Intensification of apple orchards in the Volga-Don interfluve region

The article examines the conditions for the development of horticulture in Russia, in the VolgaDon interfluve. The results of the research showed that the development of super-intensive gardens on dwarf rootstocks using a drip irrigation system and natural stimulants is becoming pro mising. State support and private investment contribute to the development of apple horticulture and import substitution.

Introduction. The relevance of the study is related to the substantiation of the intensification of horticulture at the federal and regional levels in ensuring Food Security of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study was to develop scientific approaches to the development of intensive gardens in the Volga-Don interfluve area.

Materials and methods. The evidence base of the study included scientific materials indexed in the citation and analytical databases RSCI, RSCI, Web of Science and SCOPUS; the results of many years of research conducted by VNIIOZ – a branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "FNTs VNIIGiM named after. A.N. Kostyakov" (Volgograd), field expeditions in 2022-2023. To determine the optimal conditions for watering and caring for garden trees, the author's methods were used.

Object. Fruit plantations in the Volga-Don interfluve zone and intensive apple orchards managed by the Don branch of the National Food Group "Gardens of the Don region" LLC (Volgograd region).

Results. It is shown that the Volga-Don interfluve is a very promising area for the intensification of industrial horticulture and the formation of a new type of agricultural landscape. Acceptable technologies for planting intensive gardens are line-compacted and trellis-dwarf with a planting density of more than 2000 trees per 1 hectare. The highest productivity of intensive apple orchards (more than 50.0 t/ha) is ensured by maintaining pre-irrigation soil moisture at the level of 85 – 90% HB, spending up to 12 l/h under pressure within 0.1-0.6 MPa using drip irrigation. The costs of planting gardens are economically justified: intensive type – 400-600 thousand rubles, super intensive – 800-1000 thousand rubles.

Conclusions. The Volga-Don interfluve is a very promising area for the development of a new type of agricultural landscape associated with the intensification of industrial gardening. The development of industrial gardens requires: the presence of your own planting base (nursery), the formation of gardens adaptive to natural and climatic conditions on the principles of intensive care and regular monitoring, the use of digital technologies with the development of automated watering and tree care systems. Based on the experience gained in the company LLC NPG "Gardens of Pridonya", the main factors for the intensification of horticulture in the Volga-Don interfluve, optimal conditions for the care and watering of apple orchards (drip irrigation using natural stimulants) were identified. The intensification of industrial horticulture, with a planned output per unit area, requires a multi-factor approach and further development of a public-private partnership mechanism.

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