RESEARCH RESULTS OF DIRECT SOWING TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNSTABLE HUMIDIFICATION ZONE OF THE STAVROPOL TERRITORY

Abstract

The purpose of the conducted in 2013-2019 research was to study the effect of direct sowing technology on the water, physical, chemical, biological properties of the soil and the yield of cultivated crops on ordinary chernozem in the unstable humidification zone of the Stavropol Territory. The research was carried out in the crop rotation: soya bean – winter wheat – sunflower – corn. All crops were cultivated according to the technology recommended by scientific institutions with tillage and by direct sowing technology, where the soil was not cultivated (direct sowing). It was established that cultivation of field crops without tillage does not lead to its re-compaction, and some compaction under soya bean and sunflowers during severe atmospheric and soil drought was observed using both technologies, but plant inhibition was not noted. The presence on the soil surface without tillage of 3,5-4,5 tons/hectare of plant residues from previous plants provides greater accumulation and better conservation of moisture in the soil, and during the growing season with the direct sowing technology in a meter layer, an average of 7 years of research contained 80 mm of productive moisture, which is 17 mm, or 25% more than in the recommended technology. In direct sowing technology, 4,4 times more earthworms live in the soil, the soil here is wind-resistant and not susceptible to the manifestation of wind and water erosion, and there is a tendency to increase the humus content in it. Productivity of cultivated crops with fertilizing according to the recommended technology with tillage is higher than with direct sowing. Fertilizing evens the yield of sunflower and soya bean, and winter wheat and corn provide a significant increase of such in direct sowing compared to the recommended technology by 0,84 and 0,28 tons/hectare, or by 19,0 and 7,4%.