T. A. Roeva, E. V. Leonicheva, L. I. Leontyeva, M. I. Galashev
Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding, Zhilina village, Orel region, Russia
E-mail:
Volume 26 No. 8
Date of paper submission: 13.04.2026, date of review: 17.05.2026, date of acceptance: 19.06.2026.
Published: 08/31/2026
Abstract. The purpose of the study was to investigate the water regime and seasonal dynamics of plant-available nitrogen in the root zone of the soil under a non-irrigated sour cherry orchard in relation to the use of fertilizers and tree yields. The field experiment was conducted in soil-climatic conditions of the Central Russian Upland (Orel region). Methods. The research was conducted in 2023–2025 with sour cherry trees cv. Turgenevka planted in 2015. The urea and potassium sulfate were applied annually in spring in doses increasing from N30K40 to N120K160. From May to August, soil moisture content and the content of mineral nitrogen compounds the 0–60 cm soil layer were determined using standard methods. Results. The indicators of the soil water regime during the growing season varied within the following limits: gravimetric soil moisture content – 15.3–24.2%, relative humidity – 58–90 % field capacity, summary reserves of productive moisture in 0–60 cm layer – 120–160 mm. During the study period, soil moisture did not reach a critical level that prevents the growth and fruiting of trees. The reserves of mineral nitrogen (Nmin) in the non-fertilized soil ranged from 70–157 kg/ha. The use of nitrogen fertilizers increased the reserves of Nmin in the soil by 1.7–3.8 times. For three years, fertilizers did not have a positive effect on sour cherry yields. Thus, the water regime of the soil and the conditions of nitrogen nutrition were not limiting factors for the productivity of trees. Scientific novelty. In the climatic conditions of the Central Russian Upland, sour cherry orchards can be grown without irrigation and the use of fertilizers can be reduced, if the soil of the orchard initially has favorable agrochemical properties. Keywords: sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.), loamy Haplic Luvisol, reserves of mineral nitrogen, nitrogen and potash fertilizers, soil water regime, soil moisture, reserves of productive moisture, yield For citation: Roeva T. A., Leonicheva E. V., Leontyeva L. I., Galashev M. I. Water and nitrogen regime of the soil in a non-irrigated sour cherry orchard. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (08): 1424‒1434. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-08-1424-1434 (In Russ.)
Download the full text of the article
