In modern conditions of climate change and agricultural use of drained lands, there is a need for efficient production with the introduction of new or improved technologies for growing economically attractive crops that can ensure sustainable harvests, environmentally safe production, and minimize all costs, including water resources. By implementing a resource-saving technology of water regulation of drained lands during the cultivation of perennial grasses, the saving of water resources is 48,700 m3/year, the consumed electricity is 5.7%/ year. The saving of water resources during the cultivation of corn for silage was 670 m3/ha, and the costs of operating the sluices decreased by 2-3 times. Compliance with the technological parameters of water regulation during the cultivation of paiza, amaranth and fodder beans made it possible to increase the yield of cultivated crops by 15-20%, ensure the saving of water resources by up to 25% and obtain the economic effect.
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Reclamation agriculture in the zone of drainage reclamation is a source of sustainable agricultural production, and the economic, ecological, and social stability of the region depends on the efficiency of the use of drainage systems (Land reclamation, 2015; Romashchenko М.І., 2019). Due to the higher level of productivity and the possibility of ensuring the stability of agricultural production, reclaimed land is considered an insurance fund for the food security of Ukraine. Drainage systems, the majority of which are located in the Polesie Ecozone of Ukraine, have a total area of 3.2 million hectares and include 1,671 drainage reclamation systems (Voropai H.V. et al, 2019).
At the same time, climate changes that have been observed in recent decades are accompanied by the instability of water supply to reclaimed areas and create new conditions for growing agricultural crops. According to the calculations made by the scientists of the Institute of Scientific Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the territory of Ukraine with negative and sufficient atmospheric moisture has decreased by 10% over the past 25 years and occupies only 22.5% or 7.6 million hectares of arable land (Land reclamation, 2015; Romashchenko М.І. et al, 2019, 2020).
Taking into account the presence of a clear trend towards the further increase in the aridity of the climate in Ukraine at the present stage and, accordingly, a decrease in the conditions of natural moisture supply throughout the greater part of its territory, as well as the formation in the Polissia zone not only in conditions of over wetting of soils but also in their moisture deficit, especially in the second half of the vegetation period, the need and role of meliorative systems in the sustainable management of agriculture on drained lands are increasing (Irrigation and drainage strategy in Ukraine for the period up to 2030, 2019; Voropai H.V. et al, 2019).
At the same time, the value and importance of agricultural land are increasing precisely due to changes in climatic conditions in the humid zone (Datsko L.V., 2016; Voropai H.V. et al, 2021). Along with these climatic changes are accompanied by a change in the conditions for growing agricultural crops and, accordingly, transform the role of drainage systems. And if in the 60s and 80s of the 20th century, drainage systems mainly performed the function of removing the excess water in the spring period, now effective farming on drained lands requires expanding their capabilities with the ability to improve the moisture supply of cultivated crops throughout the growing season.
One of the important means of minimizing the impact of modern climate changes on agricultural production in humid zone is the effective use of the existing potential of drainage systems. At the same time, the restoration of their effective functioning becomes a defining component not only of modern intensive technologies for growing agricultural crops but also of creating favorable living conditions and protecting the rural population and rural areas from the harmful effects of water (Yatsyk M.V et al, 2015).
In modern conditions of climate change and the structure of agricultural use of drained lands, for effective agricultural production on drained lands, it is necessary to introduce new and improved technologies for growing agricultural crops, which are capable of ensuring a high yield and quality of products, under the condition of economical use of available material and water resources, minimization of non-productive discharge of water beyond the boundaries of reclamation areas, rational use of the natural potential of agro-landscapes and ensuring sustainable environmentally safe production of agricultural products (Voropai H.V. et al, 2021).
The water-air regime of the soil, which is favorable for agricultural crops, is maintained thanks to water regulation technologies, which should provide for the dynamics of the groundwater level (GWL), in which the necessary moisture in the root layer of the soil is maintained. At the same time, when managing the water regime of drained soils, it is necessary to ensure not only the requirements of agricultural crops for the water-air regime throughout the growing season but also ecological requirements for the preservation of the natural environment (Yatsyk M.V et al, 2016).