Alexey Yu. Guzenko

Background. In the conditions of the dry steppe zone of the Lower Volga region, winter soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is considered the main food crop. It occupies about 2.0 million hectares of acreage in the Volgograd region. Basically, all farmers in our region sow time-tested varieties and do not pay attention to new varieties that are currently being bred by breeders. The article presents the results of tests of new varieties of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), conducted in the dry-steppe zone of chestnut soils of the Volgograd region, in the fields of the farm "Kirsanov S.M." H. Zhutovo 1. The list of tested varieties was formed based on the high interest of farmers of the Volgograd region to the varieties of ANC "Donskoy" Zernograd. During the tests conducted from 2018 to 2021, we selected the varieties most suitable for our conditions. Farmers are very interested in them as they have replaced old wheat varieties with new ones. The Ermak variety was taken over. Methods. The technology of cultivating winter wheat varieties in field experiments was according to B. A. Dospekhov and the methodology of the state variety testing of agricultural crops. Results. The density of the productive stem had the greatest impact on the yield of the tested varieties. The leaders in this indicator were the varieties Don Steppe and Lydia – 358 pcs./m2. On average, the number of productive stems was in the range 312-358 pcs./m2. At the same time, the weight of 1000 seeds did not change significantly, from 34.6 to 36.0 g, on average, during the test period. The best yields were shown by the varieties of winter wheat Don Steppe 3.31 t/ha and Lydia 3.38 t/ha. Despite the lack of fertilizers and top dressing, the Etude and Don Steppe varieties were able to demonstrate a fairly high level of protein accumulation in grain at the level of 11.9 and 12.0%, respectively. Conclusion. As noted above, the conditions of the experiment did not allow winter wheat varieties to show high results in the accumulation of protein in the grain. However, the harsh background of the tests made it possible to objectively assess the potential of the varieties, their ability to show good results outside of stimulating fertilizing. Such varieties as Don Steppe and Etude were the undisputed leaders here. On average, over three years, they showed a result of 12.0 and 11.9%, respectively. Thus, according to the totality of indicators, such varieties of winter wheat as the Don Steppe, Lydia, the Beauty of the Don, Etude can be distinguished.

Background. Agricultural sustainability is fundamental to achieving Zero Hunger, one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under current scenarios, foliar application of mineral nutrients has become an inevitable agricultural practice for sustainable crop production worldwide. The article presents the results of testing 7 varieties of winter wheat at two breeding centers of the Donskoy ASC and the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2021-2022. The weather conditions at the demonstration plot in the autumn period were unfavorable (lack of moisture and high temperature) but did not have a great influence on the further development of plants in the spring-summer period due to the favorable conditions observed during the dormant phase in the winter. Methods. The technology for cultivating winter wheat varieties in field experiments was according to B. A. Dospehov and the methods of state variety testing of agricultural crops. To carry out a complete verification and reliability of the experiments carried out for 2020-2022, the processing and analysis of mathematical data was carried out in the Excel program. Results. During the testing process, we examined the main indicators of winter wheat varieties according to the following main indicators. In terms of productive stem growth, good indicators were noted for the varieties Kamyshanka 9 - 472 pcs./m2, Etude - 454 pcs./m2 and Ambar - 436 pcs./m2. When studying productivity, a pattern was revealed that high indicators of productive stems do not always correspond to high yields. In terms of yield, it is worth noting the varieties Ambar (5.6 t/ha) and Etude (5.0 t/ha), which feel confident in our conditions and provide a stable increase in the yield. Along with the Rostov selection, the Kamyshanka variety 4 selection of the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences generated a yield of 5.0 t/ha. Conclusion. As studies have shown, not all varieties respond equally to additional nutrition with microfertilizers. The highest protein content corresponding to class 3 is formed in the varieties Volnitsa (13.7%), Elanskaya (13.6%) and Etude (13.3%). The use of macro- and microfertilizers increases the yield and improves the quality of grain.

Background. Winter wheat is a key crop in most farms of the Volgograd region and the south of Russia. However, despite the high annual gross harvest of wheat grain in the region (4 million tons or more), its stabilization and increase in production are complicated by global and local climate changes, depletion of soil fertility, environmental pollution, narrowing of biodiversity of crops used in crop rotation, and other negative factors. The impact of external environmental factors on grain production is extremely difficult and requires a systematic approach in the study. Among the main trends in climate change, scientists of the Federal Research Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences note a steady increase in average air temperatures of the autumn-winter period, an increase in intra-seasonal variability. Purpose. Improving the technology of winter wheat cultivation, studying the effect of mineral fertilizers and new biological products on the yield and quality characteristics of grain in the conditions of light chestnut soils of the Volgograd region Materials and methods. The study of the effect of trace elements on the yield of winter wheat of the Kamyshanka 4 variety, as well as the analysis of qualitative indicators in the arid conditions of the Volgograd region based on the methodology of B. A. Dospekhov and gossorto-testing. Results. According to the conducted studies, the greatest effect on the yield and quality of winter wheat was formed on the treatment with preparations of the Biostim series that affect the balance of nutrients during the growing season, protection from the effects of abiotic processes, restoration of crop productivity after stress. Conclusion. When choosing plant nutrition with trace elements, it is necessary to proceed from soil and climatic conditions. As a result, in the arid conditions of the Volgograd region, results were obtained showing the important role of amino acids and trace elements in maintaining the balance of nutrients throughout the vegetation of plants.

Relevance and methodology. In the conditions of the arid steppe zone of the Volgograd region in the Elansky district in 2018–2021, we studied the effect of sowing dates and seeding rates of seeds of winter wheat Zernogradka 11 on productivity. Sowing dates and seeding rates are considered by various sources as two main factors in increasing grain yields without any additional economic costs. The predecessor was black bare . The technology of cultivation of the variety Zernogradka 11 in field experiments was according to B.A. Dospekhov and the method of state variety testing of agricultural crops. The experiments were carried out for 5 sowing dates (III decade of August; I, II, III decades of September and I decade of October) and seding rates period (4, 5 and 6 million pcs/ha). Seedlings, at different sowing dates, appeared at different intervals, which is associated with a changing temperature regime.Result. Based on the data obtained over the years of research it can be concluded that there is a decrease in productive stalk with advancement to later sowing dates. The highest yield was obtainedthen sowing in I decade of September. For other dates and seeding rates, except for the III decade of August, there was a noticeable decrease in indicators of the yield structure. The optimal seeding rate was found to be 5 and 6 million pcs/m2. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out and the dependence of the yield of winter wheat on sowing dates and seeding rates on average for 2018 — 2021 was revealed. It was found that the model describes the phenomenon well in almost all indicators, but the model of relationship between individual factors and the yield oneeds to be improved. The study showed that the influence of sowing dates and seeding rates are not sufficiently interconnected.