FORMATION OF WINTER WHEAT CROPS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF AGRO-FOREST LANDSCAPES
The results of the study on the role of field-protective forest stands and basic cultivation technologies of light chestnut soil in the formation of winter wheat crops on the farmlands of Volgograd region are reported. Experimental data obtained in the course of many years lasting research are suggested. The studies conducted demonstrate that the content of productive moisture in winter wheat crops grown on the forest ameliorated territory was higher than that of crops grown under unprotected field conditions. The amount of water available on the between-stripe space varied depending on its remoteness from the forest belt. While studying the basic soil treatment methods, it was found that under the conditions of dry-steppe zone the technological practices have great influence on the accumulation and retention of moisture in the soil. The use of technologies based on blade loosening of soil contributed to greater accumulation of plants available moisture. It is proved that the microbiological processes on the afforested areas are more active than on the field without protective forest stands, moreover the soil microbiological activity on the winter wheat crops is being increased while approaching to the forest belt. As result of studies it has been revealed that field-protective shelter belts, when combined with soil-protective technologies, contribute to winter wheat yield increases by 10–15%.