Effects of drip irrigation regimes on growth, quality plum seedlings, and water use efficiency in European Russia

Abstract

Currently, there is a lack of capacity in Russia nursery breeding, as a result of which a significant part of the planting material comes from abroad. Drip irrigation is one of the types of resource-saving technologies that make it possible to intensify agricultural production, including in the field of growing planting material for horticulture. The results of the experiment show that for a more rational use of irrigation water and obtaining high-quality planting material of plums in the nursery, it is recommended to use an irrigation regime with maintaining soil moisture in the range of 70-90 and 80-100% of the lowest moisture capacity with a soaking depth in the first year of 30 cm, for the second year - 40 cm, and in the third year - 50 cm. With this irrigation regime, the maximum development of seedlings, their quality and quantity are observed.