The article presents the results of field studies on the effect of various doses of birch biochar on the agrophysical and agrochemical properties of degraded irrigated rice-march soil of the Akdalinsky irrigation massif of southeastern Kazakhstan. The use of biochar, depending on the application doses, increases the yield of soybeans by 0.16-1.48 t/ha or by 10-96%, rice by 0.17-       0.97 t/ha or by 6-36%, spring wheat by 0.05-1.8 t/ha or 2-65%. In general, over 3 years, the use of biochar provides 1.34-3.68 tons of additional grains of rice, wheat and soybeans in total. The introduction of biochar in doses of 15-20 t/ha for basic tillage helps to improve the bulk, increase the content of agronomically valuable and durable aggregates of the arable soil layer.

This research work provides for the possibility of cleaning soils contaminated with heavy metals with nanostructured sorbents made from plant residues. As the object of the study, soil samples from Almaty, Semey, Aktau and Ridder were taken, and the process of sorption was carried out with biosorbents made from rice husks, Pine buds and sunflower husks. Physico-chemical studies (Sam, bat, RFA) were carried out on samples prepared by carbonization of sorbents in an argon atmosphere at a temperature of 800°C. The results showed that sorbents have a high porosity and a developed surface area, which increases their adsorption capacity. According to 5-day adsorption experiments, manganese (Mn) and rubidium (Rb) were effectively sorbed with all sorbents (30-70 %). At the same time, it was shown that sunflower husks effectively absorb rubidium, Pine buds-manganese and strontium, and rice husks-iron and rubidium. The results obtained show that carbon nanosorbents from plant residues are capable of effectively cleaning soils contaminated with heavy metals and are suitable for their use as an environmentally safe physico-mechanical method.

Kostanay Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the leading agricultural areas of the country, with vast expanses of arable land. However, the intensive development of the mining industry (e.g., ZHAGOK - Zhezkazgan Mining and Metallurgical Plant, TBRU - Torgai Bauxite Mining Administration), SSGPO - Sokolov–Sarbai Mining Production Association JSC in close proximity to cultivated fields has led to significant anthropogenic environmental pollution, particularly involving the accumulation of heavy metals in soils.This study presents monitoring data on the content of mobile forms of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd) in the soils of five industrial-agricultural centers in the region (Kostanay, Zhetykara, Arkalyk, Lisakovsk, Rudny) from 2017 to 2024, obtained using atomic absorption spectrometry.The results reveal consistent exceedances of the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for copper, chromium, and especially cadmium, including occasional sharp spikes likely linked to industrial emissions. Analysis of annual average concentrations indicates that cadmium and copper represent the greatest threat to agricultural systems due to their bioaccumulative potential and their capacity to disrupt biogeochemical processes in soils.This study underscores the urgent need for systematic environmental monitoring, adaptive agricultural management under industrial pressure, and the implementation of eco-technologies and remediation measures to ensure sustainable land use and food security.

The article evaluates the role of remote sensing in the precision farming system. It has been found that plant and soil diagnostics of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition play a primary role in the differentiated application of fertilizers. Spectral indices directly dependent on the level of nitrogen nutrition in winter wheat have been identified. Increasing the rate of applied mineral nitrogen from 60 to 180 kg/ha increased NDVI values from 0.64 to 0.72. The residual effect of manure application at 20–60 t/ha altered these values within a narrower range, from 0.62 to 0.67. Potassium fertilizers had little effect on NDVI values, with a slight tendency to decrease as application rates increased. The correlation between nitrogen and chlorophyll content in plants and grain yield was calculated, based on which nitrogen sufficiency indices and "greenness" indices were obtained for different grain yield levels. With the help of portable photometers of NDVI indices obtained with portable photometers is comparable to traditional methods of nitrogen nutrition diagnostics and can be effectively used in precision farming to quantitatively assess the degree of in-field heterogeneity and the nitrogen needs of winter wheat crops.

This study presents the results of research conducted on light sierozem soils of the Zhambyl region, focusing on changes in the agrochemical properties of the soil when applying foliar feeding of sugar beet plants with biostimulants and micronutrients against the background of basic mineral nutrition. An indirect effect of foliar treatment with the biostimulants Amino Turbo, Acadian goldstar, Everbest Amino and the micronutrients Boromol, Nitrogeno, and Terra Organico, applied at various growth stages, on the agrochemical indicators of the soil was identified. It was shown that their use increases the proportion of water-soluble carbon. Additional foliar feeding with biostimulants and micronutrients contributed to an increase in the content of available forms of nitrogen and phosphorus up to the maximum nutrient uptake, and potassium during the vegetation period, which ensures an additional yield of root crops. Micronutrients showed phase sensitivity: boron is sufficient to apply once as a background treatment, while zinc requires two applications. The proposed scheme – NPK background before sowing; Amino Turbo and Boromol at the 2–3 and 6–8 leaf stages; Nitrogeno and Terra Organico at row closure – ensures uniform supply and retention of nutrients. The obtained data confirm the feasibility of applying a comprehensive foliar feeding scheme using biostimulants and micronutrients when cultivating sugar beet on light sierozem soils.

Microbiologically induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an environmentally friendly and promising technology for soil stabilization, based on the activity of microorganisms such as Sporosarcina pasteurii, which promote the precipitation of calcium carbonates. This process involves the biological interaction of bacteria with chemical compounds such as urea and calcium ions, resulting in the formation of calcite deposits that reinforce soil structure by increasing its strength, reducing permeability, and improving erosion resistance. The article discusses the types and mechanisms of biocementation, as well as key factors affecting the efficiency of MICP, including the selection of microorganisms, environmental conditions, and soil composition. Methods for optimizing biocementation to achieve maximum efficiency are described, along with various applications of the technology, such as the improvement of sandy and weak clay soils. Special attention is given to environmental aspects, particularly the use of MICP for carbon sequestration, which contributes to long-term carbon storage in soils and helps mitigate climate change. The conclusion discusses prospects for further research and possible directions for expanding the application of this technology in construction and geotechnics.

Soil quality degradation is becoming a significant process of soil degradation. Optimization of organic fertilizer application methods in arable lands is important to improve crop productivity and soil health. However, this requires a comprehensive study and research on crop productivity and soil quality status in the gradient of application with organic fertilizers.  The article review presents a comprehensive analysis of the effect of organic fertilizer (FCM) on soil properties, including physical, chemical and biological parameters. The review discusses the complex interactions between organic fertilizers and soil, emphasizing the effects on soil structure, nutrient availability, microbial activity and overall soil health. In addition, the review discusses the role of organic fertilizers in mitigating soil degradation, increasing crop yields and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. In particular, this paper summarizes the effects of fermented cattle manure fertilizer used in cropping systems.