Optimization of the Parameters of Drip Irrigation Regimes for Crops in the Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to improve and substantiate the parameters of the drip irrigation regimes for crops in the Steppe of Ukraine. Field studies were carried out at the Kamyansko-Dniprovska experimental station (47046' N 34042' E), the Brylivska experimental station (46040' N 33012' E) and the Southern research station (46033' N 33059' E) from 2004 to 2021 on 11 crops. The research scheme assumed the implementation of a one-factor experiments’ series with different levels of soil humidification, the control was the variant without irrigation.
 At the first stage, the mathematical dependencies "Soil moisture level (SML) –Number of vegetation irrigations" and "SML–Irrigation rate" were obtained for all crops. The establishment of correlations between the evapotranspiration of crops and their productivity is the result of the work. Based on this, were built the dependencies (statistical models) "Evapotranspiration–Productivity" and the most optimal options for using water were determined in terms of its costs for the formation of products for the drip irrigation of the Steppe of Ukraine. The given dependencies are reaction curves for a one-factor experiment, they consist of three areas: limiting, stationary and excessive. Correlation coefficients r=0,92-0,98 indicate a close relationship between these parameters. Established relationships "Evapotranspiration–Yield" from an agro biological point of view are not stable since there are potential opportunities for increasing yields with the same evapotranspiration. It has been established that the optimal moisture range for drip irrigation of most crops is a narrow range of soil moisture suction pressure of -9 to -15 kPa. This involves irrigation with small rates (50-75 m3/ha) while reducing the inter-irrigation periods. Under such conditions, the ratio of actual transpiration (Тс) to potential (То) approaches 1 (≈ 0,83-0,87), which characterizes the water supply of plants as close to optimal.

Conceptual principles of water resources management in irrigated agriculture

“…Regarding the lower limit of OMSR many experimental plant-related studies conducted for the specific crop and growing conditions propose the use of soil moisture values in the range from 60 % to 90 % FC (Muromtsev, 2011;Shatkovskyi et al, 2022). We propose to adhere a different approach (see, e.g., Shahnazari et al, 2007) that consists of maintaining moisture supply in the root layer in a narrow high range (usually above 80 % FC).…”