A long-term experiment to study no-till agriculture has begun in the Rostov region. Scientists from the Rostov Agricultural Research Center planted winter wheat in six fields, depriving them of traditional mechanical cultivation. This approach, which is actively used in the arid regions of South America and Australia, involves covering the soil with plant residues and sowing seeds using special sowing machines, the center’s press service explained.
Science center director Alexander Klimenko said that the research will be continued for 10 years. Scientists will compare the effectiveness of direct seeding technology with conventional methods in two identical crop rotations, including crops such as peas, sunflowers and flax. According to him, direct sowing saves fuel, reduces the use of machinery and agricultural equipment, and also reduces seed consumption by 40-50%. However, experts noted that difficulties are possible in the first years of the transition, for example, herbicide costs increase due to weedy areas.
Alexander Sarychev, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Biotechnology at Volgograd Agricultural University, emphasized that direct cultivation could be a salvation for the Rostov region, where soils are exposed to erosion, salinization and desertification. This method not only prevents land degradation but also ensures stable harvests. Scientists believe that the transition to such technologies could be an important step towards the sustainable development of agriculture in the region.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
