The review considers the unique diversity and versatility of the use of sorghum crops. The dependence of the yield of biomass and grain of varieties and hybrids of sorghum crops on the applied elements of the crop cultivation technology is analyzed: width of row spacing, density of standing plants in different zones of sorghum sowing in the Russian Federation. A variety of soil and climatic conditions of sorghum cultivation regions differ in the temperature regime, the reserves of soil moisture before sowing, the level of soil fertility, which determines the need to select the optimal elements of technology that ensure the achievement of the highest yield of varieties per unit area with the lowest material and technological costs. The analysis of the ways of placing plants on the own area also indicates the significant role of varietal biological features in increasing the sorghum yield, the purpose of sowing, and the level of field contamination. With limited resources of productive moisture for high-yielding sorghum varieties with a powerful habitus, wide-row sowing with row spacing of 70 cm and the density of standing plants 80-350 thousand per 1 ha, depending on the variety. Low-growing early-maturing thin-stemmed forms of grain sorghum should be sown in the usual ordinary row way with a row spacing of 15 or 30 cm with plant density of 500-600 thousand/ha. Sudan grass varieties that can withstand high density of standing plants (depending on agroclimatic conditions – up to 1.0-3.0 million per 1 ha) are cultivated using the technology of spiked cereals. As the result of the literature data analysis, the following trend has been revealed: the drier the growing conditions, the greater the requirements for choosing the optimal parameters of agrotechnical methods of cultivating sorghum crops aimed at the reducing the number of plants per area unit considering the specific character of the region of sorghum sowing.

Different approaches to using the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) to assess the genetic differentiation of populations have been compared in the research. Data on 11 microsatellite loci of 84 bulls of seven breeds were used. The results were compared for three options of the AMOVA module of the GenAlEx 6.502 program: the allele distance matrix (calculated F_ST(W&C) (=θ) statistics – variant AMOVA1); the genotype distance matrix (Φ_PT – AMOVA2); and the allele size difference matrix (R_ST – AMOVA3). Similar summary estimates of the genetic differentiation of breeds were obtained: F_ST(W&C) = 0.108, Φ_PT = 0.115, R_ST = 0.110 (all with p_perm ≤ 0.001). Between the estimates of F_ST(W&C) and Φ_PT for each locus, the correlation coefficient was 0.99 (p_value <0.0001); no statistically significant correlations with R_ST were found. A high correlation of F_ST(W&C) and Φ_PT with the estimates of differentiation according to Nei’s (0.96) was found. Programs other than GenAlEx (Arlequin v.3.5, GenePop v.4.7.3, RST22) gave similar AMOVA estimates. The negative linear dependence of F_ST(W&C) and Φ_PT on the level of the average heterozygosity of the breed samples was established (R² = 0.6, r_S = -0.75 for p_value  < 0.02) and the absence of such dependence for R_ST (R² = 0.04, r_S = -0.23 for p_value = 0.47). The standardization of the F_ST(W&C) and Φ_PT estimates according to Hedrick’s eliminated this dependence and raised the initial estimates to 0.35 and 0.37, respectively. The latter were comparable to the estimates obtained by the Nei-Hedrick’s (0.364-0.375), Jost’s (0.292), and Morisit-Horn’s (0.308) methods. The Mantel correlations between the matrices of paired genetic distances (GD) calculated by different measures were >0.9 in most cases. The projections of the GD matrices in the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) on the 2D plane were generally similar. The PCoA identified a cluster of Holstein «ecotypes», a cluster of «Red» breeds, and a branch of the Jersey breed. In the two-factor AMOVA of data on clusters (as two «regions»), the interregional GD was 0.357; the differentiation of breeds within the «regions» did not exceed 0.027. Modeling the association of breeds with close to zero GD resulted in an increase in the number of alleles per locus in the «new» breeds by 29 %, and an increase in the combined estimate of genetic differentiation by 29-46 %. The results obtained can be used in the development of measures for the conservation of endangered breeds.

Drone brood is a collection of developing individuals (larvae, prepupae and pupae) of drones - males of a bee colony. Drone brood is used to produce a homogenate, which is stabilized in one way or another to achieve optimal preservation of biologically active substances. Interest in drone brood as a rich source of macro- and micronutrients is steadily increasing. The purpose of this review is to summarize the collected data on the use of drone brood in rational nutrition and apitherapy. The indicators of the quality and safety of drone brood are reviewed, the requirements of regulatory documents for products based on it are given. The necessity of strict adherence to the storage conditions of the drone brood homogenate is shown, in case of violation of which there is a rapid deterioration of the homogenate. This necessitates stabilization of the drone brood, which makes it possible to preserve its properties with lower requirements for storage conditions. The groups of nutrients that make up the drone brood and determine its biological activity and directions of application are given. Among them are lipids, including phospholipids and unique decenoic acids, proteins, peptides and amino acids, substances containing sulfhydryl groups, flavonoid and other phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, steroid substances, including hormones and hormone-like compounds, mineral elements. Products based on drone brood and biological effects of their use are described: actoprotective, anabolic, immunomodulatory, endocrinotropic, neurotropic, nutritional and cosmetic. The analyzed data indicate the high relevance of the further introduction of drone brood preparations into nutritional and apitherapeutic practice, which will serve as a tool for correcting the diet of a modern person suffering from a disease of civilization, largely associated with a violation of the ratio and amount of nutrients in the diet.

The article presents the results of studying 10 numbers of competitive variety testing in the Ryazan region in order to identify new breeding lines of spring soft wheat with high technological and baking indicators. The assessment carried out in 2017-2019 revealed that according to the yield the breeding lines 1036-09Н21 and 898-09Н125 exceeded the Agata standard variety (4.47 t/ha) by 0.61 t/ha and 0.48 t ha, respectively (LSD₀₅ = 0.34 t/ha). Over the years of the research, the variety samples formed a glassy well-made grain with the nature of 770-817 g/l, with the protein content in the grain of 14.1-16.0 % and the mass fraction of raw gluten in the flour of 29-41 % of high quality (IDK 45-75 units). The greatest potential for protein accumulation in grain was possessed by the varieties Agata, RIMA, lines 539-10H163, 543-13H163 – 16.8-19.3 %. On the average, the falling number was relatively high 264-331 s, corresponding for wheat of the first and second classes. Lines 543-13H163, 539-10H163 and 898-09H125 exceeded the standard in terms of sedimentation value by 15-17 ml or 35-40 %. The specific work of the dough deformation in the samples varied from 305 a.u. up to 421 a.u., corresponding to the standards of strong or valuable wheat. It has been established that the volumetric yield of bread for lines 509-13Н148, 539-10Н163 and 543-13Н163 was 1633-1647 cm³, higher than the Agat standard variety by 16-17 %. Valuable material 539-10N163 and 898-09N125 that meets the requirements of flour-grinding and bakery enterprises has been developed. It has the following varietal characteristics: grain nature is more than 800 g/l, protein content in grain is 15-16 %, gluten in flour is 33-34 %, with the sedimentation indicator of 58-60 ml, the deformation energy of the dough of 389-421 a.u, the volumetric bread yield of 1523-1647 cm³.

In 2017-2020 in the conditions of Kirov region there were studied 143 varieties, 115 perspective lines and 28 hybrids of the first generation of spring soft wheat according to the degree of resistance to septoria tritici blotch against the background of the natural development of infection. It has been established that development of the disease significantly increased with a decrease in air temperature during the «seedling-tillering» phase (r = -0.83…-0.96) and an increase in the amount of precipitation during «shooting» phase (r = +0.87…+0.90). Resistance to septoria tritici blotch was shown by 16.1 % collection samples. A significant (r = -0.83) decrease in yield by an average of 19 % in susceptible samples compared to resistant ones was revealed. The greatest breeding and immunological value were represented by the varieties of Russian selection: Tobolskaya, Tyumenskaya 29, Moskovskaya 35 and МIS, among which the early variety MIS was tolerant to septoria tritici blotch. Thirteen lines resistant to septoria tritici blotch were identified from the new breeding material. The varieties selected for resistance to septoria tritici blotch were used in hybridization. In F₁ hybrids domination and overdomination in the inheritance of resistance to septoria tritici blotch prevailed, as well as weight of 1000 grains and yield per 1 m². Among them, 8 hybrids F₁  with the highest values of the dominance indices were identified. It has been established, that inheritance of resistance to septoria tritici blotch, weight of 1000 grains and yield of hybrids F₁ occurs both in the maternal and paternal lines. The greatest immunological effect was obtained when using the varieties Daria (Russia) and Epos (Germany). The most productive hybrids were the variety Daria, taken as both a maternal and paternal form, as well as when using the Egisar 29 (Russia) variety as a maternal form.

The article summarizes the results of 1990-2012 research conducted during the stationary experiment on leached heavy loam chernozem in the Republic of Mordovia. The objects of the study are two crop rotations (grain-grass-fallow and grain-grass crop rotations) where alfalfa of the VEGA 87 variety was used as a bean component, smooth brome (Bromus inermis) Penza 1 was used as a grain component. It has been established that mineral fertilizers in grain-grass-fallow crop rotations with legumes increased productivity by 0.34-0.55, with cereals – by 0.31-0.73 tons of feed units/ha. That provided to get additional income from 1.19 to 1.40 and 1.09 to 1.47 rub/rub, respectively. Recommended doses of mineral fertilizers against soil liming by 0.5 hydrolytic acidity (h.a,) were N_22-39P₄₂K₅₂, for grain-grass-fallow crop rotation with alfalfa and N_27-71P₄₂K₅₂. with smooth brome. In the grain-grass crop rotation with legume and cereal components the payback of 1 kg active ingredient (a.i.) of complete mineral fertilizer was 6.13 and 6.17 kg feed units, additional income was 2.00 and 1.99 rub/rub, the productivity increased by 0.86-1.08 and 0.84-1.22 tons of feed units/ha, respectively. The payback of 1 kg of a. i. nitrogen as part of a complete mineral fertilizer in this crop rotation averaged 13.04 kg feed units versus 11.5 kg in legumes. Recommended doses of mineral fertilizers were N_26-87P₄₆K₆₅ against the background of liming of the soil by 0.5-1.0 h. a. In crop rotation with smooth brome phosphorus-potash fertilizers should not be applied due to the low additional income (0.97-1.07 rub/rub).

Influence of prolonged use of increasing doses of mineral fertilizers (NPK by 0-30-60-90-120-150 kg of active matter/ha) on contents and dynamics of acid-soluble and mobile compounds of lead in an arable layer of the sod-podsolic soil was studied during the growing season of 2016. It has been established that prolonged application of fertilizers significantly increases the content of mobile forms of the element in the soil at application of NPK in dozes of 30 and 150 kg of active matter / ha as compared to the control (average values are 0.57, 0.51, and 0.33, respectively). However, even prolonged application of large doses of mineral fertilizers does not lead to a significant increase in lead content in the arable horizons of the soil. Acid-soluble lead compounds range from 2.46 (N₀P₀K₀) to 5.33 mg/kg (N₁₅₀P₁₅₀K₁₅₀); the content of mobile lead compounds from 0.08 to 1.31 mg/kg of soil, respectively, at maximum acceptable concentration of 6.0 mg/kg. The content of acid-soluble and mobile lead compounds in arable horizons of sod-podzolic soil had a reliable dynamics during the growing season on all variants of the experiment. An increase in the content and acid-soluble and mobile compounds is usually observed in the first half of the growing season (end of May - beginning of June), which is probably due to the active mobilization of lead from slow-moving compounds as a result of the activation of microbiological activity under a favorable hydrothermal regime. In the same period, the portion of mobile fractions of lead to acid-soluble fractions increases. Application of increasing doses of fertilizers (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg/ha of active matter) does not always show a reliable increase in the content of the element in the corresponding variant, which is obviously due to the influence of unaccounted factors. A clearer content dynamics is characteristic of mobile lead compounds.

On the basis of long-term meteorological data and research results in a long-term stationary experiment of 1971-2020 a retrospective analysis of changes in air temperature and precipitation in the eastern region of the central climatic zone of the Kirov region was carried out and the influence of these characteristics on the dynamics of the yield of spring cereals was estimated. It has been established that the average annual air temperature during the research period was 2.4±1.0 °C. At the same time, its stable positive trend was observed at the rate of 0.39 °С /10 years. Two decades from 2001 to 2020 were recorded as the warmest for 50 years, when the temperature was 0.7...2.6 °C above climate normal. Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient (0.7...2.1) testifies to the contrasting conditions of humidification of the vegetation periods during the research years – from drought to excessively humidified. In a long-term experiment, the yield of spring cereals increased in the row wheat – barley – oats: 2.17±0.86, 3.04±0.61, 3.39±0.65 t/ha, respectively. Strong correlations were marked between the average yield (spring wheat) and weather conditions in June: reverse with air temperature (r_р = -0.735) and direct with the amount of precipitation (r_р = 0.686). It has been established that the use of phosphorus fertilizers (and their aftereffect) in combination with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers weakened the influence of weather conditions on the productivity of spring wheat: the determination coefficients (R²), which reflect the portion of variability due to weather conditions, were 0.59-0.73 for the variant without fertilizers and decreased to 0.50-0.56 when applying NP₃K.

The results of the research were obtained in 2019-2020 on sod-podzolic middle-loam soil in the conditions of EuroNorth-East of the Russian Federation. There were studied 18 variants of increasing doses of mineral fertilizers in the range from 30 to 150 kg of active ingredient per hectare. Under the conditions of 2019 growing season, nitrogen fertilizers influenced the value of yield of Novichok barley variety to a greater extent (Y = 0.67 - 0. 11x² + 1.33x, R² = 0.92), in 2020 - phosphorus fertilizers (Y = 1.48 - 0.02x² + 0.48x, R² = 0.99). On average, over 2 years of research, the yield in the control variant without the use of fertilizers was 0.87 t/ha. Yield increase of barley grains because of enlarged fertilizer doses ranged from 1.38 to 3.90 t/ha. The payback of 1 kg of active ingredient of fertilizers with increase of barley yield decreased due to enlarged doses: from 15.3 (N₃₀P₃₀K₃₀) to 8.3 kg (N₁₅₀P₁₅₀K₁₅₀). On average for two years of the research the increasing doses and ratios of mineral fertilizers had no significant effect on technological properties of spring barley seeds. The content of crude protein in grain grew with increase in fertilizer doses (r = 0.55). To obtain grain of the 2nd class of quality it is necessary to apply not less than 90 kg of active ingredient/hectare of ammonium nitrate. According to the content of crude cellulose, the 1st class of grain quality has been obtained, and this indicator did not depend on the application of fertilizers. High profitability of cultivation of the Novichok spring barley variety (from 54.2 to 59.1 %) has been recorded by application of mineral fertilizers in doses N₆₀P₆₀N₁₂₀, N₆₀P₆₀K₆₀ and N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀.

To assess the possibility of using the bird bone tissue as a recording structure, the histomorphological parameters of the bone tissue of laying hens of the lohman brown cross from the Kirov region (9 females and 1 male) aged from 1 month to 7.5 years were investigated. The comparison of the cross-sections of the humerus and femur, the phalanx of the toe and tibiotarsus of a 6-year-old individual revealed that tibiotarsus is the least susceptible to resorption. For further research in 7 individuals, this bone was divided into 3 sections (T1, T2 and T3), for each of which the description and measurement of the microstructure of the cross sections was carried out. It was revealed that the process of resorption of the periosteum begins at 2.5 years of age with the appearance of primary osteons. At the age of 3.5 years and later they penetrate into all layers of the periosteum, locating in chains between the lines of arrested growth. At 4.5 years of age, secondary osteons appear in the place of the primary ones, and areas of resorption are formed at the intersection of the Haversian and Volkmann canals. At the age of 5.5 years the medullary bone disappears from the bone cavity, rounded cavities filled with centripetal deposition of new bone tissue at the edges appear within the resorption sites. At the age of 6-7 years, bone tissue degeneration occurs, when the small cavities enlarge and merge into large resorption cavities, up to the complete resorption of the mesost. In the distal part of tibiotarsus (T3), a prolonged apposition of the layers of the periosteum and the latest resorption were recorded. The increase of the thickness of the periosteum and a decrease in the density of the osteon population was revealed by the morphometry of cross sections of the center of diaphysis. The sites of tibiotarsus where the age of females corresponds to the lines of growth layer of the periosteum were determined. The sites with additional lines of the arrested growth were demarcated. It was concluded that the periosteal layer of the domestic fowl tibiotarsus in the distal and proximal sites are suitable as a recording structure.

The aim of the research was to determine the change in the volume of fluid slug moving in the milk pipeline for calculating the initial length of the fluid slug and thus the air slug length. This allows to control the fluid and air inlet valve during circulatory washing of milking equipment with milk line and provides a stable plug flow during washing. The article deals with the problems of formation of a wave flow and plug flow regime in a milk line in dependance to the degree of filling and shear stress on the surface of the phases. As the result, the dependence curves have been obtained. They show that when the degree of filling the milk line with liquid is from 0.4d to 0.6d, the probability of slug formation decreases. To determine the loss of a fluid slug volume moving in a milk line, mathematical calculations with the use of the boundary layer theory have been carried out. As the result, the curves of the time of fluid and air intake into the system depending on the length and diameter of the milk pipeline have been obtained. These engineering calculation methods allow to set the operating parameters of the valves for fluid and air inlet into the system during washing. To calculate the parameters of pipelines with an internal diameter of 48, 63, 70 and 98 mm often used in milking equipment, a Delphi-based program was written. The article provides an example of calculating the time of opening and closing the valve for the inlet of fluid and air during washing for a milk line with 48 mm pipe diameter, 120 m length and pressure in the system of 48 kPa. Experimental studies have confirmed the reliability of the calculations, the loss of the liquid plug length for the milk pipeline Ø50. 8 mm is on average 5 cm per 1 meter of the fluid path.

This year « The Farming Journal» [Zemledelchesky zhurnal] celebrates the 200 th anniversary from the date of the first issue. This is the first All-Russian specialized agricultural journal, which was established by the Imperial Moscow Agricultural Society. On the basis of the method of biometric analysis of the content the article shows the significance of the journal in the history of agriculture and agricultural press in Russia. It had been estimated that over 1200 articles have been published in the journal. There was determined the typology of articles of the journal, the ratio of the number of publications of which 38 % were sharing experiences materials, surveys (22 %), economic statistical materials (10 %), original articles (8 %), translated articles (5 %), reviews of new agricultural books (17 %). The main publication subjects were general problems of agriculture (30%), plant production (25 %), animal husbandry (27 %), farming (10 %), and horticulture (8 %). The journal actively propagaded new farming systems, promoted developing such agricultural industries as beet sugar production, sheep breeding, bee keeping, and sericulture. Of 375 authors who published their articles in the journal, 73 % were landowners, 19 % professor and teaching staff, 11 % estate managers, 6 % agricultural specialists. Among well-known authors of the journal it is worth to name N. P. Shishkov, I. V. Saburov, A. F. Rebrov, A. S. Maslov, P. I. Prokopovich and others. «The Farming Journal» laid down the basic principles for developing agricultural periodicals. For the first time in history an attempt was made to unite progressive scientists and landowners by means of the journal in order to determine the ways of developing the agrarian sector of the country, to distribute agricultural knowledge among the population, to generate agricultural science and education. The «Farming Journal» is a valuable source for studying the agrarian history of Russia of the beginning of the XIX century.