Drip Irrigation Projects Research Articles

Impact of Drip Irrigation on Crop Growth, Yield, Water Productivity, and Weed Dynamics: A Review

The global water scenario indicates efficient water management practices are required to sustain agricultural productivity. The scarcity of groundwater resources is a global issue that is caused by increasing global population and climate change in the form of global warming. To alleviate the issue, the major water-consuming area implemented drip irrigation projects. It is recognized for its water-saving potential and gained prominence in crop cultivation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of drip irrigation on the growth, yield, water productivity, and weed dynamics of various crops. Results revealed that wheat under drip irrigation exhibited enhanced growth parameters, including increased plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation attributed to optimized soil moisture content. Drip irrigation significantly improved yield and yield attributes compared to traditional irrigation methods. Importantly, drip irrigation increased water productivity while reducing water use per unit of production. These findings highlight the potential of drip irrigation to reduce water shortages and increase crop output in the current global water context.

Drip Irrigation (Financial analysis) System for Strawberry Plants (Fragaria sp): Case Study in Pandanrejo Village, Bumiaji Sub-district, Batu City

Drip irrigation is a method of providing water with a low flow rate. The drip irrigation system can savewater usage, because it can minimize water losses that may occur. The use of drip irrigation systems needsto be considered from a financial analysis point of view. Financial analysis is one of the aspects used inassessing the investment plan of a development. There are several investment criteria that can be used inproject evaluation, including Net Present Value (NPV), Net Benefit Cost Ratio (Net B/C), IRR, and BEP.Based on the description above, it will raise important issues that will become the details of the problem,namely to provide an assessment of the economic efficiency of operations and maintenance of the dripirrigation system. The results of the drip irrigation project research show that it is feasible to run based oninvestment criteria. The results of the NPV calculation are Rp. 74,293,523.47. The result of IRR calculation is36.53%. The result of the calculation of Net B/C is 1.75. The calculation result of BEP is 547.7 kg/year, whilethe rupiah BEP is Rp. 24,902.15/kg. The results of the feasibility and sensitivity test gives a conclusion thatthe application of drip irrigation is feasible for the owner farmers, especially the scavenger farmers inPandanrejo Village.

Optimization of Water and Energy Spatial Patterns in the Cascade Pump Station Irrigation District

Cascade pump station irrigation districts (CPSIDs) consume large quantities of water and energy. Water- and energy-saving results and income increases are guaranteed under the sustainable development of the CPSID. The CPSID is divided into several sub-districts based on the elevation difference of topography and pump station distributions. The spatial patterns of crops and irrigation technologies can be changed by adjusting crop planting structures and developing drip irrigation in each sub-district. Its optimization will change the spatial patterns of irrigation water and energy consumption to achieve water- and energy-saving results, increase income, and provide an ecological advantage. To obtain the optimal spatial patterns of water and energy in the CPSID, a multi-objective linear programming model of minimum irrigation water consumption, minimum energy consumption, and highest crop output value was established. This model was applied to the Jingdian Phase I Irrigation District in northwest China, and an optimal scheme of water and energy spatial patterns was obtained. Compared with the present situation, the optimal scheme could save water by 26.18%, save energy by 29.38%, and increase income by 29.55%. The increased investment in the drip irrigation project would lead to reduced irrigation water and energy consumption and increased crop output value. The research results provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of agriculture and ecological environment protection in the CPSID.

Challenging ‘one size fits all’: Continued use of sprinkler irrigation in a state‐led drip irrigation project in Morocco

AbstractThe current focus on water saving in drip irrigation projects has stifled more classical engineering debates on the relevance of different irrigation techniques for specific field conditions. We show that these debates remain important by analysing a drip irrigation project implemented in a sprinkler irrigation district in north‐west Morocco. The objective is to understand the apparent paradox of a state‐promoted switch to drip irrigation, provided free of charge to farmers who welcomed the project but continued using sprinkler irrigation. Data were gathered during field observations and in interviews with 138 farmers, while secondary data came from the irrigation authority. The results show that most farmers were interested in the drip irrigation project, which solved existing problems of the sprinkler network, including the difficulty of sharing hydrants, high water bills and sharing mobile sprinkler equipment. However, once the project had provided individual water access and customized water bills, 48% of farmers switched totally or partially back to sprinkler irrigation, which they considered better suited to field conditions (soils, crops, irrigation frequency). The implementation of drip irrigation in large‐scale irrigation schemes needs to go beyond the objective of water saving and be adapted to specific natural and socio‐economic conditions.

Increasing the efficiency of rice production through the introduction of resource-saving technologies on the example of rice systems in Krasnodar Territory

Rice cultivation is the most resource-intensive production in the Russian agro-industrial sector. Historically, the technology of flooded rice cultivation in thу Krasnodar Territory has remained virtually unchanged for more than 90 years. This is due not only to the biological but also to the technological features of its cultivation. In this connection, the issue of optimizing the production process of rice cultivation is becoming increasingly important every year. Global experience in rice cultivation has determined a further direction of research on optimizing rice cultivation technologies, namely the development of a resource-saving technology for drip irrigation of rice. The pioneering research done by domestic scientists to test drip irrigation of rice in Russia has proved the feasibility and effectiveness of their use. This article proposes a modern resource-saving drip irrigation project for rice, which was tested in OOO “Chernoerkovskoe” in the Slavyanskiy District of the Krasnodar Territory. The authors have proved the efficiency of the proposed rice cultivation technology, resulting in the reduction of irrigation norm, material, labour, energy and technical-technological resources in rice production and crops of rice rotation. The introduction of the new technology has improved not only the biometric indicators of rice, but also the ameliorative condition of soils. Drip irrigation technology makes it possible to cultivate rice outside the rice irrigation systems on land previously used for rain-fed agriculture, which will increase not only the potential area under rice cultivation, but also the geography of rice cultivation in Russia.

Еколого-економічна ефективність зрошувальних проєктів у контексті змін клімату

Мета. Мета статті полягає в презентації результатів дослідження щодо оцінювання еколого-економічної ефективності реалізації меліоративних проєктів з урахуванням якості зрошувальної води (на прикладі конкретних проєктів у ґрунтово-кліматичних умовах Харківської та Донецької областей). Методологія / методика / підхід. Методологія проведеного дослідження ґрунтується на використанні міждисциплінарного підходу. У процесі дослідження використано такі методи: монографічний (для узагальнення методологічного та практичного досвіду застосування зрошувальних проєктів); лабораторно-аналітичний (для визначення показників якості зрошувальної води); конструктивно-розрахунковий (під час обчислення показників економічної ефективності приросту врожайності в умовах зрошення); метод Монте-Карло (для імітаційного моделювання врожайності сільськогосподарських культур без зрошення та в умовах зрошення); статистичний (дисперсійний аналіз) (для оцінювання достовірності отриманих результатів); узагальнення (для підведення проміжних і загальних підсумків еколого-економічного аналізу експериментальних і модельних даних). Результати. У результаті лабораторного аналізу здійснено оцінку якості води, яка може бути використана для зрошення. Обґрунтовано переваги проєкту організації виробництва аграрної продукції в умовах краплинного зрошення, оцінено інвестиційну привабливість цього проєкту. Доведено, що застосування краплинного зрошення сприяє зростанню не лише економічного ефекту, а й адаптації до зміни клімату. Здійснено оцінку економічної ефективності застосування зрошення в землеробстві, зокрема обмежено придатною водою, під час вирощування різних сільськогосподарських культур. З огляду на економічну оцінку, вирощування більшості сільськогосподарських культур в умовах зрошення обмежено придатною водою виявилося малоефективним. Оригінальність / наукова новизна. Наукова новизна роботи полягає в тому, що дістали дальшого розвитку положення щодо еколого-економічної ефективності застосування меліоративних проєктів з урахуванням якості зрошувальної води. Це одна з перших публікацій, що присвячена економічному управлінню зрошувальними проєктами в аграрному виробництві України в контексті змін клімату. Практична цінність / значущість. Результати дослідження дозволяють зробити висновки щодо ефективності впровадження проєктів краплинного зрошення, ураховуючи можливі економічні ризики та очікувані вигоди. Результати імітаційного моделювання врожайності сільськогосподарських культур в умовах зрошення можуть бути використані аграрними підприємствами для управління проєктними ризиками.

Cost-effectiveness of investments in drip irrigation projects in Ukraine

The article focuses on a topical subject - the evaluation of cost-effectiveness of investments in drip irrigation projects. Drip irrigation is a modern, advanced, high-tech and environmental technology, which providing right scientific support, enables to get high yields and economic benefits with minimum consequences for the environment. The proposed methodological approaches to calculating the cost-effectiveness of investments were tested at various sites of the irrigation zone of Ukraine. The results of the calculations showed that the cultivation of high-productivity hybrids of vegetables and fruit when using modern technology of drip irrigation provides high yields and standard quality of production, that is the crop production is transformed into a stable profitable business. At the same time, applying modern methods of evaluation of the feasibility of investment will increase the validity of management decisions as to the selection of crops and their combinations and will facilitate investment attraction.

Cost-effectiveness of investments in drip irrigation projects in Ukraine

The article focuses on a topical subject - the evaluation of cost-effectiveness of investments in drip irrigation projects. Drip irrigation is a modern, advanced, high-tech and environmental technology, which providing right scientific support, enables to get high yields and economic benefits with minimum consequences for the environment. The proposed methodological approaches to calculating the cost-effectiveness of investments were tested at various sites of the irrigation zone of Ukraine. The results of the calculations showed that the cultivation of high-productivity hybrids of vegetables and fruit when using modern technology of drip irrigation provides high yields and standard quality of production, that is the crop production is transformed into a stable profitable business. At the same time, applying modern methods of evaluation of the feasibility of investment will increase the validity of management decisions as to the selection of crops and their combinations and will facilitate investment attraction.

Cost-effectiveness of investments in drip irrigation projects in Ukraine

Cost-effectiveness of investments in drip irrigation projects in Ukraine

THE BLIND ANGLE: PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF DRIP IRRIGATION IN USE IN A LARGE‐SCALE IRRIGATION SCHEME IN MOROCCO

AbstractThe need for lasting returns on the large investment in state‐sponsored drip irrigation projects and the ambitious objectives aimed to achieve requires thorough and continuous assessment of the performance of irrigation systems in use. However, few studies have evaluated the performance of systems once they have been installed, leading to overestimation of actual drip irrigation performance. This study focuses on the Tadla Irrigation Scheme, where a 10 000‐ha drip irrigation project had two objectives: improving water productivity and reducing pressure on groundwater resources. The results of the study show a satisfactory but progressively declining distribution uniformity at field level, after 3–4 years of functioning, pointing to potential dysfunction if the equipment is not renewed. The current over‐irrigation of crops results in hefty water bills and debts of farmers, no water savings at the field scale, some savings at the scheme scale, but increased tension concerning water delivery. Farmers continued to use groundwater after converting to drip irrigation to avoid surface water shortage. The challenge is to ensure that groundwater is only tapped in exceptional cases to avoid overexploitation. The first step is ensuring more efficient irrigation practices, underlining the need for continuous performance assessment. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Constraints and Adoption Strategies for Implementing Drip Irrigation Project in Rural India

Constraints and Adoption Strategies for Implementing Drip Irrigation Project in Rural India

Effect of optimization forms of flow path on emitter hydraulic and anti-clogging performance in drip irrigation system

This study aims to solve the problem of emitter clogging by optimizing the flow path boundary and making it self-cleaning, thereby reducing cost of drip irrigation project to promote water-saving irrigation technologies. To resolve the question of whether the emitter optimizations should retain the vortex area with low velocity, which are the two main optimization ideas currently, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to evaluate the most commonly used emitter, one with a tooth-type labyrinth flow path. A re-normalization group (RNG) k–e turbulence model was used to evaluate two types of main channel anti-clogging designs, whose vortex was retained, and three types of washing walls—all types that use a vortex. The result of the flow state analysis showed that, as for the hydraulic performance, the flow state indexes of flow paths optimized by two types of design method were up to 5% lower than that of prototype’s flow path. Flow coefficients of the flow path optimized using the main channel design method were 4–6 times higher than that of the prototype’s flow path, which could significantly increase the construction cost of emitter and drip irrigation system. However, the flow coefficients of flow path optimized by design method of washing wall with vortex were up to 3% lower than the prototype’s flow path; thus, their effect on the emitter’s hydraulic performance can be ignored. As for the anti-clogging performance, there was nearly no vortex area formed in the flow path optimized by the main channel design method, and the sediment could flow out easily from the emitter. However, the emitter’s ability to resist biological and chemical clogging was weak, because the sediment content was highest in the tooth-tip facing-water zone where the sediments deposit easily. The overall intensity of turbulence was lower than that of the prototype, and the velocity near the wall was lower than in other optimized forms. The design method of washing wall with vortex could make the vortex fully develop in the flow path, and enhance the velocity near wall and turbulent intensity in the area where sediment deposited easily. The cycle motion of vortex could wash the wall, which could keep the viscous clogging material from attaching the wall and promote their detachment. The emitter’s self-cleaning ability was also enhanced. Overall, the flow path optimized by design method of washing wall with vortex could enhance synergistically hydraulic and anti-clogging performance in the easiest and most cost-effective way. As for the tooth labyrinth flow path, the best boundary optimization form was that the tooth-tip backing-water zone, tooth-tip facing-water zone, tooth-root backing-water zone and tooth-root facing-water zone were optimized by the same arc whose radius was equal to 1/2 width of the flow path. This study could provide theoretical reference for emitter structural design.

DISTRIBUIÇÃO DA UMIDADE DO SOLO NUM SISTEMA IRRIGADO POR GOTEJAMENTO SUPERFICIAL COM DIFERENTES INCLINAÇÕES DO TERRENO - DOI: 10.13083/1414-3984/reveng.v23n3p261-269

Informações da geometria do bulbo molhado são importantes para o dimensionamento e o manejo de projetos de irrigação por gotejamento. Existem diversos estudos sobre as dimensões e características do bulbo úmido associando vazões, tempos de aplicação e tipos de solo, todavia, a literatura ainda carece de fontes quanto ao comportamento da região irrigada em terrenos com diferentes declividades. Assim, objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar as dimensões e características do bulbo molhado na irrigação por gotejamento superficial em função da vazão do emissor e da inclinação do terreno. O experimento foi conduzido no Instituto Federal Goiano – Câmpus Urutaí, em Urutaí, GO. No estudo foram adotadas três vazões (4, 5 e 8 L h-1) e quatro inclinações de terreno (0, 10, 20 e 30%), com três repetições, totalizando em cada aplicação um volume de 2,17 L de água no solo. Passado uma hora das aplicações, amostras de solo deformadas eram coletadas, com um trado de rosca, para determinação da sua umidade. Com os dados de umidade, foram construídas as representações gráficas dos bulbos molhados e, através delas, observou-se que tanto a vazão do emissor quanto a inclinação do terreno influenciaram a geometria do bulbo úmido.

Smallholder Irrigation as a Poverty Alleviation Tool in Sub-Saharan Africa

Promotion of smallholder irrigation is cited as a strategy for enhancing income generation and food security for sub-Saharan Africa’s poor farmers, but what makes this technology a successful poverty alleviation tool? In the short run, the technology should pave the way for increased consumption, asset accumulation, and reduced persistent poverty among users. Over the longer run, it should lead to institutional feedbacks that support sustained economic development and nutritional improvements. Our conceptual model and review of case studies reveal the importance of three sub-components of irrigation technology—access, distribution, and use—and the ways in which the design of the technology itself can either bridge, or succumb to, institutional gaps. These critical features are illustrated in an experimental evaluation of a solar-powered drip irrigation project in rural northern Benin, which provides a controlled study of technology impacts in the Sudano-Sahel. The combined evidence highlights the technical and institutional requirements for project success and points to two important areas of research in the scale-up of any small-scale irrigation strategy: the risk behavior of water users, and the evolution of institutions that either support or obstruct project replication over space and time.

Supporting the Shift from State Water to Community Water: Lessons from a Social Learning Approach to Designing Joint Irrigation Projects in Morocco

This paper focuses on the evaluation of a participatory approach aimed at supporting groups of small-scale farmers in the design of joint drip irrigation projects. Our idea was to create a sustainable social learning environment in which they could acquire adaptive knowledge about new irrigation technology and about designing and managing a joint irrigation project while at the same time improving their negotiation capacities. We developed a framework to evaluate the process as well as the outputs and outcomes of the use of our approach with four groups of smallholder farmers in the Tadla irrigation scheme in Morocco. Our findings showed that the learning environment made it possible to compensate for the knowledge differential among stakeholders and to co-produce knowledge that can be mobilized by small-scale farmers to help them make better informed decisions when choosing whether or not to engage in a joint irrigation project and when developing and implementing such a project. We expect that this will ultimately contribute to supporting the shift from state water to community water through a shared understanding of the technical, economic, and social issues and options related to the management of irrigation water. (Resume d'auteur)

Combining role-playing games and policy simulation exercises: An experience with Moroccan smallholder farmers

Moroccan agriculture is currently undergoing major political, socioeconomic, and environmental transitions. Smallholder farmers involved in large-scale irrigation schemes need to modernize their systems to face these challenges. In this study, a participatory process incorporating different simulation and gaming tools was designed and applied to accompany farmer groups in designing joint irrigation projects, generally drip irrigation systems. A role-playing game was used in the first phase of the process to raise awareness among farmers about the scope and contents of a joint irrigation project and list the different knowledge gaps. During the second phase, a policy simulation exercise based on the actual field situation enabled farmer groups to design their own joint drip irrigation project. As a result, several farmer groups produced a feasibility study for their joint drip irrigation system. Our experience highlighted the complementarity of these tools in a process of change. The abstract role-playing game provided valid learning experience while the realistic simulation supported concrete decision making.

Adoption and experience of low-cost drip irrigation in Kenya

Low-cost drip irrigation is being promoted for small-scale farming in some African countries. This research examined the factors affecting adoption of small-scale low-cost drip irrigation in Kenya, using the Rogers (1995) model as the framework of the study. Following a review of experiences of low-cost drip irrigation from India and sub-Saharan Africa, primary information was obtained using informal semi-structured interviews. The key respondents were small-scale irrigation farmers, government extension officials, irrigation industry representatives, and staff of non-governmental organisations. The responses showed that generic factors such as access to developed irrigation water resources, efficient marketing facilities, efficient technical and institutional support services, a relevant cultural background, and good security for the kit were important in the adoption process. The (smaller) bucket kit for irrigation was not considered viable. Government and irrigation industry support, and compelling factors such as negative aspects of other irrigation methods, appeared to be lacking. These factors will present serious challenges to planners, promoters and developers of low-cost drip irrigation projects in Kenya, and other sub-Saharan Africa countries, for at least the near future. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.