Optimized crop rotation schemes for the steppe zone of Republic of North Ossetiа — Аlania

Relevance. The most important condition for the growth of crop production is the correct use of arable land, the improvement of the structure of areas under crops and the optimization of crop rotation schemes. The purpose of the work is to optimize crop rotation schemes for the steppe zone of Republic of North Ossetiа — Аlania. The novelty lies in the fact that for the first time for the natural conditions of the steppe zone of Republic of North Ossetiа —Alania the schemes of soil-protective crop rotations of a new type were optimized in order to increase soil fertility, ecological balance and productivity of agricultural landscapes.Methodology. The research was carried out on the basis of scientific principles and approaches set out in the methodological guidelines: "Agroecological land assessment, design of adaptive-landscape farming systems and agricultural technologies" (2005), "Methodology for designing the basic elements of an adaptive-landscape farming system" (2010) and "Methodology for optimizing crop rotations and patterns of arable land use” (2004).Results. For more efficient use of arable land, increasing crop yields, meeting the needs of farms with crop products and improving soil fertility, improved crop rotations are proposed. In the developed structure, winter crops should account for 42%, corn for grain — 13%, millet — 1%, peas — 3%, soybeans — 4%, sunflower — 8%, potatoes — 0.5%, fodder root crops — 1%, vegetables — 3%, corn for silage — 4%, annual grasses — 1.5%, perennial grasses — 3%, winter rapeseed — 7%, flax — 3%, mustard — 2%, pure fallows — 4%. Optimization of the structure of sown areas and crop rotations developed on its basis will make it possible to grow intermediate crops on 30–50% of arable land, provide farms in the steppe zone of Republic of North Ossetiа — Аlania with high-quality and balanced fodder and a longer operation of the "green conveyor". Optimized crop rotation schemes for the steppe zone of Republic of North Ossetiа — Аlania provide a reduction in degradation processes, increase soil fertility and crop productivity by 12–15%.