Results are given from long-term (1973–2013) studies on water-physical properties of seasonally frozen medium-textured peat soils of the subtaiga zone of Northern Trans-Ural region. It has been established that the medium-textured peat soil after drainage and before primary tillage 84 percent consists of particles of more than 10 mm in size. For two years, the number of particles of 10–3 mm in size increased 4.1–4.4 times in black and green fallows, 3.3 times in potato, 2.3 times in perennial grasses. Mineral fertilizers have lesser increased the number of agronomically valuable aggregates than tillage did. They showed a particularly weak effect (7 %) in perennial grasses. The density of peat soil bulk in the 0.2 m arable layer has increased by 15 percent as influenced by two-year fallowing. This occurred due to soil compaction and increased degree of decomposition by 4–6 percent. In perennial grasses after annual crops, the main changes in the soil bulk density occurred within 20 years after drainage. Compared with the initial data, the soil bulk density in the root layer has increased by 44.9%, at the depth of 0.6–1.0 m by 11%. Over the subsequent twenty years, the density of the entire one meter layer of soil increased by 5.0–5.6%. For 40-year period, the density in the 0.5 m layer of soil under perennial grasses after annual crops increased 3.6 times greater than that of the drained untilled peat soil did. The main increase in the density of the solid phase of soil occurred in the 0.3 m layer during 17 years. In the subsequent thirteen years, the intensity of this process decreased 4.4 times. In twenty years, the density of the solid phase of soil stabilized. At the depth of 0.6–1.0 m, it remained constant during all the years of study. As a result of adding mineral soil to peat soil, the density of the solid phase in the arable layer increased by 11.4–15.8%. The minimum moisture capacity of soil under perennial grasses in the 0.5 m layer decreased by 6.7% for 40 years, and made up 297.2 mm. With that, it has practically not changed for the last ten years. When applying mineral soil additives in a rate of 300 t/ha, the total moisture capacity in the arable layer decreased by 4.1–4.4%.

Results are given from studies on the effect of intensive cultivation technology on yield attributes of spring common wheat and spring barley grown in the forest-steppe areas near the Ob in Ordynskiy District of Novosibirsk Region in 2014–2016. There were studied varieties of spring barley and spring common wheat of various maturity groups under conditions of conventional and intensive farming. When the intensive cultivation technology was used, the increases in yields of Novosibirskaya 31 and Novosibirskaya 18 cultivars of wheat made up 37.7 and 45.5%, and those of Biom and Omskiy Golozerny 2 cultivars of barley – 44.3 and 54.1%, respectively. The following attributes were observed to increase significantly in all the cultivars studied: the number of kernels per spike,housand-kernel weight, the number of spikelets per spike. Close correlation was revealed between productivity of spring barley and such attributes as grain weight per plant, the number of kernels per spike, and thousand-kernel weight. It has been found that the intensification level has the greatest influence on phenotypic variation of the number of kernels per spike, grain weight per spike and crude glutencontent in spring wheat; the number of kernels per spike, thousand-kernel weight and the number of spikelets per spike in spring barley; as well as on the productivity of these crops. The influence of the genotype on these traits is somewha lower than that of the intensification level.

There were studied different genotypes of apple trees (forms of Siberian crab apple Malus baccata (L.)Borkh. and Malus baccata _ Malus domestica hybrids) as to winter hardiness components under conditions of artificial climate. The objects of the study were apple varieties bred in Buryatia, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, and Canada as well as four forms of Siberian crab apple grown in Irkutskiy, Cheremkhovskiy, and Zalarinskiy Districts of Irkutsk Region and isolated in the territory of Buryatia. The one-year branches of apple trees belonging to the genotypes chosen were used as the material for research. The material was kept at the temperature of -10oC before carrying out the experiments. There was applied the method for simulating climatic conditions. The artificial freezing was conducted in the low-temperature chamber at the temperatures from -70oC to +80oC during 24 hours. The biological experiments were replicated 3 times. Resulting from research, all the forms of Siberian crab apple showed high resistance according to the winter hardiness components studied. The other varieties investigated were divided into three groups: 1) without damages (Dobrynya, Pervenets Buryatii); 2) small damages to the wood, bark and cambium (Krasa Buryatii, Slava Buryatii, Dubrovinka, Komsomolets Buryatii); 3) high extent of frost damage to the vegetative organs (Melba, Lada,Krasnaya Grozd). The varieties from the first and second groups, growing in the gardens and farms of Buryatia and Irkutsk Region, successfully overwinter.

Results are considered from theoretical studies on representing a technology for grain crop cultivation in the form of a complex technological system functioning in an appropriate soil-climatic zone. The main stages of its development depending on a technology intensification level are shown. Using the laws of technical systems evolution and taking into account the complex structure of these laws, a technological system for cultivating grain crops is thought of as an S-shaped idealized curve. The sequential deployment of the technological system is realized with the use of additional resources in the corresponding transition stages of its development. The condition for the technological system is availability of resources for the growth and development of both vegetative plants and a biological community. First of all, this is the intensity of light, or solar energy activity, phosphorus nutrition availability for plants, and nitrogen content in soil. The technological system to reach the subsequent stages of its development should have the equal or greater amount of energy resources as comparedwith the previous technology. Representing the whole life cycle of the technological system for cultivating grain crops in accordance with the approach suggested allows us to take into account the most probable scenarios and the most probable sequence of their manifestations in the development of such systems.

There are shown shortcomings of the existing means for measuring geometrical parameters of transverse cross-sections of fruits, tree-shaped nurslings, and rooted cuttings of horticultural crops in the commercial horticulture processes. Results are given from an analysis of methods and means for measuring parameters of traverse cross-sections of such objects used throughout the world. There are suggested algorithms to determine geometrical parameters of transverse cross-sections of tree-shaped nurslings and cuttings by scanning their contours with a distance sensor. By way of example of an ellipse was carried out an estimation of method errors, while replacing the actual complex configuration of a cross-section by the sum of simple geometrical figures. The suggested algorithms for determining geometrical parameters of the transverse cross-section of a tree-shaped nursling by scanning its contour with a distance sensor make it possible to develop a contact-free measurement means with low inaccuracy and rather high performance. There were set the following metrological characteristics: limits of systematic component of basic relative error of measuring geometricalparameters of the transverse cross-section of a tree-shaped nursling of ±0.5%; limit of mean-square deviation of random component of basic relative error of measuring geometrical parameters of the transverse cross-section of a tree-shaped nursling of 0.06%. The measurement cycle time made up 2 c.

Results are given from studies on substantiating technological schemes of engineering tools with forced precipitation of sprayed drug on the underlying surface to protect grain crops from pests, diseases and weeds. Variants of technological schemes of engineering tools developed should be formed and evaluated based on combined function-and-structure approach using the methods of value analysis. This analysis includes determining a number of functions of the future product, building its functional model, searching and forming decision variants as to functions, building a structural model of the product, building its structure-and-function model, evaluating variants and choosing tools (technical solutions) and promising technological schemes. By the method of expert evaluations using comprehensive indicators and their numerical values of weighting factors, the promising technological scheme of the sprayer with forced precipitation of sprayed drug on the underlying surface has been substantiated. When carrying out protection activities, the hydraulic fluid can efficiently be precipitated by the inertial-gravitational method. The use of monodisperse spectrum of spraying with forced precipitation of droplets on the objects treated allows increasing the precipitation of these droplets up to 90 percent and more.

A study was carried out under conditions of the vegetation house in 2012 and in the experimental fields in Primorye in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Soils were brown meadow podzolized, containing 3.5 percent of humus in the arable horizon. The sensitivity to MaisTer herbicide was studied in 12 agricultural crops. It was found that beet, cucumber, carrot, cabbage, tomato, radish and buckwheat showed high sensitivity to active ingredients of MaisTer herbicide (foramsulfuron + iodosulfuron). A dose reducing the weight of these test crops by 50% was 0.1–6.0 g a.i./ha. For rice, mustard, barley, soybean and wheat, this figure was from 13.0 to 20.5 g a.i./ha, significative of their high sensitivity to MaisTer herbicide. The data on tolerance for herbicide residues in brown meadow soil that fluctuate from 0.003 to 14.8 g a.i./ha depending on a crop, confirm this conditional gradation of crops as to sensitivity signs. It was found that 3 of 5 agricultural crops (mustard, buckwheat and beet) used as test plants showed the presence of residues of MaisTer herbicide active ingredients in brown meadow soil. Four months after applying herbicide in consumption rate of 150 g/ha (46.5 g a.i./ha), 7.4–9.3 g a.i./ha, or 16–20%,remained in soil; at consumption rate of 300 g/ha (93 g a.i./ha), 10.5–10.9 g a.i./ha, or 11–12%, remained in soil. Eleven months later, 2.8–3.7% of herbicide active ingredients may persist in brown meadow soil. Next year, when growing buckwheat and soybean in the experimental land plot treated with MaisTer herbicide, no aftereffect on the plants and yields of these crops was revealed, even in consumption rates doubling the recommended one. The yields of buckwheat green mass and soybean seeds did not significantly differ from those in the herbicide-free variant.

 

There were studied phenotypic traits of a pug-like specimen of silver crucian carp (Carassius carassiusgibelio Bloch, 1783) inhabiting shallow floodplain lakes of the Lower Ob (Molchanovskiy District, Tomsk Region). A detailed description of conformation parameters of normally developed fish is given, and a comparison with a specimen having pug-like phenodeviation has been made. Studying a degree of asymmetry of the fish body conformation has shown that asymmetry in the normally developed fish is observed as to five features. Changes in plastic traits of a pug-like specimen were observed as to 10 features for the left side of the fish body, and as to 12 features for the right side. Except for the shortened preorbital distance, characteristec of this phenodeviation, a decrease in the number of soft rays of the anal fin was observed. One of the causes of such phenotypic changes in fish is anthropogenic pollution of reservoirs due to floodwater runoff from agricultural lands, when harmful substances enter reservoirs. There are described the cases of pug-likeness occurred when polluting reservoirs with excess of allochthonous organic substance, drains of oil products from tank farms orrailway tracks, and also when increasing the level of mercury accumulation. It is suggested to use silver crucian carp as a kind of biological indicator of water pollution.

A study on the influence of granulated combined feeds of different compositions on the growth anddevelopment of rainbow trout fry was conducted under conditions of Tomsk Region. Cultivation of fry in a production environment was performed in plastic rectangular tanks with in-line water. The juveniles were divided into two pulls, experimental and control, of 6,000 fish each, with stocking density of 250 pieces per 1 m2. The main source of animal protein in combined feeds for feeding trout juveniles was fish flour; that of vegetable protein was soybean meal and wheat flour. The juveniles of the trial group received Coppens granulated combined feed during 30 days, those of the control group were fed with РГМ-5В combined feed. The starting feed for trout fry should contain more animal protein and less vegetable one. In accordance with the conditions of the experiment, the total amount of animal protein in Coppens is 14.8 percent higher as compared with the control. The energy value of feeds was in the range of 20.5–22.9 MJ per kg of feed. Resulted from the studies, the more intensive growth of the juveniles from the trial group was established. A higher average daily gain of 70 g was observed in this variant, while it was 0.46 g in the control. An increase in the length of experimental fry doubled the control. The survival rate of experimental fry at the end of the growing period was 11.6 percent higher than in the control.

Results are given from studies on the effect of polymorphism in the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR) onreproductive performance of purebred Landrace and Large White and F1 crossbred pigs. The PRLR gene in pigs is localized in chromosome 16 (SSC16). The presence of polymorphism is associated with phenotypic variation in reproductive traits of pigs. The studies were carried out on Large White (n=71), Landrace (n=116), and crossbred (n=130) pigs, which were obtained by crossing _ Landrace _ _ Large White under on-the-farm conditions in Russia. The nuclear DNA of the pigs was extracted from 50 mcg of a pre-prepared sample using a K-Sorb-100 reagent kit. The restriction of the amplified fragment was carried out with the AluI endonuclease. The size of the restriction fragments obtained was determined by the electrophoresis method in a 2.5% agarose gel with the addition of ethidium bromide. The presence of polymorphism was found to be in all breeds studied. The analysis of reproductive performance of pigs has shown that Landrace sows with the best reproductive traits are associated with the AA/PRLR genotype. The presence of this genotype is associated with the greater number of piglets, multifetation, and litter birth weight as compared with the BB/PRLR genotype. In Large White pigs,positive effects were established in animals of the BB/PRLR genotype. In crossbred pigs, the best reproductive performance is associated with the AB/PRLR genotype. The breed-specific effect of the PRLR polymorphism is observed in the studies, which is of interest in obtaining F1 pigs used in the first stage of hybridization.

Results are given from studies in the field of photodynamic therapy on diagnosing and treating malignant neoplasms. There was studied the efficiency of activation of 0.02% and 0.1% methylene blue solutions by specific optical radiation with the wavelength of 620 nm and nonspecific optical radiation with the wavelength of 405 nm. We used LED sources of monochrome unpolarized optical radiation with wavelengths of 620 nm and 405 nm and output power of 3,500 milliwatts each. The efficiency of solution activation was evaluated by voltage on copper electrodes immersed in the photosensitizer solution, which was measured by an analog oscilloscope. The indices were recorded every 30 seconds until the maximum voltage on the electrodes was reached, then 0.5 g of organic matter (meat peptone agar) was added to the activated photosensitizer solution. Optical radiation with the wavelength of 620 nm was found to cause the stable activation of the photosensitizer, in contrast to radiation with the wavelength of 405 nm, the effect of which was expressed directly during irradiation. The concentration of the photosensitizer solution had a direct effect on the activation efficiency; so, the activation in 0.2% methylene blue solution was more pronounced than that in 0.1%, which can be explained by lower optical density of the former. The introduction of organic matter was accompanied by a sharp increase in the voltage at the electrodes. Thus, optical radiation with the wavelength of 405 nm, which is nonspecific for methylene blue as a photosensitizing dye, can be used to activate it.

Results are given from a series of experiments on producing new stuffs of functional nutrition based on fruit and berry juices by enzyme hydrolyzing antler raw material in the ultra sound field during many hours. Pre-shredded reproductive organs of males, tendons, uteri with embryos, tails and skins of antlered deer in the native form were used in the experiments. Juices (nectars) made of fruit-and-berry crops grown in Siberia (sea buckthorn, cherry, apple, black currant) were tested for hydrolysis. Hydrolysis of raw deer products was performed according to the technology, which has previously been patented, using juices (nectars) in place of distilled water. The use of juices increases the yield of soluble dry substances in the extract on average by 10–12%. Regardless of juice type, this indicator amounted to: 51% for the reproductive organs of males, 72 for tendons, 92 for tails, 76 for uteri with embryos, 98% for skin. It has been found that the use of sea buckthorn juice contributes to increasing lipid concentration in the hydrolyzate (regardless of a type of raw material) by 3.5–4.0% (p < 0.05), sea buckthorn juice and apple-black currant nectar by 3.5–5.4% (p < 0.05) as to the sum of mineral substances. Unlike the control assays, all hydrolyzates with juices were found to contain 3.5–10.0% of sugar, 0.5–1.2% of organic acids, 2.0–13.0 mg% of ascorbic acid. In the course of a series of experiments on developing new products, their consumer qualities (color, taste, smell) were improved by correcting organoleptic properties of hydrolyzates with sugar syrup (1.0–12.0%), burnt sugar (1.0–9.0%), and fruit essence (0.2–0.9%). Microbiological and toxicological characteristics of the finished product meet the requirements of TR CU 021/2011.

General provisions of the methodology for formulating novelty of research results and scientific and practical importance of the results in the field of agricultural engineering are identified. New knowledge is undertaken as an assumption in the form of scientific hypotheses. After work has been done, novelty of results obtained for the first time is formulated. The essence of novelty of the results obtained needs to be connected with their importance for science as well as with practical importance. There are given key parameters and indicators to evaluate scientific importance of research results: suggested ideas, arguments, evidence, which confirm or deny the ideas; substantiation of the theory presentation elements: axioms, hypotheses, scientific evidence, and conclusions; formulating laws or regularities of the general concept as a whole; disclosure of essential manifestations of the theory: contradictions, inconsistencies, opportunities, difficulties, and dangers; highlighting new issues to be further investigated; characteristics of the phenomena of reality, which form the basis for practical actions in a particular area; establishing relations of a given phenomenon with others. The practical significance is evaluated by the following indicators: defining a scope of application for the theory to be practically used in a field, where this pattern, idea, concept is manifested; creation of a normative model to effectively apply new knowledge in reality; recommendations for organizing activities on a higher level; defining regulatory norms and requirements within the framework of the optimal activities of an individual and a team in a field of research. Scientific results of theses should be verified under conditions closest to reality, and confirmed by making decisions about their implementation in practice.

The condition of bacteriosis problem in agricultural crops in Russia was analysed based on the literature data. At present in Russia the harmfulness of known strains of phytopathogenic bacteria is observed to intensify, new aggressive ones emerge, and bacterioses show themselves as epiphytoties. Yield losses can reach up to 100 percent; technological and feed qualities of crop products decrease. There are shown the causes of emerging new bacterial diseases and their spreading: changing climatic conditions, expanding the cultivation area of agricultural crops, growing them in new regions. The protection methods are considered, which include a complex of agricultural methods, the selection of resistant varieties, the use of low-hazard selective pesticides and biological preparations. Particular emphasis is placed on the problem of resistance of bacterial pathogens to protective agents, a very small assortment of plant protection products, and the urgency of improving the diagnostic methods, conducting molecular and immunological examinations to determine bacteria species, and searching for effective plant protection techniques against bacterial infections.

Results are given from studies on the influence of intermediate sowing of fodder crops in different variants on main soil fertility indices (humus, biological activity, water-physical status) of irrigated gray-brown soils of the arid zone of the Kur-Araz Lowlands in Azerbaijan. The optimal variant was selected, that was: winter rye + vetch + rapeseed for green mass (first harvest), then maize + soybean + sorghum + amaranth for silage (second harvest), and then barley + vetch for green mass (third harvest). It was found that soil-climatic conditions in this zone allowed obtaining three harvests of green mass (1555.02 centners per ha) under irrigation, and accumulating 196.9 centners of dry crop residues in the 0–50 cm soil layer. With that, 6438.65 kg of carbon, 313.07 kg of nitrogen, 157.52 kg of phosphorus and 417.37 kg of potassium entered the 0–50 cm layer of irrigated gray-brown soil along with stubble and root residues. This contributed to the intensification of biological activity of soil (the total number of microorganisms in the 0–25 cm soil layer increased to 19×106–21×106 CFU/g of soil), and to the annual increase of newly formed humus from crop residues by 0.02–0.07 percent. When obtaining three harvests a year, the humus content in the 0–50 cm soil layer increased to 3.08 percent, and humus reserves increased to 184.48 tons per ha; volume weight reduced to 1.04–1.15 g/cm3; specific weightimproved to 2.62–2.64 g/cm3; total porosity and water permeability increased to 56.0–53.0 percent and 2.2–1.9 mm/min, respectively.

Information technologies make it possible to more effectively use resources of an agricultural enterprise due to monitoring and timely management of the production processes. A software complex called PIKAT has been developed to solve tasks in forming machine-and-tractor fleets at agricultural enterprises. The program allows us to accomplish tasks in planning an annual work complex taking into account changing production conditions. By way of example of a certain farm located in Novosibirsk Region, there were made calculations to determine the optimum structure of a machine-and-tractor fleet taking into account the structure of sown areas, available machinery and machine-operators for different crop cultivation technologies. The calculations of the PIKAT specialized web complex have shown that changing over of an agricultural enterprise to the intensive technology will reduce a need for machine-operators by 33 percent, and costs for fuel and lubricants by up to 20 percent due to the effective use of machine and human resources.