Land Reclamation and Water Management

THE PROBLEM OF IRRIGATION WATER SHORTAGE AS A SYSTEMIC FACTOR LIMITING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

V. V. Karuna, A. P. Shatkovskyi — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Freshwater scarcity is one of the key global challenges for sustainable agricultural development in the context of climate change. The increase in average annual air temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, and the increased frequency of extreme hydrometeorological phenomena lead to an increase in the evapotranspiration needs of agricultural crops and, at the same time, a decrease in the reliability of water supply for irrigation. According to estimates by international organizations, more than 40 % of global agricultural production already operates under conditions of moderate or high water stress, and by the middle of the 21st century, this figure could rise to 60 %. Ukraine is one of the countries with limited water resources and high regional unevenness in their distribution. The main areas of irrigated land are concentrated in the southern and southeastern regions, where climate change is most intense, creating a persistent water shortage for agricultural production. In the context of military operations, an additional risk factor is the disruption of water management infrastructure and the increase in operating costs for water supply.

The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the shortage of fresh water for irrigation on a global scale in general and in Ukraine in particular, taking into account climatic, hydrological, agrotechnological, and economic factors. The work uses methods of climate and water management analysis, economic and mathematical modeling, taking into account potential yield losses and the assessment of irrigation investment efficiency. Particular attention is paid to modern approaches to optimizing water use, in particular phytomonitoring and adaptive irrigation management methods presented in the works of Romashchenko M.I., Shatkovskyi A.P. and co-authors, FAO and IPCC data.

The results confirm that even with the introduction of highly efficient irrigation technologies, the structural deficit of water resources remains a decisive constraint on the development of irrigated agriculture. The need to transition to integrated water resource management models that take into account climate scenarios, economic risks, and institutional constraints is justified.

CURRENT STATE AND DIRECTIONS OF THE USAGE OF REMOTE TOOLS FOR INVENTORY AUDITING OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

The paper examines modern approaches to conducting an inventory audit of irrigation systems using remote tools. The traditional methods of irrigation systems inventory audit require significant financial and labor costs, which complicates large-scale audit and planning of measures for the reconstruction and modernization of irrigation systems. According to the results of the research, it was found that remote technologies are the most appropriate for inventorying such basic elements of irrigation systems as pumping stations, antechambers, open earth and concrete canals, pipelines, hydrants, water distribution facilities, and other components of engineering infrastructure. Based on the analysis, a list of remote tools that can be used to assess the technical condition of irrigation facilities was determined. It includes satellite remote sensing of the Earth, namely the use of optical, multispectral, and hyperspectral images, aerial photography using unmanned aerial vehicles, geophysical research methods, in particular ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic methods for tracing underground communications, as well as geographic information systems for integrating, analyzing, modeling, and visualizing the obtained results.

Our research has shown that a comprehensive approach that combines modern remote sensing, geophysical, and geoinformation methods creates additional opportunities for conducting an effective inventory audit of irrigation systems in Ukraine, increases the efficiency of surveys, the accuracy of determining the technical condition of facilities, and the objectivity of the obtained results. The results of the performed analytical studies can be used to justify the choice of tools and develop recommendations for conducting an inventory audit of irrigation systems by remote means.

TECHNOLOGY PARAMETERS OF SOIL WATER REGIME REGULATION WHEN FUNCTIONING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS OF THE LEFT-BANK FOREST-STEP

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

The results of research on determining the technological parameters of regulating the soil water regime when functioning drainage systems (drainage and irrigation system "Romen", local contour water-accumulating systems - CWAS) of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe are presented. Priority crops on drained lands (Sumy region) are corn for grain (share in the sown area 35%), sunflower (20%), wheat (16%), soybean (14%) and rapeseed (4%). Weather conditions on research and production plots (State Enterprise "Nadiya" and LLC Agrofirma "Lan") during the growing season 2022–2025 were characterized by extremely uneven distribution of precipitation and significant fluctuations in air temperature. The average hydrothermal coefficient (AHC) during the growing season in 2000–2025 varied within 0,6-1,9, in 2025 it was 0,77 (the conditions of a moderately arid zone). Technological parameters for regulating the soil water regime when cultivating corn for grain, buckwheat, winter wheat, sunflower, soybeans and perennial grasses were obtained, the applying of which ensures an increase in the yield of economically attractive crops up to 25%. During long-term operation (more than 30 years) of the CWASs, the effectiveness of their functioning was confirmed, as well as the possibility of ensuring a favorable soil water regime in areas with developed microrelief, obtaining a stable crop yield and increasing the efficiency of agricultural land use in the areas with micro-depression landforms. The increase in winter wheat yield by 12% compared to the watershed and by 64% compared to micro-depressions without ameliorative measures was observed. Technological parameters for regulating the soil water regime are recommended for use by specialists in agriculture and water management (landowners and land users of drained lands, operational and project water management organizations) when governing the water regime on drained lands of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe.

CURRENT ISSUES IN HYDROLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF WATER BODIES IN THE CONTEXT OF UKRAINE’S WATER LEGISLATION

O. M. Kozytskyi, A. M. Shevchenko, І. А. Shevchenko, О. О. Sydorenko — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

As a result of the analysis of legal issues arising in the implementation of the provisions of the Water Code of Ukraine concerning the protection regime of water fund lands, it has been established that these issues are largely caused by the ambiguity of hydrological terminology and the absence of statutory definitions for certain hydrological terms used in, or omitted from, the Water Code. In particular, this includes such terms as “river”, “small watercourse”, “stream”, “low-water period”, “slope gradient”, “lagoon”, “river estuary”, etc. The application of the linear approach to determining the outer boundary of waterside protection zones requires the establishment of fixed reference values for their width and for slope gradient. However, the low-water level, which under the Water Code serves as the inner boundary of waterside protection zones, is not a constant value and may vary considerably both from year to year and during the same low-water period. Furthermore, establishing its long-term mean value is practically impossible in the places where long-term hydrological monitoring data for rivers are unavailable. Another reason for legal problems in establishing the boundaries of waterside protection zones is the absence in the Water Code of a classification of natural and artificial water bodies, in particular, the lower limit of the catchment area of small rivers, as well as the area or depth of lakes and ponds. Based on the conducted research, amendments to the statutory river classification of the Water Code have been proposed, along with a classification of lakes according to their water surface area. These proposals would provide a differentiated approach to determining the width of waterside protection zones for specific categories of small watercourses and water bodies. Proposals have been made for changes and additions to the glossary of hydrological terminology given in the Water Code of Ukraine. For the practical implementation of new methodological approaches to determining the boundaries of waterside protection zones, it has been proposed to develop separate regulatory and methodological recommendations that would take into account the peculiarities of the hydrological regime of the river and the morphology of the riverbed.

EFFECTIVENESS OF GROWTH REGULATORS ON IRRIGATED SORGHUM CROPS

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

In the conditions of increasing climatic aridity of the southern region of Ukraine, the relevance of improving grain sorghum cultivation technologies aimed at increasing the efficiency of water use and forming stable crop productivity is increasing. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of growth regulators and complex Nanovit super fertilizer in chelate form on water consumption, the formation of crop structure and grain productivity of grain sorghum under irrigation conditions.

Field studies were conducted in 2016-2018 at the experimental field of the Institute of Climate-Oriented Agriculture of the NAAS on dark chestnut medium loamy slightly saline soil. The object of the study was the early-ripening grain sorghum variety Pivdenne. The effect of growth regulators Regoplant, Grainactiv-C and Vermystym on the background of N₉₀ application, as well as their combination with foliar feeding with the Nanovit super complex fertilizer, was studied.

It was found that the use of the studied preparations did not cause significant changes in the total plant water consumption (4104-4296 m³/ha), but contributed to an increase in the efficiency of water use. The lowest water consumption coefficient was obtained with the combined use of the Regoplant preparation and the Nanovit super fertilizer – 477,3 m³/t, which is 32,5% less compared to the control. The use of biostimulants had a positive effect on the formation of crop structure, in particular, it increased the length of the panicle, the number and weight of grains in it, as well as the weight of 1000 seeds. The highest grain productivity was provided by the combined use of the Regoplant preparation with foliar feeding with Nanovit super fertilizer on the background of N₉₀ application, when the grain yield was 9,2 t/ha, which was 55,9% higher than in control variant. Under these conditions, the feed value of the products also increased: the yield of feed units reached 12,4 t/ha, digestible protein – 0,59 t/ha, and the protein content in grain – 10,8%.

The results obtained indicate the high efficiency of using growth regulators in combination with chelate microfertilizers in the technology of growing grain sorghum under irrigation conditions and confirm the feasibility of their use to increase crop productivity and optimize the use of water resources.

CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE PEAT BOG AREAS OF WESTERN POLISSYA AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE WEATHER STATION AT THE SARNENSKA RESEARCH STATION

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

An analysis of long-term data on average daily air temperature shows that during the period of large-scale land reclamation—1962–1988— a decrease in these values was observed, both compared to the long-term average for 1946–2024 and to the average value for the period prior to large-scale land reclamation—1946–1961. The increase in the area of the evaporating surface caused by land reclamation led to an increase in the intensity of total evaporation and, consequently, to a decrease in air temperature. The average decrease in the mean daily air temperature during the growing season and over the year was, in both cases, 0,1 ⁽°C⁾. In turn, the increase in total evaporation during the period of large-scale land reclamation led to a 48,5 mm increase in precipitation during the growing season compared to the amount that fell before reclamation; on an annual basis, this figure amounts to 57,0 mm. Thus, overall, large-scale land reclamation on drained lands has resulted in positive climatic changes, and the current climate warming in the Polissya region is not associated with these reclamation efforts.

An analysis of current climate changes shows that the average precipitation during the growing seasons of 2015–2024 is 33,6 mm lower than during 1999–2014. It should be noted that there has been a fairly significant decrease in precipitation during the active growing season for agricultural crops—June through September—which is generally a negative phenomenon for agricultural production. The average monthly air temperature during the growing season in the s of 2015–2024 increased by 0,5 ⁽°C⁾compared to 1999–2014, and by 0,8 ⁽°C⁾ per year.

Climate changes over the past decades, characterized by a significant increase in heat availability during the growing season, make it possible to grow crops that are non-traditional for the Polissya region — economically attractive forest-steppe and steppe crops such as grain corn, soybeans, and sunflowers—which have recently been rapidly replacing crops previously traditional for this region, such as winter rye, buckwheat, oats, perennial grasses, and others.

HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR MANAGING THE HYDROLOGICAL REGIME OF SMALL RIVERS IN THE STEPPE ZONE OF UKRAINE

H. V. Hapich, V. V. Kovalenko — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0300

Small rivers in the steppe zone of Ukraine are the most vulnerable link in the hydrographic network, reacting acutely to climate change and anthropogenic pressure. The current trend toward their shallowing and loss of flow during the low-water period is caused by excessive regulation of river channels by ponds and reservoirs, which transforms rivers into stagnant bodies of water. Using the Dnipropetrovsk region as an example, it has been established that over the past 40 years, the number of ponds has increased 2,7-fold, and their total capacity has exceeded the volume of local runoff, posing a threat to the ecological safety of aquatic ecosystems. Traditional dams block the flow after a flood, so it is essential to develop solutions for water storage that do not disrupt the hydrological regime. The research methodology is based on the analysis of hydrological data and engineering modeling of gravity-fed flow regulation systems using algorithms from the QGIS geographic information system. The first proposed option involves modernizing channel ponds by separating the river channel from the pond basin using a retaining dam and creating a bypass channel. An open regulator is installed at the headwaters, allowing the pond to fill during periods of high water without interrupting the transit flow at all. To improve water quality, the hydraulic structure incorporates a rock-filled connecting structure that ensures intensive aeration and self-purification of the flow. The second option involves creating autonomous floodplain complexes with artificial basins. This technology allows not only for the accumulation of floodwater but also for its active discharge back into the river channel during dry periods to maintain ecological flow. A comparative analysis confirms that the river channel option is optimal for restoring flow in already regulated rivers, while floodplain reservoirs are effective for sustainable water supply without interfering with the river channel. The practical implementation of the proposed solutions was tested at a site in the Lower Tersa River basin (catchment area of 85,1 km^²). Simulation results confirmed the system’s operational effectiveness: at a normal water table (NWT) of 108,0–108,5 m BS and during a 1% return period design flood (water level of 109,50 m in Baltic Normal Height System (BS), 560 thous.m³ of water while fully preserving the ecological flow in the bypass channel. The implementation of such complexes enables the principles of the EU Water Framework Directive regarding river revitalization to be realized, ensuring a “living flow” even in low-water years and creating conditions for the restoration of biodiversity in steppe ecosystems amid post-war recovery and rapid climate change.

RETRACTION NOTICE

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0300

The editorial board of the journal “Land Reclamation and Water Management” is retracting the article: P.I. Kovalchuk, O.S. Demchuk, V.P. Kovalchuk, & Н. A. Balykhina “Combined system of extreme control of mineralized water dilution in river basins,” published № 2, 2021, pp. [33–44], DOI: 10.31073/mivg202102-296.

The article was retracted by decision of the editorial board based on COPE recommendations following consideration of a complaint by Vasylenko Y. The Committee's investigation confirmed the unauthorized use of the complainant's cartographic material in 2015 without attribution, as well as evidence of digital manipulation of a photograph of the site (removal of the copyright stamp).

Date of publication of the retraction notice: May 21, 2026