Drip Irrigation Regimes and Efficiency of Water Use by Sunflower Hybrids

Abstract

The article presents the results of experimental research on the effect of drip irrigation system designs on the formation of irrigation regimes, productivity, and efficiency of water use by sunflower hybrids. In addition, the main components of evapotranspiration were taken into account, and coefficients of water consumption (WCC), irrigation efficiency (IE), and irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) were chosen as criteria for the efficiency of drip irrigation. Short-term field research was carried out during 2020-2022 on the lands of the Brylivske experimental field of the Institute of Water Problems and Reclamation of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Kherson region, subzone of the Dry Steppe). Analytical and mathematical as well as statistical methods were used to process experimental data. The scheme of the three-factor field experiment provided various options for laying irrigation pipelines of drip irrigation systems (in the horizontal and vertical planes), as well as the implementation of a pulsed water supply mode (standard). The version with a natural moisture supply (without irrigation) was the control. The results of experimental research proved that the method of laying drip irrigation pipelines had a direct effect on the parameters of the formation of drip irrigation regimes and the productivity of sunflower hybrids in the conditions of the Dry Steppe. The mechanism of evapotranspiration formation of sunflower crops in irrigated and non-irrigated conditions has been determined. It was statistically proven that the application of subsoil drip irrigation with the laying of irrigation pipelines at a depth of 0.3 m and a distance between them of 1.0 m is the most appropriate for growing sunflower hybrids. This is explained by biological features, namely drought resistance of this crop. Thus, in field experiments, the variant with in-soil laying of drip irrigation pipelines provided almost identical yield (4.01-4.09 t/ha) when having lower crop water consumption coefficients (1088.7-1125.7 m3/t) and higher efficiency of irrigation water use – 2.27-2.41 kg of grain per 1 m3 of irrigation water.