Relevance. In the “Strategy for Socio-Economic Development of the Republic of Dagestan for the Period until 2030,” one of the main tasks of developing an effective agro-industrial complex and ensuring food security is the rational use of agricultural lands, conducting an inventory and bringing unused lands into circulation. The sandy lands of the republic used for transhumance livestock farming; farming is local in nature. The experience of a number of regions of Russia indicates that sandy lands, with proper development and the availability of water resources, can contribute to the development of irrigated agriculture and their involvement in agricultural use.The purpose of the research was to scientifically substantiating onion agricultural techniques on the sandy lands of flat Dagestan, ensuring a profitable harvest based on a drip irrigation system and the use of growth stimulants.Methods. In the conditions of the flat zone of the Republic of Dagestan, in the conditions of the Makhachkala Educational and Experimental Farm OJSC (Open Joint Stock Company), in 2020, a model experiment launched with the Terek-Kuma sands for growing onions at different crop densities, with different layouts of drip lines and droppers and with the use foliar fertilizing with organomineral fertilizer Biostim universal during the growing season. "Educational and Experimental Farm"Results. It has been established that on sandy lands, sparse sowing of onion seeds is most preferable – 425 thousand plants/ha with plants placed every 0.1 m in a row with a drip line placement pattern of 0.3×0.2 m and the use of a growth stimulator Biostim Universal. This combination of studied agro-technical techniques ensures the production of up to 30 t/ha of marketable products. The calculation of economic efficiency showed a profitability of 163%.

Relevance. In the context of climate change, onion cultivation has become a challenge and innovative solutions are needed to support breeders and seed producers as well as farmers, starting with critical issues of seed quality. Seed priming successfully improves seed viability, which leads to rapid and uniform germination and emergence of onion seedlings.Results. Priming onion seeds can improve viability, especially under unfavorable conditions such as low/high temperatures, reduced water availability and salinity. It is a simple, low-cost and low-risk intervention that can be a useful technology for farmers and have a positive impact on their livelihoods by increasing the rate of seed germination, increasing the rate of plant development, reducing harvest time and increasing yields. Although this method is common for radish, tomato, carrot and cabbage seeds, this method is less popular for onions. This review provides an up-to-date picture of the scientific and technological advances that have contributed to increasing seed germination and vigor in onion plants to date. For large-scale commercial use, optimal priming methods and conditions tailored to different varieties or seed lots will require further extensive experimental work. It cannot be denied that seed priming technology is characterized by ease of operation, low cost and high practical value in industrial and market contexts. It can be foreseen that this technology will have wider prospects in agricultural production and green building. In addition, seed priming can effectively restore or enhance seed viability and ensure successful retention of germplasm resources and subsequent development, especially for onion seeds that rapidly lose viability.

Relevanse. Rhizosphere associative bacteria, multiplying on root secretions, provide the plant with the entire complex of necessary nutrients from the soil and help increase productivity.The purpose of the research was to identify the feasibility and effectiveness of using bacterial preparations, optimizing the rates and timing of their application when cultivating onions as an annual crop on alluvial meadow soils of the Non-Chernozem Zone.Materials and Methods. Field experiments were carried out on the experimental field of VNIIO on an area of 1000 m2 in 2021-2023. We used drugs provided by the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Microbiology" (St. Petersburg): BisolbiPlant BIS88 (Bacillus pumilis strain); N40 – Experimental strain (Paenibacillus xylanexedens) – bacillary nitrogen fixer; V514 – Experimental strain (Bacillus megaterium) – bacillary stimulator of mobilization of soil phosphates and phosphorus from mineral fertilizers. The following tasks were solved by year: 2021 – Integrated use of biological products at application rates, l/ha: 0.0; 10.0; 20.0; 40.0; 2022 – Application of biological products in the following options: Control, Control + BIS88 (1+1) l/ha, Control + BIS88 (1+1) l/ha + N40 (1+1) l/ha + V514 (1+1) l/ha; 2023 – Options: BIS88 (0.5+0.5) l/ha + N40 (0.5+0.5) l/ha + V514 (0.5+0.5) l/ha at different base levels spring fertilization: N160P160K160; N110P110K110; N60P60K60.Results. It is not advisable to apply the studied bacterial preparations at a total rate of more than 10.0 l/ha during the cultivation of onions due to plant disease with bacteriosis. The use of the BisolbiPlant drug at a rate of (0.5+0.5) l/ha helps to increase the yield of onions with harvest quality comparable to the control. Biological products applied in combination with irrigation water during the growing season: BIS88 (0.5+0.5) l/ha; N40 (0.5+0.5) l/ha; V514 (0.5+0.5) l/ha, provide an increase in yield (13.4%) with harvest quality comparable to the control in the case of a low (N60P60K60) level of basic spring fertilizer application with subsequent fertilizing during the growing season Ca40N30 + N40K40 + N40K40. At the rates of the main spring application of fertilizers N110P110K110 and N160P160K160, complex application of preparations does not ensure an increase in the yield and its quality.