Three-year studies (2022–2024) conducted on sodpodzolic cohesive sandy loam soil showed that with early sowing (April 10–28), when the temperature did not reach 10 °C, the average duration of the pre-emergence period of the Daryan and Poleskiy 202 maize hybrids was 22– 30 days, while with optimal sowing (2 weeks later) it was 8 days shorter. The increase of the sowing depth of seeds with a 1000-grain weight of 193–357 g from 2–3 cm to 6–7 cm at both sowing dates leads to the extension of the pre-emergence period by 3 days on average. The cold-resistant Daryan hybrid has a higher field germination of seeds. Under field conditions the loss of its seeds that are viable under laboratory conditions is 5.1–5.2% with 2–3 cm sowing and it increases up to 6.0% with a deep sowing of 6–7 cm. For the hybrid Poleskiy 202, they increase up to 8.3–9.3% and 13.7–17.4% respectively. Shallow planting is especially important for small-fraction seeds (7 mm).

Due to three-year research (2022–2024) conducted on sod-podzolic cohesive sandy loam soil in the central part of Belarus, the influence of sowing time (early April and two weeks later), sowing depth (2–3, 4–5 and 6–7 cm) and seed weight (193–273 g/1000 pcs of 7–8 mm and 273– 357 g/1000 pcs of over 8 mm) was studied on the productivity and economic efficiency of cultivating domestic maize hybrids Daryan (FAO 210) and Polesky 202 (FAO 230), differing both in early maturity and heat requirement. That made it possible to identify different responses of hybrids to the studied technological elements and made conclusions on their efficient use.

For the climatic conditions of the central part of Belarus, the suitability of soils for soybean cultivation was assessed based on the economic analysis against the background of three technologies of different levels of intensity. It’s established that the most suitable soils are sod-podzolic medium loamy ones with the seed yield of 2.7–4.0 t/ha and normal and intensive technologies and a net income of 1.5–3 thousand rubles/ha. Peat-gley cultivated soils are suitable (the seed yield is 25–29 c/ha with normal technologies, net income – 1.6 thousand rubles/ha), sod-podzolic cohesive sandy loam slightly gley soils are of little use (14.4–21.9 c/ha of seeds with normal and intensive technologies and net income – 22–619 rubles/ha).

The article presents the results of the assessment of the economic efficiency of winter wheat seed production of the Augustina variety depending on the use of six options of fungicide protection. The most economically efficient option was the application of the fungicides Elatus RIA, EC at the flag leaf stage (BBCH 37–39) and Magnello, EC at the the ear stage (BBCH 59–60), which allowed forming the maximum profitability of 211.5 % with a corresponding net income of 3055 rubles/ha

The paper describes the peculiarities of the buckwheat varieties of diff erent morphotypes and ploidy and presents the characteristics of the new diploid varieties Menka and Dzeya and tetraploid varieties Alfa, Omega and Deliva of this crop

The paper presents the results of the research on the creation of infectious backgrounds of oat root rot under field and laboratory conditions. It’s established that to assess the resistance of oat varieties and samples to root rot on infectious backgrounds, it is advisable to use the pathogen Fusarium culmorum, since it is the most aggressive and harmful. Oat monoculture doesn’t provide sufficient accumulation of infection for a reliable assessment. It’s identified that the oat varieties Mirt, Freestyle, Reverance and competitive variety testing samples - No. 1, 4, 5, 12, 17, 22 and 25 have increased resistance.

The article presents the results of the assessment of the oat collection and breeding samples for resistance to helmintosporium leaf blotch against infectious backgrounds under field and laboratory conditions. In 2020 and 2021 72 varieties of different types of oats – common, hulless, red and sand – were evaluated. A direct relation was established between the assessment under laboratory conditions using the benzimidazole method and the field one against the infectious background; the correlation coefficients were 0.83; 0.89 and 0.81. 27 resistant genotypes were identified: Desnyansky, Strigunok, Neiyan 2, Rollo, 76Q:225, Sunland, Nikola, Fongueuse, Nigra, Fulghum k-4929, Kond 042, Mestny k- 4662, Мestny k-4482, Меstny k-5131, QA44, Cc7121, PI-51758, CJ9038, Kleiner Nackhafer, Mestny k-5255, Debiut, Zapavet, Shishlova 403-1, Fulgnum pedigree, Меstny k-7710, Мestny k-4681, ShishlovaОvStr73.

Nitrogen fertilizers increase the consumption of soil nitrogen by plants in relation to phosphorus-potassium backgrounds by 15–89 %, depending on their rates, forms and time of application, granulometric composition of soils, the degree of their hydromorphism and erosion. Absolute values of «extra»-nitrogen vary from 18 to 90 kg/ha during the vegetation period. They increase with increasing the rates of nitrogen fertilizers. No reliable effect of single and fractional application of nitrogen fertilizers on the mobilization of soil nitrogen is established. Out of the forms of nitrogen fertilizers UAN has the best mobilizing effect. The absolute value of «extra»-nitrogen on eroded soils is lower compared to non-eroded soils. The mobilizing effect of nitrogen fertilizers increases with increasing the levels of phosphorus and potassium nutrition of plants.

The paper demonstrates the results of the research on the effect of the growth regulator Fitovital, WSC on the yield of leguminous crops, which was used for seed encrustment and crop treatment at the budding stage. It was established that when adding the growth regulator Fitovital, WSC (1.2 l/t) to the seed protectant Vincit Forte, SC (1.0 l/t), the yield of leguminous crops increased by 8.8–16.5 % depending on the crop, and when crops were treated at the budding stage (0.6 l/ha) – by 9.9–17.1 %. The highest yield of leguminous crops was provided when using the growth regulator for seed encrustment with further treatment at the budding stage. The yield increase in that case was within 19.7–32.9 % depending on the cultivated crop.

The fungicide Falcon, EC sprayed to plants in a dose of 0.3 and 0.4 l/ha promotes the reduction of the prevalence and development of black mold (by 37.5–40 % and 8.8– 13.2 % respectively), rust (by 37.0–50.0 % and 10.0–13.2 % respectively) on leaves and bulb rot by 1,0–5.9 %. Spraying plants with the fungicide allows saving 0.51–0.85 t/ha of the bulb yield of winter garlic.

The assessment was made of the biochemical parameters of Chinese cabbage heads of various weights grown in 2022– 2023 in the Research and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato and Fruit and Vegetable Growing in terms of dry matter content, the amount of sugars and nitrates

The article analyzes the state and prospects of the development of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of the Republic of Belarus. The problems that are currently typical of SPNA and possible directions for their solution are shown. The conclusion made is about the effi ciency of the state policy in the fi eld of functioning and protection of SPNA, the main objective of which is to preserve biological and landscape diversity