The aim of this study was to increase the efficiency of cucumber production in the dry zone of light-chestnut soils of the Lower Volga region through the development of innovative elements of growing technology in tunnel coverings using drip irrigation systems which can provide the yield of 50-90 t/ha standard fruits. This takes into account that the other conditions being equal to leverage this technology, which provides water conservation. The study has shown that maintaining the constant pre-irrigation threshold of soil moisture higher than 90 % of field capacity (FC) in combination with the use in early spring as a temporary shelter broadened (up to 1.0 m) plastic tunnels, created the most favorable conditions for the development and fruiting of cucumber. In conjunction with the use of mineral fertilizer dose N240P140K200, it allows receiving up to 80 t/ha of cucumber fruits at the early stages with minimal, 33.2-40.2 m³/t, costs of water for yield formation and provides the greatest profitability, 214%. At the background of fertilizer dose N170P100K100, maintaining the pre-irrigation level of 90% FC in conjunction with width of plastic tunnels no less than 1.0 m allows getting a guaranteed yield of standard fruits not below 70 t/ha, at an average cost of water less than 36.3-42.6 m³/t and profitability at the level of 193%.
