1. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:

fresh-cut leafy vegetables; worldwide vegetable market; soilless cultivation techniques; greenhouse soilless cultivation; high capital investments; leafy vegetables; precise control of plant nutrition; nonpoint source water pollution

2. Read the following text and say:

a) what the term “sensor-based irrigation control” means;

b) what subjects are touched upon in the text

Text 4. Timer versus moisture sensor-based irrigation control of soilless lettuce: Effects on yield, quality and water use efficiency

Minimally processed or fresh-cut leafy vegetables, such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), have been gain­ing importance in the worldwide vegetable market. Leafy lettuce was traditionally cultivated in soil, but recently soilless cultivation techniques have been considered. There can be large differences between soil and soilless systems in terms of inputs, size, lo­cation, environmental conditions and productivity. Although greenhouse soilless cultivation could be impaired in some regions of the world by the generally high capital investments and energy requirements, greenhouse production of leafy vegetables using soilless culture permits precise control of plant nutrition, and allows for more efficient water and nutrient use and higher sanitary quality than conventional, soil-based cul­ture. Soilless culture can also simplify post-harvest handling and waste-water treatment Several recent studies focused on the effects of nutrient solution (NS) mineral composition on lettuce yield and quality in soilless cultivation sys­tems. However, there is a general lack of information on the influence of irrigation management on soilless lettuce yield and quality.

Irrigation management directly affects crop per­formance, and efficient irrigation practices can lead to qualitative and quantitative improvements in veg­etable production .Efficient irri­gation management also contributes to the sustain­able use of water. Increasing competition for water resources has raised consumer and government interest in the environmental im­pact of food production. As a result of the increasing pressure on limited water resources, member states of the European Union implemented the Water Framework Directive, which aims to assure the good ecological status of all water bodies Since agriculture is an important source of nonpoint source water pollution, it may be neces­sary to adopt agricultural practices which minimize the release of pollutants to meet societal goals and satisfy government regulations.

3. Using the text above, finish the following sentences:

1) Minimally processed or fresh-cut leafy vegetables, such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), … importance in the worldwide vegetable market.

2) Leafy lettuce … traditionally … in soil, but recently soilless cultivation techniques have been considered.

3) There….large differences between soil and soilless systems in terms of inputs, size, lo­cation, environmental conditions and productivity.

4) Several recent studies … the effects of nutrient solution (NS) mineral composition on lettuce yield and quality in soilless cultivation systems.

5) Irrigation management directly affects crop performance, and efficient irrigation practices … to qualitative and quantitative improvements in vegetable production.

6) Efficient irrigation management … to the sustainable use of water.

7) Directive aims to assure the good ecological status of all water bodies since agriculture is … of nonpoint source water pollution.