The promotion and rational development of drylands employed two tillage regimes (plowing to 20–22 cm and no-till) during the spring wheat and barley cultivation in Southeast Kazakhstan. The results established that the no-till scheme contributed to forming an excellent aggregate state of the arable soil layer for spring wheat and barley (65%–69%). The water-resistant aggregates were the highest with no-tillage (19.3%–21.8%), indicating the unsatisfactory water resistance of the soil structure. Enhancing the water-resistant aggregates requires using organic fertilizers to improve the establishment of perennial grasses, green manuring, and cover crops. No-till system inclined to boost the optimal soil density from a loose and slightly compact state of 1.19–1.23 g/cm³ to a dense 1.32–1.39 g/cm³. According to crop cultivar and tillage methods, the spring wheat and barley grain yield varied between 2.84 and 3.89 t/ha. High grain yield came from the spring barley cultivar Symbat. Spring showed promising performance when the plowing level was 20–22 cm and inferior only by 0.25 and 0.15 t/ha with no-till. Based on the two-factor analysis of variance, the cultivar contribution to the spring wheat and barley grain yield buildup depended on the shares of crop season of the research (year – environment) (40.9%–62.2%) and the tillage regimes (22.4%–32.2%). The grain yield formation was more dependent on the studied crops and their cultivars, and the dependence increased over the crop seasons due to weather conditions during the crop period.

Keywords: spring wheat, barley, soil, soil structure, tillage regimes, no-till, grain yield

Key findings: Structural-aggregate composition and water resistance of soil depended on tillage methods in Southeast Kazakhstan.

Seeking to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers for grain crops led to conducting this study on developing methods using 15N in 2015–2017 at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture, Almalybak Village, Almaty Region, Southeastern Kazakhstan. Nitrogen use efficiency using the stable isotope 15N in microfield experiments revealed that the assimilation of nitrogen fertilizers by grain crops largely depends on the norms, timing, fertilization method, and varietal parameters of the concerned crop. Based on morphophysiological methods of monitoring plant development conditions, the nitrogen fertilizers’ role based on the development has been affirmative, with the optimal timing of their application also determined. Results show that grain crops use nitrogen productively with partial application at the beginning of tillering and tubing, respectively, and stages III and V of organogenesis. With the use of nitrogen fertilizers, the significant varietal differences were evident. The help of an isotope label established the accurate nitrogen utilization coefficients of fertilizers based on the options ranging from 14.7% to 32.2%. Using the isotope method provides an opportunity for further development of practicing the most efficient techniques of applying fertilizers, which is an imperative method for determining the effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizers.

Keywords: grain crops, microfield experience, stable nitrogen isotope, light chestnut soil, morphophysiology, utilization factor

Key findings: The effect of nitrogen fertilizers on the plant height of grain crops planted on light chestnut soils of Southeast Kazakhstan was distinguishable by a low level of natural fertility. The help of morphophysiological observation methods determined the reasonable period needing nitrogen through nitrogen fertilizers by grain crops nitrogen fertilization. With the help of a stable isotope ¹⁵N, the coefficients of nitrogen use from fertilizers (11.7%–31.7%) attained establishment, which vary based upon the time and methods of application and the varietal characteristics of the grain crops.

Determining the influence of various levels of mineral fertilizers to obtain the optimum productivity of two sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) hybrids was the prime goal of the pertinent research. The sugar beet responsiveness’ identification and their payback by enhanced yield to increasing fertilizer rates was effective. The fertilizers’ role in managing the variations in the primary indicators of efficient soil fertility has also been evident. Regression analysis described the relationship among the fertilizer intensity, soil agrochemical indicators, and the productivity of sugar beet. It allowed, with a high degree of reliability, to predict the sugar beet yield of the two hybrids (Aksu and Yampol) at different levels of fertilizer strength. The data characterizing the state of sugar beet sowing in Kazakhstan over the past 10 years are accessible.

Keywords: Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), hybrids, mineral fertilizers, elements of mineral nutrition, productivity, payback

Key findings: Characterizing the potential of two sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) hybrids (Aksu and Yampol) with high root yield revealed that both crossbreeds have significantly higher yields (83.7–85.2 t/ha). The hybrid Yampol showed some advantages over the other hybrid Aksu. In the hybrid Yampol, responsiveness to increased fertilizer rates occurs in the entire range of standards used, and, presumably, an increase in the fertilizer application rate (above 540 kg/ha) will increase root yield. The high responsiveness of the hybrid Aksu was notable in a narrower range of fertilizer norms (330–420 kg/ha). However, with an increased fertilizer rate (above 420 kg/ha), there was no similar increase in the sugar beet root yield.

Evaluating quinoa genotypes for salinity tolerance at germination and seedling stages is a prerequisite for plant breeders. Thus, the scrutiny of 19 quinoa genotypes at different salinity levels under controlled laboratory and greenhouse conditions occurred at the germination and seedling stages. This study aimed to identify the most tolerant genotypes to elevated salinity levels at germination and seedling stages and to determine the traits of a robust association with salinity tolerance using a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design in three replications. The four salinity solutions used were zero (control), 3000, 6000, and 9000 ppm NaCl. Increasing concentrations of NaCl caused a gradual and significant decrease for all studied traits except mean germination time, which significantly increased. At all salinity-stress levels (3000, 6000, and 9000 ppm NaCl), the studied 19 genotypes underwent classification based on their salinity tolerance index (STI) into three categories, i.e., tolerant, moderately tolerant, and sensitive. The four most salinitytolerant quinoa genotypes under all studied salinity-stress conditions were Rainbow-2, Ql3, RH, and KvlSRA2. The strongest correlations were between STI and each of seedling length, root length, seedling fresh weight, seedling vigor index I, and seedling vigor index II under 3000 ppm; germination percentage, speed germination index, seedling extent, root length, seedling fresh weight, and seedling vigor index II under 6000 ppm; and shoot length and seedling vigor index I under 9000 ppm salinity concentration level. Traits showing sturdy correlations with STI, high heritability estimates, high expected genetic advance, and wide phenotypic and genotypic variability were seedling dry weight, seedling fresh weight, seedling vigor index II, and speed germination index at all salinity stress concentrations; they are recommendable as selection criteria for salinity tolerance in quinoa at germination and seedling stages.

Keywords: Quinoa, salinity tolerance, germination, seedling stage, selection criteria, heritability

Key findings: The results will help quinoa breeders identify salinity-tolerant genotypes and the selection criteria for salinity tolerance in quinoa at the germination and seedling stages.

Vetiver is one of the essential oil-producing plants, commonly called vetiver oil. With a deep, broad, and thick root system, the species is characteristically well-adapted to various environmental stresses, including salinity. The presented study strived to evaluate several vetiver ecotypes under diverse salinity stress conditions and identify the best with enhanced salinity tolerance. The said study continued in a completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangement and two factors. The first factor was salinity stress comprising six varying levels, i.e., control (without salinity) and saline soils with 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 dsm^-1. The second factor consisted of three vetiver ecotypes: Bogor, Bojonegoro, and Padang. The results revealed that salinity stress levels, ecotypes, and their interactions significantly affected the growth, physiological, and oil yield traits, such as plant height, leaf area, number of tillers, chlorophyll a and b, root length and volume, and oil yield. Salinity stress at 16 dsm^-1 significantly impacted plant growth but enhanced chlorophyll a and b content. The ecotype Bojonegoro had better canopy growth, while the ecotype Padang had better root growth, resulting in higher oil production compared with the ecotype Bojonegoro. The ecotype Bojonegoro with 16 dsm^-1 salinity stress significantly increased chlorophyll a and b content, and the ecotype Padang showed the highest oil production without salinity stress compared with salinity stress conditions.

Keywords: Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L.), ecotypes, salinity levels, genotype by environment interactions, growth, physiological traits, oil production

Key findings: Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) ecotypes screening through different salinity levels are very useful for getting tolerant genotypes with enhanced growth and oil traits.

In the present era, assumptions on tugai forests consist of a complex floodplain ecosystem (reed-cattail thickets, gallery forests, halophytic shrubs, and grass biocenoses) of various ecological levels located from the water’s edge to the upper floodplains and riverine shafts. Anthropogenic transformations disrupted the natural dynamics of the tugai ecosystem. The presented study sought to characterize the current state of tugai forests in different regions of Kazakhstan to conduct monitoring of forest entomology and determine the reforestation potential of tugai plants in the floodplains of the Syr Darya and Ili rivers of Kazakhstan. The recent work focused on vital aspects associated with reinstating tugai forests. Special monitoring of forest pests progressed for the timely detection of their reproduction bulk, foci development, and plan extinction measures. The forest entomology monitoring results revealed the destruction of plants due to leaf-gnawing and gall-forming insect pests. A laid out 27 test areas investigated the dynamics of the undergrowth in tugai forests. The reproductive capacity of the plants, viz., Populus diversifolia, Elaeágnus angustifólia, Sálix acutifólia, and Salix wilhelmsiana, attained evaluation. Natural renaissance under the main forest-forming rocks’ characterization in tugai plantations was good.

Keywords: Tugai forests, floodplain ecosystem, forest entomology, leaf-gnawing and gall-forming insect pests, reforestation, Syr Darya and Ili rivers

Key findings: In the floodplains of the Syr Darya and Ili rivers of Kazakhstan, an assessment based on the tugai forests and their entomology ensued. The results of the forest entomology monitoring revealed the thrash of plants by leaf-gnawing and gall-forming insect pests. The reforestation features of the main forest-forming species’ validation also materialized.

This research’s objectives focused on using two male-sterile systems, apetaloid and petaloid types, as female parents for the F₁ marigold cut flower hybrid development. These female lines’ creation came from the same original line, the gynomonoecious line, with five backcrosses to obtain two female lines, FY1502 and FY1502AP. Their crossing with 10 male lines progressed during the summer from April to August 2016. Then, growing the progenies of 20 crosses and four commercial varieties as checks for characterization and evaluation continued in a lattice design with two replications. Planting them in six blocks contained 10 plants per treatment. The data recorded on eight horticultural characteristics include flower diameter, number of petals per flower, calyx length, peduncle length, flower weight, the number of days from sowing to first flowering, plant height, and plant bush diameter, as well as, the morphology of flowers. The results showed that progenies from two female apetaloid and petaloid with the same male line gave similar outcomes; all progenies produced male sterile double-flowers with golden-yellow flowers, except progenies of MY1501 and MY1502, which created yellow flowers. FY1502 gave the same superior F₁ progenies as FY1502AP in the diameter of the flower. Based on the results, both females could give good characteristics on flower diameter, calyx length, plant height and bush diameter, and early flowering. However, the heterobeltiosis of the F₁ progenies of a few vegetative and reproductive characteristics differed. The FY1502AP gave better progenies in peduncle length heterobeltiosis than those of FY1502 and slightly better for plant bush diameter, whereas FY1502 gave slightly better in flower weight heterobeltiosis than those of FY1502AP. The findings of this study indicate that this apetaloid type could benefit Thailand’s marigold seed production program.

Keywords: American marigolds (Tagetes erecta L.), F₁ progeny, male sterility, petaloid, apetaloid, horticultural characteristics

Key findings: Two forms of male sterile marigolds, apetaloid and petaloid, could give similar F₁ hybrids. The apetaloid line has an advantage over the petaloid one due to its stability in genetic control. Presently, the petaloid male sterility technique in Thailand is prevalent for hybrid marigold production. The results from this study show that marigold seed production in Thailand could employ this apetaloid type in the seed production program.

The material for this research resulted from the authors’ work during 2018–2020 at the Charyn Nature Park in different floodplain reservoirs of the Charyn and Temirlik Rivers, Almaty region, Kazakhstan. Their study of the fauna and ecology of Hemiptera followed the methods of route surveys and stationary observations. The simplest way to collect is to catch aquatic Hemiptera using aquatic entomological nets and account for potential water bugs. Corixidae has 21 species, while other families have one or two species. Their density comprised Gerridae (8–10), Corixidae (16–20), Naucoridae (3–5), Notonecta (8–9), and Ranatra (3–5) specimens/m², respectively. The mass species found included Ilyocoris cimicoides, Noton ecta glauca, Nepa cinerea, and Gerris costae. During the autumn survey, an observation revealed that the previously studied reservoirs have decreased in size, and some have even dried up. In the coastal part of the reservoirs, water scorpions (Nepa cinerea) were crawling along the bottom of the pool. Water backswimmers (Notonectidae) and toad bugs (Naucoridae) moved to deeper pond areas. Representatives of the Corixidae family were zoophytophages (21 species), with the remaining species being zoophages (12 species). Under the Charyn Nature Park conditions, most species were mono or univoltine (21 species), bivoltine (five species), and poly or multivoltine (seven species). The fauna of the Charyn State National Nature Park (SNNP) has the main characteristic of species of Hemiptera with Western Asia (40%), Trans-Palearctic (21%), Western Palearctic (18%), and Trans-Eurasian (12%) ranges. All the recognized species have a wide selection of hunting objects, feeding on aquatic invertebrates, including regulating the numbers of blood-sucking mosquito larvae (Culicidae).

Keywords: aquatic hemiptera, fauna, ecology, Charyn Nature Park, Charyn and Temirlik Rivers

Key findings: The prime purpose of the research was to identify the species composition of the aquatic hemiptera at the Charyn State National Natural Park, Kazakhstan, where no systematic exceptional study of the fauna of the aquatic hemiptera occurred before. However, two research articles have come out on aquatic hemiptera. Said insects, by species diversity and environmental appearance, are one of the groups most suitable for use in various environmental studies because of their best adaptation to different ecological conditions.

The 7S globulins (seed storage glycoprotein) isolated from soybean and chickpea seeds have the antifungal potential against the pathogenic fungus (Botrytis cinerea) causing gray mold in grapes assessing table grapes in vitro or postharvest by comparing with synthetic fungicide, Switch 62.5 WG. Conventional microbiological procedures estimated the in-vitro antifungal potential of the 7S globulins, such as linear growth curves and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Soybean-7S significantly inhibited the in-vitro growth of Botrytis cinerea by about 64.44%, 66.64%, and 76.67% when applied at 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL, respectively, followed by chickpea 7S with growth reduction of 52.22%, 54.44%, and 66.67%, respectively. The synthetic fungicide (Switch 62.5 WG) induced higher growth inhibition extents (83.33% and 86.66%) when applied at 50 and 200 μg/mL, respectively. The 7S-exposed B. cinerea displayed swollen hyphae compared with the control under scanning electron microscope examination. The 7S derived from soybean and chickpea inhibited gray mold development in table grapes when applied at 200 and 400 μg/mL for 30 days after infection with B. cinerea. The maintained disease severity was also minimal (40% and 25% for soybean-7S and chickpea-7S, respectively). An increased level of treatment (400 μg/mL) highly reduced the disease severity to only 7.5% after 30 days of storage at cold conditions for both proteins. The 7S globulin from legume seeds can be an alternative to synthetic fungicides for controlling B. cinerea as a postharvest treatment. Developing these legume proteins as natural fungicides could also progress for the safe control of various plant pathogens, causing drastic crop losses.

Keywords: Grape (Vitis vinifera L.), gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), 7S globulin, postharvest, linear growth curves, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Key findings: Soybean-7S significantly inhibited the in vitro growth of Botrytis cinerea by about 64.44%, 66.64%, and 76.67% when applied at 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL, respectively, compared with 52.22%, 54.44%, and 66.67% growth reduction by chickpea-7S, respectively. The synthetic fungicide (Switch 62.5 WG) induced higher growth inhibition, amounting to 83.33% and 86.66% with 50 and 200 μg/mL, respectively. The 7S-exposed B. cinerea displayed swollen hyphae compared with the control under scanning electron microscope examination.

Intensive farming has adversely affected soil fertility and ecosystems due to excessive chemicalization in the Kazakhstan Republic. The soil lacks organic matter, leading to declining fertility. Biologization has emerged to address this issue as a solution to improve soil fertility and enhance the growth and development of crop plants. This study aimed to determine the impact of organic fertilizers on the composition of soil microflora and biometric values in cultivating stone and pome fruits. The use of microbiological methods analyzed soil microflora and physiological bacterial groups. The research’s novelty lies in developing a technology that utilizes organic fertilizers and biological products to improve the activities of soil microorganisms and plant roots’ nutrition. Organic fertilizers ‘Bio juice Energy Plus’ and ‘Agroflorin’ positively influenced beneficial bacteria and fungi and significantly contributed to soil enrichment. Organic fertilizers and biological products support soil biological processes and replenish the nutrients, promoting sustainable agricultural productivity and reducing chemical dependency. The current study emphasizes the potential of organic fertilizers and natural products in enhancing soil fertility and supporting plant growth in Kazakhstan. Biologization also offers an eco-friendly approach to agricultural practices, ensuring agronomic productivity and the long-term good health of soils.

Keywords: Organic fertilizers, biological products, chemicalization, biologization, soil microorganisms, soil fertility, plant growth and development, stone and pome fruits

Key findings: The applied organic fertilizers, i.e., Agroflorin, Alkaral, and Bio juice Energy Plus, have proven efficient in improving the qualitative and quantitative composition of microbial association of soils under fruit crops. Research revealed that organic fertilizers boost the beneficial microorganisms and positively influence most physiological indicators in the apple tree culture compared with the control version. With positive results, the D-4 variant using organic fertilizer ‘Bio juice Energy Plus’ led and performed better.