DYNAMICS OF SEEDLING EGGPLANT BIOMASS ACCUMULATION DEPENDING ON DRIP IRRIGATION REGIMES AND MINERAL NUTRITION IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN MOSCOW REGION

Ontogenesis and productivity of agricultural crops are largely determined by a complex of interrelated environmental factors. Modern agricultural technologies, such as the use of temporary shelters and drip irrigation, create opportunities for targeted management of phyto-environment parameters, which underscores the relevance of research into the influence of regulated factors on yield. A field experiment was conducted in the Moscow region from 2022 to 2024 to study the cultivation of the 'Cherny Opal' eggplant variety using the seedling method under tunnel shelters with drip irrigation. The experiment followed a two-factor design: Factor A was the pre-irrigation soil moisture threshold (70%, 80%, 90% of field capacity), and Factor B was mineral nutrition (N₁₅₀P₉₀K₁₄₀ and a control without fertilizers). The dynamics of dry matter accumulation were assessed at key phenological phases, and the organic carbon content was determined using standard methods. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of irrigation regimes and mineral nutrition on the dynamics of organic matter accumulation and the production process of eggplants to optimize cultivation techniques for achieving high yield. In the early stages of ontogenesis, mineral nutrition had the greatest influence, whereas during the reproductive period, the water regime became critical. The maximum accumulation of organic mass (8.49 t/ha) was recorded with the combination of pre-irrigation moisture at 90% field capacity and fertilizer application at a dose of N₁₅₀P₉₀K₁₄₀. Reducing the moisture level to 70% field capacity with the same nutritional background limited this indicator to 6.89 t/ha. A synergistic effect from the joint optimization of water and nutrient regimes was revealed. Comprehensive optimization of the water regime (maintaining pre-irrigation moisture at 80-90% field capacity) and the application of balanced mineral nutrition (N₁₅₀P₉₀K₁₄₀) are essential conditions for maximizing the production potential of eggplants cultivated under tunnel shelters with drip irrigation, ensuring a significant increase in the accumulation of organic matter.