THE WATER REGIME OF A SOIL PROFILE UNDER BERRY CROPS AND THE PARAMETERS OF ITS REGULATION
Fruit and berry crops require high soil fertility as well as appropriate heat and moisture regimes since they are these are the limiting factors. In this regard, the creation of optimal agrophysical conditions is required to increase berry production, and this requires the regulation of the moisture content in the root layer of the soil. The studies determined that the available moisture storage in the chernozem under strawberries in 2001 in the arable layer were 12 and 14 mm, respectively, so the soil moisture deficit was 35-37 mm, and strawberry plants were in a depressed state. To obtain a high yield of berries, soil moisture had to be maintained by irrigation. In June, irrigation rates in the 0-20 cm layer reached 370 t ha on strawberry plots and 240 t ha on honeysuckle plots. In September, before overwintering, fall irrigation was required in the amount of 300 to 400 m3 ha to ensure comfortable conditions for berry crop overwintering. In the summer of 2002, in July and August, under honeysuckle, the moisture content of chernozem in the upper 20 cm layer varied within the wilting moisture and discontinuous capillary moisture. It means that the available moisture storage under the strawberries in June and August was unsatisfactory especially in August when the water deficit was 47.3 mm, and the available moisture was equal to 1.4 mm. Therefore, the irrigation rate in June reached 340 t ha which required two irrigations of 170 t ha. In August, the deficit of available moisture exceeded 47 mm which required irrigation of 470 t ha. Under honeysuckle plantations, the deficit of available moisture in the soil in July increased to 25 mm. In August, the moisture conditions deteriorated to an unsatisfactory state. As a result, the irrigation with a rate of 510 t ha was required.