The aim of this resarch was to determine the effects of Resource Conserving Technologies (RCT) system and Conventional Tillage (CT) on soil physical properties and Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) yield in irrigated agriculture areas of the SouthEastern Kazakhstan. The experimental study was conducted according to a radomized block design with three replications between 2015 and 2018. The CT system had maximum anthropogenic effect and caused loosening of arable soil layer, had the lowest bulk density values (1.19-1.21 g/cm 3). The CT had a bulk density ranged between 1.13 and 1.30 g/cm 3. With a RCT tillage, the bulk density during the growing season of rape was located in optimal density zone between 1.20 and 1.22 g/cm 3. The RCT of rapeseed provided the greatest efficiency, where the yield of rapeseed increased by 13.3% and 22.0%. It has been revealed that with RCT of rapeseed cultivation, minimum technology (Mini-till) ensures sustainability of soil environment and its ecological condition, improves structure and raises water resistance of agroecosystem's soil aggregate. In turn the structure of soil's arable layer stabilizes with optimal soil density, which contributes to normal growth and development of rapeseed. It is proved that minimal technology of tillage is the leading agricultural practice ensuring preservation and improvement of qualitative and quantitative indicators of soil resource and productivity of oilseed rape.

Article InfoVermicomposting of organic waste has an important part to play in an integrated waste management strategy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida to transform anaerobically digested sewage sludge (SS) amended with hazelnut husk (HH) and cow manure (CM) in different proportions under laboratory condition (in darkness at 25°C0,5 0 C). Two approaches investigated in the study were: (1) to find the best medium for growth and reproduction of E. foetida in different feed mixtures, (2) to analyze the heavy metal concentrations in different feed mixtures of SS-HH-CM before and after vermicomposting, and (3) to explore heavy metals accumulation of earthworms in sewage sludge with different feed mixtures. Number and biomass of earthworms and heavy metal contents in feed mixtures and earthworms were periodically monitored. The results indicated that maximum earthworm biomass was attained in feed mixture of 20% SS + 40% CM + 40% HH while the earthworm number was highest in feed mixture of 30% SS + 35% CM + 35% HH during the vermicomposting period. Heavy metals concentration (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr) in all feed mixtures decreased associated with the increasing vermicomposting time. The heavy metals' content in the feed mixtures was lower than that of initial mixtures. Metal analysis of earthworms revealed considerable bioaccumulation of heavy metals in their bodies' tissue. Heavy metal analysis of earthworm body showed that increasing proportion of SS in the feed mixtures promoted the heavy metal content of earthworm body.

The optimal depth of the groundwater table and the water-salt regime is of importance in the postmeliorative period. The scope of these studies is to provide scientifically grounded assessment of previously reclaimed soils (water irrigation with a total norm of 5000 m 3 /ha under conditions of deep horizontal drainage, 1986-1989) in the postmeliorative period of 2015-2016 and to develop parameters for forecasting their meliorative regime. This work was conducted with the use of traditional ground-based methods of soil research. As a result of the research, data were obtained that allow assessing the water-salt regime, groundwater levels, their mineralization, as well as changes in the physical and hydrophysical properties of the previously reclaimed meadow solonchaks under natural conditions and under alfalfa in the background of deep, horizontal drainage and developing soil biota control techniques, including improvement of the meliorative state of the soil and indicators of their effective fertility.

Article InfoThe amount of yield and adaptation of a cultivar to a new environment is strongly related to nutrient uptake ability. This study was carried out during 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons to investigate the effect of different forms of chemical compose 20.20.20 fertilization alone or incombination with other fertilizers on morphological plant parameters (number of leaves per shoot, stem length and stem thickness) and leaf nutrient contents (N, P, K and Mg) of young Frantoio olive tree grown in Turkestan region, South Kazakhstan. The study was conducted on 1 years old olive trees of Frantoio in sierozem, under surface drip irrigation, system and uniform in shape and received the common horticultural practices. It was determined that fertilizer treatments significantly influenced number of morphological plant parameters and leaf plant nutrients compared to control treatments at all seasons. Results revealed that all fertilizers as well as the combination between 20.20.20 and Biohumus treatment and/or Nitroammophos treatment significantly increased morphological plant parameters and nutrient contents of young Frantoio olive trees. It can be concluded that the variation in the nutrient uptake ability may be used as a criterion for adaptation of a variety to a new ecological environment.

Land use and amelioration practices are considered as main drivers in change of biological soil quality indicators in meadow Solonchaks. To gain insight into the impact of amelioration with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivation on the underlying soil microbiological and biochemical properties, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivation on biological soil quality indicators such as microorganisms counts, microbial biomass, basal soil respiration and enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, catalase, -glucosidase, protease, urease, alkaline phosphatase and arylsulphatase) in meadow Solonchak. Post-amelioration with alfalfa cultivation influenced the soil microbiological and biochemical properties and increased soil organic matter content and improved biological soil quality indicators. The results of this study may contribute to future researches for soil microbial communities in different type of amelioration practices in soil quality and sustainable productivity meadow Solonchaks.