Possibilities and opportunities of the use of Earth Remote Sensing (ERS) data for the monitoring of agricultural crop state in the Republic of Belarus are discussed. The first results of the development and testing system of the remote monitoring of agricultural crop state on a scale of a certain farm are presented.

Stubble residues of cultivated plants are an important source of organic matter replenishment of in soil. As a result of the conducted studies, it was established that the weight of root and stubble plant residues and the content of basic nutrients in them largely depends on the species composition of crops cultivated in crop rotations. Among the studied field crops, perennial grasses left the largest amount of organic matter in the form of root and stubble residues with the highest content of nutrients in them. The amount of residues depended on the species composition and the mode of grasses use in the crop rotation.

The results of eight-year researches of the study on the productivity of specialiazed crop rotations with different level of saturation by cereals are presented in the article. The comparative evaluation of crop rotations by the yield of such parameters per 1 ha of plough-land and sown area as fodder units, digestible protein, and grain is given.

The research results of the evaluation of the efficiency of different soil cultivation techniques in crop cultivation at three-cut occupied fallow are presented in the article. It was established that the highest effect was obtained when winter rye, vetch and oat mixture, and white mustard were sown for green material after chiseling. Direct sowing of the studied crops into the untilled soil was insignificantly inferior to the previous technique. The nitrogen fertilizing rate using the direct sowing was increased by 20 kg/ha of active substance. Pure income was lower only by 2.94 USD/ha as compared to the chiseling, the profitability was higher by 2.5% and the prime cost of 100 kg of fodder units was lower by 0.16 USD.

The research results of the study on the effect of soil cultivation techniques on winter triticale grain yield are presented in the article. It was established that in the system of combined soil cultivation, chiseling, disking, direct sowing in the untilled soil could be used without significant yield decrease as compared to annual ploughing when winter triticale was cultivated on high and middle cultivated sod-podzol sandy loam soils after blue lupine grown for green material or after winter rye for green material + pea and oat mixture for green material. Subsoil ploughing in the fourth rotation did not have significant positive effect on the winter triticale grain yield.

The research results of the study on the effect of such postemergent herbicides as Lintur WG (0.18 kg/ha), Dialen Super SL (0.5 and 0.6 l/ha), Sekator Turbo MD (0.075 and 0.1 l/ha), and Serto Plus WDG (0.15 and 0.2 kg/ha) on crop weediness and common millet grain yield are presented in the article. It was established that the biological efficiency of those products was 89.0-98.2% for weed quantity and 89.6-99.4% for weed weight. The application of the studied herbicides provided the significant grain yield increase of 1.16-1.68 t/ha or 67.0-97.1%. The highest increase was achieved when using Serto Plus WDG (0.2 kg/ha).

The results of the changes of buckwheat yield element structure under the influence of postemergence crop harrowing and herbicide use before and after crop emergence are presented in the article. It was established that the use of such herbicides as Gesagard + Dialen Super (0.75+0.3l/ha), Butisan Star (1.5 l/ha) before buckwheat emergence or Betanal Expert OF + Lontrel 300 (0.75+0.22 l/ha) in the post-emergence period did not decrease survival rate of cultivated plants as compared with the control. With that, buckwheat crops formed complete fruits which proved that the mentioned herbicides could be used for weed destruction in the buckwheat crops irrespective of the cultivar.

The results of long-term studies on the productivity of sugar beet hybrids of different breeding genotypes are presented in the article. The optimal range of hybrids for sugar beet sowing farms has been determined; hybrids of early harvesting terms are recommended. The basic list of the best highly productive sugar beet hybrids of different seed producers is proposed.

The research results of the study on the effect of herbicides and growth regulators on sugar beet crop weediness and yield are presented in the article. It was established that the efficiency of growth regulator use depended on weather conditions in the period of crop chemical weeding. On average for the period of the researches, the highest root and sugar yields were provided by the single use of Betanal MaxxPro and Goltix herbicides with Ekosil product, and the use of Blackjack or Fertigrain Foliar two and three times.

The results of studies on the effectiveness of sugar beet cultivation using straw and oil radish mulch are presented in the article. It was established that sowing in the oil radish mulch provided the additional sugar yield of 0.3-0.5 t/ha compared with the straw mulch. It was proved that the optimal dose of nitrogen was N_90-120. Manure application in the previous crop cultivation during the formation of oil radish mulch for sugar beet was inappropriate.

The results of studies on the effectiveness of sugar beet cultivation using oil radish mulch are presented in the article. The absence of differences in sugar beet productivity when sowing in the oil radish mulch and traditional cultivation techniques was established. It was proved that the optimal dose of nitrogen was N90-120. Manure application in the previous crop cultivation combined with straw plowback before sugar beet sowing was inappropriate.

The results of 4-year researches on the determination of the coefficient of photosynthesis economic efficiency of 15 spring soft wheat cultivars and varieties of RUE ”Research and Practical Centre of NAS of Belarus for Arable Farming” breeding are discussed in the article. The closeness and direction of the grain yield and the mentioned coefficient using different rates of nitrogen fertilization (100 and 160 kg/ha of active substance) are shown. The correlation of the coefficient with the thousand-kernel weight and spring wheat grain number per area unit is presented.

The results of rice seed yield depending on the type of micro fertilizers and the terms of their application are presented. Micro fertilizers used at the rate of 3 l/ha increase the yield and quality of rice seeds of new promising rice varieties. In the course of our investigation, the highest yield of the certified seeds (10.27 t/ha) was obtained in Ontario variety using foliage application of “Reacom rice + Reacom silicon” at the phase of stem elongation.

The conducted researches allowed to determine the optimal sowing rate of winter rye hybrid seeds var. Plisa and Bono (300 germinable seeds per m²) which gave the highest grain yield increase. In Plisa hybrid, it was 0.81 t/ha when sowing in the optimal terms and 0.95 t/ha when sowing later than in the optimal terms. In Bono hybrid those parameters were 2.44 and 2.21 t/ha, respectively. Delay with sowing led to the decrease of productive stalk number per 1 m² and yield decrease in the studied standard cultivar and F₁ hybrids Plisa and Bono by 9.8-15.8%, 9.0-10.8% and 4.7-14.4%, respectively.

The influence of sowing terms and plant density on the formation of grain yield of maize hybrids of different ripeness groups in terms under irrigation conditions is shown. It was established that the highest grain yield of FAO 190-380 hybrids was provided when sowing in the third ten-day period of April. The optimal plant density was 90 thousand plant per ha for mid-early FAO 190-290 hybrids and 70 thousand per ha for mid-ripening FAO 380.

The results of three-year studies of growth processes of Hungarian vetch and two triticale varieties depending on seeding rates and fertilization under the conditions of unstable moisturization of right bank forest steppe of Ukraine are shown.

The research results of the study on the effect of combined use of retardants and organic mineral fertilizers on spring barley yield are presented. It is shown that such products as Moddus SC, Cerone SL, Minos SL increase resistance to lodging by 3-4 points and crop yield by 0.22-0.7 t/ha. The use of growth regulators in mixtures with organic mineral fertilizers Blackjack and Terra-Sorb complex provides the yield increase by 0.5-0.62 t/ha.

Competitive trials allowed to identify variety 61146 with the yield of 7.79 t/ha on average for the research years when using the common cultivation technology, and it was by 9.9% higher as compared to standard cultivar Elegia. When the intensive cultivation technology was used, the yield was 8.91 t/ha or by 13.6% higher than in the standard. The content of crude protein was 13.0 and 14.8%, crude gluten 29.8 and 33.5% depending on the intensification level what corresponded to the requirements for winter wheat grain used for food purposes. That variety named Amelia was transferred to the State Variety Trials of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.

The data on retardant effects of four modern fungicide seed treaters and theinfluence of the temperature factor on their effect are presented in the article.

The study results of the efficiency use of seed treater Insure Perform SC (0.5 l/t) and fungicide Rex Duo SC (0.6 l/t) in oat crops are presented in the article. Pre-sowing seed treatment by Insure Perform decreased the development and occurrence of root rots in the period of vegetation and prevented the development of Helminthosporium leaf blotch on crop shoots. The use of seed treater Insure Perform SC (0.5 l/t) saved 7.0% (0.36 t/ha) of oat yield on average for the years of the researches, and crop protection against leaf diseases with fungicide Rex Duo SC (0.6 l/t) together with the seed treatment saved 13.4% (0.73 t/ha) of the yield.

The results of the researches conducted in 2012-2014 in order to study fibre flax var. Brestsky under the soil and climatic conditions of Vitebsk region are presented in the article. It was established that seed incrustation combined with water-soluble polymer using seed treater Lamador, 40% SC (0.15 l/t) was efficient for yield increase of oilseeds as compared with insecticide-fungicide Cruiser Rape (1.0 l/t). The use of those products provided more stable level of yield variability.

The results of the effect of milking hall manure drains, radio wave and plasma treatment on red clover seed germination are presented in the article. It is determined, that two hours seed soaking in manure drains water solution with dilution 1:1, 1:5, 1:10 and 1:25 increases seedling length on 20.9–23.7% compared to the control. The effect of manure drains water solution is comparable to the use of growth stimulator «Energen».
Electromagnetic field increases germination energy by 6-10%, laboratory germination by 2-8%, seedling length by 12.5–31.3% as compared with the control. Plasma treatment of red clover seeds increases germination energy by 2-7%, laboratory germination by 2-5%, seedling length by 9.7-25.8%.

The research results of the evaluation of fungicide efficiency against rapeseed diseases under phytotron and laboratory conditions using benzimidazole method are presented in the article.

Under the Belarusian Polesie conditions, the resistance of sowing and field pea varieties to powdery mildew was studied. It was established that under the favorable soil and climatic conditions, Bogatyr cheshskiy, Aist, Kudesnik, Natalievskiy sowing pea varieties, Svitanak, Agat and Eva field pea varieties had a very weak resistance degree to the disease. Eifel, Belus, Millennium, Chervensky, Multik sowing pea varieties, Gomelskaya and Aleks field pea varieties had a weak resistance degree.

The study results of the biological and economic efficiency of Ampligo insecticide against European corn borer in corn cultivation for grain in the South zone of the Republic of Belarus are presented in the article. For the years of the researches, insecticide treatment decreased the number of pests (before harvesting) by 70% in 2015 and by 100% in 2016.

The research results of the study on the effect of Fitovital growth regulator on yield and quality of spring wheat grain are presented in the paper. It was established that a single product application in DC 37-39 stage provided the highest grain yield increase (10.8%). Double and three-time Fitovital application did not have significant positive influence on the crop grain yield as compared to the single application. The highest total bread-making evaluation was registered when the product was applied twice (in DC 37-39 and DC 49 stages) and once in DC 37-39 or DC 31 stage.

Bread-making performance evaluation (technological, physical and chemical, mixograph analysis of grain and flour, baking tests) of triticale cultivars and potential varieties compared to spring wheat is presented in the article. The analysis showed that in whole triticale varieties were characterized by lower values of such parameters as “grain-unit”, “crude gluten content”, “doughing-up time”, and “bread volume”. By some of bread-making qualities, the flour of such winter triticale varieties as Berezino, Zarechie, and Kovcheg was not worse than the wheat flour. Baking quality tests of tinned bread and shortcakes showed that triticale grain could be used as raw materials for the manufacture of bread and pastry.

Predictive models of crude fat content in spring barley grain are designed by near infrared spectra using the modified partial least square method and an artificial neural network. The estimation of the received calibrations and results of their testing was done. It was concluded that near infrared spectroscopy could be used for the determination of the crude fat content in spring barley grain.

The data on crude protein content in the grain of 15 spring soft wheat cultivars and varieties grown with the use of different nitrogen rates (100 and 160 kg/ha of active substance) are presented in the article. The effect of nitrogen amount (including nitrogen obtained as a result of reutilization of vegetative organs, nitrogen from soil, and nitrogen of the fertilizers used in the reproductive period) on grain protein synthesis is shown.

The research results of the study on the effect of cultivation technology intensification levels on oilseed yield and quality of spring rapeseed varieties of different maturity groups are presented. It was established that mid ripening variety Yantar provided the highest oilseed yield increase (1.4 t/ha or 87%) using mineral fertilizers at the rate of N₁₂₀₊₆₀P₆₀K₉₀, boric acid (300+300 g/hа) and crop treatment with fungicide Impact SC, 0.5 l/ha as compared to the control treatment (P₆₀K₉₀). The application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of N₁₂₀P₆₀K₉₀, boron 300+300 g/hа was optimal for middle-late variety Vodolei and early-ripening variety Skif with the yield increase of 1.03 and 0.81 t/ha or 65.6 and 49.1%, respectively.

The article is devoted to a new feeding crop named cup plant. The experimental results of studies on the effect of sowing methods (seeds, seedlings) on germination, winter hardiness, development and yield are presented. The studies showed a high survival rate of seedlings (96.5-98.9%) and seed field germination (74.3%). When the seedlings were transplanted according to 70x30 and 70x50 scheme, the cup plant provided 15.6 and 13.3 t/ha of dry matter in the second year of life cycle, which was higher by 6.6 and 4.3 t/ha compared to sowing with seeds. The seed yield ranged from 2.7 to 3.6 t/ha.

The results of formation of perennial leguminous herbage of Eastern galega, dead-men’sfinger, purple medic under intensive three-hay-crop use are presented. As well the results of received fodder quality depending on foliar application of preparations with microelements and biologically active substances are presented. It has been revealed that in the first year of haymaking use the herbage yield was determined by the studied species of perennial legumes; the influence of microelement preparations and biostimulanst was insignificant. The yield of purple medic was 33.41-38.13 t/ha of dry matter, Eastern galega – 23.53-32.96 t/ha, and dead-men’s-finger – 15.59-17.88 t/ha. The nutritiousness of haying forage of the studied legumes harvested in the phase of budding-beginning of flowering corresponded to zootechnical norms for feeding of cattle. The haying forage was characterized by high protein value, so, the content of crude protein in absolutely dry weight of purple medic was 24.2%, Eastern galega – 22.9%, dead-men’s-finger – 22.0% on average for three hay crops.

The levels of soil moisture deficit for the determination of plant water exchange parameters were specified. Plant development phases and leaf layering on stalks for the correct evaluation of cereal grasses for drought hardiness were determined.

The study results of special aspects of tops yield formation by pure festulolium herbage at pasture mode of its use and grass mixtures of festulolium, perennial ryegrass and white clover characterized by asynchronous growth rythms during a vegetation period are presented in the article. It was established that combining of the components selected by growth rhythm asynchrony promotes dry matter yield increase up to 8.4-9.3 t/ha, rose crude protein yield to 1.58-1.77 t/ha and metabolizable energy yield to 91-101 GJ/ha.

The analysis of the effect of air temperatures and precipitation on the duration of interphase periods and maize yield formation, grain humidity is shown. Strong negative correlation dependence between daily mean air temperature and the duration of the periods of “sowing-sprouts” and “sprouts-beginning of the critical period” was established. The grain yield was in the middle positive correlation dependence on the air temperatures, and the grain humidity was in the middle negative correlation dependence. Precipitation influenced the yield of dry matter and grain to a lesser extent but it had the middle positive correlation dependence with the grain humidity.

The analysis of reasons and sizes of nutrient losses which significantly vary and during maize feed conservation can reach 25% and more is given in the article. The means of energy nutritional value conservation, protein nutritional value increase in the fodders from maize green material with different level of dry matter content and grain with high humidity using bioproducts on the basis of lactic acid bacteria and urea are discussed.

Contemporary state, main results, priorities and problems of breeding of cereal and leguminous crops in the Republic of Belarus are analyzed in the article. The characteristics of new varieties and hybrids of agricultural crops included in the State Variety Register are presented.

The study results of the available genetic pool of domestic winter tetrapoid rye as well as that received from other breeding institutions are discussed in the article. The methods of its purpose use in the breeding process and the main breeding results are presented.

The article presents the main results of fertility restorers development with the use of the gene pool of cultural rye (Secale cereale L.) self-fertile lines and Iranian population (Secale iranicum L.). A higher restoration level of pollen fertility in F₁ hybrids using inbred lines which are the carriers of Iranian rye restorer genes is shown. Breeding valuable genotypes of male components of winter diploid rye hybrid varieties have been selected.

The initial material for purpose breeding was isolated on the basis of interline and varietyline F₁ winter rye hybrids using visual selection of tegillate (low pentosan) forms and determination of viscosity of water-soluble extracts.

The research results of yield, phenotypic plasticity and stability parameters of 40 winter triticale collection varieties from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland are presented. High-yielding varieties the most adaptable to the soil and climatic conditions of the republic have been identified. They can be used as effective sources in breeding for high productivity and adaptability.

The data on new morphophysiological models Gramine, Maiz and the results of their realization in fodder blue lupine varieties Talant and Vanyusha included in the State Variety Register of the Republic of Belarus are presented in the article.

The research results of the study on pea breeding material are presented in the article. Five pea varieties possessing a range of agronomic characters are of the highest value.

The study results of common millet collection accessions of Belarusian origin from VIR world collection by basic plant productivity elements are presented in the article. The aim of the study was to identify the sources of agronomic characters for further use in the breeding process.

Complex study of winter rapeseed collection of different ecological and geographical origin (57 accessions) by oil quality allowed to isolate the sources of high oil content with elevated content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic) and with lowered linolenic acid content. The variability of basic fatty acid content and oil content on average for 2012-2014 was determined. The coefficients of pair correlation between oil content in seeds and the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were calculated.

Study results of 21 fibre flax accessions by total height combined with technical plant length are presented in the article. The analysis of resistance to lodging depending on the values of the mentioned parameters in the accessions of different origin is given. It was established that on average the plant height was lower by 7.9% in Russian accessions and by 8.7% in Ukranian ones. The most significant decrease was in the dry year and reached 11-11.5%, however, height decrease did not cause the increase of lodging resistance.

Some aspects of the organization and improvement of original oil flax seed growing are discussed in the article. Increased focus is on the analysis of selection details and the evaluation of elite plants in the varietal populations in selection nursery. The organizational and methodological scheme is proposed. The opening stages of keeping homogeneity of Belarusian oil flax varieties by phenotype are described.

Research results of phenotypic inhomogeneity of reproductive organs and seeds in 57 fibre flax accessions are presented. The variety of colours of the reproductive organs was established. Mean contingency (r=0.49) between the bud colour and well-developed corolla colour was presented while between the pistil basal part colour and bud and flower colours, the contingency was relatively high (r=0.78- r=0.80). The mentioned above regularities can be used in plant selection both in hybrid populations and cultivars.

Nigella sativa is an annual herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family with a wide range of useful properties. It is used in food industry, medicine, ornamental horticulture, cosmetology, and agriculture. The experimental data of the investigated Nigella sativa samples grown in northeastern zone of the Republic of Belarus are presented in the article. Several potential samples for further breeding were identified by the following morphometric characteristics: tall plants (NP-13/4, NP-14/7 (75.6-75.5 сm); low plants NP-13/3 (32.7 сm); the total number of shoots per plant (NP-14/7 (22.0), NP-13/4 (20.3), NP-14/5 (20.0)); fruit size (NP-13/4, NP-14/7 (1.9 сm fruit length, 1.4 cm fruit width)); number of fruits per plant (NP-14/7 (21.4), NP-13/4 (19.9)).

Progamic and postgamic incompatibility of (Alopecurus platensis L.) and (Alopecurus ventricorus Pers.) was overcome. Fertile interspecific hybrids were developed and variety populations of common foxtail with high seed productivity and low seed shedding were formed.

The results of breeding research on the development of broomcorn varieties are presented in the article. Under the conditions of Belarus, broomcorn variety collection was studied by agronomic characters and productivity for the first time. The samples valuable for breeding with high productivity of commercial yield were selected and evaluated in control nurseries, preliminary and competitive variety trials. 10 broomcorn cultivars and varieties were evaluated by productivity, agronomic characters, tops yield and technical raw materials in the collection nursery. The evaluation of productivity allowed to identify the varieties exceeding the standard in the yield. Broomcorn variety MKS-3507/28 was selected for the transfer to the State Variety Trial on the basis of the results of the competitive variety trials by the technological parameters, technical raw materials yield, standard panicle yield, and seed yield.

The results of three-year researches of bird’s-foot trefoil collection accessions of different ecological and geographical origin by the basic morphological and agronomic characters under the soil and climatic conditions of the Central zone of Belarus are presented in the article. The sources of winter hardiness and different maturity of the varieties, spring rosette form and plant bush, fodder and seed productivity, resistance to prolification and pod shatter in the ripeness stage were identified.

The study results of the direction and force of relationships between quantitative characters and qualities of self-pollinated maize lines are presented in the article. Early ripeness and productivity of self-pollinated lines are related to each other by unessential and insignificant correlations what proves the possibility of the combining of such important breeding characters as high yield and early ripeness in one genotype. Positive middle and strong correlation dependencies between line yield and hybrid yield were obtained.