Proceedings of Gorsky State Agrarian University

Increasing potato productivity by developing new, high-yielding and adapted varieties is an important national economic objective. The relevance of this work stems from the need to provide the population with high-quality agricultural products, which requires the widespread implementation of breeding achievements in production. The research was conducted from 2022 to 2025 at the breeding plot of the Gorsky State Agrarian University located in the mountainous region of the Republic of  North Ossetia-Alania. The experimental plot has mountain meadow soils. The aim of the study was to comparatively evaluate the productivity of new and promising potato varieties for the conditions of the North Caucasus region. To achieve this goal, hybridization was conducted, and the economically valuable traits of the resulting hybrids were studied. The scientific novelty lies in the identification and comprehensive evaluation of promising hybrids that outperform standard varieties in key indicators. The efficiency of parental pairs (Gorsky × WR 808, Gorsky × Krepysh) providing maximum seed setting and yield of hybrid seeds was established. Of 72 crossing combinations, ovaries were formed in 34 (47.2 %). Highly efficient pollinators (WR 808, Krepysh) and maternal forms (Gorskiy, 20.108/8), showing seed setting of up to 96.7 %, were selected. Promising hybrids (12.64/368, 12.64/394, 12.40/1) were selected, which, in comparison with the varieties Zhukovsky ranniy and Adeon, are characterized by earlier and uniform shoots, powerful development of aboveground mass: plant height 76–81 cm, leaf surface 0.79–0.86 m2/bush. A significant yield advantage was established for the hybrids. On the 50th day after emergence, the 12.64/368 hybrid yielded 17.9 t/ha (4.7 t/ha higher than the standard), and at full harvest, 52.8 t/ha (30.3 t/ha higher than the standard). Furthermore, the hybrids demonstrated high tuber marketability (95–96 %). These promising hybrids are of immediate interest for further study and subsequent introduction into production to produce high-quality, high-yielding potatoes.

The cultivation of winter crop varieties is a priority for stabilizing grain production that are adaptive to negative environmental stress factors and capable of maintaining stable yields. To achieve stable yields, it is necessary to develop a grain crop structure using varieties that exhibit high stability, ecological flexibility, and stress resistance. In the arid conditions of the Central Ciscaucasia, the selection of a winter wheat variety capable of maintaining annual yields is particularly important. Adaptive forms of agricultural crops are determined by contrasting conditions over the course of an annual period. Determining the adaptive capacity of genotypes allows for the selection of more adaptive forms of the final result of the «genotype × environment» interaction. The aim of the research was to assess the adaptive potential of mid-early winter wheat varieties in a direct seeding system, cultivated after various predecessors, and their yields in the arid conditions of the Stavropol Territory. The research was conducted from 2018 to 2021 on the territory of JSC Agrokhleboprodukt. Experimental design: winter wheat varieties (factor A) – Zustrich (st), Bagira, Bagrat; predecessors (factor B) – sunflower and chickpea. The experiment was repeated three times. The area of the variant was 500 m². On average, over the studied period, the highest yield was determined for the Bagira variety for sunflower (3.70 t/ha) and chickpea (4.12 t/ha), and the lowest – for the Bagira variety (3.20 and 3.45 t/ha, respectively). The results allowed us to identify the most homeostatic varieties for sunflower and chickpea – the Zustrich (st) and Bagira varieties. The Bagrat variety is characterized by high ecological plasticity for two predecessors.

In the experimental area of the North Caucasus Research Institute of Mountain and Foothill Agriculture - a branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Center «Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the forest-steppe zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania amaranth was grown for green fodder in a field experiment on leached chernozem. Green fodder yield increased significantly with the use of mineral fertilizers and, in combination with biostimulants such as sodium selenite, cerium sulfate, and potassium humate. Two-year studies showed that the fertilizers increased the nitrogen content in green fodder by 0.27-0.71 %, phosphorus by 0.02-0.23 %, and potassium by 0.07-0.21 %. Higher nitrogen and phosphorus levels accumulated in the treatments with biostimulants, while potassium levels increased by 5 t/ha based on the zeolite. Fertilizers improved the chemical composition and quality of green mass, increasing protein content by 1.6-4.5 %, fat by 0.3-0.9 %, ash by 0.3-1.0 %, vitamin C by 3-10 mg%, and carotene by 0.8-6.7 mg%. The highest values were obtained with a double dose of NPK and variants with biostimulants. Due to the improved biochemical composition and increased yield, the nutrient yield per hectare of sowing increased, primarily protein by 200-473 kg/ha. Overall, the highest nutrient yield was noted with double doses of NPK and zeolite, variants with sodium selenite and cerium sulfate. NPK removal by the crop and the NPK balance in the soil-fertilizer-plant system were calculated. A positive effect of all studied variants on the removal of nutrient elements with the crop was established. A deficit-free NPK balance was observed only in the variants with complete mineral fertilizer, while a negative balance was observed in the variants with zeolite. The highest positive balance was achieved for phosphorus, and the lowest for nitrogen.

Red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) is a key forage crop in field grassland cultivation in the Russian Federation and a vital legume component of natural phytocenoses. In recent years, demand for red clover seed has increased. It is used for overseeding meadows and pastures to improve forage lands, as well as to create cultivated pastures and meadows. Currently, red clover has been displaced by more profitable crops and is cultivated in the republic on a small area. To revive red clover cultivation in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania for field forage production, it is necessary to simultaneously conduct seed production of varietal crops, develop technological methods that take into account the biological characteristics of red clover, and develop cultivation technologies aimed at creating an optimal seed stand and increasing seed productivity. The research was conducted in the forest-steppe (foothill) zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The soil and climatic conditions are favorable for growing red clover for seed and allow, after harvesting the seeds, before the onset of cold weather, for the plants to accumulate reserve nutrients for overwintering and the formation of the second-year grass stand the following spring. Research was conducted to study the effect of reduced (50 plants/m²), optimal (70 plants/m²) and increased plant density (90 plants/m²) on the parameters that determine seed productivity. The variant with increased plant density (90 plants/m²) provided the highest biological seed yield – 35.3 g/m². Evaluation of the seed productivity of second-year clover by grass stand layers showed that in all three variants the middle and upper tiers were the most productive, but the largest seed mass was formed at the optimal plant density (70 pcs./ m²) – 20.14 g/ m². As a result of the evaluation of the sowing qualities of seeds after 180 days of storage after harvesting, the
germination energy increased by 95 %, similarity by 97 %, growth strength by 97 %, and seed hardness decreased by 3.0 % compared to freshly harvested seeds.

Improving crop production efficiency in the face of global climate change is a significant and pressing issue. One promising approach to achieving this goal is the implementation of advanced crop seeding and cultivation technologies. To fully realize the genetic potential of a variety or hybrid, it is necessary to create optimal conditions that provide each plant with equal access to three key factors: nutrients, light, and moisture. This article presents the key findings from many years of experience using double-row seeding technology in the cultivation of various agricultural crops in the Russian Federation and abroad. The research is based on a systematic analysis of publicly available information provided by both seeding equipment manufacturers and independent researchers, and on data obtained from field trials with soybeans, corn, and other crops. It has been established that there are currently no definitive conclusions regarding the advantages of double-row seeding over traditional technologies. In most cases, the effectiveness of double-row seeding depends on prevailing soil and climatic factors and the agricultural practices employed. It is necessary to conduct comprehensive, long-term research on various varieties and hybrids of agricultural crops in order to determine the most optimal parameters for sowing technology. 

The use of sickle-leaved alfalfa in livestock feed is important because its dry matter is predominantly protein-rich and it has good nutritional value. The chemical composition of sickle-leaved alfalfa (Medicago falcata L.), grown in the collection nursery of the Research Institute of Biotechnology of the Gorsky State Agricultural University in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, was studied across the plant’s developmental stages. The content of organic compounds, macro- and microelements in the alfalfa was also determined. The dry matter of the sickle-leaved alfalfa served as the material for the study. The alfalfa was harvested at the stooling, budding, and flowering stages. The studies were conducted in the Technochemical Control Laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Production and Processing Technology. Studies of sickle-leaved alfalfa grown in North Ossetia-Alania confirmed its high nutritional value for livestock. It was noted that as the plant develops (from stool formation to flowering), the content of dry matter, fat, fiber, and nitrogen-free extractive substances (NFES) increases, while the amount of protein and ash decreases. The analysis also showed that alfalfa is rich in organic compounds, including anthracene derivatives (an average of 0.229 % calculated as istesin), saponins (4.96 % as glycyrrhizic acid), phenol glycosides (1.78 % as arbutin), and vitamin C (51.6 mg%). Research has shown that sickle-shaped alfalfa, grown in the republic’s conditions, has a rich micromineral composition. It contains significant amounts of sulfur, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, and copper. The content of toxic elements (nickel, chromium, lead, and zinc) does not exceed the maximum permissible concentration. Research has shown that sickle-leaved alfalfa accumulates low levels of toxic elements (nitrates, nitrites, and heavy metals). Therefore, along with its nutritional value, its rich micro-mineral and organic composition offers significant potential for its use. The crop is ideal for use in feed production and is also of interest to the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Plant astringents are chemical compounds that when interacting with proteins in animal cells, tissues, enzymes, and tissue fluids, condense them, forming dense albuminates on the surface. These astringent tannins accumulate primarily in the roots, rhizomes, bark, and leaves of plants, which is why they are widely used in veterinary practice. In our experiment we used the leaves of the common smoke tree and the poison oak tree which are both tannin-containing plants and are widely cultivated throughout the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. We prepared two medicinal forms from the leaves of these plants, which have medicinal and prophylactic properties: a powder and a tincture. Administration to birds at different doses promotes changes in intestinal juice volume and its enzymatic activity. During a 20-day administration of smoke tree leaf powder and sumac powder, the optimal dose of supplements in the diet to increase intestinal juice is considered to be 0.15 g/kg (P < 0.01). To stimulate enzymatic activity, peptidase increases most intensively - 137.87 % (P < 0.001), with a powder dose of 0.15 g/kg, lipase 0.1 g/kg - 141.45 % (P < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase - 0.15 g/kg, respectively, 47.06 % (P < 0.01). With the use of a tincture of smoke tree and sumac, peptidase increased most intensively - by 93 % (P < 0.001) at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg, then lipase - 85.33 % (P < 0.001), and the least alkaline phosphatase - by 52.14 % at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg (P < 0.01). Thus, the physiologically acceptable dose of smoke tree and sumac leaf powder supplements in the diet of chickens is 0.15 g/kg, and tinctures from this part of the plant can be considered 0.5 ml/kg of body weight in birds.

The dry steppe conditions of the Orenburg Cis-Urals predetermine the poverty of the floristic composition of the zone, therefore the introduction and acclimatization of plants, followed by the formation of bioresource collections based on botanical gardens, are deservedly relevant. This article presents information on the morphological features of representatives of one subgenus of the genus Allium, indicating data on trait variability based on the calculation of variation coefficients (Cv, %), as well as the results of an assessment of seed sowing qualities. It was established that the traits have a range of variability from low to medium, which is determined by the unstable weather conditions of the habitat due to the sharply continental climate. The lowest variable parameter is the height of the stalk (Cv = 5.9 to 9.7 %). The most variable are the diameter of the inflorescence, with a variation ranging from 18.9 to 28.9 %, and the diameter of the flower, with a variation from 11.4 to 29.8 %. Laboratory seed germination rates show that for all ornamental onion varieties, germination rates exceed 70 %, while those in the field are 10-20 % lower. Furthermore the germination energy (VE) in the field is lower than in the laboratory.

In connection with the expansion of the range of herbal medicines and significant changes in the list of pharmacopoeial plants of Russia, wild species of flora of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic are currently poorly studied. The aim of this study was to refine the list of wild pharmacopoeial species, identify patterns of their distribution across the republic depending on altitudinal zones, and analyze life forms and geographic features. According to the results of the analysis, 122 species of medicinal plants (42.36 % of the total number of species of pharmacopoeial plants of the Russian Federation) belonging to 43 families and 93 genera grow in natural phytocenoses of Kabardino-Balkaria. In terms of the number of genera and species, the most representative are the families Asteraceae (14 genera and 16 species) and Rosaceae (9 genera and 15 species). The studied flora is characterized by a significant share of monotypic genera with one species (78.5 % of the total number of genera). The highest species diversity (86 species) is characteristic of the Leskeno-Lashkutinsky floristic subregion in the conditions of the forest altitudinal belt, the lowest (21 species) - for the Tersko-Prokhladnensky (steppe ecotopes in the flat part of the republic). The greatest floristic similarity was established for the Chegem-Cherek-Sukansky and Jurassic Depression floristic subregions, the least - for the Elbrus and Tersko-Prokhladnensky subregions. In the biomorphological spectrum of medicinal flora, hemicryptophytes occupy the largest proportion (45.9 %). According to the predominant chorological groups, the medicinal flora of Kabardino-Balkaria is boreal-general Holarctic (108 species, 88.53 %), and according to the predominant geoelements - Palearctic-Euro-Siberian (61 species, 50.00 %). The originality of the medicinal flora is poorly expressed, as the Caucasian geoelement accounts for 6.56 % (8 species). To restore the reserves of medicinal plant raw materials and populations of wild pharmacopoeial species, it is necessary to develop the medicinal plant growing industry based on the introduction, creation of a culture of wild species, the search for forms with economically valuable characteristics and the best chemoras, and the study of closely related species of pharmacopoeial plants.