Cultivation of Egg Plant (Solanum melongena L.) Using Drip Irrigation with The Use of Mineral Fertilizers in the Conditions of The South-east Kazakhstan

Birzhan Sultanuly Rakhymzhanov1, Temirzhan Erkasovich Aitbaev2, Tulepbergen Saginovich Tazhibaev1 and Tencho Lubenov Cholacov3

1Kazakh National Agrarian University, Republic of Kazakhstan, 050010, Abai Avenue 8, Almaty City 2Kazakh Research Institute of Potato and Vegetable Growing, Republic of Kazakhstan, 040917, Nauryz Street 1, Kainar village, Karasai district, Almaty region 3Institute of Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov” -Sadovo, Republic of Bulgaria, 4122, 2 Druzhba str., Sadovo, Plovdiv region.

ABSTRACT: Kazakhstan has the largest land resources with the total area of 272 million ha. Out of the total land area of the Republic, its main part consists of agricultural land, and includes 222.6 million ha (over 80%). However, agriculture in Kazakhstan exists in extremely harsh climatic conditions, where the annual rainfall in the main producing areas is 200-300 mm. Currently, Kazakhstan starts experiencing shortage of water resources, and according to forecasts, it may face significant water shortage by 2040. In order to save irrigation water and increase crop yield, water-saving irrigation methods are to be developed and tested. One of the ways to achieve these goals is the introduction of modern irrigation methods, drip irrigation in particular. For Kazakhstan, drip irrigation is a relatively new technology. Therefore, in 2013-2014 we studied eggplant cultivation with the use of drip irrigation with various doses of fertilizers. The aim of this work was to study the influence of drip irrigation with the use of fertilizers on economy of irrigation water and yield of cultivated eggplant in the conditions of the South-East Kazakhstan. The study was performed in accordance with generally accepted and available techniques. Eggplants were planted in a 70x30 cm pattern, plant population was 47.6 thousand plants/ha. The following was used for the study: furrow irrigation (control), drip irrigation system. To determine the effect of fertilizers together with drip irrigation, 4 norms of fertilizers were taken: N0P0K0 (control), N50P30K40, N100P60K80 and N150P90K120. The studies proved that the use of drip irrigation system for growing eggplant ensures saving of irrigation water by 29.27%, while infestation of crops decreased by 58.46%. When the triple rate of fertilizer (N150P90K120) was used, yield increased by 41.37%, as compared to the reference (N0P0K0).

KEYWORDS:

Eggplant; drip irrigation; furrow irrigation; Saving irrigation water; fertigation; weeds; productivity

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