The purpose of the research is to assess the qualitative composition of former drained reclaimed lands in the Irkutsk district of the Irkutsk region and provide recommendations for the involvement of these lands in agricultural use. In order to bring formerly drained lands into agricultural use, but currently not in use, it is necessary to assess the qualitative condition of the soils (physical and chemical properties of the soils, the content of organic matter and basic elements in the soil, salt composition, etc.) and the condition of the canals. The article provides an analysis of the factual material of former (now abandoned) reclaimed lands in the region favorable for agriculture – Irkutsk, which is located in the south of the Irkutsk region. The material for the study was soil samples taken from formerly drained lands. The qualitative condition of reclaimed lands was assessed by assessing the knowledge of organic matter and mineral composition of soils, acidity, and salinity. Analytical studies were carried out in accordance with GOST. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that the currently abandoned lands are highly productive – meadow chernozem with a high content of organic substances, enriched in sodium, phosphorus, potassium, low content of bicarbonates. The low content of sulfates and chlorides indicates that the process of soil salinization is not observed, with the exception of 3 cases, which are discussed below. With minor reclamation work, these lands can be involved in agricultural production.

The aim of the research was to develop a mechanism to reduce the anthropogenic load of urban agglomeration on water bodies, ensuring self-purification of water and ecosystem balance of bottom and coastal zones, by developing collaborative robotic technical means of pollution purification. The problem of conservation of water resources through their rational use is revealed. It has been established that the consumer load on small rivers and underground sources from industrial, agricultural and municipal facilities increases every year, which leads to the degradation of watercourses, and in some places to their complete disappearance. An analytical review of measures implemented at the federal level for the conservation of water resources is presented. The natural efficiency of self-purification of water bodies from various types of pollution has been established. The periodicity of mechanical cleaning of riverbeds, lakes, ponds of various filling, which is 1 time in 5 years, is substantiated, at the same time it is highlighted that deep cleaning of water bodies by regulated discharge of water from reservoirs should be carried out with a frequency of 15-20 years. The ability of rivers to self-purify to restore ecosystem balance with the help of microorganisms capable of destroying all synthetic and organic substances without exception was noted. It is highlighted that the effect of destruction is different in time, the density of formation of a specifically bacterial community, without a deficiency of biogens and their adaptability to specific pollutants of the city, and the consumption of water resources. An alternative solution to the problem of conservation of water bodies and coastal territories is proposed through the development and widespread use of a patented design of a coloborative robotic (kobot) device for cleaning water and coastal objects from pollution.

The purpose of this article is to review modern methods for diagnosing the condition of irrigation canals and the main criteria for the level of wear. In the course of the study, the author used the method of empirical cognition, which served as a synthesis for the theoretical analysis of literature by the deductive method. The theoretical method included abstracting, taking notes and citing general and special scientific works of scientists in this science-intensive area. Mathematical and statistical methods were used to obtain and establish quantitative dependencies between the phenomena under study. The results of the study include the theory of methods for diagnosing irrigation canals, as well as the developed mathematical models based on them. In conclusion, the need for diagnostics of the condition of irrigation canals, as well as the use of various modern diagnostic methods, is substantiated.

The purpose of the research is to study the effect of multi-depth sealing of crushed straw-crop residues of field crops, calculated doses of mineral fertilizers for the planned crop yield, as well as organic waste from the pig complex used as the main fertilizer on the nitrogen regime of degraded soils along the layers of the root-inhabited horizon. The effect of different-depth incorporation of crushed straw-crop residues of field crops, calculated doses of mineral fertilizers for the planned crop yield, as well as organic waste from the pig complex used as the main fertilizer on the nitrogen regime of degraded soils along the layers of the root-inhabited horizon has been studied. The studies were carried out during the repeated development of degraded sod-podzolic soils of the North-West region of the Non-Chernozem zone of light loamy granulometric composition. It was established that according to the degree of influence of the studied factors on the content of easily hydrolyzed nitrogen, they can be arranged in order of decreasing efficiency as follows: fertilization system (factor A) → method of incorporation of fertilizers (factor C) →crop rotation cultures (factor B). It is proved that during the rotation period of the five-field crop rotation, the complex influence of the studied factors determines the intensity of accumulation of easily hydrolyzed nitrogen in a layer of 0-40 cm in the range of 58.8…75.3%. The remaining 41.2…24.7% of the changes are associated with other nitrification factors, and primarily with the microbiological activity of the soil in the conditions of changing agro-climatic resources of the region.

This article presents the results of experimental studies of the ability of peat soil to spontaneously ignite, depending on its degree of decomposition, ash content, chemical composition and bulk density. The purpose of conducting laboratory experimental studies was to study the effect of physicochemical properties of peat on the occurrence of the spontaneous combustion effect. Among drained lands, the most promising for agricultural production are peatlands that have the necessary fertility, the area of which in the Russian Federation reaches about 320 million hectares, more than half of which have a peat soil layer of at least 30 cm, which meets the requirements for soils recommended for introduction into agricultural circulation. It should be noted that more than 70% of the soils of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia are represented by low-fertility sod-podzolic soils, and plant products produced on them have a high cost due to low yields and the need for high doses of fertilizers. Organic matter of peat consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, therefore peat has high fertility and is of interest for the purposes of growing agricultural crops, however, it should be noted that this type of soil is fire hazardous. Peat has a complex chemical composition, which is determined by the conditions of genesis, the chemical composition of heat-generating plants and the degree of decomposition. The elemental composition of peat: carbon 50-60%, hydrogen 5-6.5%, oxygen 30-40%, nitrogen 1-3%, sulfur 0.5-2.5% of combustible mass. The presence of sulfur in peat produces sulfur dioxide (SO₂) as a result of interaction with oxygen, which irritates the upper respiratory tract of a person and eyes, and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) – a very toxic gaseous substance. The indicators that determine the ability of peat to ignite are the degree of decomposition, ash content and bulk density.

The results of the development of the composition and technology of production of soil ameliorant based on organic and mineral waste from beet crop rotation and sugar production are presented. The purpose of the study: to develop the composition of the soil ameliorant and the technology of complex utilization of beet sugar production waste and non-economic parts of beet crop rotation plants and to test the effectiveness on sugar beet crops. The problem of soil degradation due to the intensification of sugar beet production is solved by returning organic and mineral substances accumulated in sugar production waste and non-economic part of the biomass of beet crop rotation plants back to the soil for its reclamation. The ameliorant includes a defecate mixed with an aqueous solution of humates of low land peat and organic residues of biomass of beetroot crop rotation plants. Physical methods of activation of humates are used by exposure to ultrasonic vibrations and ultrahigh pressure of micro-explosions of air bubbles in a hydrodynamic cavitation generator, Accounting, observation and evaluation of biological and economic efficiency were carried out according to generally accepted methods and in accordance with the methodological recommendations of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Plant Protection (VISR). Mathematical processing of crop data was carried out according to B.A. Dospekhov. It is shown that the introduction of ameliorant into the soil during the cultivation of sugar beet allowed to increase yields by 6.9%, and sugar harvesting by 11.2%. The main advantage of the proposed method of producing soil ameliorant is that it ensures the maximum possible return of nutrients carried out with the harvest back into the soil. In addition, the use of by-products and waste from the sugar industry makes it possible to return thousands of hectares of land occupied by landfills for use in agriculture.

The aim of the research is to assess the effect of deep loosening with an improved reclamation ripper on changes in the agrophysical properties of heavy soils. The paper presents the results of studies of the effect of the improved design of the working body of the reclamation ripper on the main agrophysical indicators of the soil, including soil structure, density, humidity, porosity, as well as other technological and energy characteristics of the loosening process. The results of field studies of the loosening process and its efficiency on uncultivated soils of natural composition are considered. It has been established that for the effective regulation of physical and mechanical indicators of soil properties depending on the needs of plants and the development of technology for their cultivation, knowledge of the parameters and optimal values of these agrophysical properties is required. It has been determined that as a result of deep volumetric loosening of over-compacted gley soils with a working body of the developed design, for which a number of patents for inventions have been obtained, a homogeneous oil structure is formed, the soil density decreases to 1.2… 1.3 g/cm³, the porosity increases to 50% along the depth of the treated profile, which contributes to an increase in water capacity and productive moisture reserves; the results of the experiments made it possible to assess the degree of improvement in the agrophysical properties of soils as a result of deep loosening.

The development of new technologies for maintaining the required microclimate in cultivation facilities presupposes the availability of an appropriate mathematical basis for determining the estimated thermal capacity of heating equipment and the parameters of the heating system, depending on environmental factors. The purpose of the research is to develop a software method for calculating the system of gas-radiant heating of a cultivation facility with preheating of the supply air. The calculation method is based on a system of interrelated equations of the thermal balance of the room, its enclosure and the soil surface. The solution, among other things, includes the utilization of heat from the combustion products of gaseous fuels, as well as radiant heat exchange with multiple reflection and self-radiation occurring between the surfaces of the soil and the fence. The software calculation method also takes into account the effect of moisture evaporation from the soil surface on the heat exchange processes occurring in the cultivation facility. Based on the developed software calculation method, the parameters of the operation of the gas-flue heating system of a cultivation facility are determined using the example of the industrial greenhouse “Farmer 7.5” (Russian Federation). Under the given initial conditions, the following main calculation results were obtained: the required thermal power of the gas infrared radiator is 68.7 kW; the thermal energy consumption required to heat the supply air before it is supplied to the room is 35.5 kW; the temperature of the preheated supply air is –11.6°C; the temperature of the inner surface of the fence is 18.6°C. The main assumptions adopted in the development of the calculation method are indicated. The prospects for further scientific research have been identified.

The purpose of the study is to study the effect of a natural mineral complex on the productivity and quality of potato products. In modern conditions, the introduction of safe cultivation technologies using natural mineral complexes is of particular importance to provide the population with environmentally friendly food. The use of a natural mineral complex in the Moscow region is a promising way to increase crop productivity by 12-39% by increasing the mass of tubers and their quantity. A new technological method of moisture conservation allows obtaining environmentally friendly products by improving nutrition and reducing stress situations due to lack of water. This will make a certain contribution to the development of a competitive domestic technology for cultivating potatoes, will increase the yield and gross harvest, thereby improving the nutrition of the population and food security of the country.

The purpose of the research: to determine the roughness coefficient of the anti-erosion coating of the channel from the Encamate A20 geomat filled with soil with ryegrass grass up to 15 cm high. This article presents the results of experimental studies aimed at determining the roughness coefficient of the protective coating of a watercourse bed made of materials: geomat brand EnkamatA20 and Enkamat 7225, filled with soil with sowing of perennial grasses. The features of a model installation for determining the hydraulic characteristics of an anti-erosion coating are considered and the methodology for their determination is described. The average value of the roughness coefficient was found and recommendations were given for the use of such a mixed coating consisting of geomat, soil and plants. The use of this coating gives the slope of the soil structure, the bed and banks of the watercourse a natural appearance without loss of protective properties. Also, thanks to the sowing of perennial grasses, the use of this coating improves the environmental characteristics of both the entire hydraulic structure and the water body as a whole.

The results of experimental studies of the distribution of averaged and pulsating loads on the fastening slabs of an expanding culvert and apron, measured using point sensors and total load sensors in the presence of three rows of flow energy absorbers at the bottom behind a short-span tubular spillway, are presented. Considerations are presented on the use of the obtained data to clarify the hydraulic and hydraulic engineering calculations of three-point culvert structures during their design, repair and renovation. The change in average pressure differences, pressure pulsation standards, total hydrodynamic load and amplitude-frequency characteristics of the flow on the fastening downstream elements of the Shamkir hydroelectric complex for reclamation purposes, reconstructed on the Kura River in Azerbaijan, has been studied. It has been established that to ensure the reliability of spillway structures, the determination of total loads and the construction of a quasi-static loading of the downstream fastening, the choice of its rational design and the optimization of operating mode scan be carried out, together with the use of known recommendations and objectively developed scientific methodology, making adjustments based on the results of model studies.

In the context of a returning shortage of water resources, the problem of their conservation and rational use of water is of paramount importance. This necessitates the improvement of the water accounting system in hydro-reclamation. In water metering, the problem of water discharge in canals with a uniform flow regime is the most difficult: traditional methods of measurement: “velocity – area” and variable level difference with constriction devices, in general, meet modern requirement sand in the near future will remain the most common. The study was aimed at systematizing and classifying the design features of flow meters with constricting devices, as well as substantiating the principles of their placement on open irrigation and drainage systems. For this purpose, the following tasks were set and successfully solved: substantiation of the principles of placement of measuring instruments on open HMS, selection of optimal flow meter designs and determination of factors affecting the measurement error when using flow meters with constricting devices. Analyses have been carried out that indicate that the error of the flow coefficient increases with a decrease in the inclination of the side faces of spillways with a thin wall. The distribution of error is asymmetrical due to nonlinear changes in the flow coefficients during changes in the shape of the compressed cross-section. As a result of the study, it was revealed that the method of variable level difference with constriction devices has a number of advantages, including ease of manufacture and installation, as well as the possibility of using indirect calibration methods.

The purpose of the study was to substantiate the establishment of sanitary protection zone belts for projected wells in the Shchelkovo area of the Moscow region, taking into account hydrogeological conditions. Laboratory studies of the composition of groundwater were carried out, according to which it was revealed that the water in the wells is sulfate-bicarbonate magnesium-calcium. Calculations have shown that in the territory under consideration, the Kasimov aquifer, according to the degree of natural protection, belongs to the protected ones. The calculation of the second and third zones of the ZSO (high security zone) surrounding groundwater intakes was carried out in the ANSDIMAT program. The result of the study was an analytical model based on the hydrogeological knowledge of the region.

In modern conditions, the main problems faced by the governments of many states are related to the lack of energy and shortage of water resources. The Syrian Arab Republic is no exception, where experts predict that the amount of available water will decrease by about half by the middle of this century due to climate change and population growth. It is obvious that sustainable development in various fields is linked to the concept of rational environmental management, based on the understanding that there are no inexhaustible natural resources. In this regard, solving the problems of water management is associated with the implementation of strategic objectives based on an integrated approach to water resources management, the development of new technologies and technical solutions with low energy consumption, training and the use of effective methods to promote knowledge in this area. The purpose of the research is to assess the impact of the operation of the device for aeration of bottom water layers on the physical-chemical indicators of water quality in reservoir 16 Tishrin. The article presents an analysis of the results of using a device for aeration of bottom water layers, the action of which is based on the use of solar radiation in local conditions. According to the results of experimental studies, changes in parameters such as hydrogen index (pH), dissolved oxygen in water, temperature (C°), turbidity and BOD, which occurred after the operation of the experimental installation for aeration of bottom water layers, were established.

Increasing the efficiency of the creation of forest crops is an important aspect of artificial reforestation. Appropriate tillage and planting site selection can improve crop quality. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the planting site in the mounds created by the excavator on the biometric indicators of pine and spruce seedlings to develop regulations for the selection  of the location of seedlings in planting sites when creating forest crops in the taiga zone. In the course of the survey, 32 forest cultivation areas of different ages (1-10 years) in the Arkhangelsk Region and the Komi Republic were inventoried. Forest crops were created by seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. x P. obovata (Ledeb.)) with closed and open root systems. Soil cultivation was carried out by creating micro-elevations with the help of excavators. A detailed assessment of the growth of pine and spruce (about 2 thousand pieces) planted in different places within the micro-elevation was carried out on the forest cultivation areas, with the measurement of height, trunk diameter at soil surface level and height growth over the past 1-3 years. The results of the study show that in the first years after planting, the growth of pine and spruce does not depend on the location of the planting place in the microelevation: “at the pit” (increased part of the microelevation), “center”, “from the pit” (reduced part of the microelevation). Differences in height begin to affect by the age of 6-7 years. The best indicators of height, diameter at the root neck and average height gain for 1-3 years are observed in seedlings planted in the center of the microelevation, and the lowest – in the edge, at the pit formed when the soil is captured by a bucket.

The degree of space occupancy with woody plants has a certain limit associated with their biological characteristics and the level of soil fertility. The value of relative density in our country serves as a criterion for determining the intensity of thinning, while abroad the “index of forest density is used”. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the limit line “average diameter – average distance between trees” in stands of the main forest-forming species according to the data of long-term observations  on permanent sample plots. The materials for the study were measurement data on permanent sample plots in the Forest experimental station of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev  Agricultural Academy. Sample plots were selected where the sums of the cross-sectional areas reached the maximum values once during the life of the stand, as well as where the sums of the cross-sectional  areas reached the maximum twice. To verify the validity of the regression line passing through the origin, a program for calculating the equation of a straight line with a free term was used. The hypothesis of direct proportionality of the average diameter of forest stands to the average distance between trees is confirmed, while the dependence of the proportionality coefficient on the initial number of trees is not observed. In stands with maximum sums of cross-sectional areas, the ratio of the maximum average diameter to the average distance between trees is close to the constant. It serves as a good indicator of the degree of space occupancy and can be used in production and technical calculations.

The issues of successful green farming in urbanized areas do not lose their relevance. The purpose of this study is to choose the optimal method of reproduction of the bigononiform catalpa by cuttings. An important step is the selection of an assortment of tree species, taking into account their adaptive ability. The article provides a justification for the relevance of this direction, the research methodology used, the characteristics of the material for cuttings and the objects on which the cuttings of the bigononiform catalpa were harvested. The rooting of cuttings harvested in February was only 20%. A positive point was the 100% survival rate of rooted cuttings of winter harvesting. The sowing of catalpa seeds of the reproduction of the Mytishchi branch of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University in the soil and on the nutrient medium did not produce seedlings. The article presents the results of rooting cuttings of catalpa harvested in May. For the purpose of introduction tests, the city of Mytishchi and the city of Sochi were identified as the place of harvesting. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the highest percentage of catalpa cuttings rooting was noted in conditions of their germination in a container with an aqueous solution of a growth stimulant and air supply by means of an aquarium  compressor. During the study, it was suggested that the degree of rooting and growth of cuttings may depend on the sanitary condition of the trees on which they were harvested. Catalpa bigonia is of interest as a fast-growing ornamental woody plant resistant to urban conditions, not affected by pests and diseases.

Zonal technology in the formation of different types of recreational landscapes takes into account natural zonal environmental factors (climate, relief, soil and vegetation cover) and the use of adapted landscape and architectural solutions in the creation of landscape design of recreational areas of Krasnoyarsk and its suburban areas. To create favorable living conditions, restore strength and work capacity of the urban population, natural landscapes are used and natural – anthropogenic and anthropogenic types of recreational landscapes are formed. Our research has shown the wide possibility of using an assortment of winter-hardy woody and shrubby plants and herbaceous flower plants with high decorative properties in the natural conditions of Krasnoyarsk. The novelty of the research lies in the application of architectural and planning solutions (selection of the assortment of tree and shrub vegetation and their species diversity; expansion of the range of plants in flower beds; color scheme for color therapy; taking into account perspective – “Depth effect”. The uniqueness lies in the possibility of using the color scheme of color therapy, which can act as a prevention of some human diseases.