The Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic calls for autumn irrigation to preserve soil moisture and prevent water shortages
“To avoid water shortages at the beginning of spring, it is necessary to retain as much moisture in the soil as possible in the autumn. Autumn irrigation is one of the most effective methods. Currently, the irrigation season has ended, there is enough water, and it should be used to moisten the soil before winter,” noted Idirisov.
He also explained that water frozen in the soil during winter provides plants with the necessary moisture during the initial stages of their growth when it thaws in spring. An effective way to retain moisture from autumn rains and snow is also the inversion of the soil layer using a plow.
For irrigated and rain-fed lands, it is recommended to use deep tillers (slotters) that can loosen the soil to a depth of 60–70 cm.
“Unlike a regular plow, which works at a depth of 25–30 cm, slotting allows moisture to penetrate deeper and be retained longer,” added Idirisov.
According to the ministry's data, this year it was planned to cultivate 150,000 hectares, but so far only about 60,000 hectares have been processed, which is 35–40% of the established norm.
Idirisov also expressed concern about the lack of snow cover, which could negatively affect water supply in the spring period. For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with meteorologists, recommends that farmers prepare the soil in advance to minimize the risks of water shortages.
In addition, he noted that work is underway to transition regions, except for the Naryn region, to winter sowing.
“Winter crops provide a yield that is 30–40% higher than spring crops. We are actively conducting explanatory work and training farmers in this method,” concluded the ministry representative.
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