Microirrigation is by far the most progressive irrigation method, with efficiencies reaching 92-98 %. According to the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, the world's agricultural land, which is irrigated through micro-irrigation systems, is constantly growing and now stands at over 20 million hectares. By the "Irrigation and drainage strategy in Ukraine until 2030" micro-irrigation methods are defined as one of the strategic directions of the state policy of the branch. Research on the direction of "micro-irrigation of crops" in Ukraine began from the late 60's of the last century. The historical aspect of the development of research in this area is thoroughly covered in previous scientific papers. Therefore, the purpose of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the basic fundamental and applied results of research of the scientific school on micro irrigation IWPaLR NAAS in the early XXI century and substantiation of perspective directions of their development. Using theoretical methods of scientific research (analysis and synthesis, comparison, classification and generalization), the authors systematized the most significant scientific results in terms of normative, methodological, technical and technological components. The list of normative and methodological documents prepared by IWPaLR NAAS in the direction of microirrigation is given. The results of developments in the technological component are detailed according to the research objects: water regime and processes of water consumption of crops, fertigation, pestigation, the influence of local moistening, fertilizers and water of different quality on the soil-plant-technical means of irrigation system, the formation of soil moisture zones, methods of appointment timing of vegetation irrigation and irrigation management systems. The key scientific results of the irrigation facilities’ testing laboratory are highlighted. The list of developed and implemented by the IWPaLR NAAS technical means of microirrigation systems is given. The strategic directions of further scientific research are substantiated, which should meet the global trend for environmentally friendly irrigation, as well as resource and energy conservation. The need of Ukraine in the systems of microirrigation of agricultural crops for the period up to 2030, the role of current and future developments of the scientific school of micro irrigation IWPaLR NAAS on their implementation are determined.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state, reasonably promising directions for the development of microirrigation methods in Ukraine through the prism of climatic transformations. The dynamics of the areas of agricultural crops irrigated using microirrigation methods in the world and in Ukraine, as well as the structure of the areas of micro-irrigation in the context of regions of Ukraine and types of crops are shown. The largest agricultural enterprises, which are domestic leaders in the introduction of microirrigation methods, equipment manufacturers and suppliers of technical means of microirrigation, have been identified. The current stage of development of microirrigation in Ukraine is defined as a level of high understanding of technologies of its application and constantly growing use of opportunities and expansion of spheres of application of these methods of irrigation. The essential importance of domestic research institutions in the development and popularization of microirrigation methods is emphasized. With the use of theoretical methods of scientific research (analysis and synthesis, comparison, classification and generalization), the most significant scientific results of IWPaLM NAAS are systematized and a list of prepared regulatory and methodological documents in the direction of microirrigation is given. The need of Ukraine in microirrigation systems for agricultural crops for the period up to 2030 is given, trends and promising directions for the development of microirrigation methods that correspond to both the global trend of environmentally friendly irrigation and the principles of resource and energy conservation are given. The importance of state support for the introduction of microirrigation methods in terms of increasing the amount of budgetary allocations under the existing programs of state support for the agricultural sector of the Ukrainian economy is determined.

Modern fruit growing involves the use of drip irrigation systems. The methodology for diagnosing of drip irrigation terms appointment and calculation of irrigation rates require continuous improvement on the basis of the introduction of measuring instruments. These issues are relevant for the commercial fruit growing of the world's most common perennial crop -apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh). The purpose of the experiment was to optimise drip irrigation regimes and to analyse the evapotranspiration (ET) of an apple tree depending on the methods of drip irrigation terms appointment. For comparison, four methods were applied: 1) the digital iMetos ECO D2 soil moisture station, 2) the tensiometric method, 3) the Penman-Monteith calculation, and 4) the visual method. The control was irrigation-free treatment. The results of the experiment confirmed the effectiveness of the use of drip irrigation for the cultivation of an intensive apple orchard at the Steppe of Ukraine. According to the parameters of the drip irrigation regime and the yield of apple trees, the use of the iMetos ECO D2 soil moisture station was determined as the most effective method of drip irrigation terms appointment. In this treatment, the irrigation rate was 650 m 3 ha -1 , the crop evapotranspiration (ЕТс) value 3.25 thousand m 3 ha -1 , the water consumption coefficient 83.4 m 3 t -1 , the irrigation efficiency 20.7 m 3 t -1 , and the marketability of apples was 93%. It was found that the removable fruit ripeness parameters: tissue density, sugar content, and degree of starch degradation, were within the sanitary norms of apple quality. This method is defined as the most water-saving, based on the experimental data on irrigation rate and crop productivity. Thus, it is recommended for the use in apple production in the South of Ukraine.

Critical periods and parameters of growth of beet at drop irrigation in Southern SteppeV. Vasiuta, candidate of agricultural sciences Institute of water problems and land-reclamation of NAAS The purpose. To determine critical periods of growth of beet at drop irrigation, to determine the degree of variability of productivity at change of parameters of growth in critical phases using B. Gomperts function. Methods. Field, statistical. Results. Speed of increase in crude mass of beet without fertilization decreases for 50,6%, duration of critical period of growth increases for 0,9 day, productivity of root crops decreases for 46,9% in comparison with variant N90P60K135. Direct correlation link (R=0,99) between variability of parameters of growth in critical points and productivity of root crops is revealed. Conclusions. Modelling of growth of beet using B. Gomperts function and its analysis allow determining parameters of growth in critical points at different factors of influence, and also determining their optimum ratio.Key words: critical periods, critical points, Gomperts function, growth rate, acceleration of growth.Problem statement. The main task of vegetable growing in market conditions is the intensification of production, aimed at increasing productivity, obtaining quality products, rational use of resources to minimize the negative impact on the environment. The yield in the end is the result of biological processes of different nature, the intensity of which is determined by the action and interaction of factors during the vegetation period of plants. As it is known, the violation of optimal conditions of cultivation, in critical periods of plant growth, leads to a decrease in their productivity, and the establishment of growth parameters in these phases, under the influence of regulatory factors, is solved on the basis of the analysis of growth functions [1].This direction of research on drip irrigation, taking into account its distribution in the southern region, is a particularly urgent task, since it allows one to determine the level of variability of plant yields for changes in growth parameters in critical phases, under the influence of regulatory factors, and, accordingly, to determine their optimal ratio.The state of studying the problem. The analysis of publications shows that in order to achieve high productivity, it is very important to maintain optimal conditions of cultivation during critical growth periods, since their violation causes loss of the share of the crop [2][3][4][5]. Determination of anatomical, morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects of growth at the time of critical points reaching plants provides a comparison of the obtained parameters, allows us to more fully disclose the essence of growth processes, establishing the beginning, end, duration of critical growth periods and a number of other indicators for taking into account the influence of regulatory factors [6]. One of the areas of research in growth processes is their modeling of growth functions [8,9], whic...

The relevance of the research. Tomato is considered to be a strategic vegetable crop in Ukraine. This crop is cultivated in a large area covering more than 80 thousand hectares, and the gross annual harvest is more than 1.5 million tons. The largest producer of tomatoes in Ukraine is Agrofusion Company, which grows 600 thousand tons in the area of 5600 hectares. The fields of the company are equipped with drip irrigation systems; therefore the issue of efficient management of soil water regime in these conditions is relevant. The purpose of the research is to investigate the features and to adapt the existing Penman-Monteith method for determining total evaporation to the conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine under drip irrigation. Research methods: field short-term experiments, conventional analytical methods; methods of dispersion, correlation, regression and variation analyses were used. The scientific-methodical approaches were substantiated and the need for adapting the «Penman-Monteith» method to the tomato crop was proved. Research results. Using the modern tools (internet weather-stations iMETOS®, soil moisture stations iMetos® ECOD2) the benchmark ETo was determined and the actual values of total evaporation ЕТс were calculated. Based on the results of field experiments the adjustment of crop coefficient Kc was carried out by the development phases of tomato plants using the deviations from the standard conditions. The regime of drip irrigation and the parameters of tomato ETс in the production conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine were determined. The actual coefficients of tomato Kc were calculated, in view of the climatic conditions of the Steppe zone of Ukraine. It was proved that the actual values Kc are lower by 40,9-43,5 % than Kc provided by FAO. It is recommended in the future to use the adjusted crop coefficient for determining ETc and operative management of drip irrigation regime for tomato crops.   Conclusions. The features were investigated and the existing Penman-Monteith method for determining total evaporation when applying drip irrigation in the Steppe of Ukraine was adapted.