunteer wheat plants escaped all control measures normally used in establishing and growing a typical flax crop, and these escaped volunteer wheat plants set viable seed. Therefore, results of this study indicate that efforts and attention should be directed toward achieving very high levels of volunteer wheat control in subsequent rotational crops and that reseeding by escaped volunteer wheat plants may be a more important persistence mechanism for spring wheat than multiyear soil seedbank persistence.

Improving the Efficiency of Sethoxydim in Flax

The control of wild oat, volunteer wheat, and volunteer barley in a flax crop with sethoxydim was enhanced 20 to 27% by orienting the spray nozzles forward 45°. Control of annual grasses was not influenced by the time of day sethoxydim was applied. However, injury to flax from a tank mixture of sethoxydim and bromoxynil/MCPA (1:1) was greatest when applied between 0500 and 1100 h, and least when applied between 1500 and 2300 h. Flax injury and reduced seed yields also resulted when sethoxydim was applied when air temperatures exceeded 30 C regardless of stage of crop growth.