One of modern agronomical soil science priorities is the study of soil and biotic transformation processes of materials used as alternative fertilizers, with subsequent assessment of changes both in the nutritious quality of a soil solution composition and in shift directions of a function of the soil-biotic trasformation. In this regard, the present work is devoted to studying the microbiological characteristics of sod-podzolic sandy loamy soil and, in particular, the biochemical function of the transformation of its organic and mineral phosphate components occurring under the influence of zeolite from the Hotynetsky field. There has been conducted a microfield research of the influence of high rates of zeolite on the quantity indicators of litothrophic and organothrophic phosphate-reduction microorganisms of soil and its phosphatase activity. The research has shown that the quantity of geophilic litothrophic microorganisms under the influence of zeolite at a rate of 6 t/hectare increased on average in 2.6-3.0 times, and that of organothrophic microorganisms - by 80%. The frequency rate of strengthening the soil phosphatase activity by the rock material at rates of 6 and 12 t/hectare, amounted to 3.0 and 3.3 times, respectively. Owing to the activization of phosphate-reduction microbic associations of sod-podzolic soil with high-siliceous material, the content of mobile phosphorus compounds increased from 22% to 43%, depending on a zeolite rate. The close and prolonged by years of research correlation between the content of mobile phosphates in soil and the number ofphosphate reduction microorganisms convincingly confirms the fact of active interaction of the considered rock material with a soil-and-biotic complex and, at the same time, allows to consider it as a material stabilizing not only biodegradation functions of a micro-bic pool, but also optimizing the soil absorbing complex due to exchange reactions in colloidal Si-P system.

The paper provides an analysis of rehabilitation activities on arable and forage lands radioactively contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident and evaluates their efficiency. Quality performance of rehabilitation activities ensures stable crop yields and obtaining crop and forage products corresponding to the existing sanitary-hygienic requirements for the content of radionuclides (137Cs and 90Sr). The authors have calculated application rates for mineral and organic fertilizers as well as lime needed to carry out rehabilitation activities for the cultivation of grain crops and potatoes, as well as at the surface and radical improvement of hayfields and pastures on different types of soils, depending on the density of their contamination with 137Cs. The high efficiency of liming acid soils to reduce the intake of radionuclides (especially, radiocaesium) in crop products has been shown. The introduction of lime and other lime materials, depending on the level of pollution and soil acidity, contributes to reducing the intake of radionuclides into crops in 1.5-3.0 times. The paper describes new complex fertilizers Borofoska and Nitroborofoska containing macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium), and the trace element boron, which have shown high efficiency (reduction of 137Cs accumulation in the harvested crop up to 6.8 times) in the Chernobyl accident zone on sod-podzolic soils of light texture. The authors comment on the results of testing a new highly effective organo-mineral fertilizer of a prolonged action based on tripoli - SUPRODIT M - a mixture of a complex sorbent with elements of plant mineral nutrition (N, P, K) enriched with Mg, B and Mo, and an organic component based on peat-containing easily digestible nitrogen and biologically active substances (potassium humates).

Twenty-one isolates of bacteriophages specific to eleven target strains ofXanthomonas campestris pv. campestris were isolated from soil samples collected under black rot-infected cabbage plants. An electron microscopic study of bacteriophage morphology allowed to classify 3 isolates as members of the Siphoviridae family, and the remaining eighteen isolates as those representing the Myoviridae family. After the analysis of phagotyping for seventy-three phytopathogen strains against newly isolated isolates and four collection strains of bacteriophages, it was proposed to construct a phage cocktail including isolates BT2, SM10, Ph30-1, Ph44, DB1 and Tir2, with combined infectivity of 88% strains of the X. campestris pv. campestris collection, representative for the Russian population of the pathogen. Treatment of cabbage seeds of cv. “Moscow late 15” with 25.6% seeds naturally contaminated with thepatho-gen with the cocktail of 5 bacteriophages resulted in a significant decrease of the black rot infection of seedlings. The estimated biological efficacy of the bacteriophage cocktail reached 90.6%.

The research relevance is caused by the fact that increasing the sanitary and hygienic qualities of milk and dairy products demands the professionally designed manufacturing technology and culture, improveed conditions of the equipment use and the development of methods influencing the microbiological characteristics. The research object is the milk of the Kholmogory breed cows kept under free stall (loose) (group I) and tie-up (group II) systems. It has been established that the method of keeping does not affect the physico-chemical parameters, which meet the requirements for raw milk. Milk density, freezing point, acidity and the amount of somatic cells are all affected by the seasonal factors. Changes in the quantitative composition of sanitary-indicative microorganisms of raw milk depend both on the way the cows are kept and milked, and on the season. The highest bacterial contamination of milk has been observed under loose housing. The maximum quantity of microorganisms is observed in the summer period for both methods of keeping. No salmonella have been detected, while yeasts and molds have been registered in all milk samples. The authors propose a method of electromagnetic influence on the microbial cell control system, which allows to reduce the degree of microorganism development and increase the milk quality. The influence of electromagnetic radiation on the development of individual microorganisms has been registered. The largest quantity of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (QMAFAnM) has been observed in raw milk without any external influence with a total number of486,000 CFU/ml. When exposed to electromagnetic pulses, the quantity of yeast and mold fungi decreased in 9 or more times.

Camel breeding in Kazakhstan is a traditional branch of productive livestock farming. In recent years, genetic studies of camels of various types and interspecies hybrid generations have been successfully carried out in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Russia. When breeding the Kazakh Bactrian camels, the relevant goal ismto maintain the genetic diversity of the existing gene pool, increasing their productivity and reproductive ability. The paper presents data on the main economically valuable traits of the Aral intrabreed type of the Kazakh Bactrian camels. Camels are kept to obtain high-quality food, such as milk and meat. The meat qualities of camels can be evaluated not only by indicators of body weight, measurements and body-build indices, but also by slaughter yield, the morphological composition of a carcass, as well as the chemical composition of meat and its food value. 100 g of camel meat contains from 60.7% to 79.9% of water, from 17.3% to 21.8% ofprotein, from 0.80% to 22.6% offat. In camel breeding, meat from young stock is most valued as it is tender and tasty, and, most importantly, it has the optimum indicator of chemical composition. The studied Aral intrabreeding type refers by its productivity to the milk-meat type. This type was derived as a result of purposeful selection and breeding work in the conditions of the Kyzylorda region and includes the Aral and Kulandy factory camel types of the Kazakh Bactrian breed. The Kazakh Bactrian sires of the Aral interbreed type have a strong constitutional type. The body length is 160-175 cm, chest circumference is 230-260 cm, body weight is 650-950 kg, and shearing is 7.5-15.0 kg. A female camel’s breast is well developed, the udder is large, the skin is thin and flexible. The length of the trunk is 155-165 cm, chest circumference is 220-245 cm, body weight is 550-750 kg, and shearing is 4.5-8.0 kg.

The paper provides an overview of the epidemiology and etiology of canine pyometra. The authors analyze risk factors, clinical manifestations, and clinical forms of the disease and well on some aspects and problems of diagnosing pyometra and diagnostic criteria for the early detection of sepsis signs (a systemic inflammatory reaction) in dogs suffering from pyometra. The main modern methods of pyometra therapy are analyzed. It is emphasized that, at present complete ovariohysterectomy is the most effective and safe method of treating any form of canine pyometra.

The paper briefly discusses the situation with private farm enterprises in Russia over the period of the development of a mixed farm economy and its transition to market relations after 1990. The author considers conditions and difficulties of the farm enterprise activities for the period prior to the 2006 census and between the 2006 and 2016 agricultural censuses. The size, composition and dynamics of the resources of personal subsidiary and other private farms as well as non-profit associations established during this period are assessed in detail. On the basis of classifying private farms as to thier operation purposes the author evaluates the influence offactors on the development ofprivate farm enterprises and increasing their profitability, and also provides methodological recommendations for an economic and statistical analysis of farms according to the census results at different levels of management and personnel training.

The paper describes two series of experiments with Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.). The authors studied the productivity of crops and distribution of dry matter and nitrate pool in plant tissues. Plants were grown in a non-circulating passive hydroponic installation under white and red LEDs in nutrient solutions with various nitrogen concentrations (nitrate -from 40 to 150 mg/l, ammonia -from 0 to 70 mg/l). The study found positive correlation between the accumulation of dry weight of plants and the nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution in the range from 40 to 120 mg/l. It was established that with the selected lighting mode, the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in the solution should not exceed 70 mg /1. Partial replacement of an ammonium nitrate form of nitrogen allowed to reduce nitrate concentration in the shoots without any loss of their productivity.

In our recent study the one male sterile plant BKBu3 has been found in BC1-progeny from interspecific crossing of tetraploid fertile B. oleracea and allotetraploid fertile B. carinata lines. The flowers of male sterile plant had reduced, necrotic anthers, and no fertile pollen was observed. However, other organs of flowers were phenotypically and functionally normal. No segregation in sterility/fertility morphology of the BC2 progeny plants indicated a cytoplasmic mode of male sterility inheritance. To determine the type of the found cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), the authors conducted a molecular-genetic analysis using orf138-specific primers. The PCR analysis indicated that the found cytoplasmic male sterility is of an Ogura-type. Screening the fertile lines of B. carinata, diploid B. oleracea, and fertile plants of BC2 progeny of interspecific cross and a partially fertile B. oleracea-carinata hybrid revealed ~600 bp amplicons that are not matched to the orf138-marker fragment. It was suggested that the presence of ~600 bp amplicons could be an outcome of chimeric cytoplasm of male fertile plants, and it could also be a reason why CMS plants are formed in a progeny of interspecific hybrids.