For a gardener, a garden and a vegetable garden should be economically viable. Planting, growing vegetables, fruits is beneficial when the crop is of high quality for a short time. All this will be ensured if the watering of the garden is properly organized. The high quality of vegetables and fruits is their juiciness, freshness, pleasant taste. With a lack of water in the soil, it is impossible to obtain high-quality vegetable products. Vegetables have a root system of different powers. The irrigation rate for each plant depends on this, the methods of irrigation, the number of irrigation per season and when during what period of the growing season a vegetable plant will be most useful.
Among vegetable crops there are biologically drought-tolerant species - watermelon, melon, beans, as well as species that adapt to insufficiently moist soil - tomatoes, carrots, parsley, and table beets. However, with a lack of water, their yield is small, and the taste of the products is unsatisfactory.
With a lack of water in the soil, low air humidity, the growth of seedlings and seedlings is delayed, changes in growth and development of vegetable crops unfavorable for the gardener. So, at cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant flowers, ovaries fall. Lettuce, cauliflower, radish, radish are thrown ahead of time by arrows, in these crops, as well as in celery, potatoes, kohlrabi, the grocery part becomes coarse. Onions, garlic in the phase of the 3-4th leaf weaken growth - the bulbs are chopped.
The power of the root system of vegetable crops - the basis for calculating the irrigation rate
The need for vegetables in moisture, as well as other plants, depends on environmental conditions - air temperature, soil, their moisture, light, wind power. With an increase in the tension of these factors, transpiration (evaporation of water) of plants increases, and the absorption of water from the soil increases accordingly.
In addition to the reaction to weather conditions, the need for plants in moisture is determined by their biological characteristics (see table. 1).
Table 1. Root development in different types of vegetable crops
The following groups of cultures are conventionally distinguished:
1st group. Includes heat-resistant, resistant to air drought species: watermelon, melon, pumpkin, vegetable corn, beans.
2-group. Species with a well-developed root system, which allows them to use a large amount of soil to absorb water: cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, carrots, beets, parsley, potatoes, beans, peas. At the same time, rapid, powerful development of the root system, in a relatively shallow soil layer, abundantly moistened with regular watering, contributes to the active growth and yield formation of these species. This must be taken into account when opportunities are limited.
3rd group. Species that are not able to extract large quantities of water from the soil due to the insufficiently powerful development of the root system: cabbage, lettuce, radish, radish, onion, garlic. In this case, the first four species spend a large amount of water on transpiration (water evaporation by plants).
Optimum humidity, irrigation rates, quantity and time of irrigation of vegetable crops
For vegetables, soil moisture, with some exceptions, is maintained at a level not lower than 70% of the maximum field moisture capacity (PPV), the optimal level as a percentage of PPV for vegetables is as follows:
Tomatoes:
- early - 80%,
- medium - 70-80%,
- late - 60-80%,
Pepper
- early - 80%
- late - 80%,
Potatoes
- before tuber formation - 70%,
- during the formation of tubers - 80%,
White cabbage – 80-90%,
Cucumbers – 85-90%,
Onion – 80%,
Watermelon, melon, pumpkin – 70%.
The specified soil moisture is maintained by periodic irrigation, the norm of which is determined depending on specific conditions:
- Moisture charging irrigation is given at a rate of 100-300 liters per m2.
- Presowing or presowing - give at a rate of 50-80 liters per m2.
- Preplanting - when planting seedlings, it is 0.5-1.0 liters of water per well. Depending on weather conditions, preplant watering is done with small norms - 10-20 liters per m2.
Vegetative watering the garden spend the entire period of growing plants before harvesting. In different soil and climatic zones, from 1-2 to 15-20 waterings are carried out with a norm of 10 to 80 l / m2. In the daytime (hottest) time of day or evening in the southern regions, refreshments are made in small portions of 2-4 l / m2.
Approximate norms and the number of vegetative irrigation of vegetable crops for the southern zone of the European part of Russia are given in table. 2.
Table 2. Irrigation rates, number and time of irrigation of vegetable plants and potatoes
In years with insufficient moisture, the number of irrigations increases accordingly by two or three. In addition, in the hottest times, it is recommended to carry out refreshing watering with a norm of 5-7 liters per 1 sq. m
We draw the attention of readers: the irrigation period should be determined before the plants show signs of water supply insufficiency: leaf wilting, residual water deficiency, falling fruits, ovaries. In this case, crop losses cannot be made up for.
In the table. 2, the time of irrigation is focused on periods of the highest sensitivity of the plant to a lack of water. Additional watering or its cancellation must be placed between these periods.
Watering the garden is carried out depending on specific conditions. Water the plants should be in the evening (in hot weather) or in the morning (if the nights are cold). It is better to finish the evening watering by 19 o’clock in the evening so that the moisture that has fallen on the leaves evaporates by night.
Methods of watering the garden, how to water the beds
Watering on furrows and checks
Watering vegetable plants in a small area of the garden is carried out mainly by surface, running water. Water is distributed over the entire surface or part of the soil surface. Surface irrigation can be done by furrows or by checks. In the conditions of an amateur garden, where there is almost no possibility of good leveling of the area, irrigation by furrows or checks is very suitable from the point of view of proper irrigation, uniform distribution of irrigation water, especially on light soils.
Crest Design
The ridges are formed as follows: a furrow is cut with a hoe, a hoe manually or with a plow, the distance between which depends on the vegetable crop that will be planted in this area. Most often it is 60-70 cm. In this case, small earthen ramparts are formed between the furrows - they are called ridges. After that, transverse furrows with a distance of 5-6 m from each other are also cut with a plow or a hoe. These transverse furrows will be used for irrigation, the design of ridges. Every second or every second or third ridge is cut from the inside (at both ends) so that water can circulate during irrigation (Fig. 1. A). The ridges are leveled, the furrows are first compacted, then leveled. Thus, make out a site for the best movement of water.
The combs are suitable for growing many vegetable crops - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, parsley, and others - on heavy soils, especially in rainy spring.
Issuing Checks
Checks are straight rectangular or square platforms surrounded by ridges (earthen rollers). The site is divided into beds 5-6 m wide limited by irrigation furrows. Rectangular checks are placed from one irrigation furrow to another with a width of 1.2 to 1.5 m. Square checks are formed by dividing each garden bed into 2 parts with a comb, intersecting with transverse ridges after 2 m. In this case, almost square checks with dimensions of 2.5 x 2 m. Checks are used to grow many vegetable crops - peppers, onions, cabbage, leeks, cucumbers, etc., also on light sandy soils (Fig. B).
Watering the garden from a watering can
It is recommended to use a watering can usually when growing seedlings in greenhouses or in open beds. The irrigation rate depends on the weather, the characteristics of the grown vegetables, soil properties, seedlings, etc. Practically, to moisten the soil layer in a greenhouse 15 cm thick, on the soil, per 1 sq. m need to pour 40-50 liters (4-5 lei) of water. In open ridges, water consumption increases, since the soil layer dries to a greater depth, the roots of plants are located deeper, which can be determined experimentally. With strong drying of the soil, first you need to water it lightly from the watering can, after a while give the necessary remaining amount of water. To ensure irrigation rates, sometimes multiple irrigation is required at intervals necessary to absorb moisture from the soil. With a one-time application of the irrigation norm, moisture will not have time to be absorbed by the soil, which will lead to stagnation of water on its surface or to loss of moisture as a result of surface runoff. You can water not the entire garden, but the root zone of plants.
Regulation of relative humidity (sprinkling)
Vegetable plants have different requirements for relative humidity. Some of them, for example, cucumbers, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, require a high relative humidity of 80-95%, and others, such as tomatoes, watermelons, melons, lower 50-60%. However, some combinations of air humidity, temperature create conditions for the appearance of diseases, pests, which requires regulation of these factors. By increasing or decreasing the number of irrigations of the garden with running water, the relative humidity can be controlled. Refreshing garden watering with sprinkling also has beneficial effects on plants due to increased air humidity.
It is not possible to irrigate in personal gardens as it is done in the fields, but here with the help of a hose with different tips or by means of an electric pump, irrigation pipes of the appropriate length, with sprayers at the ends, it is possible to achieve the irrigation effect. By irrigation, it is easier to provide an optimal irrigation rate, since it helps to reduce fluctuations in the hydration of soil or plants. This is of great importance for such vegetable crops as peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, beans, potatoes, root crops, etc., which cannot tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Sprinkling for all varieties of cabbage (white, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Savoy), spinach, lettuce, head of lettuce, etc. gives a particularly good effect. Sprinkling of vegetable plants must be carried out in calm weather, since water drops in large drops on plants during wind. If it is necessary to carry out sprinkling under the wind, then the water stream must be oriented in the direction of the wind. The most suitable time for sprinkling is in the afternoon, evening, night. This is especially important when sprinkling pepper or cucumbers, as it prevents burns or illnesses. After fruit is formed, tomatoes can only be sprinkled at night or early in the morning to protect the fruit from cracking.
Moisture charging watering the garden
Moisture-charging is the irrigation of fruit trees and shrubs, which provides thorough soaking of the soil to the depth of the bulk of the root system of plants. In a fruiting apple tree on weak or medium rootstocks, the depth of the root system is 80-100 cm, in cherries and plums 60-70 cm, in shrubs 40-60 cm, etc. As a rule, water-charging irrigation is carried out after a dry summer or insufficient rainfall in the fall. The degree of moisture in the soil can be easily checked during autumn deep digging. Moisture-recharging watering is necessary even if you watered your fruit trees throughout the summer or in the autumn there were good rains. Such irrigation has a positive effect on the condition of plants and their frost resistance.
The root system of trees, which lacks moisture in the summer, autumn periods, does not provide the necessary conditions for preparing plants for wintering. There is a risk of winter drying out of individual branches, especially against the background of frost, strong winds, in the absence of snow. Also, the likelihood of tree damage by winter sunburn of the bark on the bollards, skeletal branches is increased. When the soil is dry in snowy winters in fruiting dwarf trees with a superficial location of the root system, there is also a risk of freezing of the roots in young gardens.
The timing of water-charging irrigation for the Kuban is the end of October - November, for the middle zone of Russia - August-September, i.e. there and there - after the massive leaf fall. In this case, the irrigation rate for fruiting apple trees is up to 60-90 l per 1 m² of projection of crown, young apple, cherry and plum - up to 35-50 l, and berry bushes - up to 40 l.
By the way, I often come across such reasoning that moist soil freezes easier, and this is dangerous for the root system of trees. Nothing like this! Everything is just the opposite! Sufficiently moist soil in winter retains heat better. After a dry summer, even if you diligently watered your garden all season, water-recharge irrigation is mandatory when the trees drop foliage.
For local soil wetting near trees, at a distance of 60-80 cm from the stems, it is better to irrigate along the furrows located around the circumference. The depth of such furrows for a fruiting apple tree is 10-20 cm, stone fruit with a superficial root system (cherry) up to 10 cm, while root damage cannot be allowed during the excavation of furrows. When watering heavy soils, it will take more time to soak the root layer.
The moisture reserve after the autumn water-loading irrigation is sufficient for plants during spring, the flowering periods of such plants are shifted by 3-5 days, which reduces the risk of damage to flowers by spring frosts. In addition, plants that are sufficiently moistened in the fall can easily tolerate severe winter frosts and dry winds.
Based on the materials of the Niva Kuban newspaper with the Nivushka app