The current paper has presented the study results of the collection samples of spring barley. The purpose of the study was a comprehensive research of the collection of spring barley varieties and lines of various ecological and geographical origin in order to identify the most valuable economic and biological forms for targeted use in breeding programs of the department of barley breeding and seed production in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The study was carried out on the experimental plots of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2017–2019. The objects of the study were 85 spring barley samples. The collection seed-plot was formed from the best varieties of breeding institutions in various regions, most of which were the varieties of domestic breeding (FSBSI FRC All-Russian Institute of genetic resources of plants named after N.I. Vavilov, FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy, FSBSI “National Center of grain named after P.P. Lukyanenko”, FSBSI North-Caucasus FSAC, etc.), as well as the varieties of the European Union (England, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Denmark, Latvia), Canada, Belarus, Ukraine. The sowings were carried out in a row method with a row spacing of 15 cm with the Wintersteiger Plotseed seeder; the plots were seven-row, with an area of 10 m² . The seeding rate was 450 germinated seeds per 1 m² without repetitions. The standard variety ‘Ratnik’ was sown every 20 numbers in the seed-plot. The forecrop was sunflower. There were made phenological observations, estimated varieties’ resistance to lodging and diseases, assessed productivity and conducted structural analysis of plants in points according to the estimation system of the main economically valuable traits given in the Methodological recommendations for studying the world barley and oats collection (2012). As a result, there were identified the following varieties with a complex of economically valuable traits, as ‘Kazer’, ‘Azov’, ‘Tan 1’, ‘Divny’, ‘Chelyabinsky 99’, ‘Khadzhibey’, ‘Raushan’, ‘Agat’, ‘Suzdalets’, ‘Bagrets’, ‘Rus’, ‘Elf’, ‘Rakhat’ (Russia); ‘Nord 071111’, ‘Obolon’, ‘Odessa 22’, ‘Donetsk 14’, ‘Donetsk 15’ (Ukraine); ‘Perun’, ‘Prestige’ (Czech Republic); ‘Viking’, ‘Philadelphie’ (Germany). The identified varieties are going to be used in further breeding programs of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”.

The purpose of the current study was to identify sources of economically valuable traits and properties of winter bread wheat for their purposeful introduction in breeding programs. The study was carried out in the inter-station testing in 2019–2021. The objects of the study were 66 winter bread wheat varieties of various ecological and geographical origin sown after maize for grain. Weather and climatic conditions during the years of the study were quite diverse, which made it possible to identify the most valuable varieties for their further introduction in breeding programs. There have been identified the following varieties which showed high frost resistance (75.1-89.5%), namely ‘Nasyp’ with 77.6% (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko), ‘Kapitan’ with 75.1%, ‘Volny Don’ with 75.2%, ‘Aksinya’ with 76.7%, ‘Izyuminka’ with 77.8%, ‘Ermak’ with 77.9%, ‘Zhavoronok’ with 79.6%, ‘Etyud’ with 80.1%, ‘Donskaya Step’ with 81.3%, ‘Asket’ with 89.5% (ARC “Donskoy”). According to early maturation, there have been identified three genotypes ‘Stanichnaya’, ‘Zhavoronok’ and ‘Etyud’ (ARC “Donskoy”), which formed heads on May 11–12. The height of the studied varieties varied from 66 to 96 cm, there have been identified such 5 sources of short stems with the indicator from 66 to 74 cm as ‘SO 911’ (France), ‘Grom’, ‘Rossyp’, ‘Gomer’, ‘Irda’ (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko). There has been determined a number of large-grain varieties from various research institutions, such as ‘Aksiniya’ (42.0 g), ‘Volnitsa’ (43.2 g), ‘Donskaya Step’ (43.5 g), ‘Etyud’ (44.7 g) (ARC “Donskoy”), ‘Barier’ (42.4 g) (NCFRAC), ‘Donmira’ (42.6 g) (FARC), ‘Iliada’ (43.0 g) (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko). According to productivity, the best varieties in 2019–2021 were ‘Donskaya step’ (7.64 t/ha), ‘Lilit’ (7.74 t/ha) (ARC “Donskoy”), ‘Gomer’ (7.73 t/ha), ‘Laureat’ (8.34 t/ha) (RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko), ‘Armada’ (7.70 t/ha) (NCFRAC), ‘Donmira’ (7.72 t/ha) (FARC), ‘Chornyava’ (7.75 t/ha) (Ukraine). All identified sources can be used as useful initial material in the programs of winter bread wheat breeding.

The current paper has presented the results of ecological and geographical testing of oilseed flax varieties in the Kostroma region. The purpose of the current study was to identify promising oilseed flax varieties adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of our region. The objects of the study were 5 varieties ‘Biryuza’, ‘Rucheek’, ‘Nilin’, ‘Fliz’ and ‘VNIIMK 620’ (as the standard variety) developed in the of the ‘FRC VNIIMK named after V.S. Pustovoit’. The trials were laid down, recorded and observed according to the methodology of a field trial, as well as in accordance with the recommendations for conducting field agrotechnical experiments with oilseeds. There has been established a reaction of varieties to the agrometeorological conditions of the region. The vegetation period of flax ranged from 103 to 110 days. There was revealed that these varieties of the middle-maturing group, showed themselves as late-maturing during the study. On average, over the years of study, the highest seed productivity was given by the varieties ‘Biryuza’ (1.16 t/ha) and ‘Fliz’ (1.12 t/ha). All varieties had a high positive correlation between seed productivity and plant density per m² . The largest oil content was identified in the varieties ‘Biryuza’ (50.2%) and ‘Rucheek’ (50.3%). The largest oil productivity was given by the varieties ‘Biryuza’ (0.58 t/ha) and ‘Rucheek’ (0.56 t/ha). The largest seeds were formed by the varieties ‘VNIIMK 620’ (7.92 g) and ‘Fliz’ (8.34 g). There has been established that two varieties ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Rucheek’ are the best ones among the studied varieties according to the main economically valuable traits. In the soil and climatic conditions of the Kostroma region, there can be formed complete flax seeds with high varietal and sowing qualities despite the increase in their vegetation period length.

In order to increase gross harvest and productivity of rice, the development of new varieties and their timely use in production is of great importance. The Federal Research Center of Rice and Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” regularly develop more productive varieties with improved resistance to diseases and other factors. Each variety forms a specific response to various agro-ecological conditions, which affects productivity, which is the main indicator of cost and demand in crop production. The purpose of the current study was a joint ecological testing of new rice varieties, developed in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in the growing conditions of the Krasnodar Territory jointly with the Federal Research Center of Rice. The study has revealed significant differences in the productivity. The yields of rice varieties varied significantly depending on the variant of the trial. In the ESOS “Krasnaya” the variety ‘Kapitan’ sown after three forecrops and with two variants of fertilizing was the best one, forming 7.26 t/ha and exceeding the standard variety ‘Rapan’ on 0.37 t/ha. In the RPZ “Krasnoarmeisky”, the variety also produced the maximum yield (7.11 t/ha). In 2021, the variety ‘Kapitan’ produced 8.47 t/ha in the JSC “Agrocomplex Rossiya” and 5.00 t/ha in the AF “Kuban” at the level of the new standard ‘Rapan 2’. The productivity of the studied varieties highly positively correlated with the traits ‘length of panicle’ (r = 0.83±0.13), ‘1000-kernel weight’ (r = 0.97±0.10), ‘kernel weight per panicle’ (r=0.97±0.15); there was a mean positive correlation with the traits ‘plant height’ (r = 0.67±0.20) and ‘number of productive stems per area unit’ (r = 0.59±0.18). In the ecological testing in four farms, rice productivity was closely positively correlated with each other (r was from 0.804 to 0.999) with large differences in absolute values. For cultivation in the Krasnodar Territory there has been recommended a high-productive variety ‘Kapitan’ of joint breeding of the ARC “Donskoy” and the FSC of Rice.

There has been presented the information on the purposeful process of developing the spring bread wheat variety ‘Arseya’, which was included in the state list of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation in the Central Region in 2020. The mean productivity of the variety plots of the Central region was 3.0 t/ha, the maximum productivity of 4.8 t/ha was obtained in the Bryansk region in 2018. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the valuable traits of the new spring bread wheat variety ‘Arseya’ with the zoned varieties of the Central region in a comparative analysis. As a result, there was found that the mean productivity of the variety ‘Arseya’ was 4.94 t/ha in the competitive variety testing for 2015–2020. Through the years of study, the lowest and highest levels of productivity exceeded the standard values of the variety ‘Agata’ on 0.30–0.49 t/ha. The comparative analysis of the varieties zoned in the Central Region showed that the new variety ‘Arseya’ exceeded them in productivity on 0.50–0.88 t/ha, or 10.1–17.8% on average. There was established that the highest level of productivity was formed under the optimal weather conditions of 2017. The largest productivity values were given by the varieties ‘Dariya’ and ‘Arseya’ with 6.28 t/ha and 5.72 t/ha, respectively. The lowest productivity range was identified in the varieties ‘Agata’ and ‘Arseya’ with 11.6% and 11.9%, respectively. The variety ‘Arseya’ under the generally accepted cultivation technology, showed the productivity potential by 86%. When calculating the stability factor (S.F.) indicators and the productivity range (d), there has been identified that the varieties ‘Agata’ and ‘Arseya’ have the lowest values of 1.33 and 1.35, i.e. 24.7% and 25.9% respectively. The spring bread wheat variety ‘Arseya’ is fully adapted to local agroclimatic conditions.

The current paper has presented the study results of grain productivity and quality of the winter bread wheat lines developed on the basis of T. Sphaerococcum at the ‘NCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko’ in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Kalmykia. The purpose of the current work was to study productivity and quality of the winter bread wheat lines, hybridized from the crossing of two varieties. The trials were laid in two stages in 4-fold repetition with a sequential arrangement of the variants of the trial with the CH-16 seeder. The accounting plot area was 50 m² . The seeding rate was 300 pcs. of germinating seeds per 1 m² . On average, through three years of the study in weedfree fallow, the productivity of the winter bread wheat lines, developed on the basis of T. Sphaerococcum on the experimental field of the KRAI, affiliate of the FSBSI “PKAFRC RAS” (village of Troitskoe) was 3.25 t/ha. The largest mean productivity through three years (3.37 t/ha) was produced by the line ‘661sv-30’, which exceeded the standard on 0.36 t/ha, the excess over the variety ‘Praskovya’ was 0.64 t/ha. The study has confirmed the formation of the best values of grain quality by the shot wheat variety ‘Praskovya’. The protein and gluten content were on 1.8% and on 4.9% higher than that of the standard wheat variety ‘Bair’. The potential for high quality shot wheat grain can be successfully introduced into the bread wheat breeding material. The developed bread wheat lines ‘989sv-7’, ‘661sv-30’ and ‘661sv-39’ stably and reliably exceeded the standard variety in productivity, forming grain quality similar to that of the variety ‘Praskovya’. The line ‘989sv-7’ has been sent to the State Variety Testing under the name ‘Flash’, the line ‘661sv-30’ under the title ‘Khit’ and the line ‘661sv-39’ under the name ‘Pesnya’.

Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) is a hybridized grain crop developed from wheat and rye crossings. Today, triticale is a multipurpose commercial grain crop with great potential as a human food and animal feed. The sown area of the new grain crop in the world reached 4 million hectares in 2018, grain production was about 14 million tons. The current climate change, the rapid evolution of pathogens, as well as the requirements of the modern market dictate the necessity for accelerated development of varieties while reducing the cost of their development. The production of double haploids makes it possible to reduce the time required for the development of homozygous lines by an average of 5–7 years. For the mass production of haploid triticale plants in vitro, there are used two methods, namely anther/microspore culture and distant hybridization followed by selective chromosome elimination of the pollinator. The most critical factors for the success of developing haploids in anther culture are a genotype, growing conditions of donor plants, a microspore development stage, stress effects on heads or anthers, and a nutrient media. Among the unresolved problems of the method are a genotypic dependence, a high incidence of albinism and a presence of aneuploids in the androgenic plant progeny. The rye genome is more often involved in chromosomal transformations than the wheat genome. Most aneuploids are nullisomics, most often on the 2R and 5R chromosomes. Nullisomic plants for 2R and 5R chromosomes have fewer number of spikelets per head and fewer number of kernels per head. In order to develop haploids by the method of selective chromosome elimination during distant hybridization, there have been successfully used such grain crops whose pollen is insensitive to Kr-genes, as maize (Zea mays L.) and wild cereal grass ‘Imperata Cylindrical’ (Imperata cylindrical L.). The advantages of the method are less genotypic dependence, absence of albino plants, genetic stability of regenerants, and reduced costs for developing haploid plants. The length of flowering period of ‘Imperata Cylindrical’ and the absence of the need to combine the timing of flowering period of the parents ensure the economy and efficiency of using this species when developing haploid triticale plants. The purpose of the current review was to characterize the methods of mass development of haploid triticale plants, to describe their advantages and disadvantages when being used in the breeding process.

The purpose of the current study was to estimate the economic and biological characteristics and properties of a new, highly productive sainfoin variety resistant to various stressful conditions. The study was carried out as part of the competitive variety testing of the laboratory for breeding and seed production of perennial grass of the “ARC “Donskoy” in 2018–2021. The experimental sowing for the competitive variety testing was done in spring, with a seeding rate of 4 million germinated seeds per ha. The area of plots was 25 m2 , 4–6 times of repetition. There has been identified the new sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’, an artificial synthetic population obtained by the methods of individual family selection and poly-crossing of the varieties ‘Atamansky’, ‘Zernogradsky 2’ and ‘Veles’. The variety belongs to the sandy species. The sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’ during the years of competitive variety testing significantly exceeded the standard variety ‘Zernogradsky 2’. The green mass productivity of the variety ‘Atamansky 20’ was higher than that of the standard variety on 4.5 t/ha, dry matter on 1.4 t/ha, seeds on 0.14 t/ha, or on 17.1%, 20.6% and 21.2%, respectively. According to raw and digestible protein percentage per hectare, the sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’ exceeded the standard one on 20.1% and 25.7%, respectively; gross energy yield on 12.3%. When using the sainfoin variety ‘Atamansky 20’ as a green manure crop there can be used an average of 297 kg/ha N, 65 kg/ha P₂ O₅ , 159 kg/ha K₂ O, which is respectively on 32%, 27% and 30% more than used when the green mass of ‘Zernogradsky 2’ is applied into the soil.

The current paper has presented the results of estimating pea varieties in the Competitive Variety Testing. The purpose of the study was to analyze pea lines at the final stage of the breeding process and to identify the promising ones according to economically valuable traits. The study of variety samples was carried out in laboratory for legumes breeding and primary seed production at the Falyonsky breeding station in 2018–2020. The objects of the study were 28 peas lines and varieties of various morphotypes. The estimation of samples, observations and accounting were carried out according to the methodology of the State Commission for Variety Testing. The standard varieties were the varieties ‘Krasnoufimsky 93’, ‘Ryabchik’, ‘Falyonsky usatyi’, zoned in the Volga-Vyatka region. The vegetation periods of 2018–2020 contrastingly differed among themselves in moisture supply and temperature regime, the most favorable hydrothermal conditions were in 2019, the most unfavorable ones were in 2018 and 2020. As a result of the study, there have been identified the lines that exceeded the standard varieties in productivity of grain, green mass and dry matter. In the group of white-flowered grain crops, there was identified the line ‘E-483’ with 3.49 t/ha of mean grain productivity, 31.4 t/ha of green mass and 5.28 t/ha of hay. In the group of color-flowered grain crops, the maximum productivity of grain, green mass and dry matter was identified in the line ‘E-3588’ with 4.16, 34.9 and 7.73 t/ha, respectively. Among the leafless variety samples, the line ‘E-1250’ produced the highest grain yield with 3.71 t ha. There have been identified the lines with high indicators of yield structure elements. The maximum number of fertile nodes was identified in the line ‘E-3745’ (4.2 pcs.). The maximum number of kernels was identified in the lines ‘E-483’, ‘E-3542’, ‘E-3798’ (5.8 pcs.). The maximum number of kernels per plant was identified in the line ‘D-24746’ (25.9 pcs.). The maximum seed productivity was identified in the line ‘E-3845’ (4.4 g). The highest values of the number of productive nodes and kernels were obtained in the group of white-flowered leafy varieties. The largest number of kernels per plant was identified in the maple pea. Seed productivity and 1000-kernel weight were higher in the leafless variety samples. According to stem length and resistance to lodging, there has been identified the advantage of the leafless lines.

The purpose of the current study was to develop an adaptive, rust-resistant variety of spring durum wheat with best pasta properties for agricultural landscapes of the steppe and forest-steppe areas of Western Siberia. There have been presented the methods of development, morphological and agrobiological features of the variety and the study results in the plots of competitive variety testing according to the complex of economically valuable traits through 2013–2020. The trials were laid in fallow with a seeding rate of 450 germinating kernels per 1 m² , in four repetitions at the sowing dates of May 12–16. The area of the plots was 10 m² . The soil of the experimental plots was a slightly leached chernozem. An ecological testing was carried out at the seed breeding base of the steppe zone in 2013–2019 and in various climatic zones of Russia and Kazakhstan under the program of Kazakhstan-Siberian network of spring wheat improvement (KASIB) in 2013–2014. The basis for the development of the variety was the hybridization of the variety ‘Omskaya yantarnaya’ and the line developed under the program with CIMMYT (POD11/ YAZI 1). The variety showed a high stable productivity, resistance to drought and lodging. The mean productivity for 2013-2020 in the competitive variety testing of the FSBSI “Omsk ARC” was 4.19 t/ha, which was on 0.36 t/ha higher than that of the standard variety ‘Zhemchuzhina Sibiri’. At the seed breeding base (Omsk region), the variety ‘Omsky Korall’ produced 3.46 t/ ha, and exceeded the standard variety on 0.57 t/ha. An extensive ecological testing in various climatic conditions of the regions of Russia and Kazakhstan revealed high adaptive properties (high adaptability and stable productivity). The grain quality of the variety was not inferior to that of the standard variety, and the pasta color estimation was much better. The variety was resistant to brown and stem rust, less affected by kernel smut and powdery mildew. In the State Variety Testing, the variety ‘Omsky Korall’ was tested in 2019–2020 on variety plots of the steppe and forest-steppe zones of 9,10,11 regions of the Russian Federation. The variety has been included in the State List of Breeding Achievements in the 10th region since 2021.

High protein content, simplicity and time of cooking are two main advantages with which legumes have gained popularity among the population, however, this culture is used not only in its pure form, but also in the form of additives for baking. Adding pea and soybean flour to composite mixtures affects the behavior of the dough, requires corrections in the baking process, and all these issues can be resolved by farinographic analysis. The purpose of the current study was to determine the biochemical parameters of whole-meal pea and soybean flour, to study the rheological properties of the dough of composite mixtures with grain legume flour and to evaluate the efficiency of mixing pea and soybean flour with premium wheat flour according to the results of baking assessment. There has been identified nutritional value of whole-meal pea and soybean flour, additives exceeding the protein content on 13.2–23.6%, oil content on 1.3–21.2%, sugar content on 3.2–9.3%, which is very important in baking. There has been characterized the influence of the type of ingredients (pea, soybean flour) on the rheological properties of dough using farinographic analysis, when 5% addition of pea flour (the variety ‘Flagman 9’) to composite mixtures did not worsen the physical traits of the dough, 10 and 15% addition reduced dough stability on 1–2 minutes, valorimetric assessment on 4–6 e.u., but water absorption capacity of flour raised on 6% in relation to wheat flour. The addition of whole-meal soybeans (the variety ‘Samer 1’) strengthened and improved the physical the dough parameters, however, the volume of bread reduced because of a decrease in gluten percentage in the mixtures and the prevailing salt-soluble (globulins) and water-soluble (albumin) protein fractions. There has been estimated the efficiency of mixtures of premium wheat flour with wholemeal pea and soybean flour, when the overall baking assessment gave positive results of 4.0–4.6 points; in that case the bread is attractive, of regular shape, with smooth crust without cracks, the crumb color is light yellowish with fine porosity, but a little denser than in control, the smell is pleasant and fragrant.

The current paper has presented the study results of the effect of weediness with common wild oat and sow-thistle on spring wheat productivity through 2012–2015. The purpose of the work was to find out the effect of weediness with common wild oat and sow-thistle in the forest-steppe of the middle Volga region. Using common wild oats, the trials were carried out according to the following scheme: 1) without weeds (control); 2) 10–15 common wild oat stalks per 1 m² ; 3) 20–30 stalks per 1 m² ; 4) 50–70 stalks per 1 m² ; 5) 100–120 stalks per 1 m² ; 6) 150–200 stalks per 1 m² . Using sow-thistle the scheme was as follows: 1) without weeds (control); 2) 1 sow-thistle plant per 1 m² ; 3) 2 plants per 1 m² ; 4) 4 plants per 1 m² ; 5) 6 plants per 1 m² ; 6) 8 plants per 1 m² . There was found that weediness with 26 common wild oat stalks per 1 m²  reduced productivity of 1 ha on 18% through four years, weediness with 62 stalks reduced it on 24%, with 115 on 38% and with 185 on 44%. Weediness with 26 common wild oat stalks per 1 m²  decreased spring wheat productivity on 0.33 t/ha in 2012, on 0.56 t/ha in 2013, on 0.94 and 0.68 t/ha in 2014 and 2015. Weediness with 185 stalks per 1 m²  decreased spring wheat productivity on 1.18 and 0.95 t/ha in 2012 and 2013, on 2.10 and 1.91 t/ha in 2014 and 2015. In arid years of 2014 and 2015, productivity shortfall caused by weeds increased. In the trials on the effect of sow-thistle on spring wheat productivity, on average, through four years of study, one weed reduced it on 8%, two weeds on 11%, four weeds on 19%, six weeds on 21% and eight weeds on 24%. On average, through four years, 13 common wild oat stalks per 1 m²  reduced the density of spring wheat on 9%, 26 stalks reduced it on 10%, 62 stalks reduced it on by 17%, and 185 stalks reduced it on 31%. At the same time, the number of productive stalks decreased on 2, 15, 22, and 40%, respectively, and kernel percentage of a head decreased on 4, 13, 16, and 23%. Weediness with two sow-thistle plants per 1 m²  reduced the number of spring wheat plants on 9%, four plants per 1 m²  reduced it on 15, six plants per 1 m²  reduced it on 18%, eight plants per 1 m²  reduced it on 21%. The number of productive stems decreased on 16, 20, 21 and 25%, respectively. Grain loss per stem caused by common wild oats was 16.2, grain loss caused by sow-thistle was 175 kg/ha.

In the Republic of Bashkortostan, pea is the main legume crop that plays an important role in providing the population with vegetable protein. Productivity of peas depends on many factors, among which is the level of weediness, therefore, weed control is becoming one of the most important problems in cultivation technology of this legume. In this regard, the study of the efficiency of the use of various measures to protect peas from weeds is of great relevance. The purpose of the study was to estimate the efficiency of the use of herbicides and harrowing to control annual and perennial weeds on the pea variety ‘Chishminsky 229’. The trials were carried out in the Chishminsky Plant Breeding Center of the BRIA UFRC RAS, located in the Pre-Ural steppe zone in 2018–2020. In order to identify the optimal dose of herbicide to control weediness, there have been used the herbicides “Agritoks” and “For Soybean” at a dose of 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.75 l/ha. There have also been studied the efficiency of harrowing both separately and in combination with herbicides. As a result of the trials, it was found that mean doses (0.6 l/ha) of herbicides “Agritoks” and “For Soybean” are the optimal ones for the treatment of peas. With decreasing the dose of the products, the efficiency of weed control decreased, and with increasing, the growth and development of peas worsened. The best results in controlling weediness of peas and increasing its productivity were obtained with the use of harrowing in combination with herbicide “For Soybean” at a dose of 0.6 l/ha. Thus, the current study has shown that for the most successful control of weediness of peas, there has been required an integrated approach, including both agrotechnical and chemical weed control measures.

Direct sowing of crops reduces the cost of soil cultivation for farmers, but significantly increases the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and new agricultural equipment. The problem of the economic feasibility of introducing increased doses of mineral fertilizers when sowing winter wheat and carrying out nitrogen fertilization in the no-till technology is of great relevance, but has been little studied. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the economic efficiency of winter wheat grain production in the direct sowing (no-till) technology with different methods and doses of mineral fertilizers in conditions of unstable moisture in the Stavropol Territory. The study was carried out in the trial on the fields of the North-Caucasus Federal Research Agricultural Center in 2017–2019. The variants for using fertilizers when sowing winter wheat were as follows: without fertilizers; with N₆ Р₂₆; with N₁₂Р₅₂; with N₂4Р₁₀₄; with N₅₂Р₅₂; with N₅₂Р₅₂K₅₂; with N₅₂; with N₁₀₄Р₅₂K₅₂. In the early spring period, on the background of fertilizers used when sowing the crop, there was carried out additional fertilizing with ammonium nitrate at a dose of N₅₂. There was found that all doses of mineral fertilizers used when sowing winter wheat, reduced the unit cost of production on 1.8–19.8%, raised profits on 24.8–177.1% and improved profitability on 2.5–43.1%. The best economic indicators were established when using N₅₂ and N₁₀₄Р₅₂К₅₂, at which there was obtained the minimum cost price of 1 ton of grain (6216–6494 rubles), the highest profitability (77.1–85.0%) and profit (27 830–33 454 rubles/ha). Early spring additional fertilizing (N₅₂) of winter wheat on the background of fertilizers used when sowing the crop after peas turned out to be an ineffective agrochemical method. As a result, the cost price of a production unit increased on 0.5–23.4%, and the level of production profitability reduced on 0.8–35.0%. In no-till technology, the use of higher doses of nitrogen fertilizers during winter wheat sowing provided not only a significant increase of grain productivity and quality, but also maximum economic benefits.

Substantiation and development of technology elements for obtaining a sustainable productivity of lupine grain is an important and urgent task for expanding the area under this grain crop. There have been considered the study results of the effect of fertilizers ‘Aquamix ST’, ‘Metaborat Kaliya’, ‘Tiaton’ on productivity and grain quality of white lupine. The study was carried out at the All-Russian Research Institute of Lupine – a branch of the FWRC FPA, in the soil and climatic conditions of the southwestern part of the Non-Chernozem zone in 2018-2019. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the efficiency of these innovative micro- and macrofertilizers and the methods of their application on a number of indicators that improve productivity and grain quality of white lupine. The application of fertilizers ‘Aquamix ST’ and ‘Metaborat Kaliya’ contributed to an increase of white lupine grain productivity on 37.5 and 35.4%. There has been determined protein increase from 5.0 to 5.8% in grain of the white lupine variety ‘Piligrim’ in all application variants of ‘Aquamix ST’. The use of ‘Aquamix ST’ and ‘Metaborat Kaliya’ in the vegetation period of plants reduced alkaloid content of lupine grain on 24.7-34.6%. Application of ‘Aquamix ST’ and ‘Metaborat Kaliya’ in white lupine budding stage increased carotene content in grain on 34.3 and 25.0%, respectively. The analysis of the data showed that the variant including pre-seeding treatment with ‘Aquamix ST’ and subsequent treatment in the budding stage of plants was characterized by the maximum amount of lysine and carotene. There was noted that the application of micro- and macrofertilizers resulted in an increase in feed units and digestible protein. Application of ‘Aquamix ST’, including pre-seeding treatment and two treatments in the vegetation period of plants provided the largest yield of digestible protein (1.26 t/ha), 6.0 t/h of feed units, and 54.8 GJ/ha of exchangeable energy. ‘Metaborat Kaliya’, used in the treatment of plants in their budding phase, showed almost the same results. The options that combined high productivity with high grain quality were more valuable according their feed value.