Irrigation systems of urban landscapes of the south of the European part of Russia: problems and perspective

Abstract

The paper discusses the necessity to apply the innovative irrigation technology when creating artificial landscapes in the South of the European part of Russia. The artificial green areas of the Rostov agglomeration significantly differ from the traditional steppe plant associations. They are presented, as a rule, by tree plantings or grassy introduced species which are used to create the city microclimate and also for protection from the eastern winds. Unfortunately climatic conditions and increasing anthropogenic load don‘t provide the stable rooting and development of plants without additional moistening, despite the Chernozem high agronomic value. The process of the soil cover replanting of its central part and the phenologically old trees replacing is actively under way. This process should be accompanied by compliance with the requirements for enhanced, both in frequency and volume, irrigation of young trees. But the use of automatic and semi-automatic irrigation systems is associated with the absence of a regulatory framework for the design, installation, and further operation of irrigation systems under the conditions of the Russian Federation. This issue requires the solving with the direct participation of specialists from various fields, both theorists and construction practitioners, land reclamation specialists, soil scientists, landscape designers.