TECHNOLOGY OF STRIP PROCESSING OF SOIL UNDER CORN FOR GRAIN IN THE CHERNOZEM-STEPPE ZONE OF THE VOLGOGRAD REGION
The results of research for 2013-2015, obtained in a three-factor experiment with corn for grain, when grown according to the Strip-till system in the steppe zone of chernozem soils of the Volgograd region, are summarized. Introduction. World practice shows that the use of Strip-till technology significantly improves the properties of the soil. The efficiency of strip tillage using the Orthman cultivator and leaving high corn stalks for snow retention increases due to the better moisture supply of the cultivated crop. Materials and methods. The studies were conducted in the Volgograd region in 2013-2015. Three factors and their combinations were studied: A - precursor (A1 - winter wheat, A2 - corn for grain, A3 - sunflower), B - doses of mineral fertilizers (B1 - without fertilizer, B2 - N<sub>50</sub>P<sub>16</sub>K<sub>16</sub>, of which N<sub>16</sub>P<sub>16</sub>K<sub>16 </sub>- the main application of + N<sub>34</sub> in root feeding, B3 - N<sub>66</sub>P<sub>32</sub>K<sub>32</sub>, of which N<sub>32</sub>P<sub>32</sub>K<sub>32</sub> - the main application of + N<sub>34</sub> in root feeding) and C - seeding rates (C1 - 50 thousand/ha of germinating seeds, C2 - 60 thousand/ha and C3 - 70 thousand/ha). Results and conclusions. It is established that the best precursor of grain corn is steam winter with the application of mineral fertilizers N<sub>66</sub>P<sub>32</sub>K<sub>32</sub> and the seeding rate of 60 thousand/ha of germinating seeds (average yield of 6.30 t/ha). Corn as a precursor with a similar combination of factors was significantly inferior to wheat annually (5.93 t/ha), and sunflower was the least favorable, after which the average grain yield decreased to 4.03 t/ha. According to the calculations of the energy assessment, high energy indicators of the grain harvest and gross energy increments were obtained after winter wheat and corn on the above options of fertilizer and seeding rates - 95.3, 89.8 GJ/ha, and 78.2, 72.7 GJ/ha, respectively. The energy efficiency coefficient was 5.55 for winter wheat, 5.25 for corn, and 3.67 for sunflower. The results of the economic assessment confirm the advantage of the predecessors steam winter wheat and corn for grain when applying fertilizers N66P32K32 and the seeding rate of 60 thousand/ha of germinating seeds. The indicators of the cost of grain products are the lowest in this option (2331 and 2473 rubles/ton), and the profitability levels are the highest - 166.0 and 150.7%, respectively.