At the current development stage of agricultural production, agricultural enterprises are faced with precedent pressure from the market. (Research of purpose) Optimize the control parameters of agricultural production by introducing the latest technologies, reducing costs and ensuring more efficient production management. (Materials and methods) The elaboration of a centralized unified automated information management system for mobile units and stationary processes incorporates the following components: Automation of the technological process with the possibility of locating every mobile machine, tractor, combiner harvester, any other vehicle, or fixed object in the field; Transferring integrated process parameters to the dispatch center server, transforming these parameters into a convenient form for technologists, agronomists, and managerial staff; Transferring control commands to adjust the process by its performers (operators). (Results and discussion) The authors have developed agricultural production systems of a new generation to ensure the productivity level of agrocenoses with high efficiency of invested funds and the use of landscape capacity. The basic prerequisite here is that the productivity of plants depends, first of all, on the soil content of mineral nutrients with their optimum ratio in each elementary field section, as well as a set of crop protection measures. (Conclusions) Increased production and cost reduction cannot be achieved without the introduction of the latest information­based automated control systems for production processes based on network technologies for gathering, collecting, analyzing relevant data and developing optimal management decisions. Especially important in agricultural production is the intensity rate of machinery utilization, as well as the line balance and consistency of manufacturing processes.

The quality of flax products depends on the way of flax straw retting. Currently, the best and most widely used method of flax straw retting is way of dew retting. Flax stems are laid in a thin layer on the flax field where they were grown or on a clover or grass field. During the retting process, plants tend to grow through the flax swaths depending on the air temperature (starting from 18°C) and humidity (50­-60%). Therefore, the flax straw picking up process should be done with certain efforts, however, without damaging the stems. (Research purpose) To determine the bonding forces of the flax straw with the rettery (a flax field or a grass field). (Materials and methods) The authors have designed an instrument to measure and register the considered forces as well as a general mechanism of the flax straw picking up process, which operates in conjunction with the IP 264 (BS) measurement information system, and also developed a research methodology. This system is integrated with to a laptop with the pre-­installed «Testing» software. The system is adopted to use the MS Excel software to transfer data in MS Excel format for further plotting. (Results and discussion) It has been shown that the bonding forces of flax stems, their changing pattern, and the maximum value during the picking up process depend on the degree of penetration by grass plants into flax swaths and the grass plant density per square meter. (Conclusions) In process of picking up the grass-­penetrated swaths, they show weak strength characteristics for transportation and an increased tendency to break the continuity of their picking up. The values of the ratio of the translational speed of a pick-­up device and the rotary speed of a picking device fingertip can be greater than the value of the relative elongation at the point of pulling the swath away from the ground. The coefficient of strength to pick up the swaths from a clover rettery is higher than that of flax and grass retteries.

The problem of selecting certain types of grain combine harvesters is quite urgent now. This is because the agricultural manufacturers are struggling to make a right selection of a grain harvester of a definite firm or make due to the aggressive marketing from the manufacturers. (Research purpose) Efficiency evaluation of grain harvesters of different types under the North Kazakhstan weather conditions. (Materials and methods) Technical and economic research has been performed according to the standard methodology followed by data analysis. The calculation has been made for direct combining by 4, 5 and 6­-class harvesters equipped with wide­cut headers from leading domestic and foreign manufacturers. (Results and discussions) the authors have also calculated direct costs for thrashing of one ton of grain under favorable harvesting conditions, total costs for thrashing of one ton of grain including grain losses under unfavorable harvesting conditions, as well as total costs for thrashing of one ton of grain considering that 30% of grain is harvested under favorable harvesting conditions and 70% -­ under the ones. (Conclusion) It has been found that the price of thrashing of one ton of grain that characterizes the efficiency of utilizing grain harvesters depends on the price/efficiency ratio of a harvester, yield and harvesting conditions. Combine harvesters of a lower class with the optimum price/efficiency ratio are more preferable under favorable harvesting conditions. However, in case of the harvest period prolongation due to unfavorable harvesting conditions, combine harvesters of a higher class are more preferable.

An important step in improving the efficiency of crop production is the development of scientifically valid technologies and technical means of pre­sowing preparation and treatment of seeds. Among the various methods that have a positive impact on crop growth, early maturity and resistance to adverse conditions, one of the most promising is seed pelleting. (Research purpose) The reasonability of the use of pelleted seeds (dragees) was shown the shell composition of which includes the substances necessary for active growth and increase resistance to adverse effects, and, in addition, it provides a more accurate seeding. We substantiate the need for improvements to existing technologies and agricultural equipment (for example, seed pelleting machine). due to the significant lack of high­tech means of mechanization of seed pre­sowing preparation at domestic agricultural enterprises. (Materials and methods) Experimental studies have been carried out with the use of computer mathematical modeling. Results of experiments were processed by methods of mathematical statistics, statistical analysis and data processing package, research application package, filtering, analysis and modeling of technological processes. Physical and mechanical properties and quality indicators of seeds and fillers have been determined in accordance with the applicable state standards. (Results and discussion) Use has been made of a program that includes obtaining information about the processes to solve the problems of experimental studies carried out by machines for pre­-sowing treatment of seeds in accordance with the developed models of their functioning; the choice of the most effective means of measuring, recording and processing information about the operation of machines and equipment in normal operating conditions; as well as checking the effectiveness of the developed methods and tools to ensure the quality of the process in case of accidental disturbances. (Conclusions) The authors have studied main parameters and operating modes of a seed pelleting installation. An average values of the process parameters of the pre­sowing treatment of seeds have been calculated under the conditions of normal functioning of machinery and equipment taking into account the validity and reliability of the obtained characteristics. The authors have developed the technological fundamentals of the artificial coating of seed surface. The study results can be used as practical recommendations for the organization of pre­sowing treatment of seeds in order to increase seed germination and crop yields.

High variability of soil and climatic conditions in Russia requires to develop and use appropriate technologies and technical means to harvest root crops. The authors have determined input parameters that depend on physical and mathematical characteristics of harvested crops, soil type and condition and have a critical impact on developing crop harvesters and harvesting technologies. (Research purpose) The research aims at determining the separation intensity of onion-­soil heap on the rod elevator, as well as onion heap supply from the surface of the rod elevator trails to the secondary separation mechanisms – all relating to onion harvesting machines. (Materials and methods) The size and mass parameters of the studied material are limitative for designing basic parameters of the working elements of technical equipment. The issue of increasing quality indicators of onion picker separators is considered on condition that basic input parameters should be precisely defined as they determine technological process of onion cleaning from soil and plant impurities. The authors have determined the amount of onion heap supply to the onion harvester lifting share in accordance with onion dimensional and mass characteristics. (Results and discussion) The onion fraction in the total lifted heap has been determined as well as the weight of onion heap and impurities on the rod elevator trails and onion heap supply from the surface of the rod elevator trails to the secondary separation mechanisms. The authors have also specified separation intensity as well as interdependencies describing a possibility of loss prevention in onion heap fractional composition passing through the rod elevator slots. The influence of design and technical parameters of the rod elevator as well as the influence of fine soil fraction mass on the onion heap separation intensity of the rod elevator have been revealed as well. (Conclusions) The formula has been obtained to determine onion heap supply from the rod elevator surface to the secondary separation mechanisms depending on design and technical parameters of the rod elevator as well as the onion heap weight.

Crop productivity is significantly affected by the dose of optical radiation. In particular, southern crops do not have enough time to ripen in a temperate climate because of decreased daylight duration. In conditions of protected soil due to low irradiance and a short daylight duration in autumn­-winter months, the cultivation of fully developed plants is possible only with the use of artificial radiation sources. The use of LED phytoinstallations with the help of microprocessor­based automatic control systems allows obtaining the required dose of optical radiation. (Purpose of research) To substantiate, as exemplified by meristematic grape plants, the effectiveness of LED phytoinstallations and their impact on the increase in the leaf surface area; to develop multi­colored LED phytoinstallations; to offer new technical solutions to improve the efficiency of the microprocessor system of automatic control of LED phytoinstallations. (Materials and methods) the authors have carried out experiments with meristematic grape plants of RF­48 variety (in vitro) at the stages of their rooting and adaptation. The following equipment has been used: LED phytoirradiator with a changing spectrum using a microprocessor control system, “blinking” led phytoirradiator, multi­colored phytoiradiator with the addition of UV LEDs. The authors have developed on the basis of microcontroller Arduino uno a microprocessor dispensing system of the spectral components of the areas of the photosynthetically active radiation to automatically control the operation of LED­based phytoinstallations. (Results and discussion) it has been shown that a LED irradiator with a changing spectral composition, as compared to a luminescent irradiator, at the stage of rooting of grape microsprouts contributes to a significant increase in the leaf surface area of microplants at 100 percent rooting of sprouts. The blinking phytoirradiator and the UV­LED phytoirradiator, as compared to the fluorescent ones, contributed to an insignificant increase in leaf area of plants at the adaptation stage of grape microplants. (Conclusions) The authors have confirmed the need to further improve the efficiency of the microprocessor­based automatic control system of LED irradiation installations.

Pre-­sowing soil cultivation aims at forming such a soil structure, which will allow increasing the yield. (Research purpose) To determine the qualitative indicators of an experimental soil­cultivating ripping­-and-­separating rotary machine for optimizing the ploughed soil layer, modifying the structure and density of the cultivated soil layer in accordance with the agronomic requirements. (Materials and methods) The author has studied physical and mechanical properties of the soil after its spring cultivation in the conditions of bare (black) fallow. Soil structure and aggregate composition depending on the type of cultivation, the density of soil layers at different times, the dynamics of soil moisture changes in the layers for two months after its spring cultivation have been analyzed as well. (Results and discussion) The author has studied the operation of a soil tillage ripping-­and-­separating machine on the soil layer, which is separated after processing into four sublayers: over­-seed, seed, under-­seed and subsurface ones. Soil fragments (lumps) of a size larger than 20 mm have been completely removed from the over-­seed sublayer. The most valuable soil structure in agronomic terms is formed in the seed sublayer, where the size of individual components does not exceed three times the size of seeds, the density of the under-­seed sublayer is up to 1.25 grams per cubic centimeter. The subsurface sublayer has a density of not more than 1.3 grams per cubic centimeter and a hardness of more than 3 MPa in the plow sole, which is provided by the main tillage operations. The information for the study has been obtained as a result of the analysis of literary sources. (Conclusion) The experimental machine for optimizing the agrophysical properties of the ploughed soil layer allows increasing the structural coefficient by about 2.5 times as compared with traditional cultivators. It has been found that soil cultivation with a ripping-­and-­separating tillage machine allows to improve the methods of pre-­sowing cultivation to improve its agrotechnical characteristics, skip pre­-sowing harrowing and cultivation and prepare the soil for sowing in one run.

The design of domestic grain drills largely determines the quality of sowing and the effectiveness of technologies for cultivating farm grain and seed crops in general. (Research purpose) To consider the development stages of domestic industrial production of grain drills and, in the form of an analytical review, to present the main information a chronological order. (Materials and Methods) the authors have conducted an expert analysis of the results of domestic scientists’ research on the effect of the surface distribution of seeds on the yield of grain crops and determined general trends in the development of sowing machines, which made it possible to implement various methods of sowing cereals. The authors have also identified the main trends and stages of industrial production of grain drills in the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. (Results and discussion) The contribution of Russian and Soviet scientists to the improvement of grain drills and the issues of the optimization of structural and operational characteristics of sowing units have been analyzed in the paper. The authors have determined and examined the main directions of development of grain drill in the pre-­perestroika period, as well as characterized the state of the domestic agricultural machinery industry at the present stage. (Conclusions) Basing on the results of the conducted research, the authors have found that the development of grain drill designs in the domestic agrarian market is influenced by various reasons and has several directions. Among the most obvious trends we can single out the following ones: the use of the best foreign samples as prototypes; a tendency to increase the area of plant nutrition; the use of operational experience and comparative test results; optimization of design and technological parameters of drills based on the results of targeted scientific research; the development of machines that ensure the rational utilization of the energy resources used; extending the functionality of sowing machines as a result of combining operations and carrying out sowing on stubble backgrounds.