The effect of the PMM polymer-mineral additive on enhancing the filtration properties of the soil, increasing the drought resistance of plants, and increasing the yield of agricultural crops was investigated in post-forest brown, stony, calcareous, medium-thick soils of the foothill zone. The influence of the introduction of the "PMM" additive, both separately and together with fertilizers, on the dynamics of changes in moisture and dissolved nutrients in the soil layer, the amount of water evaporated from a unit of leaf area per unit of time was revealed. The experiments revealed that these agrotechnical practices help to create a favorable environment, rich in nutrients and moisture, in the upper horizon of arable land (0–15 cm), which is essential for increasing crop yields.

In order to mitigate the devastating effects of drought on the pebbly dark brown soils of the foothill zone, where, according to the average annual data, 520-560 mm of precipitation falls, and the average annual temperature is 10.80°C, the agronomic and economic efficiency of the application of ameliorative and full (NPK) fertilizers regulating the water regime of the soil has been tested in the sowing of autumn triticale. Through experimental research, the positive effect of polymer-mineral additive and fertilizers on the hydro-physical properties of the soil and drought resistance of plants was revealed, as a result of which the water regime of plants was improved, and the grain yield of autumn triticale, compared with the tester, increased by 66.7%.