Agroecological Assessment of Rice Crop Rotation Soils of the Sarpinskaya Lowland

Abstract

Abstract—The phytomeliorative properties of accompanying crops of rice crop rotations and the degree of their influence on the soil fertility indicators in rice fields are studied. The experimental studies were conducted in rice checks located in the zone of activity of the Sarpinskaya watering and irrigation system in the Republic of Kalmykia, the source of which is the Volga River. The soil cover of the rice fields is represented by solonetzic light chestnut and brown semidesert soils in combination with solonetzes. To diversify the rice-degraded agrolandscapes, the effect of phytomeliorants on soil fertility of the rice fields was studied. It has been revealed that it is necessary to provide for the cultivation of accompanying crops of the rice crop rotation (spring rape, sarepta mustard, sunflower, lucerne sowing) with the use of residual moisture reserves after rice cultivation in order to improve the meliorative state and increase the soil fertility of the rice fields. An agroecological assessment of the soils of rice crop rotations has been carried out, which has shown the effectiveness of the meliorating influence of ameliorant crops, which consists in enriching the soil with organic matter due to additional plant residues entering the soil, increasing its biological activity, and improving agrophysical and agrohydrological properties.