The rice began to be cultivated in Ukraine on large scale in 1931 and reached maximum production (179,800 t) over 1986-1990, with the average crop yield of 5.4 ha/t and sowing area of 33,300 ha, respectively. Though the sowing area decreased to 25,800 ha in 2012, the gross harvest was 172,300 ton at the crop yield reaching 6.7 ha/t. The work gives a detailed description of natural and climatic conditions in the rice growing zone, describes thoroughly design and parameters of rice engineering systems of Krasnodar and Kuban varieties and a gradual transition towards a system with subsurface irrigation and drainage network. The work summarized the results of research conducted by Ukrainian scientists on improvement of rice growing, as well as joint and parallel works of different research institutes in CIS. With the development of rice irrigation regimes and irrigation constructions on 432 ha of land with subsurface irrigation network, the country managed to produce on average 70-75 centner/ha of rice at the irrigation norm of 17,500 m3/ha during 23 years (1990-2013). Construction of this system was designed by V.I.Makovsky. This system regulates the level of drainage outflow through backwater in subsurface drainage network. 

Along with engineering improvements, the monograph shows the results of genetics of new rice varieties, the growing season of which is 100-118 days for early ripening varieties (“Divoss”, “Yantarny”,”Presp 1”) and 116-125 days for mid ripening varieties (“Ukraine 96”, “Zubets”, ‘Slavutich”, “Premium”, “Antey”). It also demonstrates the results of improvement of grain quality - protein content, grain yield, resistance to diseases and plant response to application of mineral fertilizers. The rice production is favorably accompanied by crop rotation, where rice area is 50-55%, with the average crop profitability of 55.44% and the net revenue as much as 700 ha over 1999-2008. Ecological and economic efficiency of particular rice systems is also presented. 

It is characteristic that rotating crops, such as alfalfa for green mass, maize for silage, maize for grain, barley and Sudan grass are irrigated by sprinkling system, where water use amounts to 2,000; 1,500; 1,500; 1,700 and 1,000 m3/ha, respectively. 

The work is concluded with an interesting section describing the assessment of return on investments and ecological and economic effectiveness of rice irrigation system reconstruction and development.