The purpose of the research is to identify the trends and factors of variability in the yield of the main agricultural crops in Kirov region. The study was conducted on the basis of data from the territorial body of Federal State Statistics Service for Kirov region for 2001-2020. An analysis of the regression equations showed that the yield dynamics for the analyzed period is most accurately described by a 2nd degree polynomial. The yield of grain and leguminous crops over a twenty-year period varied from 12.6 to 21.7 q/ha. The average yield for five years varied from 14.2 q/ha in 2001-2005 up to 19.6 c/ha in 2015-2020 The yield variation coefficient for five years varied from 8.6 to 15.5%, and the yield stability coefficient - from 91.4 to 84.5%, respectively. The highest yield was achieved in the last five years, due to the use of intensive production technologies. In addition to agricultural technology, productivity is also affected by factors of agrometeorological origin. According to the results of calculations, about 10% of the yield depends on the influence of weather and climatic conditions, respectively, 90% of the yield variation is due to the culture of agriculture. According to the results of calculations of positive and negative deviations of the actual yield from the dynamic average, it was revealed that the increase in yield in favorable years in terms of weather and climatic conditions can be 4.1 centners per hectare, and the shortfall in yield in unfavorable years will be 3.7 centners per hectare. Calculation of the climatic component according to the method of Pasov V.M. showed that the Kirov region belongs to the zone of moderately stable crops

Oats are a valuable food and fodder crop, ranked sixth in world agricultural production. Between 2011 and 2021 in the region, the area of oat crops decreased by 7.9 thousand hectares or by 14.4%. In the structure of grain and leguminous crops, oats accounted for 14.9% in 2021. The crop productivity during the analyzed period varied from 13.0 c/ha (2013) to 24.2 c/ha (2019). During the study period, the average yield of oats was 20 q/ha with a variation coefficient of 16.9%. Gross grain production decreased by 480.79 thousand centners or by 41.5%, and amounted to 687.84 thousand centners in 2021. The purpose of the study is to identify agroecologically similar territories for guaranteed production of high-quality oat grain in Kirov region. The studies were carried out by analyzing the time series of crop yields with the allocation of the ecological component of its variability in the context of the municipal districts of the region over an 11-year period. To unite objects into classes, the method of pair-group association was used. As a result, 9 agroecologically similar territories were allocated to accommodate crops. The combined influence of environmental factors provides the most favorable conditions for placing oat crops in agroecologically similar territories No. 1, 3, 5. Here, a stable yield is obtained, characterized by low variability. The soil and climatic conditions of agroecologically similar territories No. 2, 4 are favorable for growing oats with a moderate level of variation. Agro-ecological conditions of agroecologically similar territories No. 6,7, 8, 9 limit the receipt of high and sustainable yields, therefore it is not recommended to grow oats in these areas. The results of agro-ecological zoning make it possible to determine the areas most suitable for obtaining a guaranteed crop yield and give recommendations for reducing areas with inefficient production.

Grain is one of the main elements of food security of both the country and the region. Without grain production, the development of the food industry, animal husbandry and other branches of the agro-industrial complex is impossible. Between 2001 and 2021 in the Kirov region, the sown areas of winter rye and oats decreased by almost 3 times, spring wheat by 2 times. In general, the decrease in the area under crops of grain and leguminous crops during the study period amounted to 353.2 thousand hectares or 53%. In the structure of crops, the shares of winter rye and oats significantly decreased against the background of an increase in the share of winter wheat crops. During the period under review, the productivity of grain and leguminous crops in the region varied from 12.6 c/ha in 2004 and 2006 to to 21.7 centners/ha in 2019. On average, 16.9 centners were collected per unit area during the study period, with a coefficient of variation of 17.9%. The constructed linear trend indicates a tendency for an average annual increase in yield by 0.3 c/ha. Average annual gross harvest of cereals and legumes 2015-2020 compared to 2001 - 2005 decreased by almost 20%. Grain production per capita declined significantly over the study period, amid a decline in livestock and poultry in the region.