Purpose: to determine the characteristics of tree and shrub vegetation (diameter, height, slope angle, density) on the berms and slopes of irrigation canals to substantiate the parameters of the automatic height control system of the working element and the strengthening of the cutting system of the modernized brush cutter.
Materials and methods. In 2024–2025, plots of 100 m² were selected on the irrigation canals of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Saratovmeliovodkhoz Administration” where strips 2 m wide on the berm and 2 m wide at the top of the slope, characterized by the greatest overgrowth, were studied.
Results. The study revealed the predominant tree and shrub vegetation: narrow-leaved oleaster, golden currant, box elder, and Siberian elm. A significant difference (66 %) in the tree density on berms was found: 22,132 pcs/ha versus 13,310 pcs/ha on slopes, with 75–80 % of trunks having an inclination angle of 0–15°. Three critical factors complicating the operation of standard equipment were identified: 1) significant variation in sizes (diameters 10–190 mm, heights 150–250 cm); 2) high vegetation density (up to 22,000 pcs/ha); 3) the presence of hardwoods (elm) with particular wood density.
Conclusions. The following parameters were substantiated based on the established characteristics of tree and shrub vegetation. The identified factor of significant unevenness in plant height requires equipping the brush cutter with an (ultrasonic) height sensor and an automatic disk raising/lowering system, which will also prevent contact with the ground and the capture of removed residues. High vegetation density requires the implementation of adaptive (shifting) operating modes (“Berm”/“Slope”) to automatically adjust the cutting speed and disk rotation frequency depending on the load. The presence of hardwoods (elm) and trunk diameters up to 190 mm necessitates equipping the cutting system with a reinforced carbide-tipped disk and increasing the drive power to handle the maximum diameters.
doi: 10.31774/2712-9357-2025-15-4-177-193
trees and shrubs, irrigation canals, shrub cutter, stand density, earth channel, berm, slope
Abdrazakov F. K., Kuznetsov V. A. Field research on trees and shrubs overgrowth in irrigation canals in Saratov region. Land Reclamation and Hydraulic Engineering. 2025;15(4):177–193. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.31774/2712-9357-2025-15-4-177-193.
1. Zhang T., Tan Q., Wang Sh., Zhang T., Hu K., Zhang Sh., 2022. Assessment and management of composite risk in irrigated agriculture under water-food-energy nexus and uncertainty. Agricultural Water Management, vol. 262, article number: 107322, DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107322, EDN: LAZYPS.
2. Ara I., Turner L., Harrison M.T., Monjardino M., deVoil P., Rodriguez D., 2021. Application, adoption and opportunities for improving decision support systems in irrigated agriculture: a review. Agricultural Water Management, vol. 257, article number: 107161, DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107161, EDN: KXYNYQ.
3. Kozarezova E.A., 2020. Obzor issledovaniy gidravlicheskoy effektivnosti i ekspluatatsionnoy nadezhnosti kanalov [Research review on canal hydraulic efficiency and operational reliability]. Puti povysheniya effektivnosti oroshaemogo zemledeliya [Ways of Increasing the Efficiency of Irrigated Agriculture], no. 4(80), pp. 155-159, EDN: FPDMMY. (In Russian).
4. Kuznetsov V.A., Abdrazakov F.K., 2024. Povyshenie proizvoditel'nosti kustoreza za schet yego modernizatsii [Increasing the productivity of machining during vibration cutting]. Osnovy ratsional'nogo prirodopol'zovaniya: materialy X Nats. konf. s mezhdunar. uchastiem [Fundamentals of Rational Nature Management: Proceed. of the X National Conference with International Participation]. Saratov, Vavilov University, pp. 175-179, EDN: MTICQU. (In Russian).
5. Esperon-Rodriguez M., Quintans D., Rymer P.D., 2023. Urban tree inventories as a tool to assess tree growth and failure: The case for Australian cities. Landscape and Urban Planning, vol. 233, no. 6, article number: 104705, DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104705.
6. Abdrazakov F.K., 2019. Resursosberegayushchie tekhnologii i mashiny dlya intensifikatsii meliorativnogo proizvodstva: monografiya [Resource-Saving Technologies and Machines for Intensifying Reclamation Production: monograph]. Saratov, Saratov State Agrarian University named after N. I. Vavilov, 164 p, EDN: PARGMX. (In Russian).
7. Zaychenko L.P., 1973. Novye instrumenty dlya perecheta derev'ev [New tools for counting trees]. Sovremennye mashiny i mekhanizmy v lesnom khozyaystve: sb. nauch. tr. [Modern Machines and Mechanisms in Forestry: collection of scientific papers]. Krasnoyarsk, pp. 166-172. (In Russian).
8. Tereshkin A.V., Solovieva O.V., Mnekina I.A., 2018. Otsenka perspektivnosti assortimenta derev'yev i kustarnikov v nasazhdeniyakh obshchego pol'zovaniya g. Saratova na osnove ustoychivosti k vozdeystviyu toksikantov [Assessment of prospects of tree and shrub assortment in stands of general use of Saratov on the basis of sustainability to toxic exposure]. Novye tekhnologii [New Technologies], no. 2, pp. 151-156, EDN: XUODYL. (In Russian).
9. Turdiev S., 2019. Experience vegetative propagation Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) in Uzbekistan. Byulleten' nauki i praktiki [Bulletin of Science and Practice], vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 159-163, DOI: 10.33619/2414-2948/39/21, EDN: YWSWMX.
10. Lavrova O.P., 2021. Analiz sostoyaniya bystrorastushchikh vidov derev'yev v urbanizirovannoy srede [Analysis of the state of fast-growing tree species in an urbanized environment]. Landshaftnaya arkhitektura i formirovanie komfortnoy gorodskoy sredy: materialy KHVII region. nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii [Landscape Architecture and the Formation of a Comfortable Urban Environment: Proceed. of the XVII Regional Scientific-Practical Conference]. Nizhny Novgorod, NNGASU, pp. 63-72, EDN: UMOYWU. (In Russian).
Funding source: the study was funded by Saratov State University of Genetics, Biotechnology and Engineering named after N. I. Vavilov.
