Methods of Biologization of the Agrocenosis of Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) in the Foothill Crimea

In a long-term two-factor field experiment, the influence of biologization techniques on the state of peach agrocenosis in the foothills of the Crimea (Otradnoye village, Bakhchisarai district) on ordinary carbonate eroded chernozems was studied. The research was carried out in 2019–2021, the peach variety (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) – Redhaven on almond rootstock (P. dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb). Two methods of biologization of agrocenosis were studied: blackening of the soil with segetal and artificial cereal-bean mixtures of herbs and the introduction of microbial preparations (MP) as biofertilizers – azotobacterin 07-agro (AB) and microbiokom-agro (MBK). It was found that both soil blackening and MP had a positive effect on soil properties, herbaceous and woody plants. Their more significant effect was revealed when used together. The maximum accumulation of grass biomass occurred in the variant of blackening with a mixture of herbs (Festuca pratensis Huds. + Trifolium pratense L. + Lolium multiflorum Lam. + Medicago sativa L. + Bromus inermis Leyss.) (MH4) in combination with AB, which was 3 times higher than the blackening of natural vegetation without MP (control of natural blackening (NB)). The biomass of seeded grasses contained more basic nutrients and carbon, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen was lower than in segetal vegetation, which contributed to its rapid mineralization with the formation of mineral nitrogen, and an increase in carbon content led to a more significant increase in the content of soil organic matter (SOM) compared with natural blackening. MP against the background of seeded grasses stimulated the accumulation of SOM in the soil, to a greater extent AB against the background of blackening with a mixture of MH4. The content of mobile forms of nutrients in the soil increased during biologization: nitrate nitrogen – by 12.5 mg/kg under the action of AB against the background of blackening with a mixture of F. pratensis + T. pratense (MH3), mobile phosphorus – by 13 mg/kg under the influence of MBK, K2O – by 93 and 117 mg/kg when applying AB and MBK, respectively, compared with the control of NB. All this contributed to the improvement of the mineral nutrition of the peach, an increase in the content of essential nutrients in the leaves: nitrogen – by 0.9% under the action of AB against the background of MH4, phosphorus – by 0.07–0.09% under the influence of AB and MBK against the background of MH3, and potassium – by 0.6% when applying AB against the same background. All this contributed to an increase in the yield of peach fruits by 9–10 t/ha when using MP against the background of blackening with a mixture of MH3, as well as an increase in the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in fruits. The calcium content in fruits decreased during biologization, which was due to the high absorption of calcium by seeded grasses and the antagonism of calcium with nitrogen and phosphorus in fruits. The constructed model of the productivity of peach plants during biologization reflected the dependence of peach productivity on the content of elements in grasses, soil and leaves. Based on the studied complex of factors, it was found that when biologizing the peach agrocenosis, blackening the soil with a mixture of MH3 and the use of AB is optimal.