8. Land reclamation and improvement

There are many lands that are unfit for cultivation because they are too wet or dry. These lands need reclamation and improvement. There are many ways of reclaiming and improving such lands. Drainage and irrigation are the most common practices. The purpose of drainage is to increase the productiveness of agricultural soils. This purpose can be achieved by removing the free water which excludes air and inhibits the growth and activity of plant roots. Drained soils are more easily and sooner worked. Drainage ensures a longer growing season and earlier ripening. The useful action of microorganisms is stimulated, and there is a more rapid liberation of plant food.

Irrigation is an important practice in arid regions where the annual rainfall is very low. All crops need water very much. Some crops are more drought-resistant, others are less drought-resistant. Plants with a long growing season – sugar-beet, potatoes and especially grasses – require more water than cereals. Irrigation is especially useful for orchards.

Notes to the Text

unfit – непригодный

drought-resistant - засухоустойчивый

practice – прием, метод

9. Agriculture and environment

Agriculture and environment are closely connected with each other. Crop yields and animal productivity depend on soil and climatic conditions of the region in which they are grown. When environment conditions are favourable, crops grow and develop well and produce high yields.

At present agriculture is not so dependent on the environment as in the past. Man can improve the conditions under which crops are grown. The conditions can be improved by using irrigation and drainage, by applying fertilizers and different chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides and by some other practices. The environmental factors do not only affect agriculture, but they are also affected by the agricultural activity. Mineral fertilizers and chemicals used by farmers accumulate in the soil and in plants and may become harmful for people.

Thus, the farmers have to solve two problems. On the one hand they are to improve and intensify agricultural production and on the other hand they are to minimize the effect of agriculture on the environment.

Notes to the Text

crop yield – урожай с/х культур

on the one hand – с одной стороны

environment conditions – условия окружающей среды

10. Methods of irrigation in russia

Irrigation is one of the efficient methods of influencing plants’ environment. Until recently irrigation was primarily aimed at increasing the soil moisture content to a level favourable for the growth and development of crops. At present the effect of irrigation should be considered more widely, i.e., as a method intensively influencing the plant’s environment. Under certain conditions irrigation can be applied not only to increase soil moisture but also, for example, as a means to protect plants from frosts and dry winds, to apply fertilisers, etc.

Irrigation is chiefly aimed at delivering the optimum amount of water directly into the soil to ensure plant growth, and at increasing the humidity of the ground air, as well as at soil leaching if required.

Depending on its purpose, irrigation can be classified as follows: wetting the soil and ground air, soil leaching from harmful salts, application of fertilisers, warming irrigation and frost protection.

The principal methods of irrigation are surface, sprinkling, intrasoil, subsurface and mist irrigation. Soil wetting and salt leaching are the principal purposes of surface irrigation. Sprinkling provides soil and air wetting, frost prevention and an application of fertilisers and herbicides.

The main purposes in intrasoil irrigation are soil wetting and application of fertilisers and herbicides. Subirrigation (or subsurface irrigation) aims at providing soil wetting as well as offseason irrigation (when surface water is not available). The main objects of mist irrigation are air wetting and frost prevention.

No single method of irrigation can be considered as universally applicable. The choice has to be made on consideration of relative efficiency, economics, experience and tradition of irrigators.

Notes to the Text

was primarily aimed at – было нацелено прежде всего на

should be considered – нужно рассматривать

soil leaching – вымывание из почвы