Important recommendations for irrigation (watering) vegetable crops

 Irrigation or simply watering vegetable crops is an integral process and the task of every summer resident to care for his garden. Water is vital for any living creature, including all kinds of vegetation. At first glance, what can be difficult in watering planted beds? It would seem - nothing. But it is precisely those who are irresponsible about irrigation that sometimes face a number of negative consequences for the harvest.

Watering vegetable crops: value and features

As you know, with a lack of the necessary moisture, the stems and leaves of planted crops begin to dry out rapidly, become brittle, acquire unusual colors and shades, coarse and lose nutritional value. This list can be continued almost indefinitely.

Plants need water for normal growth and development, creating a comfortable microclimate and soil temperature. Timely irrigation prevents the process of evaporation, promotes better absorption of solar energy by plants, which also has a beneficial effect on the vast majority of types of vegetable crops.

The main feature of irrigation is the level of optimal moisture for both the soil and plants - because the soil also has the ability to retain water in itself due to its peculiar structure. It is extremely important to take this into account at an early stage of plant growth, when their moisture consumption is at their maximum. But this also does not mean that excessive and excessive amounts of water supplied to plants will only be beneficial. A beneficial effect takes place only in a verified complex and an irrigation regime that does not exceed the needs of specific vegetable crops in terms of values. Only if the norms are observed can a high-quality harvest be achieved.

Irrigation regime and norms

The irrigation regime for vegetable crops is defined by such a concept as the irrigation rate - the amount of water required for a given crop for one irrigation. There is also an irrigation rate that assumes the amount of water for the entire irrigation period. Depending on the type of culture, the data can differ dramatically from each other. So, for example, carrots in terms of water consumption coefficient require 80-12 mm at a time when eggplant needs as much as 150-200 mm.

There are several groups of vegetable crops according to the requirements for one or another soil moisture:

- Plants with a high level of water consumption and needing constant high soil moisture due to an underdeveloped root system. These crops include cucumbers, turnips, radishes, lettuce, etc.

- Plants that can save water, but still require high soil moisture. These crops include onions and garlic, which have a small evaporating surface, due to which moisture evaporates less intensely.

- Plants that consume water regularly, but at the same time stand out with a moderate requirement for soil moisture: carrots, peppers, peas. They are characterized by the formed root system and leaf surface.

- Plants that use moisture sparingly require low soil moisture. An example is nightshade: tomato, eggplant. Stable moisture consumption is due to the developed root system of these crops.

The irrigation period is determined depending on the phase of development of a particular crop, the state and quality of the soil.The optimal soil moisture during cultivation should not be lower than 20-30%, while the optimal ratio is 70%.

Water composition and quality

A prerequisite for irrigation is the appropriate composition and quality of water. First of all, the salt content is assessed (no more than 1 g / l), in which case the water is suitable for irrigation and will not harm the plants. You should also be wary of groundwater, water taken from springs and lakes due to the high content of sodium in the composition. It is not recommended to use hard water for irrigation, because there is a risk of reducing the effectiveness of fertilizers and pesticides if they have been applied to the soil.

Vegetable crops in the process of growth impose increased requirements on the amount of essential nutrients: sulfur, iron, magnesium, calcium, etc. implications for growth and development.

Vegetable Watering and Irrigation Systems

For greater simplification and convenience, there are currently automated irrigation systems that allow you to get rid of manual laborious work.

Drum-type sprinklers are widespread, covering a large area for irrigating vegetable crops in the open field.

Drip irrigation involves the supply of water in small portions, usually directly to the root zone. The advantage of this system is that the same and even amount of water is supplied to each plant. Thanks to such a system, it becomes possible to maintain a stable soil moisture in the desired limit almost continuously.

So, irrigation or watering of vegetable crops is and will be one of the fundamental processes for growing crops. Alas, you cannot do without water, you should only use it rationally and competently, giving life to new and new crops in your garden.