The article presents the history of the origin and development of hydromodule research at the Kirov Meadow-Swamp Experimental Station, their practical implementation and ecological significance in the development of the principles of a saving, soil-protective and environment-forming system of agriculture on organic soils in the conditions of the North-East of the European part of the Russian Federation. The main object of long-term research is a typical lowland peatland «Gadovskoye», located on the territory of the Kotelnich peat base of the Kirov region. Special attention is paid to the search for the most effective ways to regulate the water regime of drained swamps used in feed production. It has been established that the most operational, efficient and environmentally friendly method is sluicing, when additional moisture is supplied to the root layer from below. The most optimal range of groundwater regime for annual and perennial forage grasses is shown. The correlation dependence of yield on the degree of drainage of peat deposits is presented. A significant contribution to the reclamation science was made by hydromodule studies on the cutover bogs of the Kirov region. The chemical composition of groundwater and waste swamp waters has been studied on the «Gadovskoye», «Zenginskoye», «Bakhtinskoye», «Pishchalskoye» peatlands, and others, the relationship of the water-physical properties and water regime of the residual deposit with food and temperature regimes, as well as with the coefficient of water consumption of plants and the bearing capacity of the soil of cutover bogs has been established. Agroecological monitoring of the developed peatlands, which have been in culture for more than 40−60 years, shows that during the operation of these facilities there is a gradual decrease in their productivity, due to a decrease in the total agricultural background, partial and even complete violation of the hydrological functions of the drainage network. In order not to completely lose these anthropogenic formations from the sphere of cultural nature management, it is necessary, first of all, periodic repairs of the entire drainage system. Further restructuring within the landscape shell will make it possible to construct fundamentally new post-swamp forest-meadow agroecosystems, where other alternative fields to forage production (hunting, forestry activity, berry-officinal, mushroom, etc.) can be provided.

Malignant catarrhal fever is a non-contagious infectious disease that occurs sporadically in the population of cattle and wild artiodactyls. The source of the causative agent of the disease is wildebeest, sheep, and goats, in which the infectious process is usually asymptomatic. The manifestation of clinical and pathological signs is variable, often characterized by damage to the nervous, respiratory and digestive systems, in the organs and tissues of which signs of lymphocytic and histiocytic vasculitis are noted. Diagnosis of the disease is carried out comprehensively using clinical and histological methods, but the main method is the detection of viral DNA in the material using PCR. However, control and prevention of the disease have a number of difficulties due to insufficient efficiency of diagnostic measures, lack of vaccines and outdated regulatory framework. There are no commercially available kits for diagnosing the disease in Russia. This diagnosis is available to research organizations, where complex research protocols are used. Due to insufficient knowledge of the pathogenesis, attempts to create effective vaccines against malignant catarrhal fever have not yet been successful, which does not allow for the full implementation of preventive measures. Regulatory acts defining approaches to control and elimination of the disease have not been updated for more than 20 years. The complex of these problems significantly distorts the objective epizootic situation on malignant catarrhal fever and contributes to its hidden spread with unclear economic and economic damage.

The purpose of the research is to study a new assortment of spring barley in the conditions of the Ryazan region (southern zone of the Central region of the Russian Federation) and identify sources of agronomic traits for their further use in hybridization. The observation, study and comparison of 11 new varieties of spring barley (standard – Nadezhny) was carried out in 2020–2022 on a natural infectious background (the soil was dark gray forest heavy loamy). It was found that the highest average yield over the years of the research was in the varieties Znatnyy (Russia) – 6.38 t/ha, Ellinor (Germany) – 6.02 t/ha and Kufal (Belarus) – 5.98 t/ha. There were identified low–growing forms - the German varieties KWS Vermont and Ellinor, the height of which was in the range of 63–67 cm and varied little over the years of the research (CV, % = 3.9...6.0). The lowest protein content in the grain was in the German varieties Ellinor (12.31 %), KWS Harris (12.43 %) and the French variety Rapid (12.69 %). In order to improve the quality of forage, a group of high-protein barley was identified: Pamyati Chepeleva (15.31 %) (Russia), Kufal (14.61 %), Znatnyy (14.10 %). According to the length of the ear, the varieties Bente (8.2 cm) (Germany) and Znatnyy (8.0 cm) stood out. It has been established that the varieties of Pamyati Chepeleva and Laureate (Switzerland) have the highest productive bushiness – 4.0 and 4.4. The largest number of grains in the ear was observed in the Znatnyy variety – 23.4 pcs. All the studied source material had high resistance to phytopathogens and lodging. The new varieties identified in the research process are a valuable source material for the development of new highly competitive varieties of spring barley for the conditions of the Central region of Russia.

In the conditions of the Ryazan region, adaptive properties and ecological plasticity of 8 breeding lines of spring soft wheat (standard Agatha variety) were studied in 2020–2023 according to the "yield" trait using diverse statistical methods. Ecological plasticity (b_i), stability (σ²_d ), index of environmental conditions (I_j) were determined by S. A. Eberhart, W. A. Russell, variation – by B. A. Dospekhov, stress resistance and genetic flexibility – by A. A. Rossielle, J. Hemblin, index of ecological plasticity – by A. A. Gryaznov, indicator the level of the variety yield stability – according to E. D. Nettevich, homeostaticity (H_om ), breeding value (Sc) – according to V. V. Hangildin, relative stability, stability criterion – according to N. A. Sobolev, multiplicativity (KM) – according to V. A. Dragavtsev. It has been established that the yield level is mostly influenced by the factor "environment" – 51.5 %, the contribution of the factor "genotype" is 11.5 %. The average yield in the experiment was 5.19 t/ha, favorable conditions in 2022 (I_j = 0.50) allowed the yield to be 17.9 % higher than in 2021 (I_j = -0.52). Lines 2-17 (6.24 t/ha) and 21-17 (6.05 t/ha) had high yields, their genetic flexibility index was 5.58 and 5.41 t/ha, respectively. Lines 1-17, 465-17 and 531-17 had the highest resistance to stress (-0.63, -1.00), they are characterized by high yield stability (σ²_d = 0.27–0.65) and the least decrease in it under adverse conditions. Strong responsiveness to changes in environmental conditions was noted for lines 290-17, 2-17 and 21-17: b_i – 1.25–1.29, KM – 2.22–2.27. According to the degree of homeostaticity, line 1-17 was distinguished (Sc – 4.63, PUSS – 212, H_om – 18.3), these indicators exceeded the average values by 10.2 %, 81.0 abs. %, 98.9 %, respectively. According to the results of the integrated assessment by the ranking method, breeding lines 1-17; 465-17 and 21-17 showed varying degrees of adaptability, environmental stability, homeostaticity and had a high rating. The lowest rating in terms of the sum of the ranks of adaptability and plasticity parameters was obtained by the standard Agate variety.

The results of the long term (2012–2018) study of weed infestation of green fallow fields with narrow-leaved lupin in the crop rotation including cereals, grasses and row crops in the North-West region of Russia (Leningrad region) are presented. The assessment of weediness in the narrow-leaved lupine variety Oligarch crops was carried out annually at 24 permanent survey sites (0.1 square meter). Based on the results of the surveys, the formation of a diverse and constant species composition of weeds (from 15 to 25 species), mainly of medium and severe degree of weediness (141–593 specimens per square meter), with the proportion of young plants ranging from 90.4 to 99.7 %. The mass species of weeds were lamb’s quarters, field pansy, corn spurry, hemp-nettles, fumitory, shepherd’s purse, prevalent perennial weeds were field sowthistle, coltsfoot, red sorrel, couch grass, marsh woundwort. The prevailing influence of weather conditions and individual characteristics on the weed infestation of narrow-leaved lupine crop has been determined. The combined effect of two factors was expressed by 47.7, 57.8 and 47.1 % in terms of species abundance, initial abundance and final phytomass of weeds, respectively. Long term application of mineral fertilizers led to an increase in the number of annuals (by 1.5–1.6 times) and a decrease in the density of growth of perennial weed species (by 1.6–1.9 times). The influence of the integrated plant protection system used in the crop rotation was manifested in a significant decrease in the density of perennial weed species (by 4.6 times) in narrow-leaved lupine crop.

Annual monitoring of broomrape seed infestation of fields over the last 15 years shows that despite the widespread distribution of race G, seeds of other, weaker races E and F remain in many fields. The aim of the research was to identify the racial belonging of broomrape seeds from fields in sunflower-growing regions of the Russian Federation and to describe new botanical characteristics in representatives of the most widespread race G of the parasite. To identify the races, there were used the internationally accepted sunflower differential lines LC 1093, P 96, resistant to races A to F, as well as the original line RG, which is immune to race G and all previous races, hybrid NK Brio (resistant to races A to E) and hybrid Tunka (resistant to races A to G). A highly aggressive parasite biotype (future race H) has so far been identified in small numbers in some fields in the Krasnodar, Stavropol, Rostov, Voronezh, Samara and Orenburg regions. Obviously, the continuation of intensive sunflower cultivation in these fields will lead to a rapid spread of race H in these regions. In addition to the racial diversity, frequent changes in plant habitus (bushy forms) were observed in some representatives of race G. For the first time, there has been demonstrated an overgrowth of the haustorial-tubercle area of the parasite and the formation of multiple stems from a single tubercle. This creates an advantage in the competition for food between adjacent broomrape individuals on the same sunflower root and ultimately accelerates and increases the seed production of the plant. The rapid evolution of Orobanche cumana Wallr. during the intensification of sunflower cultivation is expressed not only in the formation of new physiological races, but also in an accelerated increase in the seed productivity of the parasite by changing the habitus of the plants, including the haustorial-tubercle area.

The purpose of the research is to study the influence of different types of field crop rotation, fertilizers, drainage and hydrothermal conditions on the dynamics of humus in reclaimed soil. The studies were carried out on the experimental fields of the All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands (reclamation sites “Kuzminskoye Boloto 2”, “Semenovskoye” and “Gubino” in the Tver region). Waterlogged soils were drained using closed drainage (inter-drain distance is 18–20 m, drain depth is 0.9–1.2 m). The soils of the experimental plots are soddy-podzolic, light loamy, gleyic, formed on a moraine or thin binomial. Observations of the dynamics of humus were carried out in the grain-grass-row, grain-grass, grain and grain-row types of crop rotation. The influence of crop rotation on the content of humus in the soil was determined, first of all, by the composition, the structure of the crops grown and agricultural technology of their cultivation. Due to plant residues, 56.6–76.5 % of the volume of mineralized humus were restored in grain-grass-row crop rotation, 51.8 % in grain, 26.4 % in grain-row crop rotation. The most significant qualitative changes in the composition of humus were observed in grain-grass-row crop rotation: with a positive humus balance, the ratio of humic and fulvic acids increased from 0.63 to 0.74. The use of organic and mineral fertilizers significantly changes the balance of humus in the arable layer of the soil. With an organic-mineral fertilizer system, the annual loss of humus (in kg/ha) on the drained plot was 6.8–11.4 times less, on the non-drained plot – 2.1–2.6 times less than in the variant without fertilizers. Drainage of waterlogged soils increases the role of fertilizers in the accumulation of humus, reduces its losses and improves the quality parameters of humus – the ratio of humic and fulvic acids in the composition of humus under the influence of drainage increased from 0.61 to 0.88. The impact on the dynamics of humus of hydrothermal conditions has been established. In years with a dry first half of the growing season, an increase in humus content is observed; in excessively wet years, on the contrary, a decrease is observed. The correlation coefficients of humus content with hydrothermal conditions in May-June were – 0.84 (in 1985–1993) and 0.95 (in 2014–2022).

To increase the volume of domestic dairy products, it is necessary to use modern breeding methods and select animals with high genetic potential. To determine the genetic potential of animals, molecular genetic markers are used, which make it possible to study how a specific genetic variant or combination of genes affects the desired trait. The purpose of the study is to identify the frequency of occurrence of allelic variants of the kappa-casein gene (CSN3) in Kholmogory cows and their relationship with milk production. The object of the study is 195 cows. To determine the genotypes of kappa-casein, the method of polymerase chain reaction of restriction fragment length polymorphism was used. The research was carried out in 2023 on the basis of JSC Kholmogorsky Breeding Plant (Arkhangelsk region). Results: in the studied herd, allele A of the kappacasein gene dominates – 80 %, respectively, allele B was 20 %. The predominant genotype is AA – 63.08 % (n = 123), the less common genotype AB is 33.33 % (n = 65), the least common genotype is BB – 3.59 % (n = 7). To assess milk productivity and milk quality in cows with different CSN3 genotypes, productivity indicators for the last completed lactation were compared. The total number of cows with completed lactation in the study sample was 130 heads, of which: 37 cows were first-calf heifers, 6 cows in the second lactation and 87 cows in the third or more lactation. In total, according to the comparison results, cows with the BB genotype had the highest indicators: milk yield – 6916±275 kg, mass fraction of fat – 4.14±0.22 %, mass fraction of protein – 3.16±0.07 %, amount of milk fat – 286±19 kg, amount of milk protein – 219±12 kg. Thus, the desired genotype for the CSN3 gene is BB. At the moment, there are very few carriers of this gene, so it is necessary to carry out selection and breeding work aimed at increasing their numbers.

Reproductive technologies have led to a wide and global distribution of genetic material from animals with high productivity. However, the distribution of semen from the same bulls to different regions (countries) may not always meet the expectations of livestock breeders. This aspect may be due to the fact that the genetic structure of the breeding stock, breeding goals and environmental conditions vary from region to region. The article presents the results of evaluating the breeding value of 286 sires used on the breeding stock of the pale-motley dairy cattle population in five regions of the Russian Federation (Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Oryol regions and Altai Territory). The evaluation was carried out according to individual traits of daughters' milk productivity, and on multiple traits (selection index). Based on the results of the study, differences were identified in estimates of the breeding value of the same sires at the level of total information (population level) and in the herds of single regions (regional level). The accuracy of evaluating genotypes at the population management level was significantly higher (by 7–15 percent) than it was at regional levels. The correlations between the breeding value of the same sires at different levels of management (population-region) for single traits of daughter’s milk productivity were 0.522–0.960, for the complex of traits (selection index) – from 0.157 to 0.937. This indicates that when selecting the best sires at the level of an individual region, mistakes can reach 4–48 % for single milk productivity traits and from 6.3 to 84 % for their complex.

The paper presents the results of a study on how temperature affects the coagulation and anticoagulation processes in the hemostasis system of cows. The purpose of this work was to study the coagulation parameters of the blood of Ayrshire cows with hypo-, normo- and hyperthermia "in vitro", as well as to evaluate the possibility of using a coagulometer to characterize the activity of hemostasis and use hemostatic reactions in cattle as models for human medicine. The study was carried out in the Vologda region. The following parameters of the coagulation profile were analyzed: thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen and antithrombin III (AT-III) activity. Results showed that at 43 °C hypercoagulation of the blood occurred, which in clotting methods manifests itself as an acceleration of TT by 61 % (27 sec), PT by 29 % (10 sec), a prolongation of APTT by 38 % (25 sec) and a decrease in Antithrombin III activity by 51 % (5 sec) compared with normothermia. At 18 °C, hypocoagulation was detected, accompanied by an elongation of all indicators characterizing the rate of clot formation: TT by 10 % (5 sec), PT by 61 % (55 sec), APTT by 83 % (289 sec). Fibrinogen activity decreased by 82 % (106 sec), and AT-III activity increased by 85 % (56 sec) compared to normothermy. The correlation between hemostasis parameters and the temperature factor can be characterized as negative moderate (APTT), noticeable (TV, fibrinogen) and close (PT, AT-III). Using a medical coagulometer caused reaction rates to differ significantly from those occurring at the body temperature of these animals when studying the coagulation mechanisms of cows. This does not allow to recommend this device for an adequate assessment of hemostatic reactions in cattle.

The purpose of the research is to substantiate theoretically the process of variety and phytocleaning in breeding and seed plantings of potatoes and vegetable crops using machine vision technologies and robotic elements. The article analyzes modern non-destructive methods for detecting diseases of biological objects; technological processes and machines for removing the fruits of vegetable crops from plants in a digital agricultural production system with elements of robotization in the operations of caring for plants and collecting marketable products. The relevance of developing innovative technology and technical means for removing infected potato and vegetable plants in breeding and seed production has been established. To carry out health-improving techniques for the production of vegetable and potato seeds, an innovative technology and machine have been developed for removing infected potato and vegetable crop plants in breeding and seed-growing plantings, providing movement across the field using machine vision technologies with the identification of an infected plant or a plant that does not correspond to the varietal characteristics with its subsequent removal. In the process of the research (2021-2022), a morphological matrix for selecting technical means of using functioning elements for implementing innovative technology for varietal and phytocleaning of vegetable crops and potatoes, as well as the theoretical foundations of innovative technology for removing contaminated biological objects, were developed. An indicator of the effectiveness of the implementation of innovative phytotype cleaning technology has been identified, taking into account the parameters of economic and agrotechnical indicators, as well as metal intensity, energy intensity, environmental friendliness and reliability. Analytical studies of machine technology and technical means for removing infected vegetable and potato plants are presented. A substantiation of the innovative technology for varietal and phytocleaning of vegetable crops and potatoes has been carried out, in terms of the exclusion of an unmanned aerial vehicle in the technology for detecting infected potato plants with a qualitative assessment of the feasibility of choosing technical means when using the functioning elements of the implementation of the developed technology according to the criteria of economic and agrotechnical assessment, as well as metal intensity, energy intensity and reliability . An assessment of the feasibility of choosing technical means for the functioning of elements of innovative technology showed that, according to a set of criteria, the process of varietal and phytocleaning of vegetable crops and potatoes is advisable to carry out without the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle, using an optical system for identifying infected plants in the design of the machine.

The article considers the issues of modeling the processes of agricultural mobile energy vehicles (MEV) with electric drive (ED). A review of modern literature on the problem under study as well as questions on modeling the functional properties of mobile machines and improving the quality indicators of MEV work are presented. A mathematical model of the motion of the MEV with an electric motor is presented, as well as a description of the method used and a sequence of actions for conducting research. Preliminary theoretical studies of motion in different modes of operation have been carried out. The proposed model is convenient for implementation and calculation in any of the applied software products that support the modeling of dynamic systems with an electromechanical drive. The proposed model, the solution of which is based on the methods of numerical integration of systems in the Matlab Simulink software environment, made it possible to simulate the dynamic processes of electromechanical power transmission of MEV during various agricultural operations. With the help of this model, the analysis of electromechanical processes in transient and steady-state operating modes, as well as dynamic processes in the power transmission were carried out. Graphs of changes in the studied parameters of the MEV power transmission are obtained and elastic moments in the joints of the 5-mass design scheme are determined. The use of the model allows you to track the change in statistical characteristics when the conditions of the experiment change. The model has shown its operability when performing simulation of agricultural operations: fertilization, cultivation and sowing, and it can be used at the design stage to study the characteristics of dynamic processes of small-class traction MEV power transmissions with an electromechanical drive. With different parameters of the model, there is a change in the mathematical expectation of the angular velocity of the ED from 147.89 to 156.87 rad/s, a change in the mathematical expectation of the speed of the MES from 4.51 to 4.79 m/s.

In the production of compound feeds, it is necessary to follow the recipe at the time of introducing all the necessary components, for which various types of dispensers are used. Currently, automatic dosing systems are widely used, providing increased dosing accuracy. However, individual settings of such systems are required for each component, which makes the work of operators harder. The article describes the design of a technical device containing a main and an additional screw and allowing components with different physical and mechanical properties to be weighed at the same tuning parameters. A brief description of the dispenser's workflow is given, the research factors and criteria for evaluating its work are listed. The influence of five factors was determined: the frequency setpoint of the dispensers n₁, the pre-filling setpoint m, the setpoint for switching on the filling speed t, the frequency setpoint of the dispensers n₂, the set weight of the suspension M_Z on the dosing accuracy. At the first stage, the influence of the studied factors on grain dosing was determined. To do this, the Box-Benkin plan was implemented for five factors. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained, a regression model was built, on the basis of which three combinations of factor values were determined, in which the grain dosing error by an additional dispenser screw was 0. At the next stage of the research, the accuracy of dosing chalk and salt was determined at the established combinations. It was revealed that salt dosing was carried out according to a pattern close to the grain curve, and the dosing error was within the permissible limits of 5%. As a result of the conducted studies, the best combination of factors was determined, in which the dosing error did not exceed the permissible value when weighing grain, salt and chalk: n₁ = 30.3 H_z, t = 11.9 %; n₂ = 40.9 % of n₁ (12.42 H_z), M_Z = 202.8 g. With these values of the studied parameters, it is possible to dose components with the permissible error of the weight of the suspension is over 200 g.

The relevance of the work is related to the problem of soil degradation as a result of pollution by livestock waste and the need for timely disposal of waste into effective organic fertilizer and biogas. Increasing the share of the use of organic fertilizers makes it possible to develop organic farming technologies, and accordingly leads to the production of healthy crop products. The work investigated the process of substrate mixing in the fermenters of an operating pilot biogas plant. The technological line is designed for processing liquid organic waste, mainly manure or litter, by anaerobic digestion to produce innovative environmentally friendly organic fertilizers on an industrial scale. The purpose of the study was to select a stirrer and optimize the conditions for mixing the substrate in the fermenters of a biogas plant. The physicochemical properties of the substrate were studied by laboratory methods. The mathematical model of the mixing process is based on a semi-empirical description of the hydrodynamics of flows in the reactor, modernized taking into account the current state of the issue under the conditions of a fermenter with specific geometric characteristics. As a result of the work carried out, the optimal options for the geometric dimensions of the stirrers were determined (three variants for three-blade stirrers intermittent with a blade angle of 30°, differing in the size of the impeller and rotation speed) and the parameters of the mixing process were calculated. Based on a laboratory experiment and the results of calculating the sedimentation rate, the frequency of turning on the stirrer (once a day) and the time of its continuous operation to homogenize the suspension were determined. The results of the work can be used in the design of mixing devices and substrate mixing modes in bioreactors.