The study of the composition and content of biologically active compounds in the leaves and inflorescences of the Pamyat of Kovas vegetable variety of the VNIISSOK selection revealed a difference in their accumulation in the leaves of the lower and upper layers. The maximum accumulation of biologically active substances was found in the leaves and inflorescences of the upper layer, exhibiting high antioxidant activity. In the studied extracts, antioxidant metabolites were found: amarantine, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, simple phenols and hydroxybenzoic acids, as well as pectins. The features typical for vegetable leaf crops were found: the maximum number of studied antioxidant metabolites accumulates in the leaves of the upper layer and amaranth inflorescences, while the decrease in the content of antioxidants is observed in aging leaves.

The most effective methods of cucumber yield increasing are growth regulators and mineral fertilizers applications, which are important in arid conditions of the Lower Volga region. The field experiments were carried out in Caspian scientific research institute of arid agriculture, Astrakhan region, Chernoyarsky district in 2014-2016. The purpose of the study was to study fertilizers and growth regulators influence on productivity of cucumber grown in light chestnut soils with drip irrigation. On the whole, fertilizers and growth regulators application increased cucumber yield. The highest yield was obtained in hybrid Russky stil F1 in variants N110P105K75 + Megafol (136.5 t/ha) and N110P105K75 + Vitazim (96.3 t/ha), so yield increase was 84.9 t/ha and 44.7 t/ha, respectively. On, for all hybrids, average mass per plant increased by 378.7 g in variant N110P105K75, in variant N110P105K75 + Vitazim - by 842.2 g, in variant N110P105K75 + Megafol - by 1013.9 g. Cucumber yield in all hybrids on average increased by 14.5 t/ha in variant N110P105K75, by 27.0 t/ha in variant N110P105K75 + Vitazim, by 35.3 t/ha in variant N110P105K75 + Megafol. According to the results, application of fertilizers in the dose of N110P105K75 and leaf treatments with growth regulators Megafol or Vitazim increased cucumber productivity and yield reached more than 100.0 t/ha in the open field under drip irrigation. The profitability amounted to 134.1-159.3% and payback was 2.34-2.59 rub/rub.

Article tells that experiment of crops of a Agropyrum for improvement of an unproductive pasture is made. Agropyrum - the most perspective fodder culture possessing steady harvests, high fodder advantages is steady against salty lands, durability, drought resistance and winter hardiness which is used for improvement of natural fodder grounds in arid regions of Russia. The sowed material - mix of three types Agropyrum: Siberian (Agropyrum Sibiricum, Willa), desert (Agropyrum desertozum, Figeh) and pectineal (Agropyrum pectiniforme, Sehuet), the pastures of the Astrakhan region collected on natural the sukhostepnykh. The purpose of researches - to study influence of sowing time (autumn, spring) and the directions of crops (the North-South, the West-East) of a Agropyrum on efficiency of a new pasture in arid conditions of Northern Prikaspiya. When carrying out researches popular methods of crops and a research of pastures have been used. Results of researches have shown: seeds of different types of a Agropyrum were similar on the weight and viability; at crops in the spring in the first year of life the most part of a new pasture was occupied by different herbs, and at autumn crops - the most part of a pasture was occupied Agropyrum; crops with the direction the West-East were optimum for development of herbs on a new pasture since the harvest at crops was more in the spring, than a crops harvest with the direction the North-South on 0,5 tons from 1 hectare, and at autumn sowing time - on 0,9 tons from 1 hectare (according to the second year of life of a Agropyrum); autumn sowing time - optimum for crops of a Agropyrum at restoration of arid pastures because the productivity of a new pasture (the second year of life of a Agropyrum) was higher, than at crops in the spring on 0,8 tons from 1 hectare (at the direction of crops the West-East) and on 0,4 tons from 1 hectare (North-South). Thus, at the first stage of long-term experience we have created new agronomical ecosystems - the improved arid pastures and have reached in two years of their higher efficiency in comparison with natural steppe ecosystems. At the following stages researches of stability of these agronomical ecosystems, including their longevity and maintaining efficiency are planned.

Providing the world population with high-quality and functional food products is one of the main tasks of modern scientists. The introduction and subsequent cultivation of new and rare crops makes it possible to expand the diet. Stachys sieboldii Mig, or stakhys, is a vegetable plant with medicinal properties. Of particular value is the underground part of the plant, its nodules. But even the leaves accumulate microelements, antioxidants and phenolic compounds.

The article discusses the impact of Baikal EM - 1, Epin-extra, humate +7 micronutrients on yield and fractional composition of 9 varieties of potato cultivation on light-brown soils under drip irrigation in the steppe zone of the Lower Volga region.

Potatoes - one of the most important human food. It has high taste and nutritional properties. The optimum ratio in potato tubers of organic and mineral substances essential to man, determines its value as food. The tuber contains on average 76-78% of water and from 13 to 36% solids, of which 12-15% is starch, 1-3% protein and about 1% - mineral compounds. Proteins potatoes have a very high biological value because they contain a set of essential amino acids that are not synthesized in the human body and must be obtained from food. The potato is the most important source of vitamin C. Potato protein is extremely biological value through the optimal ratio of essential amino acids, surpassing peas and beans on the content of methionine and grains - on the content of lysine. The aim of research was to evaluate cultivated on light-brown soils under drip irrigation of potato varieties biochemical indicators and dining. As a result of under drip irrigation on light-brown soils of the Astrakhan region studying the collection of early and Medium early varieties for a number of biochemical parameters were identified early varieties - Dolphin Karatop, good luck, and is mid - Innovator, Resource, The blue, effect, Nevsky, cover, Zhukov Jubilee. Indicators on the table were the best varieties Dolphin Resource The blue, Nevsky Innovator.