Perennial forage legume cultivation and their above-ground mass management methods for weed suppression in arable organic cropping systems

Background In organic crop farms, growing crop yields are limited by insufficient nitrogen supply to plants and crop weediness. In such farms, legume swards are proposed as a service crop to improve nitrogen cycling. However, a positive effect of nitrogen is not only on cereals but also on weeds. In crop rotation, legume swards can stimulate the competition of cereals using the above-ground mass of legume to control the spread of weeds. The effects of the following methods for weeds control were analyzed: (i) forage legumes (Trifolium pratense L. and T. repens) undersown in cereals, (ii) forage legumes (T. pratense L., Medicago sativa L.) and their mixture with festulolium (x Festuliolium) and their above-ground mass management methods, and (iii) plant-based fertilizers (red clover above-ground mass fermented and composted). Results Oat with red clover undersown reduced weediness more than red clover monocrops, pea, and their mixture with oats. Incorporated undersown white clover mass increased spring barley competitiveness with weeds. When growing legume swards for a longer period of time (green fallow), red clover and their mixture with festulolium are the most suitable for this purpose. The lowest weed dry weight (average 34%, compared with the removal from the field) was obtained while using the mixed management. The cultivation of cereals after forage legumes and their mixtures with festulolium (as a preceding crop) increases its grain yield and competitive ability against weeds. Fermented red clover and fermented pea and spring wheat mixture mass, as a manure, did not increase weediness. Conclusions It was concluded that the effectiveness of the perennial forage legumes is determined by the uses of the above-ground mass: soil cover, mulching, application of green manure, and intensity of mass mineralization. Type of activity of forage legumes on weeds were competition for environmental resources, disruption/promotion of germination, destruction of above-ground mass, reduction of the amount of matured seeds, creation of a physical barrier (mulch), and increase of competitiveness of cereals. Growing forage legumes in pure crops usually leads to a loss of marketable production. Graphic abstract

THE KEY ASPECTS OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF MYSCANTHUS GIGANTEUS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE MIDDLE VOLGA REGION

В настоящее время актуальной задачей является поиск экологически безопасных и экономически доступных источников энергии для многоцелевого использования. Одним из таких ресурсов является многолетнее растение из семейства Мятликовые – мискантус гигантский (Miscanthus giganteus), который отличается значительным нарастанием надземной массы по С4-фотосинтезу, но не может реализовать свои потенциальные возможности как культура с высокими темпами фотосинтетической деятельности, поскольку в год посадки слабо конкурирует с сорняками. Поэтому изучали способы борьбы с сорным компонентом в агроценозе мискантуса на светло-серой почве коллекционного участка ФГБОУ ВО Пензенский ГАУ. В годы проведения исследований, характеризующихся различными гидротермическими условиями (ГТК 0,64-1,29), установлено, что гербициды системного действия Балерина и Магнум по фону Торнадо 500 способствуют увеличению площади листовой поверхности мискантуса в первый год жизни до 18,36…19,09 тыс. м2/га, фотосинтетического потенциала до 496,1…508,7 тыс. м2∙сут./га. Максимальные показатели чистой продуктивности фотосинтеза 0,62…0,85 г/м2∙сут. отмечены в конце июня. За счет двукратной химической прополки снижение засоренности ведет к получению максимальной урожайности надземной массы 8,92…9,09 т/га. Наибольший сбор сухой массы 2,13…2,97 т/га получен при использовании Торнадо 500 в сочетании с гербицидами Балерина и Магнум. Currently, an urgent task is to find environmentally friendly and economically accessible energy sources for multi-purpose use. One such resource is a perennial plant from the bluegrass family, Miscanthus giganteus, which has a significant increase in above-ground mass by C4-photosynthesis, but cannot realize its potential as a crop with high rates of photosynthetic activity, because in the year of planting it competes poorly with weeds. Therefore, we studied ways to control the weed component in the agrocenosis of miscanthus on the light gray soil of the collection area of Penza State Agrarian University. In the years of the research, characterized by different hydrothermal conditions (HTC 0.64-1.29), it was found that the herbicides of systemic action Balerina and Magnum in the background of Tornado 500 contribute to an increase in the leaf area of miscanthus in the first year up to 18.36...19.09 thousand m2/ha, in the photosynthetic potential to 496.1...508.7 thousand m2∙day/ha. The maximum values of net productivity of photosynthesis (0.62...0.85 g/m2∙day) were observed at the end of June. Due to the double chemical weeding the decrease of weeds leads to the maximum yield of above-ground mass - 8.92...9.09 t/ha. The highest dry matter yield of 2.13...2.97 t/ha was obtained using the Tornado 500 in combination with the herbicides Balerina and Magnum.

Study on the compatibilization of hierarchical models for tunnel design

This work presents a study on the compatibilization of the lining load results between continuous ground mass and bedded beam models for tunnel design, through the calibration of the loads imposed to the bedded beam models. A review on compatibilization premises and the computation of “ideal” compatibilization loads, which yield identical results between model hierarchies is presented. A case study was developed, illustrating that even with significant simplification of the calibrated loads, if they bear magnitude and distribution that resembles those of the “ideal” compatibilization load, reasonable compatibility, potentially better than that of usual generic imposed loads, may be obtained. Motivated by this observation, a parametric study on the magnitude and distribution of the “ideal” compatibilization load was performed, yielding conclusions that foresee the estimation of simplified compatibilization loads directly from the physical problem definition.

PRODUCTIVITY OF NEW MAIZE HYBRIDS IN CONDITIONS OF THE URALS

The research aimed to identify the most productive hybrids selected by the All-Russian Research Institute of Maize to cultivate by the cereal seed technology in the natural conditions of the Middle Cis- Urals. Methodology. Maize was cultivated for seeds and green fodder for farm animals in the conditions of the Middle Cis-Urals. The maize green mass, consisting mainly of stems and leaves, usually contains up to 88-90% water. Silage being prepared for it has less dry matter and protein. Such fodder has low nutritional value and poor return from livestock products. The most high quality and nutritious feed can be received from maize seeds or its above-ground mass with seeds of milky-wax and wax ripeness. To select early-maturing hybrids with high nutritional value is the primary concern for the studied area. Results. The results demonstrate that the productivity of maize hybrids ranges from 2.50 to 6.76 t/ha depending on soil and climatic conditions. When maize hybrids are grown by seed technology, the above-ground mass of the studied crops is 30.68-68.80 t/ha. Conclusions. It is necessary to select earlier ripening and highly productive hybrids to increase the quality and nutrition of corn feed. The recommended hybrids for grain production are Ural 150 (5,45 t/ha), Baikal (5,38 t/ha) and Mashuk 170 MV (4,98 t/ha); K-170 (56,7 t/ha), Shihan (55,67 t/ha) and Mashuk 170 MV (54,99 t/ha) that provided a higher output of the green mass at milky-wax ripeness of grain are best for silage production. The resulting data make it possible to select maize hybrids with high yields and nutritional value for farms with similar soil and climate conditions and to develop diets for highly productive dairy and beef cattle.

INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGICAL METHODS OF SPRING BARLEY OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIGHT BANK FOREST-STEPPE ZONES

The barley is traditionally one of the leading cereal crops and occupies significant areas in Ukraine. However, despite the great potential of crop productivity, the yield and gross harvests of its grain are low and unstable by year, which is due to a complex of meteorological, agrobiological and agro-technical factors. The cumulative manifestation of negative factors or phenomena, or the significant prevalence of one of them, determines the size of the annual crop failure. The research was to identify the agrobiological features of spring barley and define the need to develop effective technological measures for its cultivation, aimed at increasing the adaptability of plants to adverse environmental conditions, taking into account the variation of weather factors, the genotype of the variety, its response to the use of micro and macro-fertilizers appropriate doses, methods and timing of their use depending on the preceding crops (winter wheat, corn a) in the conditions of economy. To achieve this goal it was supposed to solve the following problems: - to establish the influence of technological measures of cultivation on field germination and density of standing plants of spring barley; - to investigate the features of growth, development and formation of the density of plant stem depending on the precursor and the use of micro- and macro-fertilizers and biological products; - to find out the influence of complex application of mineral fertilizers and biological products on assimilation activity and water consumption of crops - determine the growth rate of the above-ground mass of plants under the influence of the investigated agromeasures; - to identify the peculiarities of the elements formation of the ear structure, yield and quality of grain under the influence of the complex action of agro-technical factors; The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the fact that, for the first time, , the patterns of plant growth and development, the productivity of barley spring variety Sovir are revealed in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of the Right Bank. It is theoretically substantiated and experimentally proved the possibility of stabilizing the productivity of spring barley crops by enhancing the adaptive functions of plants by selecting preceding crops, using biological products and fertilizers. The results of the influence of the complex application of micro- and macro-fertilizers and biological products on the growth processes of spring barley, the peculiarities of the increase of the above-ground mass of plants, the formation of elements of the structure of the yield, the economic evaluation of the studies. Key words: barley, hydrothermal conditions, inoculation, structural analysis, grain, yield.

The Weak Soil Investigation at the Slope Zone in the Hot Spring Area, Rokan Hulu, Indonesia

The slope failure can occur due to the soil on the slope area is relatively porous and the surface water is easily to move in the soil. The zone of the weak zone of the soil should be detected early to avoid the ground mass movement on the slope area. This study is to investigate the weak zone of the soil on the slope area of the hot spring tourism location using geoelectrical resistivity and soil property analysis methods. The Wenner configuration with a total of 40 electrodes has been employed at each four resistivity survey lines. The electrode spacing was adjusted to be 2 – 5 meter in order to get relatively higher resolution of the resistivity data. Soil samples were collected at several site to measure the soil characteristics of the study area. The soil analysis results show that the study area consist of gravel, sand, clay, silt and weathered methasediment. The geoelectrical resistivity model shows the relatively low resistivity value of about 30 ohm.m at the slope zone which is indicating that the soil has higher porosity. Generally only a few locations with the weak soil zone detected in the slope of the hot spring area, however, it is not potential for the ground mass movement due to the soil is relatively thin.

Assessment of the potential of Artemisia annua L. as a source of biologically active substances in Belarus

Aim. The aim of the work was to assess the composition of biologically active compounds in plants of Artemisia annua L. Methods. The plants were grown on the experimental plot of the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Essential oil from the above-ground mass was isolated by the method of water-steam distillation. To analyze the content of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, we used the method of quantitative extraction and spectrophotometric determination of the total content of hydroxycinnamic acids in the presence of flavonoids in plant extractive substances, and the method of Folin-Chocalteu was used to determine the content of phenolic compounds. Analysis of the essential oils was performed by GC and NMR. The analysis of the content of phenolic acids in extracts was performed by HPLC. Results. The genetic potential of A. annua was evaluated under conditions of the central agroclimatic zone of Belarus. The yield and composition of essential oils, the content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, the composition of phenolic acids were studied. Conclusions. A. annua in the conditions of the central agroclimatic zone of Belarus contains essential oil, which is dominated by isoartemisia ketone, β-selinene, β-myrcene and camphor. In the above-ground mass phenolic acids including chlorogenic acid and isomers of caffeoylquinic acid were predominant in the composition of phenolic compounds. Keywords: annual wormwood, essential oil, phenolic compounds, phenolic acids.