Under the climatic conditions of Poland cultivation without irrigation does not assure high yields of good quality. Of the many types of irrigation, drip irrigation is most economical in terms of water use efficiency. An application of hydrogels – compounds which are capable of storing large volumes of water – is an alternative to very expensive irrigation systems. In the experiment was investigated the effect of irrigation (no irrigation, irrigation by means of a dripping tape) and method of AgroHydroGel application (control, AgroHydroGel applied under seedlings, AgroHydroGel applied under plants in the field, half of the AgroHydroGel rate applied under seedlings, the other half under plants in the field) on the yield level and quality of kohlrabi grown in the field. Irrigation significantly increased yields as well as the average weight and diameter of bulb, however, it had no influence on the nutrient contents. Application of AgroHydroGel under plants in the field influenced the most favourable on the yielding. An application the whole AgroHydroGel rate under seedlings, the whole rate under plants in the field as well as at a split rate in the irrigated combination contributed to significant increase marketable bulb yields as compared to the control without hydrogel. The most ascorbic acid and total sugars contents kohlrabi bulb from the treatments in which AgroHydroGel had been applied under plants in the field or at a split rate.

53-61