Changes in climate, precipitation and air temperature in the Southern Urals over the past 133 years are considered. A decrease in the climatic norm of atmospheric precipitation by 24 mm and an increase in the air temperature in the region by 1.2 º C were revealed. The main decrease in precipitation occurred during the growing season of early crops, and air temperatures in the autumn-winter period, which significantly changed the conditions for agronomy. The increasing aridity of the climate has worsened the conditions for growing spring crops. The applied system of rain-fed agriculture in Orenburg region provides the use of only 30–40% of annual precipitation. Early winter sowing of spring wheat in frozen ground with snow cover up to 10–15 cm is proposed. With them, seed germination, seedlings and tillering of plants are well provided with moisture and have favorable temperature conditions in April-May. Plants with a strong root system can get soil moisture up to 1.5 meters deep and effectively use small precipitation in June and July, which mainly moisturizes the soil to a depth of 5 cm. Early winter sowings of spring wheat are less susceptible to droughts, Favorable soil moisture and air temperature in the spring provide early shoots, plant development and 1.5–2-fold increase in yield. With early winter sowings, the efficiency of using annual precipitation increases to 50–55%.

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The climate and changes in air temperature and precipitation in the Southern Urals for 134 years according to the Hydrometeorological Service are considered. An increase in the average annual air temperature by 0.0185 °C per year was revealed-from + 3.2 °C at the beginning of the study period to + 5.7 °C in 2020 and a decrease in average annual precipitation by 24 mm-up to 353 mm by 2020. An increase in air temperature occurred mainly in October-March by 3.2 °C, and a decrease in atmospheric precipitation in May-July by 15% to 104 mm, which significantly changed the conditions for natural biocenoses and agricultural practices. An increase in air temperature and a decrease in atmospheric precipitation enhances the aridization of the climate of the steppes of the Southern Urals and shifts the northern and southern borders of the steppe zone to higher latitudes. Appropriate adaptation of the pasture regime and haymaking in steppe biocenoses and rainfed farming is necessary. Winter sowing of grain crops of spring sowing in frozen ground with snow cover up to 10-15 cm is proposed. Under a stable snow cover, their seeds retain their germination and, with its melting, germinate in spring at freezing temperatures. The development of plants is provided with moisture at favorable temperatures in April-May. Podwinter crops of grain crops are more resistant to droughts and increase productivity by 1.5-2 times in comparison with spring crops.

In the arid conditions of agriculture in the Orenburg Cis-Urals, the level of development of crop production and the state of agriculture as a whole largely depend on the water component. The applied technologies and methods of soil cultivation do not ensure the most efficient use of water resources and the natural potential of the region. In order to develop and improve technologies for the effective use of the water component in arid agricultural landscapes, the article studies the use of available water resources by spring wheat sown in the traditional spring and subwinter way.