The article reflects the current state and the prospects of the Kostroma cattle breed development. The creation and improvement of the breed anticipated the formation and further breed development in the domestic and world zoo technical science. In recent years, the number of Kostroma cattle breed has been unreasonably reducing despite its economic valuable traits. At the same time in the Kostroma region there are prospects for preserving the valuable gene pool of one of the best domestic dairy and meat cattle breeds. As a result of directed selection and breeding work with the use of Brown Swiss bulls, a stud milk breed "Karavaevsky KK-1" has been developed. At present cow-champions of the Kostroma breed give up to 12,000 kg of milk per lactation. The milk of the Kostroma breed cows has a high content of protein and fat. The animals of Kostroma breed have good meat qualities, high resistance to a number of diseases, strong ungulate horn, easy adaptability to intensive technologies, good fertility and high productive longevity. To save the Kostroma breed it is important to put on 8-10 bulls of 8 planned lines and related groups for the validation and accumulation of sperm every year. The restoration of previously created lines with high genetic potential should be foreseen. It is necessary to identify and actively use the stud bulls bred in their own breeding farms; to conduct a linear assessment of bulls and daughter heifers by body type for more competent selection. In addition to the generally accepted forms and methods of selection, it is necessary to continue immunogenetic control of the authenticity of the origin of breeding animals and introduce modern methods of DNA technology to assess the breeding and productive qualities of cattle, which will reveal valuable genetic complexes in the best breeding animals and thus 1.5-2 times accelerate the selection processes.

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

The study is aimed at determining the optimal seeding rates for durum winter wheat Lazurit variety by various seeding dates that would provide the highest grain yield in the conditions of Rostov region. The research was carried out in 2016-2018 on ordinary chernozem after different predecessors for winter wheat (black fallow and sunflower). Studied were: the seeding rates (3 mln, 4 mln, 5 mln viable seeds per hectare after the black fallow predecessor; 5 mln, 6 mln ,7 mln viable seeds per hectare after the sunflower predecessor), and the sowing date (the 10th,20th,30th of September, the10th of October). It has been established that after the black fallow predecessor the seeding rate for durum winter wheat Lazurit variety can be reduced to 3 million viable seeds/ha on the early sowing date (September,10) and optimal sowing date (September, 20). When sowing at the end of optimal (September, 30) and acceptable (October,10) periods, the sowing rate must be 5 million viable seeds/ha. After the sunflower predecessor, on the early sowing date (September,10) and optimal sowing dates (September, 20 and 30) the sowing rate of 5 million viable seeds/ha should be used. At the end of acceptable periods (October,10) the sowing rate should be increased to 6 million viable seeds/ha. After the black fallow predecessor, the highest yield of durum winter wheat has been formed – from 4.61 to 6.06 t/ha depending on the sowing rate and time of sowing. After the sunflower predecessor the yield level ranged from 3.43 to 4.28 t/ha. The optimal sowing time for durum winter wheat Lazurit variety in the south of Rostov region has been established - from the 10th to the 30th of September. Sowing in this period provided the largest number of productive stems (after the black fallow predecessor – 476-568 pcs/m², after the sunflower predecessor – 420-512 pcs/m²), the grain mass per ear (1.21-1.36g and 0.91-1.08g), the plant height (95-100 cm and 92-100 cm), the ear length (6 cm and 4-5 cm, respectively).

Conflict of interest: the author stated that there was no conflict of interest.

The article summarizes the study results of adaptability parameters of winter durum wheat depending on its forecrop. The study was carried out in the Rostov region in 2015-2017. As the objects of the study there have been used 8 winter durum wheat varieties ‘Donchanka’, ‘Amazonka’, ‘Agat Donskoy’, ‘Kristella’, ‘Lazurit’, ‘Oniks’, ‘Diona’ and ‘Eyrena’. The variety ‘Donchanka’ was taken as a standard variety. In the field trials the varieties were sown after weedfree and green fallows, and after such forecrops as peas, sunflower and maize for grain. The obtained data showed that green fallow was the most favorable forecrop for winter durum wheat, an average yield of which was 7.69 t/ha. When sown after various forecrops, all varieties had different adaptability parameters. The best forecrops were weedfree fallow (‘Kristella’ with 7.78 t/ha, ‘Lazurite’ with 7.74 t/ha), green fallow (‘Agat Donskoy’ with 8.30 t/ha, ‘Lazurit’ with 8.46 t/ha) and peas (‘Oniks’ with 7.41 t/ha, ‘Diona’ with 8.11 t/ha). Among the whole set of the varieties, the variety ‘Agat Donskoy’ (b_i>1) proved to be the most highly responsive, while maintaining in most cases high stable yields (s_i² <1), productivity of the varieties sown after all forecrops, except sunflower, was 6.93-8.30 t/ha. With productivity increase of 1 t/ha, it improved its indicator (b_i) by 1.16-5.15 t/ha. The variety ‘Eyrena’ is recommended for cultivation on an extensive background, since through the years of study it turned out to be the least responsive - with productivity increase by 1 t/ha, it improved its indicator (b_i) by 0.01-0.55 t/ha after such forecrops as peas, sunflower and maize for silage.

The article discusses the results of a four-year study (2016-2019) of breeding lines of spring soft wheat of the selection of Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N.V. Rudnitsky in the soil and climatic conditions of the central and southern parts of the Volga-Vyatka region. The promising lines C-65, C-103, H-154 were selected as they exceeded the regionalized standard variety Simbirtsit in average yields (3.41...3.56 t/ha; the increase is 0.04...0.19 t/ha), and in terms of potential yield (5.61…6.93 t / ha; the increase is 0.48...1.80 t/ha). According to the long-term average indicators of the crop structure, the selection lines П-57, P-63, С-65 and С-103 were attributed to the sources of valuable properties. Genotypes P-63, H-154 showed higher values and stability of gluten formation in grain relative to the variety Simbirtsit (22.8-24.1%; the increase to the standard is 3.1 - 4.4%). Using the variation coefficient, the degree of variability of economically useful traits (productive bushiness, plant height, ear length, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, 1000 grain mass, yield, gluten content in grain) was determined in different ecological environments. It has been established that the variability values of individual characteristics of productivity in one variety are not always consistent with each other and have genotypic conditionality. Yield stability can be closely related to the level of variation of individual elements of its structure. Genotypes that were more stable in yield indicated high variability of productive bushiness and low variability of plant height, grain weight per spike, and mass of 1000 grains. It has been shown that from practical point of view the most valuable genotypes were the ones with steadily high values of the spike length and the number of spike grains, as having a high adaptive response to cultivation conditions.

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

The assessment of hybrid combinations of potato according to significant traits such as resistance to basic diseases, high productivity and market condition of tubers was carried out in Kirov region in 2016-2018. As an object for the research the following new potato hybrids bred by Falenki breeding station, branch of FARC North-East, were taken: 27-07(165-00 ´ 282-97), 170-08 (Sierra ´ 93.14-99), 21-07 (165-00 ´ 282-97), 62-08 (9326-2 ´ Zhukovsky Early), 90-09 (194-00 ´ 45-7-17), 179-10 (Dina ´ 45-7-17), 455-08 (591m-62 ´ Dubrava). Early-ripe variety Udacha, middle-early Nevsky, mid-season Chaika recognized in Kirov region were used as standard. Phenological observations, assessment according to productivity (on the 65th day), total and commercial yield and disease resistance were carried out and chemical content of tubers was determined in the breeding nursery in accordance with the methodology instructions of potato breeding. As the result, according to economically valuable traits a promising selection number 170-08 has been chosen. In total yield its significant increase over the standard variety Udacha is 2.6 t/ha. The hybrid 170-08 tubers are round-oval shaped, the jacket is light-beige, the eyes are shallow, in number 5-6 on a tuber, the pulp is cream-colored. This variety combines high yield productivity (19.3 t/ha), and high top blight resistance (7-9 points). Also, 170-08 number is valuable when using for early yield (the productivity on the 65th day after planting is 14.6 t/ha).

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

The article presents the results of study of promising diploid and tetraploid red clover varieties, differed by ripening time, sowed in 2016 in competitive varietal trial at two-year cutting mode of grass-stand use. In the conditions of Kirov region, there was carried out a comprehensive assessment of varieties according to the following biological and production indicators: winter hardiness, duration of growing season, plant and grass-stand height, leafiness, productivity of dry mass by cuttings and in total for two years of use, protein and fiber content, yield of raw protein and digestible protein, resistance to root rot. In each group of ripeness, the best varieties have been identified. They combined protein productivity, winter hardiness (72.3-94.0 %) and resistance to root rot: early tetraploid population SGPFT-170-2 which significantly exceeded the standard (st.) Kudesnik in the yield of raw protein by 0.49 t/ha and digestible protein by 0.355 t/ha, medium-resistant to root rot, with less root system damage compared to the standard by 5.6% in the first year of use (1 y. u.) and 3.3% in the second year of use (2 y. u.); diploid early variety GPF-54-2, which significantly exceeded st. Dymkovsky by 0.391 t/ha in the yield of raw protein in total for two years of use and showed resistance to root rot in the 1 y. u.; diploid late varieties SGP-105 and GPR-36-2, which provided significant additions to st. Kirovsky 159 in the yield of raw protein (+1.216 and +0.964 t/ha) and digestible protein (+0.918 and +0.726 t/ha), combining fodder productivity with resistance to root rot in the 1 y. u. and average resistance in the 2 y. u. (st. Kirovsky 159 is susceptible).

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

The aim of the research is to take a comparative assessment of the amount of plowed down plant residues in various field crop rotations in the conditions of the Republic of Mari El. The study was carried out in 2013-2018 on a stationary site in a two-factor experiment. Factor A ‒ types of crop rotations and shift of crops: 1. Grain and grass crop rotation (oats + clover, clover of the 1st year of use (y.u.) for green mass, winter rye, vetch and oat mixture for grain, spring wheat, barley. 2. I fruit-changing crop rotation (vetch and oat mix for green fodder, winter rye, barley, potato, vetch and oat mixture for grain, spring wheat). 3. II fruit-changing crop rotation (vetch and oat mixture for grain, spring wheat, potato with manure (80 t/ha), barley + clover, clover of the 1st year of use for green mass, winter rye). 4. III fruit-changing crop rotation (barley + clover, clover of the 1st year of use for green mass, clover of the 2nd year of use for green mass, winter rye, potato, oats). Factor B ‒ mineral fertilizers: 1. Without fertilizers. 2. N60P60K60. In the control grain and grass crop rotation with a oneyear use of clover, 3.02±0.06 t/ha of crop-root residues were received per year on the average. In the I fruit-changing crop rotation, due to the replacement of clover with potato, residues formed 2.14±0.04 t/ha, which was significantly less than the control variant (LSD05 in factor А ‒ 0.21). In the II fruit-changing crop rotation, the accumulation of crop-root residues amounted to 2.91±0.07 t/ha. Compared to the control, it was within the limits of experimental error. The largest number of crop-root residues was accumulated in the III fruit-changing crop rotation (3.37±0.07 t/ha). The use of mineral fertilizers significantly increased the bulk of crop-root residues in all crop rotations by 0.16 t/ha per year on the average (LSD05 in factor B ‒ 0.15). Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) in the crop-root residues of clover and potato was 18…20, in the vetch-oat mixture it was 25…31, in spring grain crops it was 39…41, and in winter rye it was 53.

Currently, there is an active development of environmentally friendly methods of farming. However, the range of products for this type of farming system is limited. Growth stimulation is one of the mechanisms ensuring plant resistance to diseases that reduce crop yields. The aim of the work is to study the effect of laboratory samples of new biological products based on B. subtilis BZR 336 g, B. subtilis BZR 517, P. chlororaphis 245 F strains and organo-mineral fertilizers PRK White Pearl Brown (WPB) and PRK White Pearl Universal” (WPU) on plant growth and development of plants, as well as study of the possibility of their joint use for subsequent inclusion in organic farming systems or integrated plant protection. Growthpromoting ability was assessed in winter wheat and sunflower plants grown in sand in a climatic chamber. As comparison variants there were seed treatment with water (control), chemical (Dividend Star, KS) and biological (Fitosporin-M, F, B. subtilis 26 D) standards. In two plant cultures there was an expected retardant effect of the chemical standard and the growth-promoting effect of the biological standard. Statistically significant data were obtained for such a parameter as the shoot length. On winter wheat, laboratory samples provided the shoot length of 24.1-25.2 mm (an addition to the control of 3.4-8.2%), organic and mineral fertilizers - 23.9-24.5 mm (2.6-5.2%), mixtures with WPU - 23.2-24.4 mm (-0.4-4.7%), mixtures with WPB - 24.1-25.9 mm (3.4-11.2%), a significant increase in root length was not observed in this culture. On winter wheat, it is advisable to use the studied products separately. Sunflower is more responsive to the action of laboratory samples. They provided a shoot length of 13.6-14.6 mm (20.9-27.0%) and a root of 9.2-10.2 mm (4.5-15.9%). Organo-mineral fertilizers provided a shoot length of 14.2-14.5 mm (23.5-26.1%) and the root length of 10.8 mm (22.7%). Mixtures with WPU provided shoot length of 14.7-15.4 mm (27.8-33.9%), mixtures with WPB provided shoot length of 11.9-14.5 mm (3.5-26.1%), and no significant increase in root length was noted. The data obtained indicate the presence in the laboratory samples of fungicidal biological products growth-promoting properties, which vary depending on the culture and additionally used organic and mineral fertilizers. To confirm the results, additional experiments are necessary. Research in this direction will allow the rational use of the studied means of protection and increase plant yields in systems of organic, ecologized and integrated farming, and can help reduce the pesticidal pressure on agrocenoses.

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

From 2001 to 2018 in Mari El Republic six-field fodder crop rotations including 1-3 fields of legume-cereal grasses were studied. The amount of plowed root-crop residues and nutrients entering the soil was assessed at different levels of minerals application (N60P60K60 and N90P90K90 in the 1st and 2 nd rotations, N60P60K60 и P60K60 in the 3rd rotation). During the research the total nitrogen content in sod-podzolic soil increased from 0.15% to 0.28%, the humus content raised from 1.82% to 2.53%. The largest amount of root-crop residues nutrients was plowed into 0 -20 cm soil layer during the fodder crop rotation at the 1-year use of the perennial grasses. On the average, it received 35.2 t/ha of dry matter, 560 kg/ha of nitrogen, 231 kg/ha of phosphorus and 338 kg/ha of potassium over 3 rotations. An increase in supply of soils with nitrogen and humus in the 3rd rotation raised the plant residues and nutrients accumulation to 49.9 t/ha, 821 kg/ha, 321 kg and 496 kg/ha, respectively. No significant differences were found between the fertilization backgrounds. In the structure of studied crop rotations cloveralfalfa-timothy grass mixture has made the greatest contribution to in the replenishment of nutrient elements by plowing up the root-crop residues: 10.1 tons of dry matter, 199 kg of nitrogen, 89 kg of phosphorus and 115 kg/ha of potassium. Using postcut mustard after winter rye provided almost the same amount of plowed root-crop residues as clover-alfalfa-timothy grass mixture.

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

The article presents the results of field trials conducted on leached chernozem of forest-steppe of the Volga region in 2012-2014. Studied was the development of the leaf surface of filmy varieties (Horizon, Krechet, Eclipse) and naked varieties (Vyatsky, Persheron) of spring oat during the growing season under the influence of nitrogen fertilizers (without nitrogen fertilizers, N60, N60 + N30). The most rapid formation of the leaf apparatus was observed in the filmy oats of Horizon and Krechet varieties in the phase of shooting when nitrogen fertilizers were applied at a dose of 60 kg of active ingredient (30.7-30.3 thousand m2 /ha). However, by the time the panicle was headed, the filmy variety Krechet had almost achieved this value. Naked varieties of oats in comparison with the filmy ones formed a slightly smaller assimilation surface. The use of nitrogen fertilizers had a significant impact on the formation of the assimilation surface of the leaves. However, the additional application of nitrogen fertilizers did not give a significant increase in the leaf apparatus. A higher air-dry mass (94.73 g/m2 ) was formed in the filmy variety Krechet in the phase of milk ripeness against the background of pre-sowing dose of nitrogen fertilizers with additional fertilizing them in the phase of tillering of the culture (variant N60 + N30). Naked varieties of oats were significantly inferior in this indicator to filmy varieties and practically did not differ from each other in the accumulation of dry matter in plants. Only a significant accumulation of dry matter in the Vyatsky and Persheron varieties was noted against the background of applying a pre-sowing dose of nitrogen fertilizers with additional fertilizing them in the tillering phase of the culture (variant N60 + N30). The highest rates of net photosynthesis productivity (NPF) among the studied varieties was observed in filmy varieties in the interphase period "shooting-heading of panicle" against the background of nitrogen fertilizers N60 + N30 (7.17-7.38 g/m²). In naked varieties, this figure was slightly lower than in the filmy ones (6.89-6.90 g/m²). When applying nitrogen fertilizers at a dose of 60 kg active ingredient /ha, there was an increase in the NPF in the interphase period "tillering-shooting " in the following varieties: Horizon by 23%, Krechet by 21%, Eclipse by 15%, Vyatsky by 44%, Persheron by 11%. With the additional introduction of N30 a further increase in the NPF was noted in Horizon by 46%, Krechet by 26%, Eclipse by 42%, Vyatsky and Persheron by 56% relative to the variant without the introduction of mineral nitrogen fertilizer.

The article presents the results of study of the possibilities and prerequisites for the development of rural territories based on the restructuring of the agri-food system at the local level. The inclusion of peasant farm enterprises, private subsidiary farms, agricultural consumer cooperatives and agricultural cooperative markets into short supply food chains has been observed. The study was conducted on the basis of Rosstat data across the subjects of the Russian Federation. The polling survey was carried out in Vologda, Leningrad and Novgorod regions. The methods of correlation and socio-economic analysis were used. Groups of regions with a high share (60-70%; 71-80%; > 80%) of peasant farms and private subsidiary farms in food production as territories with prerequisites for the formation of short supply food chains were identified. The tendencies of decreasing the number of agricultural consumer cooperatives and their localization in a limited number of regions have been established. In ten regions of Russia 52.6% of agricultural consumer cooperatives are concentrated and 49.2% of peasant farms as their members are located. Cooperatives in Russia as a whole cover only 5.2% of all peasant farms. Operating agricultural consumer cooperatives provide their services only to 4% of private subsidiary farms. Based on the correlation of Spearman's ranks, a moderate tightness of the direct relationship between the number of agricultural consumer cooperatives and the number of peasant farms - members of the agricultural consumer cooperatives (correlation coefficient is 0.56) and a weak relationship between the number of agricultural consumer cooperatives and the number of private subsidiary farms served by them (0.08) has been established. It is concluded that agricultural consumer cooperatives can have a significant impact on the formation of short supply food chains only in certain regions with a developed cooperative network. The results of the questionnaire of agricultural consumer cooperatives have revealed a number of interrelated problems concerning the sale of products, the need for the development of agricultural cooperative markets and other retail markets. It was proposed to manage markets and food chains in general on the basis of a corporate social responsibility model using rural web networks (Rural web).

Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.