Optimization algorithm for determining working water head of subsurface irrigation with ceramic emitters based on soil wetting patterns

Abstract

Appropriate working water head of subsurface irrigation systems with ceramic emitters (SICE) is crucial for providing a stable and suitable soil water environment to promote crop production and save water resources in intensive agriculture. However, working water head optimization of SICE is hindered by the uncertainties of the soil physic properties, increasing the risk of irrational irrigation. To effectively address this challenge, this study presented an optimization algorithm for optimizing the working water head of SICE based on soil wetting patterns, considering taking into account soil physical variables and management variables, and then the reliability of the algorithm was verified by three case studies. The results of three case studies showed that the relative error between the actual irrigation amount of SICE using the optimization algorithm, and the recommended irrigation amount was lower than 5%. In three case studies, the sand-based ceramic emitter and working water head of 40 cm, 30 cm, and 70 cm were recommended parameters for SICE. The crop yield under SICE with appropriate working water head for three case studies was 109.2 × 103 kg ha−1, 5643.3 kg ha−1, and 3182.6 kg ha−1, which were 8.01%, 30.56%, and 16.90% higher than that of subsurface drip irrigation, respectively. Our findings revealed that SICE with the appropriate working water head might be an efficient subsurface irrigation method for intensification agriculture with the goal of high crop production.