The authors showed that a convenient, accurate and fast way of assessing the degree of influence of environmental factors on plants was needed to optimize photoculture. They emphasized the importance of non-destructive monitoring of crops physiological state of, for which they used phenomics technologies, for example, remote sensing using hyperspectral cameras.

(Research purpose) To reveal the possibility of using hyperspectral imaging to determine the plant developmental stability.

(Materials and methods) As a measure of the favorable impact of environmental factors on the growth and development of plants, their developmental stability was taken, numerically characterized by the fluctuating asymmetry value. The authors proposed to use vegetation indices determined from the leaf reflection spectra as a bilateral feature. The object of experimental research was juvenile cucumber plants. The studies were carried out in laboratory conditions. The spectral characteristics of cucumber leaves grown under different light quality of radiation were determined using a Specim IQ hyperspectral camera. Information on the spectral reflectances was extracted from the resulting data hypercube. As an example calculations were performed for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index.

(Results and discussion) The authors revealed differences in the productivity indicators of plants grown under different light quality. They revealed a significant frequency of occurrence of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index asymmetry in two halves of the cucumber leaf surface. The fluctuating nature of this asymmetry was confirmed. They found that with a light quality providing a higher productivity of plants, lower values of fluctuating asymmetry were observed, which indicate greater stability of plant development.

(Conclusions) The authors proposed a method for determining the plant developmental stability using a hyperspectral camera. The method was based on the assessment of the fluctuating asymmetry of vegetation indices calculated for points on the leaf surface, characterized by the same location conditions relative to the border of its left and right halves. A preliminary assessment of the possibility of determining the developmental stability by the results of phenotyping using the example of cucumber plants showed the feasibility of the method and its practical applicability.

The authors showed that the transition to the technology of virus-free minitubers mass production changed the machines requirements for planting original seed potatoes.

(Research purpose) To develop a technological scheme and substantiate the design parameters of the planting apparatus of an automatic planter of potato minitubers.

(Materials and methods) The development was based on an elevator-type planting apparatus. The authors decided to create a spoon design with the ability to grip and move into the guide casing one minituber in each spoon, eliminating the minitubers jumping from one spoon to another or pinching them when moving along the guiding casing to the furrow bottom. The diameters of the lower guide and upper drive rollers were theoretically substantiated in order to exclude the influence of the planting tubers sizes difference on the uniformity of their submitting into the furrow.

(Results and discussion) The authors determined the minimum permissible elevator belt speed, which depended on the distance between the spoons on the elevator belt and the planting unit speed. The size of the upper driving reel diameter was justified from the condition that the spoon unfolded 180 degrees in at least 1.5 seconds, which ensured a tuber smooth transition to the back side of the spoon.

(Conclusions) The authors developed a technological scheme of an automatic planting elevator type device for planting potato minitubers with a working speed of 6-9 kilometers per hour. It was found that the upper driving reel diameter was not less than 44 centimeters, and the lower guide roller diameter was not more than 12 centimeters. They showed that the double-sided design of scooping spoons with the possibility of installing replaceable bowls in them would ensure a high-quality planting of not only minitubers, but also subsequent reproductions of seed and ware potatoes with a tuber mass of 5-80 grams.

The authors substantiated the necessity for an epistemological approach to determining the main messages in the digitalization application by agricultural producers, taking into account natural and climatic, commodity-production and social factors.

(Research purpose) To formulate the main messages when applying digital technologies in agricultural production, which determine epistemological approaches to their systematic use and allow increasing grain production by 2-3 times on the example of JSC Sokolovo.

(Materials and methods) The authors applied a system analysis to agricultural production objects as to information field when describing them in the information space.

(Results and discussion) The authors found that agricultural production objects were in an objective multiplicative relationship. Based on the results, a communication scheme between objects in agro-industrial production, reflecting their dialectical commonality was developed. They presented production objects as a resource characterized by a certain set of parameters and values. They showed the multiplicative nature of the resources relationship, describing the nature of the dependence by the method of passage to the limit. The authors identified general information requirements for solving the agriculture problems, crop production and for the means of processing this information in the amount of more than 2 petaflops. They established the necessary resolution for managing technical processes - less than 3 centimeters.

(Conclusions) The authors proposed a paradigm for information support of technological processes in agricultural production. They confirmed the legitimacy of this approach to the paradigm formation by creating more than 20 databases. They gave examples of increasing the efficiency of grain production in the Novosibirsk region. The epistemological principles were based on the formulated six messages of information digital technologies, which made it possible to use them in more than 247 520 different combinations and apply to the whole farms variety, depending on their capabilities and desires.

The authors determined that in the development of grain production technical support, the main role was played by such a system-forming factor as the transition of the country’s grain enterprises to private ownership. Over the past 30 years, private companies and individuals became grain owners (with the exception of a small share). The authors substantiated the necessity for the development of grain-seed cleaning equipment in Russia. They showed the relevance of developing a new scientific and technical policy in the field of machine development support for grain production and its optimal functioning.

(Research purpose) To carry out an evolutionary analysis of grain and seed cleaning equipment development and functioning, to determine the main periods and system-forming factors of its development.

(Materials and methods) The authors applied the historical-analytical method in addition to technical systems. As research objects, they studied the original works of domestic and foreign authors for more than 100 years: monographs, dissertations, reports of research institutions, machine testing stations protocols, scientific journals, conference materials, as well as descriptions for domestic and foreign patent documentation.

(Results and discussion) They described the evolution of grain-seed cleaning equipment development over the past 150 years: from the simplest tools to complex machine systems of industrial flow technologies. The authors presented the main characteristics of grain-seed cleaning machines and indicators of grain mixtures separation by sieves processes at various stages.

(Conclusions) The main system-forming factors influencing the technical support of grain production such as: socio-economic conditions; soil and climatic conditions; science and technology policy; organizational factors were revealed. They substantiated four stages of its development: the first (1870-1930) – the use of the simplest manual machines of foreign production; the second (1930-1950) – the birth of domestic production of grain-seed cleaning equipment; the third (1950-1991) – the transition from the use of separate machines to industrial flow technologies; the fourth (1991 – to the present) – the transition from traditional flow technology to a variety of technologies and machines.

The authors showed that in Kazakhstan northern region grain harvesters of 4, 5 and 6 classes did not provide the required level of productivity due to low yields. Longer harvesting period increased product losses. It was found that the harvesting machines were working in the incomplete loading mode of the thresher. The authors revealed the discrepancy between the standard sizes of the used reaping machines and regional zonal features.

(Research purpose) To substantiate the parameters of headers and reaper-headers for combine harvesters in the incomplete loading mode of the thresher.

(Materials and methods) The authors performed technical and economic calculations according to the criterion of operating costs for direct combining with a yield of 0.5 to 2.5 tons per hectare. The calculation was carried out for combine harvesters Vector-410 (class 4), Acros-550 (class 5), Essil-760 (class 6), aggregated with headers of different working widths.

(Results and discussion) The authors determined that for the combine Vector-410 the rational width of the header was 9 meters in the yield range of 0.5-1.5 tons per hectare, and with a yield of 2.0-2.5 tons per hectare – 7-9 meters. For the combine Acros-550 the rational width of the reaper-header was 16 meters with a yield of 0.5-1.0 tons per hectare, with 1.5 tons per hectare - 9-12 meters, and with 2.0-2.5 tons per hectare – 7-9 meters. For the combine Essil-760 these values were 16; 12 and 9 meters respectively.

(Conclusions) It was found that when comparing grain harvesters of 4, 5 and 6 classes with a yield of 0.5-2.0 tons per hectare, the lowest operating costs were provided by Acros-550 and Essil-760; with a yield of 2.0 tons per hectare - Vector-410; with a yield of 2.5 tons per hectare the Acros-550 was more effective.

The authors noted the disadvantages of the 3-wheel universal row-crop tractor. To eliminate them, LLC Design and Technological Center for Agricultural Engineering developed a 4-wheel universal row-crop tractor with variable ground clearance.

(Research purpose) To determine the pressure change in the hydraulic system and the transfer time of the rear axle from one type of clearance to another.

(Materials and methods) The authors showed that the rear axle clearance could be changed using a special mechanism - with minimal labor costs, without the use of lifting equipment and assembly and dismantling works. They explained that the mechanism was driven by a working hydraulic cylinder. The experiments were carried out on a prototype tractor with adjustable ground clearance, equipped with a separate-aggregate hinged system at an engine speed of 1200-2000 rpm (revolutions per minute). M10G2K oil was used in the hydraulic system, heating it to 65 degrees Celsius (at an ambient temperature of 33-35 degrees Celsius).

(Results and discussion) The hydraulic system consisted of an NSh-32 hydraulic pump, a P80 hydraulic valve, two Ts50-200 working hydraulic cylinders, a double-acting hydraulic lock, a hydraulic tank, filters, hoses and high pressure pipes. At the inlet and outlet channels of the working hydraulic cylinders, which activated the mechanism for changing the rear axle clearance, hydraulic locks were installed, and diaphragm pressure sensors model SS302 from Sendor Sensor with a measurement range from 0 to 40 megapascals were placed along the hydraulic line connecting the hydraulic locks with the hydraulic valve.

(Conclusions) The authors determined that the time for transferring the rear axle from low clearance to high was 2.2-4.4 seconds, and the pressure in the hydraulic system was 3.8-16.4 megapascals at an engine speed of 1300-2000 rpm. It was found that when transferring from high to low ground clearance, these indicators amounted to 1.0-1.4 seconds and 0.99-9.90 megapascals.

The authors showed that the European Union norms for the toxicity of exhaust gases (Euro 1 – Euro 5) contributed to the reduction of main harmful components emissions by several times. In foreign countries, Stage and Tier regulations applied to tractor equipment, which also limited the content of toxic components at the legislative level.

(Research purpose) To reduce the content of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases by more efficient regulation of the fuel charge distribution in the gas-diesel engine cylinder, changes in the concentration of diesel and gas fuel in certain zones, as well as the use of exhaust gas recirculation.

(Materials and methods) The authors analyzed the results of modeling the formation of nitrogen oxides by controlling the workflow in the gas-diesel modification of the diesel engine. In the calculations, the geometric parameters of the D-120 engine, operating at 2000 revolutions per minute, with a filling of 0.6-0.9 volume, were used. The average excess air ratio for the charge was 1.2-3.0, and the excess air ratios for the gas-air mixtures did not exceed 1.2-2.5.

(Results and discussion) Using the computational model, the authors estimated the parameters at different pressures at the engine inlet within 0.05-0.09 megapascals, as well as with an increase in the residual gas coefficient in the range of 5-15 percent with a decrease in the concentration of nitrogen oxides from 2500 to 1100 parts per million. Experiments showed that when the power changed from 100 to 20 percent, the nitrogen oxides concentration decreased from 1940 to 800 parts per million.

(Conclusions) The authors confirmed the adequacy of the calculation model. They determined that a 40-50 percent reduction in the nitrogen oxide concentration in exhaust gases was achieved with various layering schemes in the combustion chamber. They found that the standards for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides would require mixed engine regulation. It was proved that recirculation of 15 percent of exhaust gases could reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by another 50 percent.

The authors presented the technology and mechanization means for the restoration of degraded mountain areas with slope steepness up to 15 degrees.

(Research purpose) To determine the optimal distance between the springy racks of the chisel cultivator KCHG-2.4; to characterize the developed block-module of the multifunctional unit KCHG-2.4, which performed three operations after the slitting process: sowing grasses, applying mineral fertilizers and rolling the sown seeds and granular fertilizers into the soil; to determine the effectiveness of the developed agricultural practices that increased productivity and the environment-forming role of mountain phytocenoses.

(Materials and methods). The tests were carried out in the mountainous zone of North Ossetia - Alania at an altitude of 1540 meters above sea level with slope steepness up to 15 degrees. The experimental area was divided into three replicates. Each replicate was 2.4 meters wide, 10 meters long, dividing stripes 1 meter, side stripes 2.4 meters. The total test area, located across the slope, was 184.2 square meters.

(Results and discussion) The springy Väderstad strut of the KCG-2.4 unit was used to slit the mountain slopes. For overseeding, a three-component grass mixture of Phleum pratense L., Dactylis glomerata L. and Trifolium pratense L. was proposed at a seeding rate of 15 kilograms per hectare. When applying mineral fertilizers, the following composition was used (in the active ingredient): ammonium nitrate – 35 percent; superphosphate – 20; potash salt – 40 percent, in total 445 kilograms per hectare. An increase in dry aboveground mass of 3.02-4.19 tons per hectare and the accumulation of underground plant mass in the range of 1.84-12.62 tons per hectare were got, depending on the variant of the experiment.

(Conclusions) The authors found out that, a higher yield was obtained with a distance between the slits of 1.5 meters for 3 years of observations. It was found that the use of the unit increased the collection of feed units from 0.81-1.68 to 4.06-4.98 thousand per hectare. Taking into account all costs, the cost of one feed unit was 8.76 rubles.

The authors showed that a rotary plow deepened the arable layer and destroyed the plow bottom, simultaneously crushed plant residues, green manure crops and embedded them in the soil upper layer that was active for the cultivated plants roots and microorganisms, which allowed providing them with available nutrients, maintained fertility and increased soybeans yield.

(Research purpose) To determine the soil deepener and the plow rotor agrotechnical parameters when working after different predecessors, to establish the dynamics of nutrients, soybean yield and to compare the technical indicators of various tillage implements.

(Materials and methods) The authors studied rotary plow indicators when cultivating the soil after green manure, wheat and soybeans: the tillage depth and the tooth linear speed, the rotor rotational speed and depth, crumbling, hardness and ridging of the soil surface, the presence of plant residues, specific fuel consumption, productivity. They conducted a comparative field experiment, meadow-chernozem-like soil was treated with tools: discs BDT-3.0 – control; plowshare PLN-3-35 and rotary plow PRN-2.5 M.

(Results and discussion) The authors determined that the tillage depth with the rotor was 0.143-0.149 meters, with the soil deepener – 0.25 meters, 25-27 percent of crop residues remained on the soil surface. It was found that the rotary plow details provided good soil cultivation, as a result of the incorporation of stubble and green manure, they contributed to a content increase of phosphorus in it by 11.8-13.3 percent, potassium – by 18-21.8, nitrogen – by 48.1-48.9 percent, which had a positive impact on the soybeans yield.

(Conclusions) The authors found a regular increase in soybean yields when processing the soil with a rotary plow by 0.32 tons per hectare compared to discs and by 0.06 tons per hectare compared to a share plow. It was suggested to use a rotary plow PRN-2.5 M. for soil cultivating for soybeans in the Amur region. They calculated the economic and energy feasibility of soil cultivating with a rotary plow in organic crop production.

The authors investigated the heat carriers thermodynamic characteristics and the power plant structural components, which ensured the efficient conversion of thermal energy into mechanical and electrical energy.

(Research purpose) To conduct modeling for calculating the structure manufacturing technology and studying the power plant characteristics based on a steam engine with given energy parameters.

(Materials and methods) The authors carried out mathematical modeling based on the heat and mass transfer laws. To create a prototype model of a steam engine, the recuperation principle based on the “liquid–vapor–liquid” cycle with the use of low-temperature heat carriers was used.

(Results and discussion) The authors showed that double transformation of the aggregation state of the working body was much more efficient than its heating. They calculated the characteristics connecting the energy processes of low-temperature heat carriers vaporization (freon R-134a) in the radiator and engine. They revealed dependencies: the radiator heating time from 30 degrees Celsius (ambient temperature) to 100 degrees (maximum operating temperature) at different powers of the heating source (3; 4; 5 kilowatts); density and average density of steam in the radiator from temperature; the steam engine power and the freon steam consumption from the pressure of 0-3.97 megapascals.

(Conclusions) The authors determined that the working steam amount, proportional to its density at a temperature of 90 degrees and a pressure of 3.6 megapascals, was 4.75 times less than the liquid freon amount, proportional to its density, at 100 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 3.97 megapascals, the working steam amount was 2 times less than liquid freon. They revealed a limited range of operating temperatures in a steam engine. It was proved that these calculation methods and characteristics determined the structural and energy parameters of the developed power plants based on a steam engine.

The authors found out that the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) harmed bee colonies by destroying up to 30 percent of honey in a beehive. They studied the results of experiments on controlling its behavior using a developed automated microprocessor system that maintained optical radiation sources duration.

(Research purpose) To develop light technologies using a microprocessor-based automated system that allows controlling Galleria mellonella behavior by realizing attractive optical radiation characteristics.

(Materials and methods) Galleria mellonella behavior was controlled by an automated system that the authors worked out for maintaining the required duration of the experiment and optical radiation parameters. The ATmega328 microcontroller was chosen as the main element of the developed microprocessor automated system. The authors created a program for it using visual programming FLProg version 5.3.0.

(Results and discussion) The authors found that, regardless of the experiment duration, Galleria mellonella butterflies prefered radiation with 400 nanometers wavelength.

(Conclusions) The authors determined that radiation with 400 nanometers wavelength and 10 minutes duration was attractive. They showed the ability to control Galleria mellonella behavior, luring butterflies to a specific place in the beehive with comfortable spectrum parameters. An automated system for controlling the greater wax moth butterfly behavior was developed on ATmega328 microcontroller by implementing attractive optical radiation characteristics.