DEVELOPMENT OF SOIL PREPARATION TECHNIQUE FOR SOWING MELONS AND GOURDS

The paper considers various technologies of soil preparation for planting melons and gourds. The authors show advantages and disadvantages of each of the considered technique. When preparing the soil for planting melons and gourds, it is necessary to perform a number of technological operations of main and pre-sowing tillage, as well as to open irrigation furrows. The production process is associated with high power consumption. Significant time spent on operations leads to moisture loss in the soil in a hot Central Asian climate. To eliminate these shortcomings, the authors propose a new technology for preparing the soil for sowing using a combined tillage unit, which performs all the necessary operations in one run: smooth plowing of the soil with the help of the working tools of the front plow with simultaneous formation of irrigated furrows and pre-sowing tillage using wheel spiders or knife wheels, with a slat roller located behind them. The proposed technology of soil preparation using a combined unit allows to reduce the operating time, save moisture, reduce labor costs and fuel consumption. Also, the level of soil compaction can be decreased by reducing the number of the unit runs across the field. The offered rational technology of soil preparation for sowing of melons and gourds is most acceptable for use in hot climate conditions.