The article presents a comparative evaluation of agrophysical properties of the main soil types in central irrigated zone of Rostov region: ordinary chernozems, southern chernozems and dark chestnut soils. Soil sampling was carried out at typical irrigated and rainfed plots in accordance with GOST 28168-89 and instructions of the State Committee of Hydrometeorology. Soil analyses for determine structure and water stability were made by N. I. Savvinov’s method of dry and wet sieving; density – by Kachinskiy’s method of cylinder; the maximum water absorption – by Mitscherlich, field water capacity – by the method of continuous flooding; actual moisture content of arable soil layer – by the thermostaticgravimetric method of S. A. Vorobyev and GOST 28268-89. The evaluation of the experimental data revealed that the soil in rainfed conditions had the best indicators of structural aggregate composition and water stability, which characterized its higher resistance to water erosion and deflation as compared with irrigated soil, where there was a significant compaction of the arable soil layer and reduction of available moisture interval for plants.
