ABSTRACT
Results reported in this paper are from the Kazakh Research Institute of Grain Farming, (KRIGF) near the town of Shortandy, about 40 km NNW of Astana (51◦ 40′ N, 71◦ 00′ E, 367 m a.s.l.) and the Central Kazakh Agricultural Research Institute (CKARI) in the southern steppe region about 60 km NW of the city of Karaganda (50◦ 10′ N, 72◦ 37′ E, 540 m.a.s.l.). The SOM levels of the natural steppe at the KRIGF are approximately 3.5% (Suleimenov et al., 2005). Mean annual temperature at Shortandy is 1.6◦C, and mean annual rainfall 323 mm (Figure 2).
