The effectiveness of direct sowing technology in the cultivation of spring wheat in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the Volga region

The article presents the results of the effectiveness studies of No-till technology on chernozem in a typical forest-steppe zone of the Volga region. Research has shown that No-till technology provides water, agrophysical and agrochemical properties of soil that are favourable for plant growth while effectively controlling weeds. There is also a tendency to increase the yield and product quality. According to our estimates, direct sowing increases the yield of spring wheat grain by 0.5 kg/ha, the mass fraction of gluten from 13.6% to 15.0%, the mass fraction of protein from 11.0% to 11.6% in comparison with traditional technology

Ecological role of crop rotation in the efficient use of agricultural territories of the forest-steppe zone of the Volga region

The article presents the results of a theoretical review of the role of the structure of cultivated areas and crop rotations in agriculture. Based on experimental studies, recommendations are given for optimizing the structure of cultivated areas and the system of crop rotations in the forest-steppe zone of the Volga region. The structure of sown areas and crop rotations should expand the species composition of cultivated crops, introduce intermediate crops. Our research shows that the structure of sown areas should reduce the proportion of pure fallow to 40% of the area with winter grain crops to increase the productivity of arable land, protect the soil from erosion, preserve and reproduce its fertility. At the same time, it is necessary to increase the area of perennial leguminous grasses and legume-cereal mixtures and bring their share to 25% of the cultivated area. This requires introducing grain-grass and fruit crop rotations, which will improve the ecological state of the soil and crops, and ensure the reproduction of soil fertility

Factors of biologization of farming in the forest-steppe zone of Volga region

The modern development of world farming was announced at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, and is connected with the biosphere paradigm of nature management (1992), which implies the priority of maintaining the ecological functions of soils and landscapes (ecologization). In agriculture, ecologization is known as “organic farming” (ecological, biological, etc.), but in Russia, “organic farming”, in its pure form (without pesticides and chemical fertilizers), has not gained momentum yet. The legislative base for this was developed only in 2019 and in the coming years it is unlikely to receive widespread distribution among representatives of agribusiness for economic, social and cultural reasons. Further development of modern agribusiness is possible due to technological modernization through the technological upgrading by means of a system of biologization. In this article, we have revealed the main factors and practical methods of biologization of modern farming under the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the Volga region