Water Use Efficiency and Water Consumption Patterns of Eggplants under Drip Irrigation in the Central Non-Chernozem Region

Relevance.  The relevance of the study is driven by the increasing water scarcity and the need to intensify agricultural production, particularly in the non-chernozem zone of Russia. Eggplant, being a crop with high demands for moisture and nutrition, presents a pertinent case for investigating water use efficiency under drip irrigation systems. The objective of this research was to quantify the patterns of total water use and the water consumption coefficient of eggplant under drip irrigation, as influenced by different levels of pre-irrigation soil moisture and mineral fertilizer application.

Methodology. Field experiments were conducted in the southern part of Moscow Oblast from 2022 to 2024. The study investigated three levels of pre-irrigation soil moisture (70%, 80%, and 90% of Field Capacity) and two levels of mineral nutrition (no fertilizer and N150P90K140). Total water use was determined using the water balance method, with soil moisture monitored by tensiometers.

Results. The findings indicate that the primary sources of moisture were irrigation water (35.5–65.2%) and precipitation (27.7–53.2%). Increasing the pre-irrigation moisture threshold from 70% to 90% on a fertilized background resulted in a rise in total water consumption from 3219 to 3777 m³/ha. The peak average daily water use (29–39 m³/ha/day) was recorded during the budding-to-fruiting phases. The water consumption coefficient ranged from 80 to 104 m³/t. The optimization of irrigation and fertilization regimes: maintaining 90% on an unfertilized background reduced by 9.8%, while fertilizer application against a background of 70% reduced it by 10.8%. The highest water use efficiency (84 m³/t) was achieved by combining a high moisture supply (90%) with intensive mineral fertilization (N150P90K140). This agronomic practice secured water savings of 17.5% compared to the control.

Conclusion. The results substantiate the expediency of adopting eggplant cultivation technologies based on maintaining pre-irrigation soil moisture levels at 80–90% in combination with balanced mineral nutrition.

1. Dubenok N.N., Lebedev D.A. Improvement of agrotechnical methods for growing early eggplants in tunnel shelters under drip irrigation in the conditions of the central Non-Chernozem zone. Vestnik of the Ryazan State Agrotechnological University named after P.A. Kostychev. 2025;17(1):29-36. https://doi.org/10.36508/RSATU.2025.38.85.005 https://elibrary.ru/bhaidc (In Russ.)

2. Olgarenko V.I., Olgarenko I.V., Ishchenko O.S., Sabra H. Water regime of irrigated lands under conditions of natural moisture deficit on the example of sugar beet. In: Melioration as a driver of agricultural modernization in the context of climate change: Proceedings of the IV International Scientific and Practical Internet Conference, Novocherkassk, April 24–26, 2023. Novocherkassk: Lik LLC; 2023. p. 49-54. https://elibrary.ru/lqwpjl (In Russ.)

3. Fedosov A.Y., Men'shikh A.M., Yanchenko A.V., et al. Drip irrigation of vegetable crops. Potato and Vegetables. 2025;(4):31-37. https://doi.org/10.25630/PAV.2025.56.30.005 https://elibrary.ru/kwvgta (In Russ.)

4. Kurbanov S.A., Magomedova D.S., Suleymanov M.S. Drip irrigation: results and prospects. In: Abdulbasirov Readings: Proceedings of the II Republican Scientific and Practical Conference, Makhachkala, November 09, 2023. Makhachkala: Magomedaliev SA IP; 2023. p. 107-113. https://elibrary.ru/kfyidk (In Russ.)

5. Engalychev D.I., Men'shikh A.M., Engalycheva N.A. Application of drip irrigation and mineral fertilizers in the cultivation of tomatoes in the Non-Chernozem zone. Irrigated Agriculture. 2017;(4):15-16. https://elibrary.ru/nshidz (In Russ.)

6. Dubenok N.N. Water and energy saving regimes on reclaimed lands as a basis for increasing the competitiveness of agricultural production. Izvestia of the International Academy of Agricultural Education. 2023;(65):35-40. https://elibrary.ru/igogom (In Russ.)

7. Olgarenko I.V., Olgarenko V.I., Olgarenko O.N. Empirical parameters for calculating total evaporation taking into account the variability of hydrometeorological conditions. In: Land Reclamation and Water Management: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (Shumakov Readings) with international participation, Novocherkassk, November 06–23, 2018. Vol. 16. Part 1. Novocherkassk: Lik LLC; 2018. p. 100-104. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/yuchtn

8. Mukhortova T.V., Polukhina E.V., Vlasenko M.V. Influence of water consumption level and mineral nutrition under drip irrigation on the productivity of different eggplant varieties. Proceedings of Lower Volga agro-university complex: science and higher education. 2015;1(37):81-84. https://elibrary.ru/tomqtt (In Russ.)

9. Kurbanov S.A., Magomedova D.S., Kurbanova L.G., Kelemetova Z.Sh. Water consumption of table carrots under drip irrigation depending on sowing periods. In: Environmental Problems of Agriculture and Scientific-Practical Ways to Solve Them: collection of scientific papers of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, Makhachkala, June 05–06, 2017. Makhachkala: Dagestan State Agrarian University named after M.M. Dzhambulatov; 2017. p. 40-45. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/zgkshd

10. Kruzhilin I.P., Ganiev M.A., Kuznetsova N.V., Rodin K.A. Dynamics of total water consumption and yield of periodically moistened rice under sprinkling and drip irrigation in the Volgograd region. Proceedings of Lower Volga agro-university complex: science and higher education. 2018;3(51):34-42. https://elibrary.ru/yqtcmx (In Russ.)

11. Olgarenko I.V., Efendiev M.S. Total water consumption of agricultural crops under conditions of water resources deficit. In: Land Reclamation and Water Management: proceedings of the scientificpractical conference, Novocherkassk, November 24–25, 2016. Vol. 14. Novocherkassk: Lik LLC; 2016. p. 50-53. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/yofpxd

12. Kizyaev B.M., Borodychev V.V. Effectiveness of mineral nutrition of vegetable crops under drip irrigation. Plodorodie. 2016;5(92):18-21. https://elibrary.ru/wwrvxt (In Russ.)

13. Zhatkanbayeva A., Shokimova Zh., Nuraly Zh. Investigation of the coefficient of water consumption of pepper and eggplant in different irrigation methods. 3i intellect idea innovation. 2024;(1):37-44. https://doi.org/10.52269/22266070_2024_1_37

14. Korzhov V.I., Olgarenko I.V., Korzhova T.V. Problems of water distribution in irrigation systems under conditions of drip irrigation use. In: Land Reclamation and Water Management. Ways to improve the efficiency and environmental safety of land reclamation in the South of Russia: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (Shumakov Readings), Novocherkassk, November 07–24, 2017. Novocherkassk: Novocherkassk Engineering and Reclamation Institute named after A.K. Kortunov. Vol. 15, Part 1. Novocherkassk: Lik LLC; 2017. p. 80-85. https://elibrary.ru/qjckah (In Russ.)

15. Aujla M.S., Thind H.s, Buttar G. Fruit Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Eggplant (Solanum Melongema L.) as Influenced by Different Quantities of Nitrogen and Water Applied through Drip and Furrow Irrigation. Scientia Horticulturae. 2007;(112):142-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.12.020

16. Magomedova D.S., Kurbanov S.A., Shabanova М.Sh. Complex effect of fertilizers and drip irrigation eggplant yield. Vegetable crops of Russia. 2021;(2):67-70. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18619/2072-9146-2021-2-67-70 https://elibrary.ru/jkiufo

17. Klevtsova V.K., Olgarenko I.V., Matvienko G.O. Substantiation of the dynamics of total water consumption of late cabbage in the conditions of the semi-arid steppe zone of the Rostov region. In: Land Reclamation and Water Management. Ways to improve the efficiency and environmental safety of land reclamation in the South of Russia: Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (Shumakov Readings), Novocherkassk, November 07–24, 2017. Novocherkassk: Novocherkassk Engineering and Reclamation Institute named after A.K. Kortunov. Vol. 15, Part 1. Novocherkassk: Lik LLC; 2017. p. 60-65. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/tbylqi

18. Pchelkin V.V., Vladimirov S.O., Kuzina O.M. Water consumption of forage crops in the non-chernozem zone of Russia. Scientific life. 2022;(85-2). https://doi.org/10.35679/1991-9476-2020-15-9-1186-1194 https://elibrary.ru/slyxfw (In Russ.)

19. Douh B., Boujelben A. Water saving and eggplant response to subsurface drip irrigation. Agricultural Segment. 2010;(1):1.