The influence of environmental factors, such as lack of water and uneven rainfall, depletion of nutrients in the soil and reduced soil fertility, planting patterns and plant density, uneven growth stages, are the main limiting factors that hinder the growth of agricultural production in arid regions. The aim of the study was to assess the potential of Sentinel-2 to quantify soil conditions, which can improve the understanding of spatiotemporal dynamics in organic agriculture in the steppe zone of Kazakhstan and improve productivity management of Linum usitatissimum. In the course of the research, the influence of individual factors of the general environmental impact, such as the influence of humidity, meteorological conditions, the content of individual nutrient components of the soil on the yield, was studied. The meteorological conditions in this region in 2021 and the data of agrochemical analysis of the soil on which the oilseed crop was grown were evaluated. Sentinel-2 satellite images were used to determine the NDVI and GNDVI indices. A high content of nitrate nitrogen (12.3-16.2 mg/kg), a very low level of available phosphorus (3-10 mg/kg), and a high content of potassium (289-420 mg/kg) were found in the soil. A low content of humus (2.68-3.31%) and sulfur (1.1-4.9 mg/kg) was found. A study of the NDVI growth index showed that the highest value was reached by the period of July 20, 2021. After this period, a decrease in the vegetation index was observed. In conditions of severe drought, this change occurred earlier than under favorable conditions, and correlated with low flax yield (1.6-6.9 c/ha). This study demonstrates the potential of Sentinel-2 for quantifying soil conditions, which not only improves our understanding of spatial-temporal dynamics and environmental components in organic agriculture in the steppe zone of Kazakhstan, but also improves the management of Linum usitatissimum productivity.

The purpose of this study was to assess the processes of plant community formation on recultivated dumps of spent uranium-containing industrial waste from uranium deposit mines, as well as to identify the degree of impact of agro-climatic factors, agrochemical indicators of soils of recultivated dumps, and the level of residual ionizing radiation on the productivity of the emerging vegetation cover. Studies of plant colonization of recultivated Grachevsky and Shantobinsky uranium mine dumps located in Northern Kazakhstan were carried out. The mining and technical stage of reclamation consisted of planning a dump with slopes of 15° and covering it with a 1 m layer of chestnut soil. In total, 30-35 plant species are present in the dumps, the projective coverage is approximately the same (56.6-70.0%), and the herbage density is 15-16.6 plants/100 m². As a result of the measures taken to recultivate the dumps, the intensity of the background ionizing radiation at the Grachevsky mine dump was in the range of 25-35 µR/hr and at the Shantobinsky mine dump 10-25 µR/hr, which indicates compliance with safety standards. The plant species which can be used for artificial plant colonization of uranium-containing waste dumps, were identified.

To improve medical care and rehabilitation algorithms for patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), it is important to evaluate and summarize the available data on the effect of coronavirus infection (COVID‐19) on the endocrine system. The purpose of this review was to study the effect of COVID‐19 on the endocrine system. The scientific novelty of this study is the evaluation of the effect of coronavirus infection on the endocrine system and the potential effect of hormones on susceptibility to COVID‐19. The results of this review show that the endocrine system is vulnerable to disorders caused by COVID‐19, mainly thyroid dysfunction and hyperglycemia. The information in the published literature mentioned here contains some unclear aspects and contradictory data, but much remains to be studied and clarified regarding the impact of COVID‐19 on the endocrine system. In particular, this concerns the study of the hyperglycemic status of patients who have had coronavirus infection, which is extremely important for the future metabolic health of COVID‐19 survivors. This review contributes to the scientific discourse by systematically synthesizing disparate studies to identify patterns, gaps, and emerging trends in the literature concerning the effects of COVID‐19 on the endocrine system. By integrating these findings, this study offers a novel perspective on potential hormonal interactions influencing COVID‐19 susceptibility and outcomes, proposing new hypotheses and frameworks for future research.

The article presents the results of comprehensive studies of the Verkhnetobol and Karatomar reservoirs in Kazakhstan, focusing on the content of pesticides, organochlorides, and organic toxicants such as phenol, petroleum products, and surfactants. Various organochlorine pesticides (alpha, beta, and gamma isomers of HCH, heptachlor, DDT, DDE, DDD, aldrin, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, 2,4-D) were analyzed, as well as levels of bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, benz(a)pyrene, atrazine, simazine, phenol, formaldehyde, and surfactants. Laboratory studies were conducted according to state, interstate, and international regulations on water sampling, quality control, and toxicology of drinking and natural waters using physico-chemical methods. There were no exceedances of the MPC standards for the content of pesticides, organochlorides and organic toxicants. According to the requirements of the unified water quality classification system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the content of the studied toxicants does not exceed the values of the indicators of the first and second classes of water quality. The waters of these water use classes are suitable for all categories of water use. In case of use for household and drinking purposes, simple water treatment methods are required. The legal and regulatory documents governing state environmental water control in Kazakhstan and scientific recommendations on the quality and toxicology of drinking and natural waters, including hygienic standards for economic, drinking, and cultural use, are considered. The results serve as reference data and methodological recommendations for assessing reservoirs in the temperate climatic zone for pesticides and organic toxicants.

The article presents the results of comprehensive studies on the water quality of the Verkhnetobolsky and Karatomarsky reservoirs in Kazakhstan, focusing on heavy metals. Legal and regulatory documents on state environmental control of Kazakhstan waters were reviewed, along with normative documents and scientific recommendations on water quality and toxicology, including hygienic and MPC standards. State, interstate, and international requirements for water sampling and physico-chemical analysis were studied, including winter sampling methods under ice cover. Concentrations of metals and heavy elements were determined, and heavy metal indicators comply with hygienic safety standards for household, drinking, and cultural and general use. According to the Unified Classification System, the water quality for manganese and cadmium places the reservoirs in the fourth quality class, suitable only for irrigation and industrial use, requiring extensive treatment for household use. The Tobol River is generally classified as polluted. Most metals show small standard deviation and variation coefficients, indicating reservoir homogeneity. However, manganese, cadmium, zinc, copper, boron, and lead show high deviations, suggesting significant content differences due to element mobility and runoff from fields and tributaries. The results serve as reference information and methodological recommendations for assessing heavy metals and elements in freshwater reservoirs in temperate zones.

The goal of the study was to assess the humus and nitrogen status of the main arable soils of Kostanay region and to identify signs of soil degradation associated with long-term agricultural use. The research was based on the generalization of long-term agrochemical monitoring data (2012-2023) and included the analysis of humus content and nitrate nitrogen in ordinary and southern black soils, as well as dark chestnut soils, using standard laboratory methods and statistical evaluation of spatial and vertical variability. The results showed that the humus content in arable soils is generally reduced compared to virgin analogues and corresponds mainly to medium- and low-humus levels, with clear differentiation across soil types and administrative districts. Nitrate nitrogen availability was found to be low or very low in a significant proportion of agricultural lands, indicating insufficient plant nutrition and ongoing depletion processes. The study also revealed spatial variability of agrochemical indicators and a predominantly accumulative profile distribution with maxima in the arable horizon. In conclusion, the obtained results confirm the development of degradation processes in the soils of Kostanay region and highlight the need for systematic soil monitoring and the implementation of sustainable land management practices aimed at restoring soil fertility and maintaining agricultural productivity.