Results are given from long-term investigations on determining the potassium content in drained peat soils and on evaluating the influence of soil-conservation techniques on its dynamics. The objects of investigations were medium-peat soils, genesis of which was typical of subtaiga (the bog Ernyakul located on the watershed of the Tobol and Vagay Rivers; the bog Usalskoye located on the second terrace above the floodplain of the Tobol) and of forest steppe (the bog Tarmanskoye; the object Reshetnikovo located on the second terrace above the floodplain of the Tura River) in Northern Trans-Ural Region. It has been found that the total potassium content in bogs located on terraces is 3.7-4.6 times more than that in watershed bogs. The long-term (13-15 years) application of potassium at the rate of 90-120 kg a.i. per ha provides conservation of its total reserves. In peat soils with normal ash content, mobile potassium makes up 74.1-96.6 percent of the total potassium content. Major mobile potassium is in the 0.4 m soil layer. The single application of high potassium rates (150 kg a.i. per ha and more), especially the application of potassium as a reserve for a number of years, cannot be allowed. At the 0.5 m level of underground water, about one third of potassium applied moves outside the limits of the root layer. The application of 300 tons of clay per ha increases reserves of mobile potassium by 282.4 kg, sand by 103.4 kg, humus horizon of meadow-swamp soil by 230 kg per ha. The high rates (600-900 t/ha) of clay considerably increase the fixing ability of peat soil. It is inexpedient to strive for creating a high level of potassium availability on peat soils. This results in heavy unproductive losses of potassium and poorer quality of products. The essential condition to increase the effectiveness of potash fertilizers is a split application that provides deficit-free potassium balance in soil.

There are presented results of vegetation and field tests of the herbicide Milagro, 40g/l nicosulfuron suspension concentrate, produced by Co Ltd Singenta, as a weed control agent for the maize sowings under conditions of Primorsky Krai of the Russian Federation. It is shown that the post-emergence application of the herbicide at the rates of 1.0 and 1.5 l per ha effectively suppressed gramineous weeds and certain annual dicotyledonous plants. The addition of Luvaram (0.82 l/ha) to this tank mixture intensified the action on dicotyledonous weeds. It was found that the protection of the crop from weeds by this tank mixture allowed preserving up to 22 centners of grain per ha (12.6 in the control). It was considerably higher than in the case of individual usage of the herbicide Milagro (1.0 l/ha). Against the weed-free background, the herbicide Milagro had a certain stimulating effect on the crop and raised its productivity by 3-4 percent. When used tank mixture of Milagro and Luvaram (1.0 + 0.82 l/ha), the corn was neutral to its components. The herbicide decomposes almost completely in soil in 11 months after application, and does not have influence on the density of stand, height of plants and crop yield.

By the researches conducted was established that, to provide the population of Eastern Siberia with fresh cabbage all year round in a balanced manner, it can be grown in plastic film-covered structures, owing to that it is ready for harvesting in May to June, or about 2 months earlier than in the open ground. It has been found that early cabbage, grown in plastic film heated greenhouses, is ready for harvesting since the second ten-day period of May; in plastic film greenhouses without heating since the first ten-day period of June; in film-covered hotbeds since the second ten-day period of June, or earlier than in the open ground by 39, 22 and 10 days, respectively. The optimum date for transplanting cabbage seedlings to plastic film heated greenhouses is the first ten-day period of April; to plastic film greenhouses without heating and film-covered hotbeds are the second and the third ten-day periods of April. The biochemical analyses carried out showed that the chemical composition and food value of cabbage heads did not worsen because of early planting dates, as compared with the later ones. A delay in transplanting seedlings becomes a cause of reduction in yields, receipts from sales of products, and crop profitability.

To substantiate technical support for timely cultivations, methodical approaches were analyzed. A concept of economically sound dates for carrying out field work was introduced. These dates can be more prolonged as compared with the optimum, provided that costs are equal, because of delayed dates of cultivations resulting in yield losses as well as because of costs arising from technical support for these dates. With that, it is necessary to take into consideration that not all fields are ready to be cultivated at the same time. Besides, agricultural enterprises cultivate rye, pea, barley and other grain crops of various maturity terms: late-, mid- and early-ripening crops. Charging of expenses for technical maintenance of one or another operation is made taking into account the employment of tractors and agricultural machinery in other operations during a year. An analytic expression was obtained to determine economically sound dates for carrying out field work under conditions of Siberia. Irrespective of technical support, the optimum time for grain seeds to be sown in a field ready for sowing is one day. Therefore, the sowing season should last 10-15 days.

Results are given from researches into assessment of structural changes in frozen chicken forcemeat during defrosting and autolysis by means of a technique for measuring their dielectric properties. The researches were conducted on an experimental installation made up of a special condenser with forcemeat and the device for measuring electric parameters, MNIPI E7-20. It has been established that, while defrosting and in the course of autolysis, electric capacity of forcemeat is monotonously increasing from 240 nF to ~ 7.0 mF at the temperature of a sample of 9.0 ± 0.5 °C. After 3 to 4 hours have passed, the initial destruction of cell membranes occurs that causes the development of lipid oxidation processes, which result in the further avalanche-like degradation of cell structures.

Results are given from research into consumers’ preferences for choosing delicacies from meat of different kinds. Six hundred and eighty inhabitants of Novosibirsk Region were surveyed using the random sampling method. The consumers were divided into 5 groups as to a level of their average monthly income. With the increase in a consumer’s income from 5000 rubles and more, part of the consumption of delicacies is increasing. For all groups with increased income, the number of respondents increases from 58.1 to 80.9 percent, who do not single out a certain kind of meat, which delicacies are made of, but prefer to consume delicate foodstuffs from various raw meat products. For groups with low income levels, the respondents give preference to delicacies made of poultry, pork and then of beef that is bound with increased prices for these products. With increasing income level, the respondents give more preference to delicacies from pork, beef, and then poultry.

The historical material on breeding of perennial grasses under severe conditions of Narym is presented. The work on sowing red clover, timothy grass and awnless bromegrass seeds began in 1912 in the experimental field Tiskinskoye. The further study of red clover and tall-growing perennial grasses was conducted in the experimental fields of the Siberian Taiga Station. In 1927 and 1933, scientific expeditions were organized to study the botanical composition of vegetation in the districts of Narym territory. The work on breeding of perennial grasses has been conducted at the Narym State Breeding Station since 1939. As a result, Narymsky cultivar of red clover and Narymskaya cultivar of timothy grass were developed and included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Since 1971 and until now, seven cultivars of perennial grasses have been developed and included in the State Register.

Results are given from a scientific-production experiment on studying the influence of live weights of Zabaikalskaya Fine-Fleece ewes of the Argunskiy type on offspring growth, development and production performance under conditions of Transbaikal region. To carry out an experiment, there were formed three groups of ewes varying in their live weights: 50-55, 56-60, and 61-65 kg. A significant increase in live weight was revealed in lambs, obtained from ewes with the greater live weights, at the age of 4 months by 3.3 and 3.8 kg, or 14.6 and 16.8 percent, respectively, with the further conservation of this advantage at the age of 7 months by 1.70 and 3.00 kg, or 5.6 and 18.2 percent. There was revealed an advantage of average daily liveweight gain in lambs under the age of 4 months, obtained from ewes of 56-60 and 61-65 kg live weights, by 16.1 and 18.2 percent. During the feeding period from 4 to 7 months of age was found an advantage of the characteristic above in lambs, obtained from ewes of the lesser live weight (50-55 kg) by 17.8 and 8.9 g, or 20.8 and 10.4 percent, respectively. A significant difference in fresh carcass weight was revealed between the gelded rams of the first group and those of the second and third groups in favor of the latter ones by 0.56 and 1.6 kg, or 4.9 and 14.1 percent, respectively. As to weight at slaughter, the gelded rams from ewes with the greater live weights were larger by 0.78 and 2.01 kg, or 6.6 and 19.9 percent.

There are presented studies on using a feed additive containing mannan oligosaccharides to ensure the biological purity of poultry products. Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) are natural chemical compounds derived from cell walls of the yeast Saccharomyces. In vitro studies of the sorption activity of the feed additive containing mannan oligosaccharides were conducted on museum strains and field isolates of microorganisms of the genus Salmonella. Data resulting from research indicate that the feed additive has pronounced sorption activity against microorganisms Salmonella spp. (63.98 percent). To study the effect of mannan oligosaccharides on the contamination of the muscles and internal organs by microorganisms Salmonella spp., 5 groups in 15 of day-old egg-type chicks were formed. The chicks of the experimental groups were fed a diet with MOS at concentrations of 0.1; 0.5; 1 and 2 percent of feed weight. The chicks of the control group were fed a diet with antibiotics instead of MOS. To determine a contamination level in the muscles and internal organs of chicks by microorganisms Salmonella spp., on the 30th day of the experiment was made a post-slaughter examination and sampling of muscles, liver, small and large intestinal contents. It has been established that the daily application of the feed additive, containing MOS at the concentration of 2 percent of the feed weight, reduces the bacterial contamination of chicks’ carcasses and internal organs by microorganisms of the genus Salmonella by 76.6 percent, as compared with the control. The use of MOS allow us to improve the biological safety of poultry products owing to decreased part of feed antibiotics in a diet and reduction in contamination level in the muscles and internal organs of chicks.

There are given results of estrus synchronization in Galloway cattle, bred in Germany, and its effects on reproductive abilities of cows. Investigations into the regulation of reproductive function in Galloway cows, bred in Germany, were conducted using the facilities of Co Ltd “Talachinskoye”, Karymsky Region of Transbaikalia. To stimulate estrus in cows of the experimental group, the biostimulant Estrofan was used in accordance with instructions. It was found that estrus synchronization in Galloway cows, bred in Germany, and consequent artificial insemination for the purpose of mass spring calving allowed us to synchronize the estrous cycles of dams, to increase calf output percentage by 38.9 percent as compared with the control. Calving of the experimental cows was over for 18 days against 82 days in the control. It complies with the beef cattle breeding technology and promotes raising of the more uniform young stock. Thus, the average live weight of the young stock before weaning from the synchronized cows made up 179.2 kg against 177.4 in the control.

The dynamics of metabolic disorder manifestations in broiler chickens under conditions of commercial poultry farming was assessed by the methods of clinical biochemistry. An important assessment criterion was statistic dependence between biochemical blood characteristics analyzed. When carrying out the investigation, there was used the drug Sky-Force containing nano components, activating in the focus of a disease, that allow impacting directly the pathogenic microbiota. Chickens aged 30-39 days demonstrate a relationship between phosphorus and uric acid concentrations (r = 0.58), and negative correlation between albumin and uric acid concentrations. This makes it possible to suppose breakdown of proteins, particularly albumin, with the consequent increase in concentrations of final breakdown products, uric acid and phosphorus. All identified metabolic disorders coincide with the changes in diets, and do not correlate with the mechanism of action of the drug Sky-Force.

There is given the characteristic of Premier cultivar of perennial Hungarian clover (Trifolium pannonicum Jacq.) firstly developed in Russia. The cultivar is early-ripening, with the length from the first spring flush to cutting maturity of 61-69 days and to seed maturity of 107-126 days. This cultivar is remarkable for its high drought and frost resistance. A rather small height (60-70 cm) of the generative shoots and the semi-sprawling multi-stem type of the bush favor lodging resistance. The adult plant consists of the generative and vegetative shoots, the ratio of which depends on weather conditions. The generative shoot usually has one large inflorescence at the top. It has been found that productivity of the above-ground mass during the first 2 years of bush’s life is low, and makes up 8-10 centners per ha. Beginning with the third year of its life, the productivity considerably increases on account of the increased number and height of the shoots. The cultivar remains productive for 6 years or more. During the years of investigations, the hay productivity was 42-61 centners of dry matter per ha. The presence of the vegetative shoots as a part of the herbage promotes high leafiness of the crops of up to 45 percent at the beginning of flowering. The crude protein content is 13-15 percent, crude fiber 25-28 percent. The Premier cultivar of Hungarian clover is resistant to brown spot, rust, mildew and other diseases of clover.

Sowing of perennial grasses and their mixtures has been shown to be effective in rehabilitating disturbed meadows located in the cryolite zone of the central and eastern parts of Baikal-Amur Railroad (BAR). On the pyrogenic soils was determined the optimal layer of fertile peat-ash ground applied to soil, fertilizer doses, and seeding rates for grasses and grass mixtures. Biological rehabilitation of disturbed natural meadows and return of them to economical using is the most important way to conserve land resources and to sustain the ecological balance in the territory of BAR, where natural and cultural landscapes undergo considerable technical impacts on the part of extractive and processing industries at mining operations. When burning wood waste at lumbering places, at casual handling with fire, as well as spontaneously on drained peat lands in dry years, there occur fires resulting in vast areas of pyrogenic peat burned-out areas. The methods of biological rehabilitation allow us to considerably increase productivity of disturbed grasslands and to involve them in agricultural turnover.

There is shown a change in the humus content in dark chestnut soils of West Kazakhstan in connection with long-term anthropogenic impact. A general tendency to humus losses in the process of the long-term agricultural use was found for this type of soils. The calculations have shown that an annual humus loss in dark chestnut soil makes up 0.6-1.1 tons per ha. Changes in the humus content are given for different soil tillage techniques: plowing, cultivation with shovels at the depths of 25-27 cm and 12-14 cm, and zero tillage. The use of cultivation with shovels at the depth of 25-27 cm in a crop rotation resulted in a significant increase in the humus content in the 0-40 cm soil layer as compared with plowing to the same depth. It has been established that, to create positive humus balance in dark chestnut soils in four-course rotations, there should be applied 12-16 tons of manure per ha annually. Under current conditions established in agricultural production of the region, when manure application is problematic, the question of replenishing organic matter in the soil can be solved by introducing perennial grasses into crop rotations with emergency fields.

In the Republic of Azerbaijan, we have obtained 626 positive mutant lines of cotton by chemical mutagenesis. Though the mutant lines surpassed the initial variety in certain characters, they yielded to it in other characters and could not be used as straight ancestors of new varieties because of missing full complex of characters, determining a modern variety type. A possibility to improve induced mutants by involving them in different types of crossbreeding has been studied. The induced mutants have been included in hybridization both with initial varieties and between themselves. The use of induced mutants, carrying some changed characters at a time in different crossbreeding combinations, has shown high efficiency of this method, which quickens the breeding process and improves the result of mutation breeding due to the expanded spectra of variations, the increased number of forms combining 5-7 valuable characters, as well as due to the appearance of plants with 8 economic characters and enhanced expression of valuable mutant characters in different recombinants. The analysis of hybrid generations shows that, as to such characters as cotton productivity and technological quality of fiber, it is expedient to use inter-mutant crossings, using mutants with significant advantages of one or another character over the standard variety.

Results are given from long-term (1980-2013) studies of biological and economic characters of more than 200 apple varieties grown in the Kuba-Khachmasskaya zone of Azerbaijan. All the varieties can be divided into the following groups: local; introduced before 1980; bred by the breeders of Azerbaijan; introduced for the last 35 years. There are presented pomological descriptions of the apple varieties as to major economic characters: productivity, fruit weight, taste, marketability, contents of dry matter, sugars, acid, vitamin C. Such characteristics of the varieties as resistance to apple scab, keeping capacity, level of profitability are shown. For this period, the following varieties have been selected as to a complex of valuable traits, and transferred to the State Variety Trial to be further introduced in commercial gardens: Shirvan Gozeli, Quishliq girmizi Cibir, Shixi cani, Quizil Ahmedi, Ayyubi, Papirovka, Uttared, Slava pobeditelyam, Sosikoli reneti, Quandil sinab, Mantuanskoye, Fahima, Nasimi, Neftchilara hadiyya, Eva, Golden Delishes, Golden spur, Starkcrimson, Royal red Delishes and Qrinq.