FORMATION OF PLUM SEEDLINGS UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION IN CENTRAL NON-BLACK SOIL REGION OF RUSSIA

The article presents the results of studying formation of plum seedlings under drip irrigation in conditions of the Central Non-Black Soil Region of Russia. Field research was carried out on the territory of the training and experimental farming, fruit-growing laboratory “Michurinsky Garden” of the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. The factors studied were soil irrigation regimes (60-80, 70-90, 80-100% of the lowest moisture capacity) and plum varieties (“Utro” and “Mashenka”). The results of the experiment showed that plum seedlings grown under conditions of insufficient and uneven moistening were characterized by the lowest biometric indices. The most severe lack of soil moisture was observed during intensive growth (May - early June). Insufficient and uneven moistening with intervals of reduced moistening leads to several growth waves in plants. In the seedlings grown under drip irrigation the second and third waves of growth were not observed. In irrigation variants, the root system of seedlings was mainly located in the upper arable layer of the soil which was best supplied with nutrients, had the lowest density and favorable air regime. Location of root system along the drip line and at the depth of 30 cm facilitated transferring seedlings to nurseries and ensured less damage to them during transplantation.