Spring wheat F₂-F₄ hybrids and their original forms were studied on yield and protein content in grain. The productivity of varieties and hybrids were highly varied depending on the environmental conditions and cross combinations (average yield is 217 g/m², coefficient of variation 39%). The high heterogeneity of F₂-F₃ populations, strong modification variability and low repeatability of the trait in the offspring does not allow to judge the productive value of hybrid combinations in the first stages of selection with a sufficient degree of reliability. At crossing of varieties with contrast productivity hybrids of the second and third generations have turned to the best parent. The most high-yield samples Ferrugineum 69-96 х Pamyati Ryuba (266 g/m²), Anyuta х Stepnaya 1 (237 g/m²), Anyuta х Izida (239 g/m²) were characterized by a higher degree of variability of the trait (CV = 40...57%). Differences of genotypes on protein content in grain are well expressed. Hybrids had, as a rule, an intermediate position between the original forms. The best combination obtained in crosses of high quality varieties: Ferrugineum 69-96 х Anyuta (12.8...14.1%), Hja 23361 х Anyuta (13.3...14.0%), Botanicheskaya 3 x Gutler (12.5...15.1%), Anyuta x Engelina (12.6...15.3%). Promising hybrid combinations can be evaluated as early as F2 since the protein content is characterized by a high heritability. A high negative correlation between productivity and protein content makes it difficult to obtain initial material which combines these features at a high level. Promising hybrid combinations with optimal display of traits are selected for further breeding work: Botanicheskaya 3 x Kinel'skaya Otrada, Botanicheskaya 3 x Pamyati Ryuba, Anyuta x Engelina , Anyuta x Izida.

Increasing of productivity and grain quality of spring wheat under conditions of Republic of Mari El is one of the main tasks of agricultural science and practice. In decision of this task an important role belongs to growth regulators as they can stimulate growth and development of plants, increase resistance to stressful growing conditions being used in extremely low concentrations. The use of milk whey solution at different concentrations was studied experimentally in the Republic of Mari El for the first time. At the first stage of research the optimal concentration of milk whey solution positively influencing on grain yield of spring wheat was determined. The highest yield was in the variants with application of the solution in the ratio whey : water - 2:10 and 3:10. The increase to the control was significant - 0.38.0.39 t/ha. At the second stage it was studied the effect of milk whey solutions and growth stimulators Planriz and Zircon on the photosynthesis activity of crops, yield and grain quality of spring wheat. It was revealed that treatment of crops with whey solutions increases photosynthetic capacity and net photosynthetic productivity in the period of stem elongation - earing respectively on 131.0-138.8 thousand m²/ha x day and 2.0-2.4 g/m² x day. Use of solutions of milk whey and growth regulators provides a significant increasing of grain yield. Thus use of milk whey solutions was more effective. The increase in yield was 0.33-0.35 t/ha. The use of whey solutions has greatly improved technological properties of grain: it increases the grain protein content by 1.6. 1.8 %, of gluten - by 1.0-1.1% and hardness - by 5.0-7.2%.

The aim of the work is to evaluate the efficiency of application of plant protection chemicals as one of the component of energy-saving technologies of corn cultivation for grain. The evaluation of the efficiency of the use of leaf and soil herbicides as well as their combined effect on agrophytocenosis of corn for grain is given in the article. The relevance of the researches is in the use of soil herbicides in its pure form in the system of chemical protection of corn plants which reduce the level of chemical load on crops and contribute to the formation of a high level of productivity. It is determined that the use of herbicides (Kraterr, Fronter Optima and Titus) in the technology of corn cultivation for grain is more effective in its pure form as well as economically reasonable and expediently. It is proved in practice that in order to increase the protective period of influence of the soil herbicides they could be applied at the early stages of weeds growth or immediately after germination of cultivated plants. As a result a decrease in total weed infestation of corn crops by 89.5% at application of Fronter Optima (1.3 l/ha) and by 94.5% - Kraterr (3.0 l/ha), compared to the control variant has been determined. Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is marked as a weak-susceptible to these soil herbicides. The application of soil herbicide Kraterr in a dose 3 l/ha in its pure form allow to reduce the cost price of growing of 1 ton of corn grain to 2.31 thousand rubles; achieve cost recovery at the level of 30 rubles per every additional expended ruble as well as improving the profitability of technology to 248% due to more effective chemical weeding and containment of growth processes of weed component and as a result to get high crop yields.

The modern technologies of barley growing include grain disinfection as the primary agro method, as sowing quality of seeds greatly influences on the formation of high and stable yields. The article considers the effect of tank mixtures of the disinfectant ‘Vintsit Forte’ with the growth stimulators ‘Fertingrein Start’ and ‘Melafen’ on the elements of structure and productivity of the spring barley variety ‘Leon’. The use of tank mixture of the fungicide ‘Vintsit Forte’ with these growth stimulators has a positive effect on such elements of yield structure as productive tillering and productive plant stand (density) that greatly increases the crop productivity. The tank mixture of the disinfectant ‘Vintsit Forte’ with the growth stimulators ‘Fertingrein Start’ and ‘Melafen’ gave the largest increase of spring barley productivity due to the strengthening of the processes of growth and formation. The use of ‘Fertingrein Start’ and ‘Melafen’ increased the productivity of the crop on 1.4 t/ha (42.4%) and 1.1 t/ha (33.4%) respectively. The seeds disinfected with the mixture ‘Vintsit Forte’+‘Fertingrein Start’ showed the greatest indexes of all qualitative traits (length of head, number of grains per spikelet, weight of head, number of spikelets per head). The economic efficiency of presowing treatment of seeds has been studied as well. The seed treatment with the tank mixture of the growth stimulators ‘Fertingrein Start’ (88.9%) and ‘Melafen’ (76.9%) provided the highest profitability of spring barley production. The results of the study can be recommended to the farmers growing spring barley in the Rostov region.

A collection of winter wheat cultivars of different eco-geographical origin has been grown and tested on the silty loams of Nizhny Novgorod region and the results are reported in the given article. Ten cultivars were tested for selection of ones combining high potential resistance to the environmental factors (including diseases) of the region with high grain quality and the complex of economically valuable characteristics. The yield of the cultivars was found varying from 3.65 t/ha (Galina variety) to 5.32 t/ha (Nemchinovskaya 57 variety). The yields of varieties Nemchinovskaya 17 and Nemchinovskaya 57 significantly exceeded yield of the standard variety Moskovskaya 39 (by 0.98 and 1.07 t/ha or by 23 and 25%). The elements of the yield structure such as the number of grains per ear, the weight of grains in an ear were proved to differ statistically between the studied varieties. Varieties Nemchinovskaya 24 and Nemchinovskaya 57 had got most grain numbered ears (36.7 and 36.8 grains per ear); Nemchinovskaya 57 and Moskovskaya 56 were characterized with the highest grain weight per ear (1.81; 1.5 g). The protein content ranged from 15.1% at variety Pamyat' Fedina up to 19.2% at variety Moskovskaya 40 with the standard level 17.5%. Variety Moskovskaya 40 was distinguished by the essentially high gluten content that made 36.1%. The biological yield calculation showed high potential of the studied varieties - up to 9.47 t/ha at Nemchinovskaya 57 that is 2.12 t/ha or 29% higher than standard. Varieties Nemchinovskaya 57, Nemchinovskaya 17, Moskovskaya 56, and Moskovskaya 40 have been noticed on the complex of economically valuable characteristics.

The article describes the parameters of ecological plasticity and stability of characteristic "productivity" in hard winter wheat. Under conditions of the Rostov region hard winter wheat varieties breeding All-Russian Research Institute of Grain Crops: Donskoy Yantar’, Aksinit, Kurant, Agat donskoy, Amazonka, Lazurit, Kristella, Kiprida, Oniks were studied with green manure fallow predecessor in 2010...2015. Variety Donchanka was used as standard. The studies revealed that the average yield in the trials ranged from 5.9 t/ha at variety Donchanka up to 7.2 t/ha at variety Lazurit. The maximum yield for the period of studies was observed at Aksinit (9.8 t/ha). The most stable variety is Kurant which has a low coefficient of variation (CV = 7.8%), and regression coefficient (b_i = -1.4). A Kristella had the highest coefficient of variation among the studied varieties (CV = 23.9%). We define a linear regression coefficient (b_i) which is less than 1. These genotypes form stable yields under adverse growing conditions. By the method of two-way analysis of variance on parameter "productivity" it was found that the dispersion of "genotype -environment" significantly exceeds the variance of error. F_factual > F_theoretical at the sources of variation "variety", "conditions" and "variety-condition". This suggests that varieties respond differently to changes in climatic conditions. In our experiment variety Donchanka was the least responsive; most responsive - variety Lazurit. Varieties Lazurit and Kurant are recommended to growing on the extensive background. Here the highest return could be obtained at the lowest cost.

The possibility of replacing of moldboard treatments by resource-saving systems (light, combined) to obtain the productivity of crop rotation about 3.0 tons of grain units/ha and save of soil fertility was detected in long-term experiment at the sod-podzolic medium-eroded soil. In the three-factor experiment (9x6x2) types of fallow, tillage, fertilizer were studied in biologizing crop rotation: Fallow - Winter rye - Spring wheat - Barley + clover - Clover of the 1st year of use - Clover of the 2nd year of use - Winter rye - Barley - Oats. Saturation by grain crops is 66.7% which is important for many agricultural enterprises. Light and combined tillage systems at input of low dose of mineral fertilizers, biologization of crop rotation by organic fertilizer (manure, green manure), straw (an average of 27 t/ha) and sowing of clover (2 years of use) allowed to keep soil fertility and to obtain productivity at level 3.05 and 3.08 t grain units/ha. Manure input (60 t/ha) reduced the negative impact of light tillage and provided a positive NPK balance. At the crop rotation with green-manured fallow the light tillage is not conceded of moldboard and combined tillage on productivity (3.08-3.10 t grain units/ha), but worsened the agrochemical properties of the soil. Combined (light-moldboard) tillage system was more universal. It was effective in soil with a different fertility particularly (with a positive balance of NPK) on the background of manure. In the crop rotation with green-manured fallow (mustard) at straw input and low doses of mineral fertilizers (N180P120K120 for crop rotation) an energy efficiency ratio was 3.35; the flow of combustive and lubricating materials for autumn plowing was 10.1 l/ha; labor productivity in the autumn plowing for shift was 15.4 ha /7 hours. The content of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium - 267 and 190 mg/kg, exchange acidity - 5.38, hydrolytic acidity and amount of exchangeable bases - 2.37 and 12.67 mg/100 g. The balance of humus - 5.51 t/ha. Weediness with annual and perennial weeds - 16.0 and 2.0 pc./m². The development of root rots - 39.9 %.

Results of studying on influence of marsh field's economic use in central part of the Kirov region on its geochemical status are presented. Next variants have been chosen for research in 2012-2014: control - a virgin site of poorly drained non-mastered part of a bog; experimental - sites with different capacity of a residual peat layer (from 1.3-1.5 m to 0.5 m and less). On each of 14 sites soil cuts are put and peat samples on layers are selected. The content of total and mobile forms of elements is defined by a method of inversion voltamperometry. The conducted researches have shown that the copper and zinc content is minor and does not exceed average and background values, characteristic for various types of soils of area. The minimum content of elements is noted in a profile of a control site. The total content of copper has made from 0.90 mg/kg (on depth of 10-15 cm) to 0.28-0.14 mg/kg and lower (at level of 90-95 cm from a surface). The zinc content is also slightly and fluctuates in limits 0.16-0.17 mg/kg to 2.40-2.60 mg/kg on a profile. The content of elements rises in soils of mastered sites. For example, on a site prepared under tree-planting with capacity of a residual peat layer about 150 cm, total copper in peat is from 10.00-11.00 mg/kg to 33.0034.00 mg/kg, and zinc - from 17.00-39.50 mg/kg to 54.95-89.62 mg/kg. The content of mobile forms of metals in peat of the surveyed sites is minor. The minimum content - in a control site: zinc - 0.02-1.60 mg/kg and copper - from trace values up to 0.11-0.12 mg/kg. On the sites involved in economic activities increase of concentration of mobile forms of elements is revealed. The content of mobile zinc changes from 1.73 to 5.96 mg/kg, and copper - from 0.21 to 2.33 mg/kg. Almost on all sites the raised content of zinc and copper in the top soil horizons is noticed that is connected with biogenic accumulation of these elements by a vegetative cover. In some cases increase of concentration of elements on border of peat and mineral horizons is revealed. Development of peat fields leads to decrease in acidity of residual thickness of peat and formed on a place of a peatbog of soils as a result of a peat mineralization and rising of hard ground waters to a surface. In the given research pH_KCi varies from 2.53-3.30 units on a control site to 4.47-6.67 in profiles of newly formed soils on the drained and developed sites.

Humic preparations extracted from peat enhance resistance of living organisms against infections, stresses, cut rehabilitation period down, decrease risk for negative after-effects of vaccination. These preparations are not toxic, do not have cumulative, teratogenic, mutagenic, embryotoxic and carcinogenic properties. We tested the new drug “Furor” on trial group of calves. The calves received the preparation orally with colostrums in a dose of 0.3 and 0.4 ml per kg of body weight a day from day 3 of life for 10 days. Performed clinical and immunobiochemical studies proved the effectiveness of the immune response modifier “Furor” when used to enhance resistance of newborn calves against gastrointestinal diseases. The use of the preparation “Furor” provides for normalizing metabolic processes, improving immunological indices, increasing the prophylactic effectiveness at gastrointestinal diseases, and the safekeeping of calves up to 100%. Obtained data indicated a significant improvement of immunological and metabolic blood values in trial group of calves. The best results were obtained when using the preparation “Furor” in a dose of 0.3 ml per kg of body weight a day. Increase in lysozyme activity in calves of the first trial group was 127.8% by the end of experiment which is 10.8% higher the control. Bactericidal activity of blood serum in calves of the first group was 9.5% higher the control by the end of the experiment. Lymphocyte number in calves of the first trial group increased by 20.0% which is 12.9% higher the control. The number of T-lymphocytes increased by 53.7%. The number of B-lymphocytes in calves of the first experimental group increased by 264.3%. Based on these results the dose 0.3 ml per kg body weight should be considered as optimal.

The paper presents some results of surveys estimating of body immunodepression in leukosis-infected cattle depending on the total percentage of juvenile, stab and segmentated neutrophilic leukocytes in peripheral blood that are the first how protect body against infectious diseases and foreign invaders. If the value is 0 to 20%, immunodepression is estimated at high number of diseased and suspect animals - about 90.7% during 12 months. At total content of these cells about 21 to 30% - as lowered with 31.8% of diseased and suspect animals; at 31% and more - as low with 0.0. 2.5% of diseased and suspect animals. Dependency was revealed makes it possible to modulate the degree of sensitivity to the immunosuppressive effects of the BLV in susceptible animals. It is believed that various changes in the content of the neutrophils are evident in all malignant re-birth of marrowy and lymphoid tissues. Estimating the degree of body immunodepression in leukosis-infected cattle in asymptomatic stage of leukosis depending on the total percentage of neutrophilic leukocytes, identification of animals with the high degree of body immunodepression and their timely segregation will prevent the possible death and improve the effectiveness of control and eradication programs for BLV infection. In addition, it is possible to get meat products from these animals fit for food of man.

In Russia many scientific and practical questions of open-air cages cultivations of such species of hoofed animals as a maral or a red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), a spotty deer (Cervus nippon L.), a wild boar (Sus scrofa L.), the European fallow deer (Dama dama L.), mouflon (Ovis musimon L.), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) are studied not enough. The purpose of the given researches is to study influence of population density of hoofed animals in open-air cages on success of animals' reproduction. Within four years features of the maintenance, success of reproduction of a wild boar, a maral, a spotty deer, the European fallow deer, mouflon were studied at open-air cages maintenance in territory of three hunting economy in the Tver' region. It is known that on success of reproduction of natural animals' populations the great influence is rendered by high density of their population causing stress in animals and reducing their annual gain. In studied open-air cages population density of deer fluctuated from 0.08 to 2 animals/ha. Our researches of influence of this factor on reproduction of hoofed animals in conditions of open-air cages maintenance have shown that at a fallow deer the business exit of young growth fluctuated from 0.21 to 0.40 individuals; at a maral from 0.25 to 0.30; at a red deer - from 0.63 to 1.0 individuals per an adult female. Thus the young growth yield changed in direct ratio with population density of animals (r = 0.92). Hence, at an existing level of deer feeding in an open-air cage the density of their population up to 2 animals/ha is not the ecological factor limiting reproduction of animals. In open-air cages it is not observed the stress-factor limiting reproduction though population density repeatedly surpasses density under natural habitat.

The researches were conducted on the heavy seasonally-frozen periodically overwet soils in conditions of the Amur region. The energy-saving agricultural technologies were tested on the basis of a complex of the new generation of machines (OVPP-2.5; MMU-3.6; BPRZ-1.2) in comparison with the basic technologies and technical means. The production testing of energy-saving technologies at cultivation of barley (variety Acha) and soybean (variety Lidya) was carried out in 3-field short crop rotation (green-manured fallow - barley -soybean). In accordance with these technologies three methods of soybean sowing were tested conducted by MMU-3.6, compared to an ordinary method with the use of serial seeding-machine SZ-3.6 with row spacing of 15 cm. In sowings conducted by MMU-3.6 the selected depth of seed placement was kept regardless of applied coulters (variations did not exceed ±0.67 cm). The researches confirmed that the uniformity of seed distribution on the area of the bands improves the yield compared to the row sowing. As a result of production testing of energy-saving technologies it was marked a significant increase in the yield of barley (1.4 times) and soybean (2.3 times). The highest soybean yields was achieved at using wide-band sowing method, width of band is 20 cm - 3.26 t/ha, and band-pass sowing method, width of band is 10 cm - 2.77 t/ha. The decrease in the amount of technological operations at cultivation of barley and soybean allowed to reduce fuel consumption by 1.3 and 1.5 times respectively in comparison with the basic technologies. The energy effect amounted to 1170.78 GJ at cultivation of barley and 2293.67 GJ at cultivation of soybean.

Agroecological regionalizing of an agricultural territories at microlevel allows to improve intra-economic land management and carry out the highly precision optimization of habitat for cultivated plants. The allocation or association of agro-ecologically similar territories (AST) is more difficult in a rugged relief and can lead to a reduction in the size of fields of crop rotations, decrease the efficiency of high-performance technics and certain restrictions in the use of high power technical means with wide-swath agricultural machines. Considering the high irregularity of distribution in time and space of environment factors becomes obvious that soil treatment requires differentiated approach and focuses on "regionalizing agricultural practices" because they "can be carried out diverse and at different times". For justification of the optimal composition of means of mechanization of cultivation of agricultural crops on example of the experimental field four arable units, four units with flat-cutting bodies and eight units with disk working bodies, and three sowing units were selected. The main criterion for the evaluation of the optimal composition of means of mechanization was the total energy consumption for technological process. Evaluation of the energy efficiency of technological processes connected with processing of the soil indicates significant changes in the energy costs for the varying types of processing and technological parameters. According to variants of plowing saving of energy consumption can reach 30%, flat-cutting processing of the soil - 38%, disking of the soil is 20% and sowing -14%. Saving of direct fuel consumption for the most energy-intensive operations can be up to 7 kg/ha.

The modern economy is viewed as a set of clusters. Experience of cluster stimulation has shown that cluster policy should be based on a systemic presentation of the clusters as object of governing. Purpose of the article is to describe the life cycles of cluster. Cluster has the following developmental stages: agglomeration, emerging cluster, developing cluster, mature cluster and downturn. Each stage has its own features of reached state, driving force and direction of changes. Mature cluster provides bright cluster effects, high competitiveness and innovation; it provides developed markets of the final product and factors of production, effective information exchange mechanisms. Driving forces of cluster are the strong competition and developed cooperation, and effects of social capital; the cluster is capable of playing the role of "growth pole" of the territory. As a whole understanding of inner structure (composition and connections) and dynamics of development is highly important for design of a cluster policy. Determining the stage of the developed cluster state must be one of the first steps of the development of cluster policy. These factors must be in mind at selection of the tools of cluster policy and measures of cluster support.