Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr) plays a crucial role in the advancement of agriculture in Kazakhstan, serving as a promising food crop and feed source. The primary challenge in boosting soybean production in Northern Kazakhstan lies in the absence of soybean cultivars suited to the region's conditions. As such, the foremost focus of breeding initiatives should be on creating soybean varieties that possess both early maturity and satisfactory yield potential. The objective of this research was to assess the impact of maturity time (MT) on both the yield formation and the adaptive characteristics of soybean varieties from different origins. This evaluation was conducted by analyzing the outcomes of their testing under diverse cultivation conditions in the northern region of Kazakhstan. The soybean cultivars that were examined, originating from various sources, were classified into three primary groups. These groups varied in terms of their growing season duration as well as their yield levels. The way the alleles of the E1–E4 flowering genes were spread out in the identified clusters showed that for soybean varieties where recessive alleles of the E1–E4 genes build up, the growing season usually shorter. Cultivars of Chinese, Russian, and domestic selections isolated as a result of the research were good initial material for use in local breeding programs. Within the framework of the clusters, an environmental assessment of soybean accessions was carried out, which made it possible to determine their degree of plasticity and, in general, their adaptive potential in the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. The best cultivars were the Chinese selection ‘Dongnong 63’ and the Russian selection ‘SIBNIIK 315’. Hence, the present study successfully discovered soybean cultivars that possess exceptional adaptability and flexibility. These cultivars hold significant potential for cultivation and practical use in the specific environmental circumstances of northern Kazakhstan.

Wheat, prized for its economic significance, is the predominant crop globally. However, drought stress has emerged as a critical constraint in wheat production, increasingly limiting growth and productivity across major wheat-growing regions worldwide. Therefore, the present study assesses the impact of trace elements silicon, zinc, and manganese on the morphological characteristics of seed germination in spring soft wheat varieties (Taimas, Granny) under both normal and drought stress conditions in 2023. To achieve this, wheat seeds were subjected to varying concentrations of microelements (Si+Zn+Mn) during germination under controlled drought and regular conditions. The most significant beneficial combined effect of the three metals was observed when Si (0.25) + Zn (0.5) + Mn (0.5) was present at a concentration level, resulting in improvements in key germination parameters such as the germination index (GI) and the shoot viability index (SVI). Under drought stress conditions, utilizing the ideal concentrations of trace elements led to a notable increase in germination rates, ranging from 94.07% to 95.23%. The findings indicated that the presence of trace elements resulted in a suppressive impact, which became evident as the concentration of metals increased in the measurements of roots, shoots, and the phytotoxicity index.