Rationale for using a drip irrgation element to optimize the hydrotrophic regime of melon in protected soil conditions

The aim of the study is to investigate the possibilities of using drip irrigation to optimize the hydrotrophic regime of melon in protected ground conditions. The object of the study is the melon crop of the F1 Polidor variety. The study was carried out in 2021-2023 at the enterprise of OJSC Vysokovsky Greenhouse Plant (Kostroma Region) under the adopted technology for growing F1 Polidor melon (control - drip irrigation) and using an additional element of the GTK drip irrigation system (experiment). The experiment was carried out on an area of 200 m2 (the size of the survey site is 25 m2) in accordance with the approved methods. Hydrotrophic capsules were installed when planting seedlings in the ground at the rate of 1 hydrocapsule per 2 plants, while 2 capillaries of the automated irrigation system were mounted in the lid. The frequency and level of water and nutrient solutions supply were programmed in accordance with the requirements of the biology of the crop and were carried out centrally. The experiment was repeated 4 times. Optimization of the water and nutrient supply regime for melons contributed to the development of a powerful root system with a positively changed anatomical and morphological (increase in root system weight by 125.7 g/plant, decrease in the number of root hairs and increase in the size of xylem vessels to 0.32 mm) and functional structure (101 % more working adsorbing surface of roots), increasing the physiological activity of above-ground organs in terms of photosynthetic productivity to 0.99 mgC/dm2/h and reducing water losses by 3.4 %/h/plant, which affected the formation of additional melon production of 8.9 t/ha with high accumulation of sugars (16.4 %) and vitamin C (8.9 mg%). Reducing the costs of additional water consumption will have a positive effect on the cost of production and on the economy of the enterprise as a whole. In greenhouse conditions, a favorable climate will be created for the working personnel, the amount of weeding will be reduced, and the risk of allergic reactions to mold spores will be reduced.