Modelling productivity of crops in short crop rotation at irrigation taking into account agroecological and technological factors

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study on the adaptation to the conditions of Southern Steppe of Ukraine the functionality of the AquaCrop software and information complex, developed by FAO scientists (2014–2017). Modeling of natural and agrotechnological factors, including irrigation regime at the level of short crop rotation, was carried out. The most economical variants of irrigation schedules for grain corn, soybean, winter barley and 10–17% reduction of irrigation water consumption were quickly and accurately evaluated. The yield of these crops has been programmed on the basis of soil parameters, a set of agrotechnological operations, characteristics of varieties and hybrids, changes in weather conditions, etc. It was determined that for grain corn with a predicted vegetation period of 132 days, it is most advantageous to apply a scenario with a programmed grain yield level of 14.2t/ha (biomass –29.5t/ha), for the formation of which according to the biologically optimal regime the irrigation norm was 2900 m3/ha. Soybean productivity levels have also been modeled in two cultivation scenarios according to irrigationregimes –water-saving with irrigation norm of 3590 m3/ha, programmed grain yield of 4.7t/ha and biomass –11.7t/ha, biologically optimal with irrigation norm of 3830 m3/ha, yield of 4.9t/ha and biomass –12.2t/ha.