Annotation

Purpose: to analyze the effect of drip irrigation on the growth, development, and yield of onions in various climatic zones of the Russian Federation. 

Discussion. The results of studies of drip irrigation regimes for onions in various soil and climatic conditions are presented. The effect of differentiated moisture regimes (maintaining soil moisture at 80–85 % of the maximum permissible moisture content before bulb formation and 70 % of the maximum permissible moisture content during bulb development) on water consumption, crop growth, and productivity is analyzed. The results of scientific studies conducted in various soil and climatic zones confirm that the use of drip irrigation in combination with mineral fertilizers allows for a stable onion yield of 100–115 t/ha and higher. The highest efficiency of water use is achieved by maintaining a differentiated moisture threshold and optimizing the depth of the moistened soil layer depending on the crop development phase. 

Conclusions. Drip irrigation has been found to be highly effective in onion cultivation. To achieve maximum productivity, it is necessary to use differentiated irrigation regimens adapted to the onion's development stages and the specific soil and climatic conditions of the region. Drip irrigation can increase yields by up to 30 % compared to traditional irrigation methods, significantly conserving water resources, and improving bulb quality. The analysis suggests that effective onion cultivation with drip irrigation in the Rostov Region requires research to establish irrigation regimens, irrigation rates, and total water consumption.

For quoting

Merkulov E. A., Monastyrskiy V. A. Analysing technologies for bulb onion cultivation under drip irrigation. Ways of Increasing the Efficiency of Irrigated Agriculture. 2026;98(1):306–326. (In Russ.).

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