Low-fertile sod-podzolic soils of Chuvashia studied the influence of traditional, minimal and zero tillage on the yield and quality of corn grain. Traditional technology of maize cultivation for grain included disc discarding of stubble of spring wheat to a depth of 4–6 cm, peeling, dumping of plow for 20–22 cm, pre-sowing cultivation for 4–6 cm with simultaneous harrowing, sowing and packing. The system with minimal soil cultivation was based on autumn disking and stubble sinking to a depth of 6–10 cm, spring pre-sowing cultivation for 8– 10 cm and sowing with the Amazone seed drill. At no-till processing in the autumn period, the herbicide was sprayed with a continuous Zero action and a direct sowing of maize by the Amazone complex in the spring. Research conducted on a highly efficient hybrid of the ROSS 199 MV universal direction showed the advantages of no-till of the ground before the minimal and traditional technologies. The coefficient of energy efficiency in this case was 2.11 (with the traditional - 2.02, with the minimum - 2.10), and the profitability level increased by 3.6 and 1.5% compared to traditional and minimal tillage. Biochemical analysis revealed that the corn grain at zero processing is not inferior in quality to the control variant. In all variants of the experiment, 1 kg of grain corresponded to 1.42 feed units and 13.01-13.05 MJ of exchange energy.

The yield and quality of corn grain is significantly affected by the infection of plants with diseases of agricultural crops. The susceptibility of corn bioagrocenoses of hybrids ROSS 145 MV, ROSS 140 SV, Povolzhsky 107 SV, Katerina SV, NC Falcon, NC Gitago and Delitop to diseases during their cultivation for grain according to traditional, minimal and no-till technology in the agro-climatic conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region was studied. In the course of research, it was found that the most common diseases of corn due to excessive moisture in the soil and high humidity during the harvest period are mildew on the cob, fusarium on the cob, root and stem rot, dust and blister smut. Under unfavorable harvesting conditions, the incidence can reach 40 %. Under favorable weather conditions, there are isolated cases of plant diseases, regardless of the cultivation technology. To protect the bioagrocenoses of corn, it is necessary to grow disease-resistant hybrids, monitor the rotation of crops in the crop rotation, apply full doses of mineral fertilizers and micronutrients, sow at the optimum time with an appropriate seeding depth, maintain a complex chemical plant protection system, starting with seed dressing. The closest to the requirements are zoned maize hybrids with a short growing season ROSS 145 MV, ROSS 140 SV, Povolzhsky 107 SV and Katerina SV.