SCIENTIFIC - AGRICULTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600230584-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 584
• Publication Date: June 15, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIF'-PION cGMFi , 1
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGEiat:Y REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
Scientific, - Agriculture
Monthly periodical
Moscow
Sept 19117
DATE OF
INFORMATION
,.947
DATE DIST. /.
Jun
NO. OF PAGES
6
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Naailca zn, No 9., 1947: (FM Per the 32'1i4)..
PIANT33G OF SPRING VI>NAT IN THE NORTH
Prof 7. A. Cherniy
Dr Ag Sc1
19149
The possibility of raising in the Far North comparatively variegated
crops, Including spring wheat, was demonstrated not long ago by a pioneer
In 'thorn agriculture, A. Zhuravskly, corresponding member of the Academy
qt Sciences U30-and founder of the first experimental station in Pripolysr'ye
L1 Inuit ,Polar -rreg1on: howe? may be specific place name] on the
PlsOhora. The Polo SXperiraen al b..ation of the All-Union Institute of
Plant avowing demonstrated this possibility ruler the conditions prevailing
in the Transpolar Region. However, spring wheat, the most valuable grain
crop, is not very widely iistributad in northern European USM, Sowing
is limited as far south e., the 60th pa^alle'., and it is faun:: even less
fredtuntly as one moves farther north. In certain years some spring wheat
asy be. found in kolkboz fields almost all the way to the Arab-. Circle.
The All Union Agricultural Exposition displayed some beautiful samples
of polar agrioulenral products; the spring wheat we-- not inferior to that
of Leap o ur region where it is the chief crop.
North c.' 60 degrees latitude in the territory which we have provisionally
wade a oeperate agricultural zone, barley predominates among the spring grain
crops: the two-roved variety in the eoutheri part of the zone and the multi-
rovid, local, northern varieties in the northern part. Oats are grown almr4.t
an an egnal footing with barley at the southern boundary of this provisional
some. Wheat is grown here only on very ?all plots. In higher latitudes the
proportion of barley is greatly Inc-eased and oats extend up to the polar
regions, but wheat ssercely reaches-the 621 or 6X parallel.
0
50X1-HUM
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The period from sprout to waxen maturity in the early-rtpentng
varieties of spring wheat, two-rowed barley, and oats is almost equa='.
Although in the northern part of the zone the growing period of the
early-ripening varieties of wheat is 6 - 7 days longer than that of
local northern barleys, it car, he considerably shortened by a system
of cgroteehnical measures.
Even at a latitude of 65. agrees north (Mezen ) the average
number of days with a temperature of 5 degrees and over is 120, and
an average of 69 days has a temperature of 10 degrees. The average
total of heat ,frcm 15 May to 15 September amounts to 1,300 degrees;
the sum total of the average daily temperatures for the warm
period is 1,384 degrees; the average duration of a froetless per "d
is 79 days. At the 62d to the 63d parallel (Onega-Troitsko-Pechorakoye),
which may be considered the provisional boundary between the northern and
poutherffi. parts, of the zon7, there are 88 to 102 days with a temperature
of :10 degrees and over, and tno average duration of afrostless period is
from 82 to 95 days. The total heat in these latitudes is more _imited, but
this heat deficiency is appreciably reduced by the length of the northern
summer day and by more intensive assimilation. This has been Indicated by
Eoetychev, I,yub`menko, Obolenekiy, and other researchers.
Timiryszev wrote: "The amount of solar energy assimilated by our
crops must be considred virtually the best single exact measurement of
productiveness for these crops." From this viewpoint 'wheat and certain
other agricultural plants in the north have adequate conditions for a
high degree of productivity.
According to data of the Uat'-Teilemsk Experimental Station !65.5
degrees north) the maximum daily growth of barley reaches 8 centimeters,
and of rye, 11 centimeters.
Late spring and early fall frosts may have an unfavorable effect on
crops in too northern zone, even in the southern part of it. However,
agrotechnioal measures, taking into account northern agricultural
conditions and the biological peculiarities of wheat, can be used to
ecmbat the negative ration of possible frosts at individual seasons.
Our observations and research for mart' years in the northern zone have
deaoonstratedd that spring wheat aid barley in the first stages of development
sffilu a almost without trouble a frost of minus 5 - 6 degrees centigrade. The
early dates of this phase arrive during the first 10 days of June. According
to Beta from the Mezen' Meteorological Station, `Le minimum temperature for
Jun. is not usually below 4.7 degrees centigrade. The negative effect of
short frosts during the ripening period shown by cell desiccat1.on, the
deforming effect or Ice foioed in the intercellular spaces, and, consequently,
the irreperablw coagulation of the colloid matter of the plasma, depend upon
the strength and duration of the frost and the water content in the grain.
Our studies mid.er field conditions in the northern zone (61.' - 65.5
degrees north) permit us to assert that in the period of waxen maturity,
with the moiethtre of the ripening grain about 25 percent, the short frosts
of the intensity msnticne4 (minus 5.5 -- C.O degrees centigrade) had no
TAfavorablr effect on the quality of the seed end the technological. qualities
of the wheat.' Prom data covering a period of years, such minimum temperatures
during this period may almost be excluded. In the northern part of the zone
they are possible in the ripening period, but it is entirely possible to
lesson or even eliminate their adverse effect.
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Our research work in the northern zone with different seeding dates
v id varied feeding programs established the fact that with a phcaphorue
a* potassium regimen, a grain of spring wheat in the beginning phase of
waxy, ripening, with more than 25 percent moisture, was not injured by
f'$zoet.
These experiments in Pripol;ar'ye shoved that a-grain of spring wheat
(Carnet, Northern variety), overtaken at the beginning of its waxy ripening
by a frost of minus 6.0 degrees centigrade had 93 - 95 percent germination,
while on a control plot the germination did not exceed 76 - 80 percent.
Chemical analysis of grains p-oduced on different feeding programs
shoved that phosphate potassium fertilizers contributed to an increase
in the crude fat content of the grain. It is possible that this will
prove to be protection against frost. Meanwhile, analysis of the
breed-making quallt-ies of this grain showed sufficiently high indexes.
In the north the postharvest ripening is also of great importance.
The comparatively low temperaturesduring winter storage do not hasten
the. postharvest ripening, and the increased. mbinture'inthe seeds 'does
not eliminate' their possible injury from freezingg at temperature which
sometimes, reach minus 50 - 55 degrees centigrade.'
In this oonneetion of course, the problem arises of hastening the
postharvest ripening process and obtaining iysi.ologioally ripened seeds
before they are put into winter storage. In the past, according to old
kolkhoz members in the northern zone, barley grain, reserved for the next
year's Sowing, was dried in barns and then t',reshed and stored until
spring.
We obtained more pscise data on the dates and temperature at which
the grain achieves its normal ripening, and we also determined the germination
of seeds after thermal drying.
The results of our studies of seed germination at different dates,
after harvesting and drying the seeds under varying conditions, in?icated
that there was an advantage in drying them in sheaves in the barns for
1 - 2 days at an average temperature of 30 - 40 degrees centigrade, with
a smxisnm- of 45 degrees. After drying, the seeds had normal nhisture
and germination,
Completing the pos',sarvest processes up to the time of winter storage is
is of extraordinary importance in the north, particularly in the northern
part of the zone. Natural drying of the seeds in spring is extremely
difficult because of the oomparaz1vely low temperature and the high per-
ceentage of moisture in the air.
Obteininp high-gvzlity aeer acquires special importance in the north
in connection with new crops like wheat. High quality contributes to
stability even in the face of possible unfavorable conditions. Thus, as a
result of the continued reproduction of spring-wheat seed in Fhb northern
soils, enbjneted every year to lowered temperatures, the fifth reproduction
with Mime 5.5 degrees of frost at the beginning of t,'we wary riparing has
prcfaced seeds with good germination -- 14 percent above the s'emdard.
The old araole land in the northern zone (Arkhangel'sk Oblast, Komi
ASSR) satisfies ocnditions necessary for spring wheat. The medium to
light loam prevailing here (according to mechanical composition) are
not highly acidic and are comparable in humus, nitrogen, free phosphorus,
and potaeei'm to the soil of tan central regions of the northern non-
ohernozem strip. The comparatively high fertility of Mezen' soil must
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also .benoted. Individual soil inspections conducted by us in the kolkhozes
at Mezen' showed that clayey soils contained. 2 - 3 percent humus and, 0.2 -
0.3 percent nitrogen. We often noted a sufficiently high content of free
phosphoric acid, but a comparatively low content of free potassium.
The average yield of grain crops in the fields ws inspected was not
less than 10 12 centners per hectare.
Mineral and organic fertilizers had a sufficiently strong effect on the
yield;jtud quality of the spring wheat in the oia arable ground of the northern
zone. Nitrate:ferilizere in our field experiments increased the yield 2 - 2.5
times over a comparatively high standard yield (11 Centners per hectare);
phosphate and potassirmt fertilizers increased it 50 - 60 percent. However,
the increased standards of nitrate fertilizers under. the conditions of the
northern zone (especially the northern part of it) caused a heavier growth
of suckers and made the grains on the main and secondary spikes ripen at
different times. in this connection, a fractional introduction of nitrogen
is preferred (before sowing A vegetation periods) as this produces a better
yield of higher quality.
Local fertilizers also proved to have an excellent effect on the spring-
who^.t crop. , To be specially, noted ama.-g them is peat, of which there is an.
mnlimited supply here. In our experiments, peat prepared during the previous
e-?er and well deccmposed increased the yield 20 percent; moreover, the total
albumen content of the grain surpassed the standard by 2percent.
There are also beds of high-grade phosphites which can be successfully
used in cultivating spring wheat and other agricultural crops.
Our studies provided us with a sufficieut basis for considering that
the reasons for the limitations on spring wheat were not so much the climate
and soil as the egroteohnicai measures, which did not always correspond to
local biological peculiarities.
The whole system of such measures must be directed toward shortening
the vegetation period, accelerating maturity, and obtaining stability under
possible urfavorabie meteorological conditions in individual years as well
as toward inbreasing productivity. For example, the use of early-ripening
varieties, verna.-lzation, early sowing dates, sowing standards, and certain
agroteahrtioal prioeduree should be included among tacee measures.
Testing of varieties was not included in our research task. We did,
however, melt a ocrpm..,tive estimate of two varieties It the northern pert
of the zoos: Garnet (V. Lutesteno) and Northern/v. Miltnru4. The
indssee favored the latter. Cefaperative..owinge in the southern pert of the
zone showed that the Garnet variety was preferable to .utestene No 62.
Vernalizaticn,3f the early varieties (Garnet, Northern) in the north
shortened the period of vegetation by 2 - 3 days (aid increased the
yield), very important for the northern part of the zone.
It was na.Webeary to sow spring wheat ear: ter than other grains in
the northern zone.
The earlier date for wheat sowing depends directly on the soil's
being worked over before sovis,g and Frepzring it for the seed.
=xpeditione for inspection of grain crops and field experiments in
the northern zone provide reason for believing that, even In its *northern
part, according to the time, it is entirely possible, by shallow plowing
and tilling to work the soil after the grain harvest. This makes it
possible to limit the epein:7 work before heeding in average and light .loans
ti harrowing two or three tires. Heavier work -- with a cultivator or gang
plow -- may be neo ssary only in Individual cases.
WIN
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A spring plowing to fuii depth i.... often done fur uprirx grains 111 . the
north. Such plowing -elays the sowing date and turns up to the surface
weeds which have not been able to grow since fall. In our experiments with
spring plowing to the full depth, the number of weeds in spring wheat sowing
amounted to 176 per square meters, but in spring work with a b_.g plow to
the depth of 8 - 10 centimeters the number did not exceed 78 per square
meter.
The upper layer of the soil is considerably lose broken up in less
vigorous, shallow plowing before seed.i:ng. Deep presowieg plowing produces
unequal distribution of the seed and increases the difference between the
laboratory yield and total field yields. With full-depth spring plowing
the aueber of sprouts per square meter was 302, with 8 - 10 centimeter
plowing, 329. in the former case the yield of spring wheat was 14.9
centpers per hectare, in the latter 16.3?
Uniformity in the distribution of seeds at the stipulated depth also
has, both in general end in particular, an enormous importance in the northern
zone because it creates the conditions for a more even later development of
the-plantsand the ripening of the crop.
Because of the peculiarites of climatic conditions in the northern and
southern parts of the zone, different sowing standards are used. With the
higher standard of sowing -- for smaller areas of supply -? more plants are
obtained with primary spikes, from which the harvest in the northern. part
:of the zone must be produced. In the southern part where the frontless
perleds are longer and the secondary spikes yield rich crops, the area of
supply can be increased and, therewith, the sowing standard can be reduced.
If the amount of seed for the northern part of the zone must lie within
the limits of 7 - 7.5 million per hectare, In the southern part, where the
fields are free of weeds and the sowing dates are early, th'.s norm can be
reduced to 5 million. These conclusions were reached by sttdying the
problem from every Bide, both in very small and very large land allotments.
In our tests we obtained the following yields for the northern part of the
zone depending upon the sowing norm: with a 5.5 million norm the yield was
20.9 cents rs per hectare; with E.5 million, it was 23.0 contners. In the
southern part, with a sowing norm of 5 million, the yield was 23.3 centnere,
and with 6 million, it was 23.5 centnere. This norm reduction in the snuth
is possible also because here spring wheat disease caused by the 'usarium
oulmorwa is rarely noted. This is one of the principal causes for cutting-
in young crops in the central section of the northern nonchernozem strip.
Many years of investigation did n^t reveal any important troubles in
early varieties of airing wheat in the northern zone either through disease
or poste.
We must consider the ripening of grain and straw at different time,
as a special feature of spring-wheat planting In the northern zone (its
northern part). This may be the res?xlt of the lower air temperatures
during the ripening period and Its greater dampness, as well as of the
later periods for seeding. Obviously, a sloven- disintegration of the
chlorophyll takes place under such conditions of shortened northern
summer days.
Morphological.'.y, such a state is characterized by the fact that the
grain has all the signs of waxy ripeness -- 27 - 28 percent yellow, soft,
pasty moisture -- while the straw (primary stalk) still has all the signs
of Immature ripening in its color.
In harveat+"g the wl t in this condition, with subsequent dispooal
of racks in she.-,ves, th craw acquires the normal color of the waxy
phase of ripeness and the grain becomes lose moist.
-5-
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the grain in the waxy state of ripeness when the straw displayed signs of
mature ripeness was not inferior to that ascertained for grain arA straw
ripening simultaneously.
inconnectionwith the fact that, when frosts are forecast, it might
become necessary to harvest the wheat at earlier dates, analyses were made
of the grain crop harvested at the beginning and at the stage of complete
ripeness (Pripolyar'ye, 1940). Approximate indexes were obtained for
both cases.
Berthing retains to be said abou' arranging the rotation of spring-
wheat crops in the northern zone. Winter rye is preferred to barley here
as the first crop, especially where it is cultivated on cleare& fertilized
fallow. The late gathering of the potato crop is one of the factors ruling
out thisrvvO able asafirst crop since it is not always possible to plow on
time after it isbrought in." Without exception, the best first crop of all
phosphate potassium foundation, amounted to 36 centners per hectare (without
fertilization,23_4 centners per hectare while the yield in sowing after
yield .hunted to 16.6 centners per hectare; at 61 - 62 degrees (1937 - 1938 -
l942) to 32.7 oentners per hectare; at 65.5 degrees (1940 - 1941) to 19.0
centnt a per hectare. As this data shows, the southern part of the northern
some aerits special attention.
The ratio of boat aid light is more favorable here, and the soil
ocoditiaos, sad the amount and distribution of precipitation permit the
most prcduotivc use of fertilizer and i'.:6 fractional introduction, ensuring
not only stable harvests but high quality.
In the Fourth Five-Tear Plan, spring wheat in the southern par; of the
northern zone must occupy a pro-eminent place amon, grain crops. in crop
rotstkan and meat take a considerable advance in the northern part of the
zone.
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