The role of highly silicious rocks in increasing productivity and obtaining ecologically-safe agricultural products

The paper presents results of long-term research on effectiveness of application of highly-siliceous rocks (diatomite and zeolite) in crop cultivation technology in the conditions of leached black soil of the Middle Volga region. Crop yields and content of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni) in products are given in two variants: control and variant with introduction of the highly-siliceous rocks into the soil. It has been established that diatomite from Inza deposit and zeolite from Yushanskiy deposit of Ulyanovsk region are highly effective non-traditional fertilizers due to a complex positive effect on the "soil-plant" system. Thus, the yield increase of sugar beet roots amounted to 6.4 t/ha (+23 %) when diatomite was introduced into the soil at the dose of 5 t/ha, barley – 0.93 t/ha (+52 %), spring wheat – 0, 67 t/ha (+42 %). Highly-siliceous rocks with a highly developed specific surface area, possessing unique physicochemical properties, contribute to production of ecologically safe products. At the same time, the intake of heavy metals in agricultural products for some crops and metals decreased by more than 2 times