Modern strategies of biotechnological development are expected to dramatically change not only production processes in agriculture, but the requirements to agricultural infrastructure, and the development strategy of rural territories as well. In the early 2000s, the construction of roads and water pipelines, gasifi cation, sustainable supply of electricity were among the main priorities. But current vital needs include sustainable mobile communication, high-speed Internet, Internet of things, digital technologies, robotics, smart farming etc. Only in this case agricultural production may experience maximum synergetic impact. (Research purpose) Evaluation and determination of the most optimal mechanisms and tools for the development and implementation of the biotechnological capacity of agriculture, working out proposals for consolidating the eff orts of the governement and agribusiness to transform the country into a leading agricultural and food power. (Materials and methods) The author analyzed agricultural development trends in modern conditions; evaluated the eff ectiveness of the processes determining the validity and reasonability of the implementation of innovative, best available, additive, digital, and other technologies in the production process. (Results and discussions) It has been determined that, in recent years, the most popular and sought-after are the technologies, which have ensured the achievement of the maximum synergistic eff ect from natural and biological resources utilized by agricultural producers, farmers and agricultural holdings. These include land, agricultural landscapes, soil biocenoses, water, and genetic productivity resources, i.e. plants, livestock, poultry, aquaculture objects, and other cultivated living organisms used by people, while observing the environmental law and preserving natural environment. (Conclusions) It has been established that modern vectors of biotechnological development radically change not only agricultural production processes, but also the requirements for agricultural infrastructure and the concept of rural area development. Currently, the four main strategies based on the paradigm of maximized utilization of the existing agrobiotechnological resources are considered to be the most vital, sustainable, and promising ones.

Russian manufacturing companies do not produce high-clearance equipment for nursery farms growing fruit and berry planting material. In this respect, VIM and Michurinsk State Agrarian University have developed a system of high-clearance machines, taking into account the nursery area, thus providing for effi cient production. (Research purpose) Increasing the effi ciency of growing seedlings and apple rootstocks reproducing in a vegetative way in a mother plantation by means of complex mechanization based on universal technical equipment and technological modules with rational design parameters and kinematic characteristics of working units. (Materials and methods) General methodology for testing machines and working units was supplemented with specifi c methods used in accordance with the research program. The authors made experimental models of machines for spring opening of grafters, cultivating growing shoots, cleaning leaves, and separating branches; provided a system of automatic orientation over a number of plants; and developed a set of technical tools for the care of grafters. (Results and discussion) It has been determined that high-quality spring opening of a mother plantation with the observance of optimal timing for opening shoots increases the productivity of the mother plantation by 7-10 percent. Establishing an optimal environment for plant development using a machine with an active working unit for hilling growing shoots increases the output of standard layering up to 86.2-90.6 percent. Appropriate mechanized separation of layering in improved cutting conditions allowed to increase the yield of standard layering by 5-7 percent, and in the subsequent year there was an 8-10 percent increase in the yield of standard layering (of the fi rst grade) due to their better rooting. (Conclusions) The economic effi ciency of using a universal mechanized set of machinery in a mother plantation is from 514 thousand to 664 thousand rubles per one hectare. The use of high-level technical means of SUVES, VP-1.5 and AP-1.5 with replaceable technological modules increases the level of mechanization by an average of 30 percent, signifi cantly reduces labor costs – up to 20 percent, and improves working conditions for operating staff .

One of the important ways to increase the efficiency of using machinery and tractors is to ensure operating control of the power capacity of tractors employed in agricultural enterprises. It is shown that power loss of tractors and their decreased traction properties result in increased fuel consumption by 10-15 percent as well as increased operating costs. (Research purpose) To develop a digital technology of assessing the power capacity of the internal combustion engines (ICE) of the tractor fl eet employed in agricultural enterprise and develop a confi guration of software and hardware based on modern information technologies for data collection and processing. (Materials and methods) The authors used a dynamic method of ICE diagnostics using test cyclic eff ects, modeling measurements of a diagnostic signal against the background of hindrances, and an analysis of measuring information for power calculation purposes. A structural diagram of the diagnostic device performing necessary technological operations has been off ered as a result. The authors also conducted pilot studies of using digital technology for assessing the power capacity of the tractor fl eet employed in an agricultural enterprise. (Results and discussion) The authors have developed an algorithm of ICE power calculation in real time taking into account speed considerations and developed a diagnostic device providing data recording, calculation of ICE speed and power characteristics, as well as information support of the entire production cycle. It has been determined that the increased fuel consumption necessary to maintain the rated value of the tractor engine power during the observation period averaged 6525 kilograms per year, and the fuel cost, taking into account the average wholesale price of diesel fuel, reached 206,837 rubles. The authors have shown a possibility of reducing costs required to maintain the detected power deviations due to excessive fuel consumption through timely repair and adjustment-and-control actions. They have evaluated possible directions of further development of the digital technology and devices. (Conclusions) The authors have proposed a digital technology and a diagnostic device for evaluating the power of internal combustion tractor engines under production conditions. The proposed technology and diagnostics device are recommended for use by agricultural enterprises as an operating control instrument of the power supply of fi eld works to ensure the efficient operation of the tractor fl eet and provide for cost reduction.

In the Northwestern Federal District, the main agricultural source of environmental pollution is the disposal of organic waste (manure and litter), which accounts for a risk of 85 percent. The problem of ensuring environmental safety requires appropriate solutions based on modern intelligent machine technologies, means of monitoring and controlling technological processes of organic waste disposal. (Research purpose) To provide rationale for combined methods of solving environmental problems in animal and poultry farming. (Materials and methods) The authors studied the environmental impact of machine technologies used in livestock and poultry farming. The studies were carried out by assessing environmental risks and the sustainability of agroecosystems, applying methods and techniques for assessing the best available technologies, and studying the main prospects of developing intelligent digital technologies. (Results and discussion) The authors have identified the main methods of solving the environmental problems associated with large farm enterprises, including the calculation, design and system operation of the best available technologies for agricultural production. They have proposed a technical tool in the form of a bioreactor for the disposal of organic waste, capable of reducing manure and litter processing period in 60 times and providing automated flow and process control with online registration of production and environmental indicators. They have described an intelligent system for monitoring and utilizing organic waste, including a conceptual framework for establishing modular centers for deep processing. (Conclusions) The authors have proved that the implementation of modern methods for ensuring effective and environmentally safe agricultural production requires the establishing of experimental plot sites for complex research and demonstration of a “machine technology – monitoring – management” system. It has been proposed that a site of the VIM agrobiotechnological cluster should be established at a pilot livestock complex enterprise in the Leningrad Region. The authors have identified promising areas of research to ensure the transition of agricultural production to a new technological structure that implements the principles of Smart Farming to provide for the disposal of at least 510 million tons of agricultural organic waste a year.

The seed metering device is the key working part of the peanut planter and is placed above the bottom of the seed box or above the opener. The essence of the seed metering process is the eff ect of the seed meter on the seed, converting the seed from the population into an individual, and converting it into a uniform seed stream or a continuous single seed. The seeding method and quality of the seeding machine depend mainly on the seed metering device. Aiming at the shortage of re-broadcasting rate and missed-out rate during sowing, the diff erent parameters of the air-suction metering device were analyzed, and the seeding performance of the seeding device was tested to obtain the primary and secondary factors aff ecting the performance of the seeding device, and the quality of seeding was improved.

Differentiation of the force applied to the cobs of seed corn in the process of threshing allows minimizing the amount of macro- and micro-damage to the grain, which maintains the potential yield level of this crop. (Research purpose) To develop an automatic control system for active pneumatic elements of the deck of the threshing-and-separating unit capable of varying the pressing force of the spikes applied to the cobs of seed corn in different parts of the threshing chamber to minimize the crop damage. (Materials and methods) The authors have used the methods of system analysis, designing the operating algorithms of automated mechanical systems, electronics and general electrical engineering. (Results and discussions) The authors offer an advanced design of the threshing-and-separating unit for seed corn. The design features an active pneumatic deck with an automatic control system varying the pressing force of separate deck spikes to the cob grain directly in the course of threshing. For air inflating and lowering, two valves are installed in each of the 16 airbags, 32 control relays being used. The operation process is automatized through the Atmega 2560 controller regulating the amount of pressure in the airbags forcing the spikes against the grain in the process of threshing. The authors propose a schematic diagram describing the operation algorithm of the controller with pressure control units in deck airbags. By programming the controller, an operator can change the amount of pressure in the airbags, thus adjusting the force of direct and precise pressing the deck spikes to the corn cobs, for any airbag and in any part of the deck. (Conclusions) It has been determined that the destructive pressing force of 55 Newtons can be achieved in certain combinations of the membrane thickness, the pressure in the airbags and the pressing depth of the spikes. The proposed design of the threshing device with a system of automated pressure control in the deck airbags allows varying the force of threshing, which minimizes the amount of macro- and micro-damage to the seed corn grain and thus maintains the potential yield level of this crop.

The authors have shown that current methods of soil fertilizing for growing cotton crops in Uzbekistan do not ensure the full supply of nutrients to the root system of plants. Providing the required amount of fertilizers is distributed in tiers in the zone of root development, the ratio of their use and cotton yield will increase. (Research purpose) To determine the design parameters of a spreading funnel of a subsoil tiller for three-tiered fertilizer application. (Materials and methods) The paper provides a design of the developed spreading funnel for three-tier fertilizer application. A subsoil tiller is equipped with a spreading funnel, which consists of a cylindrical and inclined funnel-shaped part, a conductive channel and a lower distributor. Installed in the conductive channel are two branch pipes with reflective plates that cut through the supplied fertilizers and direct them to the corresponding soil horizon. (Results and discussion) The authors have studied the movement of mineral fertilizer granules along the conductive channel; experimentally analyzed the effect of the length of the protruding part of reflective plates of the nozzle and the inclination angle of the funnel spreading pipeline on the distribution of fertilizers and the unevenness of fertilizer supply to the upper, middle and lower tiers. They have also determined the parameters of an intake funnel of the vertical pipeline, branch pipes and movable plates of the upper and middle tiers, and a fertilizer spreader of the lower tier. (Conclusions) The authors have proved that the qualitative distribution of mineral fertilizers at predetermined application depths of the upper and middle tiers is ensured at a length of their nozzles of 260 and 240 millimeters and the protruding part of the reflective plates of the fertilizer channel of 26-30 millimeters and 33-37 millimeters, respectively. At the same time, 40-45 percent of fertilizers is distributed in the lower, i.e. the third tier. The authors have chosen optimal parameters of the lower spreading funnel: a groove inclination angle in the longitudinal-vertical plane of 17-19 degrees; a groove inclination angle in the transverse vertical plane of 29 degrees; a rear edge height of the groove in the middle part of 2.5 millimeters, and at the end – 0.5 millimeters.

When using the conventional coulters for applying organic-and-mineral fertilizers, reliable technological process cannot be ensured unless a fertilizer funnel is adapted to such fertilizers. (Research purpose) Determination of the parameters of an improved coulter for introducing organic-and-mineral fertilizers. (Materials and methods) The authors conducted theoretical studies using the methods of theoretical and agricultural mechanics, as well as analytic geometry. They also considered the horizontal flow of soil particles under the action of the pointed part of a leg and made diagrams of the progressive speed of a cultivator depending on the cutting-point angle of the coulter leg at friction angles of 25, 30, and 35 degrees. (Results and discussion) An analytical relationship was obtained to determine progressive flowability of organic-and-mineral fertilizers through a coulter funnel. The author also found the cutting-point angle of a coulter leg for introducing fertilizers at a certain depth. In this case they neither stick to the coulter surface nor pack up before entering it. The optimum diameter of the fertilizer funnel was determined as well. (Conclusions) It has been proved that the cutting-point angle of a working tool leg for introducing mineral and organic-and-mineral fertilizers developed according to the research should range from 54 to 66 degrees. The authors have determined that an easy flow of fertilizers can be ensured if the diameter of a fertilizer funnel of a coulter should be not less than 43 millimeters.

The efficiency of sugar production depends largely on the state of beet chips obtained from a centrifugal sugar beet cutter. It is shown that a one-shift operation of defective knives may result in a loss of up to 28-30 percent of sucrose. (Research purpose) To establish quality indicators of beet chips obtained from a centrifugal beet cutter, to improve a design and production technology of knives with increased physical and mechanical characteristics. (Materials and methods) The authors identified the reasons leading to the deterioration of the knife parameters and ensuring the quality of sugar beet cutting. To increase the indicators of wear resistance and bending strength of the cutting edges, the knife design was modified and a new technology of knife manufacturing was offered. The authors theoretically and experimentally proved the feasibility of replacing the manufacturing technology of the cutting edges of knives - from cutting to plastic deformation in die tooling. (Results and discussion) The authors have determined the mechanism and consequences of the wear and breakage of cutting points and the deformation and breakage of cutting edges of sugar beet knives. The technology of edge die stamping with special equipment was offered. The design of tooling for die stamping and machining of knife’s cutting edges was developed and experimentally tested in production conditions. (Conclusions) The authors offered the methods of strengthening cutting edges of knives with die casting, as well as offered solutions to the design problems of knife manufacturing using special high-performance and resource-saving equipment. The main physical and mechanical characteristics of sugar beet knives manufactured according to conventional and improved technologies have been experimentally determined and tested under operating conditions. The authors show the advantages of the cutting edges of sugar beet knives manufactured according to the improved technology; the study has proved an increase in microhardness by 14 percent and an increase in bending strength by 30 percent.

The results of studying complex objects can be presented as a problem with several outputs, and this will require a separate mathematical model for each result. If we use a generalized optimization criterion (super criterion), for example, in the form of the Harrington desirability function, one model will suffice. The authors have drawn an example of applying this methodology to determine the factors influencing the seeding process performed with an experimental seeder.(Research purpose) To show general recommendations for improving the process of planning and organization of scientific experiments in the field of agricultural engineering.(Materials and methods) The authors were guided by the idea of converting the natural values of particular criteria (or characteristics) into a dimensionless scale of desirability with subsequent assessment of the level of preference of a set of factors and their levels of variation in a multifactorial experiment. The object of research was represented by a sowing unit used for combined seeding of two crops. (Results and discussion) The study has established the following levels of desirability of natural output values (combinations of the variation levels of experimental factors): "very good", "good", "satisfactory", "bad", and "very bad". The rate of influence of these factors on corn seed sowing with an experimental seeder was obtained by applying a priori ranking technique. An acceptable set of values (a combination of optimal and maximum values) from the range of factors variation was revealed, which provides for more qualitative choice of the main factors influencing the optimization parameter. The authors have demonstrated the operation of the patented software to calculate data according to the Box-Behnken plan, which allows to obtain sufficient information about the response surface of the process in the experiment center selected as the expected optimum. (Conclusions) The paper presents the way of preparing for an experiment and subsequent processing of the results of complex studies using the super criterion. The necessity for digitalizing the process of planning and organization of scientific experiments has been emphasized.

Modern methods of monitoring the performance quality of combine harvesters during their testing are applied in a «swath laying» mode. The authors have shown the relevance of a similar assessment method used in the most common “crushing-and-spreading” mode and developed a simple and reliable method and a technical tool for assessing grain losses in the field during the combine harvester operation. (Research purpose) To develop a method for controlling grain loss of a combine harvester operating in a “chopping-and-spreading” mode using a two-chamber sampler prototype. (Materials and methods) The authors have proposed a new design of the prototype of a two-chamber sampler. They have proved that it ensures separate collection of the lost grain resulting from combine harvester units. A limited number of samplers were installed in the field and a method for sampling grain losses from working units of a combine harvester based on the developed sampler was applied. The applied method of control consists in evaluating the test results of a two-chamber sampler prototype during a combine harvester test in a «chopping-and-spreading» mode. (Results and discussion) The authors have developed the prototype of a two-chamber sampler of a fundamentally new design. They offer a method for determining the performance quality of a combine harvester. They have obtained graphs of grain losses distribution across the width of a threshing-and-separating unit and the spreading width equal to the operating width of a header. (Conclusion) It has been established that the use of a two-chamber sampler will ensure separate sequential sampling behind a header, a threshing unit, and a chopping spreader, while excluding sequential overlapping of errors. It has been revealed that the proposed scheme for sampling a grain losses resulting from the working units of a combine harvester will reduce the total number of samplers used - no more than 7 in each replication, regardless of the width of a threshing-and-separating unit or a header.