The results of the study devoted to assessment of accuracy and reliability of the CROPWAT 8.0 software application calculations of the evapotranspiration and crop water requirements are represented in the article.The study was based on the results of the perennial field experiments, conducted during the period from 2012 to 2017 at the irrigated lands of the South of Ukraine with different crops, namely: sweet corn, grain corn, soybean, sorghum. We assessed accuracy of the CROPWAT 8.0 software application by the comparison of the calculated values with the real ones. We determined considerable differences between the calculated crops evapotranspiration values and crops irrigation requirements and the real ones obtained in the field experiments. The difference was the most essential in case of the drip-irrigated sweet corn crop and averaged to 46.05% for evapotranspiration and 89.20% for irrigation water requirements, correspondingly. Overhead sprinkler irrigated crops are likely to be more suitable for accurate evapotranspiration prediction by using the CROPWAT 8.0. The slightest discrepancy between the calculated and actual values of the studied parameters were determined on the overhead sprinkler irrigated grain corn crops, where the differences averaged just to 15.86% for evapotranspiration and 41.63% for irrigation norm. The results of the study gave us an opportunity to conclude that CROPWAT 8.0 software application should not be used without previous calibration and adjustment of the crop coefficients for the concrete agricultural production conditions.

The results of statistical modelling for the yields prediction of spring row crops, namely, maize, sorghum and soybean, depending on the values of the remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at critical stages of the crops growth and development were presented. The spatial NDVI data obtained from the Sentinel-2 satellite were used to create the models. Quadratic regression analysis was applied to develop the yielding models based on true yield data of the crops obtained in the period of 2017 and 2018 at the experimental field of the Institute of Irrigated Agriculture of NAAS, Ukraine. The results of statistical modelling revealed that the method is suitable for precise yield prediction, and the best stages for NDVI screening and use in this purpose are different for the studied crops. The best accuracy of prediction could be obtained at the stage of tasselling (VT) or silking (R1) for maize (the mean absolute percentage error MAPE is 8.75%); at the stage of second trifoliate (V2) for soybean (MAPE is 3.75%), and at the stage of half bloom (S6) for sorghum (MAPE is 17.62%). The yield predictions by NDVI are reliable at a probability level of 95% (p < 0.05).

The milk thistle is a highly valuable medicinal plant, widely used in treatment of liver diseases. Soil-climate conditions of the steppe zone of Ukraine are favourable for crop cultivation. The goal of the study was to determine relations between milk thistle productivity and elements of cultivation technology, viz., primary tillage depth (14–16 and 20–22 cm), inter-row spacing (30, 45, 60 cm), timing of sowing (3rd decade of March, middle of April, 3rd decade of April) and mineral fertilizer application doses (no fertilizers, N45P45, N90P90). Field trials were carried out during the period from 2010 to 2012 on the irrigated lands of the Institute of Rice of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine by using the split plot design method in four replications. The climate of the territory of the trials is typical for the steppe zone. The soil type was dark-chestnut residual solonetz middle-loamy soil. We used the Yuhoslava variety of milk thistle in the trials. Cultivation technology was standard, excluding the studied factors. The results of the trials showed significant impact of all the studied cultivation technology elements on milk thistle seed and oil yields. The maximum average seed (1.66 t/ha) and oil (489 kg/ha) yields were obtained under the primary tillage at the depth of 20–22 cm, inter-row spacing of 60 cm, sowing in the 3rd decade of March, applying mineral fertilizers in a dose of N90P90. The highest input in seed and oil yields rise was made by the mineral fertilizers, which increased milk thistle productivity by 1.57 times comparatively with non-fertilized treatments. We also established a strong direct interrelationship between seed and oil yield: coefficient of determination was 0.96. Results of the current study are slightly limited, so further investigations in the field of milk thistle cultivation technology development and improvement are required to provide Ukrainian farmers with scientifically grounded agrotechnology of this valuable medicinal plant.

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