The use of a drip irrigation system allows the most efficient use of irrigation water, since it is delivered directly to the root space. In recent years, the production of drip tape at domestic enterprises has significantly increased by introducing additional capacities at existing plants and commissioning new production facilities, which will halve the import of drip tape and related equipment and fittings. However, the share of lands occupied by drip irrigation among the territories using irrigation measures has practically not increased and amounts to 2-4 %. The design of drip irrigation systems, taking into account the peculiarities of the growing season of a particular agricultural crop, its dynamics of water consumption throughout the life cycle, and the planting scheme, will help to change the situation and expand the use of drip irrigation. One of the limiting factors is the low degree of mechanization when laying the drip tape. The use of handicraft devices for these purposes leads to an uneven tension of the tape and, as a consequence, its breakage and twisting during the laying process. To eliminate this drawback, the working equipment for laying the drip tape into the potato comb was developed and installed on the Grimme GF-75/4 comb shaper. Traction resistance increased by 6-8 %, without affecting the performance of the machine. During the tests, a brake system was installed that maintains the belt tension within acceptable limits and prevents the coil from spinning when the machine stops suddenly. The use of a drip tape stacker based on the Grimme GF-75/4 ridge former has increased the productivity of work by 32–36 %.

To ensure the optimal water-air balance of the plant, agro-reclamation measures are required, including the organization of irrigation. The advantage of drip irrigation is the most rational consumption of irrigation water. To realize this advantage, it is necessary to calculate the irrigation rate taking into account the dynamics of moisture distribution in the soil. During irrigation, the humidification circuit takes on a semi-elliptical shape. To determine the geometrical parameters of the humidification circuit, one should take into account the physical and mechanical properties of the soil and irrigation water, the mineralization of which varies widely. Having identified the numerical dependences and the nature of the distribution of moisture in the soil and having calculated the parameters of the irrigation circuit, it is necessary to determine the flow rate per dripper and subsequently calculate the irrigation rate, taking into account all of the above factors. The proposed method for calculating the irrigation contour will make it possible to rationally use water for irrigation, minimizing losses due to filtration into deep soil layers. Optimizing the water regime of plants during the growing season will not only save water and energy resources, but also maintain an optimal water and air regime, which will increase the yield and improve the quality of grown products.

Based on the results of the research, a methodology for calculating the irrigation rate was compiled, taking into account the parameters of the moistening circuit, the characteristics of soil conditions and the general mineralization of irrigation water. Hydrocarbonate calcium waters predominate in the Central region, the total mineralization varies widely depending on the time of year and the type of water source. It is proved that this parameter affects the nature and rate of formation of the irrigation contour. The technique was tested at the experimental site of the Field Experimental Station of the RGAU-MAA named after C.A. Timiryazev when growing early ripe potatoes of the «Udacha» variety. Irrigation water savings amounted to 16%. The application of the proposed method for calculating the irrigation rate, taking into account the shape of the moisture contour and its geometric parameters, depending on soil conditions and mineralization of irrigation water, will fully reveal the advantages of drip irrigation in saving irrigation water and preventing its filtration into deep soil layers.