The purpose of the research is the development and scientific substantiation of the irrigation practices of the spring planted potato with irrigation by modern sprinkling equipment under the conditions of the central irrigated zone of Rostov Region. Field studies were conducted in 2014–2015 in the farms of Semikarakorsk district Rostov region. Analysis of the results obtained allowed to determine that the irrigation practices for potato on experimental plots consisted of 12–18 vegetative irrigation with irrigation rates of 4025–5705 cubic meters per hectare, which exceeded the control plot indicators by 7.5–9.0 % during the periods of the greatest moisture demand of potato. The consumptive water use on the experimental plot in the peasant farm enterprise “Yuzefov N.N.” was 5516 cubic meters per hectare, which is 243 cubic meters per hectare more over control, in the limited liability company (OOO) “Istok-1” – respectively 7486 and 325 cubic meters per hectare. Over the years of research, higher potato yields were obtained on experimental plots. On average, the yield increase was 7.5 to 7.9 t/ha, or 13.8–15.2 %. The water consumption ratio on the experimental and control plots also differed notably: on the “Yuzefov N.N.” peasant farm enterprise, water consumption for 1 ton of potato was less 9.9 cubic meters per ton over control, or 10.2 %; on OOO “Istok-1” – by 10.2 cubic meters per ton, or 8.9 %. Due to the fact that consumptive water use for potato was formed from the irrigation rate, effective rainfall and productive moisture reserves in soil, one may state that the potato yield increase is associated with an increase of water availability due to the introduction of developed irrigation practices.
Key words: potatoes, irrigation practices, vegetative irrigation, sprinklers, biological yield, consumptive water use, water consumption ratio.
