Determination of the features and effectiveness of the pivot sprinkler with corner irrigation system

. Circular-action sprinklers, as shown by the practice of their long-term operation and previous studies, have significant advantages over front-end machines: maintenance is minimized, the ability to fully automate irrigation processes and network power supply, a one-hydrant water supply system, etc. At the same time, pivot irrigation leaves the corner sections of the field without irrigation, which account for up to 20% of its area - and this is a significant drawback of pivot irrigation machines. Foreign manufacturers of irrigation machines produce and sell additional swivel fenders for pivots that irrigate the corners of the field. They are also called "corner irrigation systems". Since 2018, such systems began to appear in Ukraine. Specialists of the South-Ukrainian branch of L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT investigated the corner irrigation system of the company "Valley" by testing in the conditions of economic operation. Research goal. Determination of parameters and characteristics of the corner irrigation system "V-Flex Corner Valley", assessment of its effectiveness and prospects for widespread implementation. Research methods. Theoretical research was carried out by analyzing the studied information resources. Laboratory and field studies were carried out by testing the irrigation system under operating conditions. System parameters and characteristics were determined according to standardized methods. Results. The design features and principles of the irrigation system functioning have been investigated and described. The tests determined the main operational characteristics of the irrigation system in comparison with the characteristics of the pivot sprinkler (using materials from previous studies). The economic indicators of the irrigation system and the circular machine are determined in comparison. The factors of increasing/decreasing efficiency and their quantitative indicators have been investigated. The analysis of the results obtained and the reasons that hinder the widespread introduction of corner irrigation systems into the practice of irrigated agriculture in Ukraine are identified. Сonclusions. Tests and studies of the pivot sprinkler with corner irrigation system have proven the functional excellence and high operational reliability of the irrigation system. The use of a corner irrigation system made it possible to increase the irrigated area by 21.86 % without changing the basic infrastructure and borders of the irrigated field. Implementing a corner irrigation system requires significant capital investment: the cost of a corner wing, which irrigates 21.86 % of the field, is 79 % of the cost of a basic pivot, which irrigates 59.72 % of the field.. The increase in gross income due to an increase in the irrigated area provides a basis for predicting the return on investment when growing highly profitable crops.