HYDROTHERMAL CONDITIONS OF FIELD CROP CULTIVATION IN THE DRY STEPPE ZONE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURYATIA
Development and implementation of techniques for field crop cultivation and their productivity are directly dependent on the soil, climatic and agro-meteorological conditions of the region. According to the multi-year data of the Ivolga Agro-Meteorological Station (1961-2010), during the six months of the autumn-winter period (October - March) in the dry steppe zone of the Republic of Buryatia the average precipitation is only 28.8 mm, which is only 12.0% of the average annual rainfall. During the growing season - from May to September the average rainfall amount is 204.7 mm (85.2%), including 127.6 mm (62.3%) of rainfalls in July - August, with yearly fluctuations from 36.0 mm (1979) to 231.6 mm (1998). Besides such quantitative parameters as amount of precipitation and temperature, indicators of hydrothermal conditions play an important role during the growing season. They should be taken into account when choosing a system of techniques and fodder production.