Drip irrigation impact on cherry fruit quality and biochemical composition

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of different drip irrigation regimes on the yield and quality of the Volochaevka and Molodezhnaya cherry varieties in the Central Region of Russia’s Non-Black Earth Region from 2023 to 2025. After fruit ripening and harvesting, the average fruit weight per tree was determined for each variety and experimental treatment, along with the yield per hectare. Biochemical analysis was also performed using standard methods. The results showed that water availability significantly impacts the biochemical composition of the fruit. With an irrigation regime of 60–80% of MWC, the fruit had the highest concentrations of dry matter and vitamin C, indicating the development of denser, more intensely flavored berries. A 70–90% of MWC irrigation regime provided an optimal balance of productivity and quality: high yields (up to 32.5 t/ha for the Volochaevka variety and 36.6 t/ha for the Molodezhnaya variety in 2025) were combined with increased sugar content and moderate acidity. Under 80–100% of MWC irrigation conditions, an increase in average fruit weight was observed, but the dry matter concentration decreased, resulting in more watery berries. Control variants without irrigation were characterized by the lowest yields (8.3–20.7 t/ha) and increased acidity, which made the berries more watery. The results of the study suggest that the most efficient irrigation regime is achieved by maintaining soil moisture in the range of 70–90% of MWC.