The aim of the research was to investigate changes in the soil microbiome and soil chemicals due to the flooding of agricultural areas, as well as to determine the strength of the relationship between these soil indicators. Deliberate flooding is a reliable way to procure cheap and highly nutritious fodder. More than 400 thousand hectares of flooded lands in the republic are concentrated in Western Kazakhstan, where the research was conducted. The research methodology included, along with an agrochemical study of soil fertility, a metagenomic analysis using high-throughput sequencing. All basic soil parameters of the flooded site were compared with the non-irrigated site, which allowed for the identification of the main changes and processes affecting soil fertility by comparison. The results of the study showed that annual flooding led to an increase in the main soil indicator humus, on average by 0.10–0.28% in genetic horizons in comparison with the non-flooded site. Flooding reduced the alkalinity of the soil solution to 7.7 pH, as well as the degree of salinity to weak. Representatives of bacterial communities Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, NA, and Verrucomicrobia dominated in the soil samples of the studied plots, while representatives of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Caldithrix, Chloroflexi, and Tenericutes appeared in smaller shares. A high degree of correlation was found only between the chemical parameters of the soil, pH and the sum of salts, with representatives of the bacterial phylum Verrucomicrobia, NA, Acidobacteria, and Caldithrix. Analysis of the correlation field showed a negative type of relationship between the above indicators.

Global warming also brings with it global droughts. In recent years, almost the whole of Europe and part of the Asian part of Russia and Kazakhstan have been under their influence. All this suggests that the time has come to take a closer look at crops that were not widespread before. One of such crops, to which recently more and more in[1]terest has been shown in various countries of the world, is sorghum. This is not a new crop for Kazakhstan, but in the emerging natural and climatic conditions it may take a more significant place in the food industry. The article presents studies of the use of sorghum flour in the preparation of shortbread cookies. The tasting evaluation showed the highest average score in the 1st variant (50% wheat flour and 50% sorghum flour) - 4.52, which was characterized by friability, pleasant taste and aroma, in the 2nd variant (100% sorghum flour), respectively, 4.28, under control (100% wheat flour) - 4.32 points. The highest humidity of the sample was at the control – 11.3%, with almost identical indicators for 1 and 2 variants, respectively 8.1 and 8.3%. The wetting index was the highest when using a mixture of wheat flour and sorghum in a ratio of 50:50 and only one wheat flour, respectively 210.2 and 204.9%. The conducted experience has shown the prospects of using non–traditional raw materials - grain sorghum in the manufacture of shortbread cookies, but requires further study and improvement of recipes and production technologies.

This paper presents the results of studying the effects of chemical amelioration and periodic flooding and its effects on the agrochemical properties of chestnut soils, the structure of microbial communities, and the productivity of natural grass stands in Western Kazakhstan. The research was conducted in 2024–2025 at a site within the Ural-Kushum irrigation and water-supply system, applying gypsum (6000 and 12,000 kg/ha) and elemental sulfur (3000 and 6000 kg/ha). It was found that of ameliorants altered the agrochemical parameters of the soil, particularly in the upper soil layer (0–20 cm): pH decreased, while the content of nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and sulfur increased, whereas the potassium content showed comparatively minor changes. The maximum effect was observed at application rates of 12,000 kg/ha for gypsum and 6000 kg/ha for sulfur. High-throughput sequencing revealed that microbial communities consisted of 97.70% bacteria, with approximately 2.20% of taxa remaining unclassified at the kingdom level. In the control treatment, Pseudomonadota (43.63–47.88%), Acidobacterium (13.09–18.11%), Bacillota (9.74–13.15%), and Acidobacteria (up to 33.10% in the top layer, with a sharp decline down the soil profile) dominated. The application of gypsum and sulfur induced a redistribution of taxa: a decrease in the abundance of Pseudomonadota in the top layer, an increase in Acidobacterium and Verrucomicrobium, and a reduction in Acidobacterium in deeper horizons, especially at higher rates of ameliorants. The productivity of the grass stand increased under the influence of the ameliorants, as evidenced by a growth in plant height and hay yield, the maximum values reaching 2060 kg/ha with the application of 6000 kg/ha of gypsum. A strong correlation was observed between grass stand density and yield (r = 0.99). The obtained results confirm that chemical amelioration under periodic flooding conditions exerts a comprehensive influence on soil agrochemical properties, microbial community structure, and grass stand productivity.