Water Saving with Combined Irrigation Methods

In the conditions of arid zones of irrigated agriculture, during the cultivation of horticultural and other crops, high air temperatures (over 25-30^оС) and low relative humidity (less than 20-30%) are observed during the vegetation period of plants. In these circumstances, the combined irrigation method using drip irrigation and sprinkling allows optimizing the use of water during drip irrigation at air temperatures below 25-30^оС and improving the microclimate through sprinkling at air temperatures above 25-30^оС. The study aims to determine the effect of the combined irrigation method on the microclimate, water regime of plants, and water productivity compared to the drip irrigation system. The key research method employed is a field experiment conducted on a specially allocated plot of land to establish differences between the two methods of irrigation. The field experiment presupposes an exploratory study and quantifies the effect of the new technology of irrigation of apple trees to objectively justify the implementation of this scientific development in agricultural production. The combined method of irrigation provides a decrease in air temperature by 1.5-2.1°C and increases air humidity by 10-17% in the surface air layer, improving the water regime of plants and increasing the apple yield by 10.7-17.9% against drip irrigation, while reducing water consumption per production unit by 4.0-10.1%. The method of combined irrigation is thus recommended for use in the arid zone of irrigated agriculture.