Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume:19 Issue: 5, Autumn 2021

The water quality index (WQI) is an essential part of the water resource management system through its use as a numerical scale to evaluate and classify the quality of the water body for various beneficial uses (drinks, industry and irrigation).The present study used WQI  based on the  Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment‎ (CCME-WQI) ‎ as a tool for assessing the quality of  Tigris River in Wasit Province, Iraq for drinking purposes through assaying different chemical and physical parameters. Four sites were selected along the river between Al-Kut City and Al-Aziziyah from August 2016 through July 2017. Water samples were collected monthly and nine physicochemical parameters were selected: pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, chlorides, lead, zinc and manganese. Based on the results of water quality index, the river water was considered as marginal in all the studied sites, and the CCME-WQI ranged between 56-62. The highest deviation has been occurred in phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, lead, and manganese, leading to decrease the water quality index value.

Pollution of water resources with various organic and inorganic pollutants is one of the biggest challenges of the present age. These infections seriously threaten human health and the lives of plants and animals. To minimize the mischievous effects of polluted water, technology-based smart treatment methods are necessary for sustainable equipping of drinking water. Application of (AAC-co-AM)-g-MCC hydrogels for the percentage removal of dye Methyl volute MV, from aqueous solutions have been studied. The synthesized (AAC-co-AM)-g-MCC hydrogels was described via FTIR, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The experiments held out in batch method effect of the factor like the solution of pH, initial concentration dye, and solution of temperature on the removal percentage of dye was studied. Contact time was done in 120 min. The data appear that an amount of 0.08 g (AAC-co-AM)-g-MCC hydrogels showed maximum removal percentage capacity of dye (100 mg L-1). Maximum adsorption of MV dye was attained at pH 6.2.  It was further proven the adsorption dye onto (AAC-co-AM)-g-MCC hydrogels followed the isotherm Langmuir while the kinetics studies detect that each adsorption method was pseudo-second-order. The thermodynamic factors like enthalpy (∆Ho), change in free energy (∆Go), and entropy (∆So) were determined, and the values negative of ∆Go indicated that the method of removal was spontaneous at wholly values of temperatures. Further, the values of ∆Ho indicated the endothermic nature of the method of removal.

There is a growing interest around the world for Vitamin D vital role in eradication of many infectious and non-infectious diseases, besides its effect on different biological parameters in the body, and it was the aim of this study to study the relation of Vit D levels and H.pylori infection with detection of its effect on lipid profile in presence of obesity. A total of 100 obese healthy volunteers, aged 25-60 years, were involved in this study. Their body mass index was calculated. Subjects submit to blood tests, including measurements of vitamin D (25-OH) level and lipid profile in addition to Rapid Anti H. pylori. Results revealed that there was no statistical difference in mean vitamin D level between individuals with and without H. pylori after age analysis and sufficient vitamin D levels significantly related to decrease in H.pylori infection. In H .pylori-positive patients vitamin D levels were lower than those in H .pylori-negative patients.

About 50 isolates (83%) of Escherichia coli were identified from 60 stool sample, and 30 examined bacteria formed biofilm. ZnO NPs was synthesized by E. coli and a white cluster pellet appeared, followed by observing absorption peak of UV-Vis. spectroscopy at 268 nm. XRD pattern showed the lattice planes of 100, 002, 101, 102, 110, 103 and 112 compatible to the 2θ values of 32.45°, 34.73°, 36.56°, 47.70°, 55.86°, 62.12°and 63.10° respectively, and the diffraction peaks were assigned with the hexagonal phase, while SEM images exhibited that size of the particles ranged between 31.55-45.9 nm. ZnO NPs displayed antibacterial potentiality against pathogenic bacteria, and inhibition zones around ZnO NPs were as follows: 5, 4, 2, 2, and 2 mm for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and E. coli respectively. In addition, ZnO NPs was able to decrease biofilm, revealing that after 48 h of incubation, inhibition percentage were 18.6, 27.7, 39.4, and 19.6 % against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and K. pneumoniae, respectively. A549 cells viability was decreased by elevating the concentration of ZnO NPs, and the IC50 values of the A549 and WRL cells were 105.8 and 167.3 µg mL-1 respectively. In this study, the synthesized ZnO NPs using nonpathogenic E.coli showed antibacterial, antibiofilm and anticancer activities against the examined pathogenic bacteria. So, these nanoparticles can be further used in biomedical, pharmaceutical and other applications as an effective antimicrobial and anti-cancerous agent.

This study was designed to detect the effects of lead on biochemical and molecular characteristics of common carp, Cyprenus carpio L. Two concentrations (10 and 20 ppm) were selected for lead respectively in one week. Biochemical markers such as acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were used to assess lead exposure cytotoxic effects, while lead-induced DNA damage was used to determine the effect of lead on molecular level. Fish samples were treated with two selected concentrations of lead solution (10 and 20 ppm) for one-week duration, as exposure period, to detect the impacts of lead exposure on this species.  Various biochemical markers such as acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were applied to determine the cytotoxic impacts of lead exposure at the cellular level, while the lead-induced DNA damages were identified to reveal the influences of lead exposure at the molecular level. The results represent that the highest concentration of lead solution (20 ppm) had more effects on the antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) level (655.17 ± 21.76 mg U-1) followed by acetyl cholinesterase and catalase (655.17 ± 21.76 U L-1 and 87.93 ± 7.22 mg U-1) respectively. The DNA damages were estimated by the Comet assay technique and the highest level of DNA damages were documented when lead concentration was 20 ppm using different parameters of Comet assay technique such as Comet length, tail length, and tail moment (4021 ± 56.11 µL, 523 ± 55.80 µL, and 91.208 ± 9.45 µL respectively). Therefore, this study confirms that the exposure to high lead concentrations would cause harmful effects on aquatic organisms at both cellular and molecular levels.

Ca/Fe layered hydroxide (LH) coated with a produced adsorbent was synthesized and characterized by adsorbent from banana peels by a co-precipitation method. The SEM and EDS tests revealed that the particles on the surface of the adsorbent extra-fine, well spread, and the structure of LHs is heterogeneous. The contents of the Fe and Ca after the process increase well according to the EDS analysis. From analysis, it was an enhancement in the specific surface area of the adsorbent from 44.39 m2 g-1 (before synthesizing) to 1022.08 m2 g-1 (after synthesizing). The produced Ca/Fe LH was used for the removal of (Cd++) from aqueous solution; a series of the batch experiments with different dynamic parameters reveals the best removal efficiency of (93.4%) for a (Ca /Fe molar ratio of 2).

In this study, 20 taxonomic ranks were diagnosed, and Deuteromycota outperformed all the isolates, as it recorded nine taxonomic ranks, including five of them belonging to the genus Aspergillus and four of them to the genus Penicillium, followed by Ascomycota, which displayed five taxonomic ranks, two ranks belong to the genus Alternaria and three to the genus Alternaria. Species belonged to different races, while the vaccinated fungi, Zygomycota exhibited three taxonomic ranks, two of them belong to the genus Mucor and one to the genus Rhizopus, while the oval fungi, Oomycota displayed two species belonging to the genus Pythium, while the sterile fungi, Sterill mycilia revealed the lowest numerical level among the rest of the studied fungi.

There are many chemical indicators of drinking water pollution. These include heavy metals, radioactive materials, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, disinfectants, and disinfectant additives. Common methods for removing these contaminants from aqueous solutions include chemical precipitation, membrane processes, ion exchange processes, biological processes, adsorption, and chemical reactions. Each of these methods has limitations in application. Many studies have been performed on the use of graphene in filters. Graphite oxide (GO) platelets were prepared using a modified Hummers method. By employing GO platelets, GO/poly (acrylic acid – maleic acid) superabsorbent composites were synthesized by a free radical polymerization of acrylic acid and maleic acid as a monomer, using N, N -methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linker and ammonium persulfate as initiator. The well-dispersed GO platelets in the polymer networks result in a significant improvement in absorbencies in distilled water solutions. The superabsorbent nanocomposite also exhibits a superior water-retention ability compared with the control under the same conditions. GO/P(AA-MA) composite was investigated using felid emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR); GO/P (AA-MA) composite is a highly effective absorbent of crystal violet (CV) and can be used to remove CV from aqueous solution. The kinetics of dye adsorption has been studied in terms of pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order rate expression. The results indicated that the adsorption process followed two models and demonstrated that intraparticle diffusion plays a significant role in the adsorption mechanism.

The aim of this study was to study the antibacterial activity of Silver nanoparticles synthesized by L. acidophilus and the biosynthesis of AgNPs from nonpathogenic bacterial isolates. Fifty samples were obtained during the period from December 2020 to March 2021. AgNO3 was used as a precursor for the synthesis of AgNPs. Biological AgNPs were originally shown by change the color, yellow to reddish-brown. The categorization of AgNPs accomplished by SEM, XRD, AFM, and EDS. SEM exhibited well-dispersed AgNPs, homogenous with a diameter of 40-60 nm, with inconstant shapes, mostly spherical form. XRD detected that the size of AgNPs was 34 nm. AFM also showed the three-dimensional structure of AgNPs and their diameter which was 45.82 nm. EDS exhibited that the AgNPs fabricated was 94.82% silver and 5.18 % oxygen. Silver nanoparticles displayed antibacterial action to MDR of P. mirabilis.

The article presents the results of comparative analysis of the structure of planktonic algae in the Volga and Kama rivers, as well as the assessment of the trophic state of these water bodies, which form the Kuibyshev reservoir at their confluence. The hydrochemical regime of the Kuibyshev reservoir is nonhomogeneous and is determined by the chemical properties of the Volga and Kama, differing in the ratio of ions and mineralization. The ionic compositionin Kama is often dominated by sulfates. Its mineralization ranges from 168 to 674 mg L-1, depending on the season and dryness of the year. The Volga contains calcium hydrocarbonate and display a lower degree of mineralization (120-130 mg L-1). Different composition of the incoming water, runoff rate, the degree of volume drawdown, intra-basin processes and groundwater inflows exhibit a direct impact on the conditions for the existence of planktonic algae. During the growing season of 2012, 123 algae taxa were identified among the phytoplankton of the Volga and Kama rivers (the areas before their confluence in the Kuibyshev reservoir). In terms of species diversity, diatoms and green algae were prevalent. The Volga exhibits higher species diversity (107 species), while the phytoplankton in Kama displays less diverse (77 species). In the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in both areas, two peaks of abundance and biomass are observed, i.e., at the middle and at the end of summer. The studied areas of Volga River are characterized by a phytoplankton complex of blue-green, diatoms and green algae, while diatom phytoplankton predominates in Kama River. In the summer-autumn period, the "blooming" of water in both rivers is connected with massive development of blue-green algae of the genera Aphanizomenon, Microcystis, Anabaena and Oscillatoria. During most of the growing season, the waters of Volga and Kama rivers belong to the mesasaprobic type and correspond to the moderately-polluted zone. Moreover, the waters of Kama River are characterized by higher saprobity indices. The trophic status of studied rivers mostly corresponds to eutrophic type, and in the periods of maximum development of planktonic algae - to hypereutrophic type.

Breeding for high total content of tocopherols (vitamin E) in sunflower seed oil involves studying the genetics of this trait. Twenty-nine inbred lines of sunflower with different total tocopherol content (TTC) were selected from 60 samples of the original material and studied at VNIIMK, Krasnodar, in 2016-2019. TTC was determined in an average sample from a head of shelled seeds by direct hexane extraction and further measurement of the optical density of the colored solution on a spectrophotometer. Both the genotype and the growing conditions influence the TTC in the seeds. The average range of variation over four years was from 302 to 605 mg kg-1. The largest differences, 2.6 times, between genotypes were found in 2018 with a range of variability from 258 to 667 mg kg-1. Significant differences were found between the average values of 360 mg kg-1 in 2017 and 432 mg kg-1 in 2019. The genotype and the year of growing have the greatest influence on the TTC, measured as 65% and 8%, respectively, and the genotype-year interaction accounts for 14% of the effect. The TTC correlation coefficient in the parent-offspring series was 0.65–0.85, and the heritability coefficient in the studied lines was 42–72%. The data on the valuable genetic control of TTC in seeds can help predict the effectiveness of breeding to improve this trait.

Chrysanthemum plants are popular with amateur gardeners and breeders. It is widely used in landscaping cities, parks, and also for bouquets. Plants are notable for longer flowering and a bright color of flowers. Extracts of chrysanthemum plants contain various biologically active substances with bactericidal properties and are used in pharmacology and dentistry. The objective is to develop an effective technology for rapid in vitro reproduction and adaptation of chrysanthemum microclones. The objects of the study were chrysanthemum plants of three varieties: Bacardi, Korean Dawn, and Snow White. Semifloscules and flower buds were used as primary explants. The explants were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient medium containing mineral salts, as well as various growth regulators: 1) 1 mg L-1 BAP + 0.5 mg L-1  IAA; 2) 15% Aminoven solution 3 mL L-1 ; 3) Stimul 1 mL L-1 ; and 4) a hormone-free medium. Microshoots were adapted using an aeroponic system. Unrooted microshoots were used for adaptation. The GrowPlant X-Stream 120 propagator was used as equipment for adaptation. The frequency of adventious budding depended on the hormonal composition of the nutrient medium. Aminoven in the nutrient medium led to the induction of the formation of adventitious buds on average in 85% of cases. The same indicator averaged 72% on the Stimul-containing medium. In a BAP-containing medium, the considered indicator was the same with the control variant (hormone-free medium). The Snow White explants had the highest regenerative activity, Bacardi was second, and Korean Dawn was third. Studies have shown that the efficiency of adaptation of unrooted microshoots under aeroponic conditions is significantly influenced by the composition of the nutrient medium during micropropagation. Thus, preliminary cultivation of microshoots in vitro on Stimul and Aminoven-containing media led to the rapid formation of the root system and active growth of the aerial part. In these variants, the shoot growth index (I) was 0.65-0.71, and specific rate (µ) was 0.89-1.1 mm day-1.

Fusarium blight is the most harmful disease of oil flax, which affects crops in all cultivation regions during the growing season. Considering the value of flaxseed oil, which is also used for medical purposes, it is advisable to use biological preparations to obtain environmentally safe products, which allow not only to ensure the protection of plants from diseases but also to improve the ecological situation. In recent years (2018-2020), at the biomethod laboratory of V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops has been carried out the search of the promising producer strains for developing microbiopreparations against the pathogen of oil flax Fusarium blight with a multifunctional type of action and a prolonged shelf life. These studies involve the study of the antagonistic mechanisms of promising producer strains of microbiopreparations on the disease pathogen. The article presents the effect of the promising antagonist strain T-1 Trichoderma sp. on the pathogen of oil flax Fusarium blight Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. emend. Shyd. et Hans. var. orthoceras (App. et Wr.) Bilai, identified as a result of a gradual screening. High competition of the antagonist strain for the feeding area, its hyperparasitic and antibiotic activity was established during the co-cultivation of the antagonist and the pathogen by the method of double cultures. During the study of the mechanism of the antagonistic action of the promising producer strain on the Fusarium blight pathogen using a light microscope, it was found that even before coalescence with the antagonist colony on the second day of coincubation, the shrinking of certain areas in the pathogen mycelium was noted, which proves the antibiotic activity of the fungal antagonist T-1 Trichoderma sp. On the 4th day of co-cultivation, after coalescence of the pathogen and antagonist colonies, aggregation of the pathogen mycelium into the cords and the effect of the antagonist mycelium coiling around the pathogen hyphae were observed . On the 6th day, the effect of the antagonist mycelium coiling around the pathogen hyphae increased. By the 8th-10th days of interaction, there was observed degradation and lysis of the aerial and substrate mycelium of the pathogen of oil flax Fusarium blight. Over the entire observation period, there was noted the normal development of the oil flax Fusarium blight pathogen Fusarium oxysporum var. orthoceras in the control.

The objective was to monitor the biological indicators to assess the ecological sustainability of gray forest soil, due to the different level of agrotechnical burden on agricultural landscapes. During 10 years of research (2011-2020) the number of bacteria using various forms of nitrogen was continuously decreasing on the background of mineral intensification. The total average pool of active microflora on organomineral and mineral backgrounds in moulboard plowing was 20.1 and 16.1 million CFU g-1 of soil, respectively, during the period of observations. In non-moldboard plowing, the same average pool was 18.8 and 15.9 million CFU g-1. The minimum pool was maintained on a high-intensity mineral background in moldboard plowing, amounting to 14.5 million CFU g-1 of soil. The decrease in the total bacterial number in the soil of mineral backgrounds indicates a deterioration in their ecological stability. The calculated ecological and trophic indices indicate less ecologically stable low-intensity mineral background in moldboard plowing. This variant showed relatively low values of humus accumulation coefficients (Ch = 0.39) and transformation of organic residues into soil organic matter (Ct = 5.4) established at the highest mineralization coefficient (Cm = 1.57). In this soil, mineralization of organic matter prevails, which reduces its fertility and environmental sustainability. On this background, the activity of the studied enzymes was lower than in other variants and in the soil deposits. A set of micromycetes has shown to grow on mineral intensification backgrounds, especially on a high-intensity mineral background, where moldboard plowing was used as the main treatment. The lowest phytotoxicity was noted on a high-intensity organic-mineral intensification background –21.4%. Both microbiological and biochemical parameters represents an informative diagnostic feature of the ecological state of agrolandscapes. They ensure an objective assessment of the efficiency and degree of agrotechnical burden, predicting a decrease in environmental sustainability on mineral intensification backgrounds.

Spring vetch in single and mixed crops forms a green mass in various meteorological conditions and is a member of the green conveyor. It is widely used in intermediate crops (mowing, repeated, stubble). Due to the fact that pure crops of spring vetch are lodged, oats, spring wheat, barley, etc. are used as support crops. Most of the zoned varieties of the universal grain type have medium-sized seeds and are distinguished by high grain and green mass productivity. In variety testing of spring vetch of three varieties belonging to different groups by seed size, it is of interest to use them. Small-seed varieties of spring vetch are universal, while large-seed grain forage varieties. The search for varieties that meet high requirements for tolerance, field germination and survival in joint crops is an urgent task.

The article presents the main trends of weed floristic composition change in flax crops, associated with the development of agrotechnical methods of this crop cultivation. It is shown that the development of scientific and technical support for the flax industry contributes to a more complete satisfaction of culture with all factors of life and enhances its competitive ability. So, the phytocenotic role of many segetal weeds present in crops decreases, up to their complete loss from agrophytocenosis. They considered the actual weediness of flax crops and the biological effectiveness of various preparations and their compositions to prevent weeds.

The article deals with the test of the main hypothesis about regional climate warming based on the analysis of unique continuous long-term observations of air temperature in 1879-2018 at V.A. Mikhelson meteorological observatory. The authors present annual and seasonal trends of air temperature for 140 years, which indicate its increase practically during the entire observation period. All considered statistical series can be characterized by the normal distribution of random variables. The cyclical nature of changes in air temperature for all series relative to their long-term average values and a period of a clear significant increase in temperature, which falls on the last three decades of both annual values and seasonal time intervals, have been revealed. Statistical criteria determined a clearly heterogeneous pattern of this period in relation to both the previous observation years and the entire 140-year period; in particular, its average air temperature is quite higher, which proves the warming of the region's climate over the past decades. It has been noted that the degree of air temperature rise in winter is higher than in summer. Positive changes in the elements of the heat balance, both during the growing season and throughout the year, in particular, the improvement of the conditions for overwintering agricultural crops, predetermines the need for research in the possible expansion of their varieties for cultivation in the Moscow region. Based on a comprehensive analysis and logical conclusions, we made a hypothesis about the influence of intensive development of heated buildings around the meteorological station on the air temperature rise in the last half century; however, it is impossible to measure such an influence today, as well as the influence of global warming due to other factors.

Downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. et de Toni is one of the most harmful sunflower diseases. Among the various measures to control it, the most economical is the development of resistant genotypes. At present, Pl6, Pl8, and Plarg loci are promising for use in breeding, providing resistance to all known P. halstedii races. Microsatellite markers (SSR) help to control the transfer of genes that control resistance in breeding material. However, validation of the marker is needed to prove its reliability in gene detection. There was studied the polymorphism of 9 microsatellite loci in 196 sunflower lines with different resistance to downy mildew. The ORS328 microsatellite locus was chosen as a marker of the Pl6 gene. Amplified fragment with 271 bp allows identifying genotypes resistant to the race 330. The lines that are the sources of the Pl8 gene did not differ from the others in the allelic composition of the ORS781 locus. Among the analyzed breeding samples, no polymorphism was revealed at this locus. To identify the Plarg gene, SSR markers ORS662 and ORS509 were selected. The analysis of 12 samples of the F2 generation from RHA-419 × I3BC2 (VK585 × VK195) crossing at these loci showed that both markers are inherited codominantly. The studied DNA markers can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) of sunflower for resistance to downy mildew pathogen.

The article presents the data on the chemical composition of seeds and oil of industrial hemp four varieties of the Central Russian ecotype, registered for cultivation in Russia: Surskaya, Yuliana, Vera and Nadezhda. The largest weight of 1000 seeds was for the Surskaya variety (17.6 g), while the smallest for the Juliana variety (16.5 g). The content of lipids in seeds was 33 - 35%, while that of proteins was 22 - 25%, which makes it possible to use all four varieties in the food industry. On average, all varieties had a high seed oil yield of 29.9 - 32.2%. The maximum oil yield was observed in  Vera and Nadezhda (32.2 - 32.9%). A low content of all saturated fatty acids in the oil was noted for the hemp of Nadezhda (8.55%), while a higher content (91.5%) for other varieties. It was noted that, on average, the content of Omega-3 fatty acids was 19.5-21.1% in the oil of all studied varieties of industrial hemp. In the Surskaya and Vera, the content was 0.8-1.6% lower than in theYuliana and Nadezhda. The content of Omega-6 fatty acids in hemp oil was 57.5-58.9%, and there was no significant difference between the varieties. The content of Omega-9 was 11.6-12.8% on average. The Nadezhda in oil exhibited the decreased Omega-9 by 0.5-1.3% than the other varieties. Using scanning electron microscopy, the structure of the hemp seed was established, which has a dense, thickened shell with high strength. The structure of the seed shell is ribbed with pores for the embryo respiration. According to the total elemental composition, hemp seeds contained (in % of wt): carbon 48 - 49%, oxygen 45 - 48%, silicon 0.1 - 0.4%, calcium 0.3 - 4.7%, potassium 0.1 - 1.0%, magnesium 0.1 - 0.7%, sodium 0.1 - 0.2%, sulfur 0.1 - 0.3%, phosphorus 0.1 - 0.2%, chlorine less than 0.1 %. The membrane of the seed contains up to 4.7% of calcium and up to 1% of potassium, while the kernel of the seed contained no higher than 0.1 - 0.3% of these elements. For pre-sowing seed treatment, it is recommended to use the following preparations: Zircon  4 g ton-1, Epin-Extra  10 g ton-1, EcoFus  0.5 kg ton-1, and working fluid consumption  10 L ton-1. The drugs in laboratory studies have shown the effectiveness of action on germination energy and seed germination increase.

This paper presents the results of studying the role of cultivation background intensification in the formation of productivity and yield structure of spring wheat varieties Novosibirskaya 29, Novosibirskaya 41, Novosibirskaya 15 and Altayskaya 75 in the subtaiga zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Russia. The influence rate of crop rotation steam link using  a full range of modern means of protection and fertilization on the elements of the yield structure of soft spring wheat and its variations were determined. The cultivation background providing the greatest positive response in crop productivity formation was also established. New varieties, in comparison with previously zoned ones, are able to use moisture, and also the elements of mineral nutrition and other factors of plant life are more productively. However, there are no universal varieties that are equally suitable for all backgrounds and conditions. Therefore, the identification of the productivity potential, the norms of new variety reaction to intensification factors in modern conditions of climate change, is the most important condition for the development of varietal technologies, improving the techniques and methods of grain crop productivity management. Under the conditions of the subtaiga zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, with the intensification of the crop rotation steam link, such productivity elements as the length of the main plant, the length of an ear and the number of spikelets in an ear of the studied varieties of spring wheat vary within weak and medium limits. Their variation coefficient ranges from 2-6% to 16-17%. It is best to intensify such indicators as productive tillering (Cv 14-38%) and the amount of grain in an ear (Cv 11-28%) within this zone. These elements respond well to the control of the phytosanitary state of crops using herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The varieties of spring soft wheat Altayskaya 75 and Novosibirskaya 41, with the use of pesticides and ammonium nitrate, can increase the grain content of an ear by 2 times (by 17.7 pieces), and the number of spikelets in an ear by 1.5 times (by 5.7 pieces). The varieties Novosibirskaya 15 and Novosibirskaya 29, when applying nitrogen fertilizers and a full range of protective equipment, increase the productive bushiness from 1.1 to 2.2.

The experiments were carried out on the permafrost floodplain soils of the Khangalassky region of Yakutia to study the effect of different doses of mineral fertilizers on the formation of the forage mass of sickle alfalfa, the variety Yakutskaya yellow. The aim was to substantiate the effect of different doses of mineral fertilizers on the development of sickle alfalfa cultured in the permafrost floodplain neutral and carbonate soils in combination with floodplain saline soils. The tasks included the following ones: 1) to determine the effect of different doses of mineral fertilizers on the formation of the leaf surface of alfalfa plants; 2) to determine the dependence of alfalfa fodder mass yield on the application of mineral fertilizers. The size of the plots was 20 m2, with fourfold repetition, systematic placement of variants, wide-row sowing method by row spacing of 45 cm. There were 5 variants with different doses of mineral fertilizers in the experiment: 1) Without fertilizers; 2) N30 (PK)60; 3) N60 (PK)90; 4) (NPK)90; 5) (NPK)120. After the conducted studies, it was revealed that the application of mineral fertilizers in the dose of N60 (PK)90 provides the formation of the largest leaf area of ​​alfalfa (37.2 thousand m2 ha-1). The maximum dose of mineral fertilizer (NPK)120 contributes to plant foliage increase (up to 42%) and to the highest yield of crescent alfalfa dry weight (4.2 ton ha-1). Sprouting of alfalfa does not show dependence on the application of different doses of mineral fertilizers. A complete relationship was established between the yield of forage mass and the area of ​​alfalfa leaves (r = 1) with the regression coefficient of 0.6 ton ha-1. A strong dependence of forage mass yield was observed on leafiness (r = 0.9) with the regression coefficient of 0.4 ton ha-1, as well as an average negative dependence of the aboveground mass of alfalfa yield on the number of shoots (r = -0.6) with the regression coefficient of -0,5 ton ha-1.

This article presents the results of a field experiment on obtaining environmentally friendly products from sugar and fodder beets in conditions of zinc contamination. It was found that various intensification factors during the cultivation of sugar and fodder beets significantly change the agrochemical and agroecological properties of sod-medium podzolic sandy loam soil. The zinc content in sugar and fodder beets was almost two times lower within the treatments with the simultaneous introduction of lime as N60P60K60 + Zn + lime and N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure. Liming significantly increased the yield of products. In general, using a fairly minimal set of intensification factors on sod-podzolic soils without a combination with supporting liming caused the suppression of sugar and fodder beets on sod-podzolic soils under conditions of zinc contamination. Agroecological regimes were changed quite pronouncedly on soddy-podzolic soils of light granulometric composition, susceptible to zinc pollution, when lime fertilizers were applied, which makes it possible to reduce the mobility of zinc in the soil environment. The introduction of dolomite flour in the treatments N60P60K60 + Zn + lime and N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure reduced the translocation of zinc in the soil-plant system within concentrations above the established norms. However, in the production of fodder beets, this effect was established only in the treatment N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure. Thus, obviously the application of mineral fertilizers in combination with liming and manure as N60P60K60 + Zn + lime and N60P60K60 + Zn + lime + manure on sod-podzolic soils of light granulometric composition in conditions of zinc pollution make it possible to obtain environmentally-friendly products of sugar and fodder beets due to the negative impact reduction.

This  study presents the results of ensiling technology of the aboveground mass of corn both in pure form and with flat grain of soybeans or its green in order to provide canned fodder with digestible protein up to the zootechnical norm for high-intensity livestock farms. The study was carried out on the reclaimed lands of the Non-Chernozem zone on the basis of the livestock farm OJSC "Agrofirm Dmitrova Gora" of the Konakovsky district of the Tver region. They used the soybean variety of the northern ecotype with an indeterminate growth type - Okskaya. It was found that with flat soybean grain increase in silage by 1%, the yield of digestible protein elevates by 3.7% on average, and with the ratio of soybeans and corn by 8:92%, a complete supply of 1 feed unit with protein (106.5 g) is recorded. The yield of metabolic energy in the variant of experiment by  8:92%, where the feed unit reached the zootechnical norm in terms of protein supply, was practically the same in comparison with the preparation of silage from the aboveground mass of soybeans and corn in the ratio of 15:85% and amounted to 145.42 GJ ha-1 and 145.89 GJ ha-1 respectively.

The peculiarity of nitrogen nutrition for legume-cereal mixtures is that due to the intravital transfer of mineral nutrition elements from the legume component of the mixture to the cereal component and vice versa, the cereal component receives nitrogen from the air symbiotically fixed by the legume component. This explains its better development in the mixture than in single-species sowing without the use of nitrogen fertilizers. In unfavorable conditions for legume-rhizobial symbiosis, when the assimilation of air nitrogen is weakened, and the legume and cereal components of the mixture are deficient in nitrogen, therefore, the issue of nitrogen fertilizer use expediency for legume-cereal mixtures is relevant. We have studied the effects of low and medium doses of nitrogen fertilizers including 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 (as treatments N30, N60 and N90) on the content and yield of crude protein with the grain yield of the vetch-wheat mixture under the conditions of sod-podzolic sandy loam soil in the central region of the Non-Chernozem zone with insufficient and optimal moisture. The protein content (% of dry matter) was determined by the calculation method according to the nitrogen content (N% × 6.25). On the control without nitrogen fertilizers, the protein content in vetch seeds and in wheat grain under the conditions of optimal moisture (2019) was higher than under the conditions of insufficient moisture (2018), by 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizers increased the protein content in wheat grain by 0.2 - 0.4% during both years of study. The protein content in vetch seeds under the influence of nitrogen fertilizers increased only under the conditions of insufficient moisture by 0.2-0.7%. The protein yield with the wheat grain yield during both years of study upraised, as the dose of nitrogen fertilizers elevated by 1.6 - 2.7 times, and by the vetch harvest and insufficient moisture it remained unchanged, and by optimal moisture it droped by 13.7-34.7%. The protein yield with the grain yield of the mixture elevated by 44.4-91.1% under the influence of nitrogen fertilizers in arid conditions completely due to the wheat protein increase, while in conditions of sufficient moisture it droped by 5.2-17.8% due to the vetch protein decrease. Nitrogen fertilizers increased the competitiveness of wheat mixed with vetch under the conditions of insufficient moisture by 1.7-3.0 times, and under the conditions of optimal moisture by 1.9-4.1 times.

Unrelated agricultural support is one of the equitable agricultural support mechanisms in developed countries. This paper describes the rules for unrelated support in the Federal Republic of Germany and in the Russian Federation. We proposed various institutional mechanisms to transform the system of rules for unrelated support in the Russian Federation to ensure sustainable long-term growth of the domestic agricultural sector.

Water bodies of the delta part of the Lower Volga are extremely important for preservation of biodiversity as feeding and breeding grounds for valuable fish species, including sturgeon species. Meanwhile, the anthropogenic load on these water ecosystems is increasing alongside the growth of oil and gas industry. Thus, the aim of this study is to dynamically assess the pollution of water bodies of the prime grade of fishery importance with petroleum products throughout 2014-2018.  The objects of this study are the water bodies exposed to anthropogenic impact of both operating enterprises and formerly active industrial facilities. The content of petroleum products in the samples of water and benthos deposits was defined in accredited laboratories as prescribed by Federal Environment Protection Regulatory Documents (PND F) 14.1:2:4.128-98 and 16.1:2.2.22-98. According to the results of the study, it was found that the content of petroleum products in water exceeds the maximum permitted concentrations (MPC) in all monitored sites, its highest value is 4.2 times the MPC in Kizan River in the vicinity of Sokolovskie Neftyanye Yamy (Sokolovsky Oil Pits), a formerly active industrial facility. Here, the maximum level of pollution of benthos deposits with petroleum products (18719.3 mg kg-1) was recorded, and, as a consequence, the degradation of zoobenthos diversity with oligochaeta remaining its only representative was observed.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of foliar application of salicylic acid and seaweed in 2017-18 cropping year in Khorramabad City, Iran with a temperate climate at 11478 meters above sea level. The study was carried out in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized block design with three replications. Factors comprised density application of seaweed at three levels (control, seeds of wisdon and seaweed spraying) and salicylic acid spraying at four levels (control, one, two, and three times salicylic acid spraying). The traits evaluated include: seed yield, the weight of 1000 seeds, fruit yield, fruit number, the seed number, oil yield, essence yield, protein yield and phenolic compounds. The results showed that the effect of seaweed on all treatments were significantly different, while in the case of phenolic compounds, the differences were not significant. The effect of salicylic acid on all treatments were significant except for fruit yield and phenolic compounds. Seed yields led to the highest performance at a3 (781.92 kg h-1) while lowest at a1 (494.54 kg h-1) compared to other levels. The salicylic acid spraying at s4 (712.41 kg h-1) exhibited the highest, while s1 (587.72 kg h-1) displayed the lowest compared to other levels. Interaction of seaweed and salicylic acid were not significant. Seed yield was highest at a3s4 (825.00 kg h-1) while lowest at a1s1 (448.17 kg h-1). In conclusion, Pumpkin as drug crop is suitable for planting in Khorramabad region, Iran.

Socio-economic development and preservation of ecological environments are crucially reciprocal challenges to human growth. The main purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationships between economic activity and the eco-environment in the Federation of Russia. If we characterize the current state of the Russian economy and social sphere, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the economy and social structure today clearly do not meet the criteria of environmental preservation. In the process of globalization, Russia is forced to develop economically in order to be competitive in the world arena. In addition, the constant social conflicts in society in the 90s were a kind of "lesson" of what the inconsistent steps of the government in the field of economic and social sphere management can lead to. However, in order to take any action today to improve the state of the Russian economy and improve the environmental considerations as well as the life of ordinary people, one should consider the current problems in these areas.

Organisms need very small amounts of heavy metals to continue to grow and survive, so-called trace elements. Heavy metals are the main pollutants found in industrial effluents. Changes in ecosystems due to the increasing number of industrial activities and consequently the extraction, treatment and application of heavy elements have caused the density of these elements in the structural factors of ecosystems (especially water and soil resources) to exceed the self-purification capacity of the environment. On the other hand, the rapid population growth and more production of materials along with increasing demand for agricultural products, as well as the application of compost fertilizers and sewage sludge due to their richness of some elements, have been considered the other reasons for the heavy metal pollutions. Because these elements have very dangerous consequences for life, including humans, so it is necessary to pay attention to their pollutions. Heavy metals are dangerous environmental pollutants that pose a danger to humans, plants and other living organisms by entering the food chain. In soils contaminated with heavy metals, the use of plants that have the ability to grow, adapt and absorb metals is considered as one of the methods of cleaning these soils. In this study, phytoremediation is presented as one of the bioremediation methods for soils contaminated with organic and inorganic compounds. The results show that in order to reduce soil contamination and subsequent food and human poisoning, it is better to identify the factors causing heavy element elevations in the environment of each area, and consequently selecting plants that are not consumed as food before planting crops.

The present study aims to reveal about spatial variations in order to assess soil moisture at field capacity as well as the point of wilt and ready water in the soil of Qadisiyah Province, Iraq, variation of those properties are illustrated among the surface appearances in the province according to the cases and determine the reasons of spatial variations of those characteristics because of its great importance. Spatial search boundaries were represented at Al-Qadisiyah governorate, representing the middle Euphrates region. The study area extends between two viewing circles, i.e.,  31º 6ʹ 17ʺ and 32º 42ʹ north , and also  longitude 34º 44ʹ and 45º 6ʹ 49ʺ east. Administrative boundaries are formed for the study area shared borders with five provinces including  Babylon from the north and Muthanna from the south, as for the governorate of wasit and Dhi Qar, which is bordered from the east and north east, while bordered Najaf Province from the west. The study was based on collecting and analyzing samples from 164 depth sites including  30-0 and 60-30 cm and distributed between the following points including soils of the rivers and their basins, lowlands, Al- Dalamj, sandy dunes, sandy soils and the western plate soil. It was found that there is a variation in their values in the soil of the Qadisiyah governorate due to an effect of a group of factors, the most important of which are climate and natural vegetation and agricultural practices by farmers and not to use the agricultural cycle from what resulted in variation in soil moisture values at field capacity withering point and ready water in Al- Qadisiyah governorate soil.

Haploid techniques have risen interest among researchers and breeders as they significantly reduce the time of creating pure lines in breeding programs, especially for biennial vegetable crops. The only way to produce doubled haploids used in representatives of the genus Beta is in vitro culture of non-pollinated ovules. This is a rather laborious method that requires manual labor to isolate beet ovules from flower buds, followed by their inoculation onto a culture medium. This method also has its drawback - the development of clones from the somatic tissues surrounding the embryo sac. At the same time, the yield of embryoids and subsequent regenerations is on average 12-14% of isolated ovules introduced into in vitro culture in the most responsive genotypes of sugar beet and 8% in beetroot. The selection of the optimal cultivation conditions for each genotype makes it possible to maximize the yield of regenerant plants in the culture of isolated ovules. This research is devoted to study the effect of various types of carbohydrates and growth regulators in the culture media on embryogenesis and callusogenesis in isolated ovules culture of five beetroot genotypes. We obtained embryoids and callus in isolated ovules culture of all studied genotypes using sucrose-based culture medium, while on a glucose- and fructose-based culture media or their combination, the number of callus and embryoids was much lower. Additionally, it has been shown that glucose has more negative effect on embryo- and callusogenesis than fructose. The addition of mannitol to the culture medium had a stimulatory effect on the ovules for one genotype only. The study of various combinations of phytohormones on 5 beetroot genotypes showed that gibberellic acid reduces the embryogenesis response of ovules in all genotypes.

The current study was conducted to investigate the biochemical response of two plant species including Lemna minor and Ceratophyllum demersum as indicators for the treatment and reducing the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen compounds in wastewater collected from a domestic water treatment plant in Al-Maamera area in Babil Governorate, Iraq. The experiment included the cultivation of aquatic plants in 20-liter plastic basins, which contain domestic water collected from the sedimentation basins at the station after completing the physical and chemical treatment. Some physical and chemical tests were conducted and the concentrations of some compounds of dissolved inorganic nitrogen were measured by taking the water samples every three days for a period of twenty four days. The current study showed that the pH values were raised to the basal direction when wastewater treated with C. demersum, while the values fluctuated when using L. minor with treatment between low and slight increase at other times. On the other side, the efficiency of the aquatic plants used in current study in decreasing the values of both electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids was weak and was limited to the first days of treatment. The results recorded an increased oxygen concentration when wastewater treated with C. demersum compared to the control which recorded higher concentrations than L. minor. The study showed also that the L. minor and C. demersum have very high efficiency in reducing the inorganic nitrogen compounds. So that, in the case of L. minor, the highest removal rate of nitrite, nitrate and ammonia were 99.36%, 88.04% and   81.25 %, respectively, while in the case of C. demersum, the related rates were 99.36%, 78.8% and 86.6 % respectively. As for the physiological condition of the plants, the results in the current study showed that the total chlorophyll values in L. minor and C. demersum increased after completing the phytoremediation. The MDA content decreased, while CAT enzyme was not affected   by both plants. The SOD enzyme was not also affected by L. minor, while a rise in this enzyme was recorded by C. demersum.