Efficient Irrigation Water Research Articles

Water productivity associated to the planting system in young Nadorcott mandarin plants

The main goal of citriculture in Uruguay is to increase yield, quality, and improve sustainability and efficiency of natural resources. Today, it is not possible to conceive an efficient citrus production system without the use of irrigation technologies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the irrigation water efficiency and growth conditions of different plantation systems focused on speeding up production and the improvement of water use efficiency. An experiment was installed in Nadorcott mandarin with two planting densities (909 and 1220 pl. ha-1), and three plantation designs: ridges covered with white plastic cloth; uncovered ridges, and flat planting at ground level. At the end of the evaluation period, the volume of the trees planted in the covered ridges doubled those in the flat (1 m3). The trees on the flat design consistently produced fewer fruits and lower yield than those on ridges. Covered ridge showed the best performance. Soil water content remained higher and soil temperature lower in covered ridges. Overall, trees planted on ridges with or without plastic mulch allowed a better water use efficiency, and the lower soil temperature promoted a better environment for tree growth.

Estimating irrigation requirement and scheduling for major crops: Case study in Kampong Thom, Cambodia

The situation is the outcome of both increased water demand and climate change, the shortage of water resources is increasing in Cambodia. In this regard, efficient irrigation water management for vegetable production is a crucial need for farmers. The main crops farmed in Chroab commune, Santuk district, Kampong Thom province, Cambodia, are cabbage, potato, and tomato. This article uses the CROPWAT model to predict the water requirement. The pressure plant was used to measure the soil’s soil water capacity, and the findings ranged from 45.65 to 234.159 mm/m. The analysis showed that the overall CWR for crop water for the entire growing season for cabbage, potato, and tomato was 589.4 mm/165 days; 442.5 mm/130 days; and 585.4 mm/145 days, respectively. The findings of the study contribute to investigating the irrigation water requirements with scientific soil and climate inputs.

Analysis of Crop Irrigation Water Requirements and Water Scarcity Footprint in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region Based on the GeoSim–AquaCrop Model

To reduce crop-related water consumption and enhance agricultural water resource efficiency in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, this study employed the AquaCrop model to simulate crop yield and irrigation water requirements and calculated the water scarcity footprint (WSF). The results were as follows: (1) The AquaCrop model exhibited strong applicability, with R2, RMSE (Root Mean Square Error), EF (Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient) and d values of 0.9611, 6.6%, 0.91, and 0.98 (winter wheat), and 0.9571, 5.5%, 0.95, and 0.99 (summer maize) for canopy cover simulation. Similarly, aboveground biomass simulation yielded values of 0.9661, 0.8 t/ha, 0.93, and 0.98 (winter wheat), and 0.9087, 1.3 t/ha, 0.90, and 0.98 (summer maize). Winter wheat soil moisture content simulation showed an R2 of 0.9706, RMSE of 3.7 mm, EF of 0.93, and d of 0.98. (2) The AquaCrop model simulated the winter wheat and summer maize yields and irrigation water requirements for the years 2009, 2014, and 2019, validating the scalability and spatial visualization capabilities of GeoSim in extending AquaCrop simulations. (3) Integrating the water footprint and the water resources system, this study assessed the WSFs of winter wheat and summer maize. From 2009 to 2019, winter wheat production in the region increased by 25.08%, and summer maize production increased by 37.39%. The WSF of winter wheat decreased, whereas the WSF of summer maize increased. It is recommended to reduce crop cultivation areas in regions such as Daming County, Ningjin County, and Dingzhou City while further improving irrigation water efficiency, which would facilitate the sustainable utilization of water resources in the area.

Quinoa growth and yield, soil water dynamics, root growth, and water use indicators in response to deficit irrigation and planting methods

To address the growing issue of scarce water in the arid and semi-arid areas, it is essential to investigate the potential of drought tolerant crops and implement promising farm management strategies to improve water productivity and yield production. Therefore, a split plot experiment to investigate how different irrigation levels (I-1:100% water requirement (WR), I-2:75%WR, and I-3: 50%WR) and planting methods (P-1: basin, P-2: on-ridge, and, P-3: in-furrow) interact and affect quinoa water use, yield, root growth, and water productivity in southern Iran over two growing seasons. The results showed high seasonal crop evapotranspiration (993–1030 mm) in I-1 as a result of the high advection ratio (α), which ranged from 1.02 to 1.46 from the early vegetative to the seed filling stages. The P-3 increased transpiration rate by 4.5% and 7.7%, and decreased soil evaporation by 17% and 29% compared to P-1 and P-2, respectively. Single (Kc) and dual (Kcb + Ke) crop coefficients varied between 0.41 and 1.38 over the two growing seasons. Grain yield in P-3 were 25%, 34%, and 44% higher compared to P-1 and P-2 under I-1, I-2 and I-3, respectively. The study revealed that nearly 67% and 80% of the total root dry matter was in the 0–30 cm and 0–60 cm of the soil profile in all experimental treatments, respectively. Regardless of irrigation treatment, root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) were found to be 18.9% and 15.7% lower in P-1’s top 0–20 cm of the soil profile than those obtained in P-2 and P-3, respectively. Analyses showed that the increased root length in deeper soil layers contributed to higher soil water uptake, and consequently higher crop water productivity. In addition, root-to-shoot ratio increased as the amount of the applied irrigation water was decreased. Quinoa exhibited the highest acclimation to water stress in P-3 based on water stress sensitivity coefficients (λi) and yield response factor (Ky) values. Crop water productivity (WPC) and irrigation water productivity (WPI) for grain yield varied between 0.17 and 0.28 kg m−3. In conclusion, in terms of grain yield, shoot and root dry matter and water productivity, I-2 and P-3 (75% WR irrigation level and in-furrow planting method treatment) is recommended as the optimum water and planting management strategy for quinoa cultivation in the study area as a measure to address water scarcity and food sustainability. Still, to improve yield and irrigation water efficiency, the effect of soil management practices such as mulching and organic amendments on soil water retention and nutrient availability for quinoa should be investigated.

Assessment of Blue Water Migration and Efficiency in Water-Saving Irrigation Paddy Rice Fields Using the Water Flow Tracking Method

Although irrigation systems largely sustain global agricultural production, their efficiency is often alarmingly low. While irrigation water (blue water) is critical for the water-saving irrigation of rice with a high water demand, the process and efficiency of irrigation water utilization need clarification. In this study, we examined the three commonly used irrigation and drainage patterns (frequent shallow irrigation (FSI), wet and shallow irrigation (WSI), and rain-catching and controlled irrigation (RCI)) in rice fields. We developed a tracking method for irrigation water flow decomposition, which includes irrigation water evapotranspiration (IET), irrigation water drainage (IDR), irrigation water leakage (IPC), and irrigation water field residual (IRE). Using this method, we established an irrigation water efficiency evaluation index system and a comprehensive evaluation method. Our tracking method is relevant to describing the irrigation water performance under varying irrigation and drainage patterns. The results revealed that the average irrigation water input for the three irrigation and drainage patterns between 2015 and 2018 was roughly 312.5 mm, wherein IET accounted for 148 mm. However, more than 50% of the irrigation water outflow, comprising IDR, IPC, and IRE, exceeded the total amount of irrigation water input. The mean values of the gross irrigation efficiency (GIE), net irrigation efficiency (NIE), and effective consumption ratio (ECR) for all treatments in the three-year period were 0.63, 0.47, and 0.75, respectively. Additionally, the irrigation water use efficiency was significantly higher in dry years compared to wet years. The fuzzy composite rating values of the three irrigation and drainage models from 2015 to 2018 were RCI, WSI, and FSI, in descending order, under varying precipitation conditions. The RCI patterns maintained a high composite rating value (greater than 3.0) under different precipitation conditions. Previous efficiency calculations disregarded the blue–green water migration process and did not differentiate the blue–green water flow direction in agricultural fields, creating significant biases in the outcomes. This study’s method offers a new approach to evaluate the use of blue water resources in farmland.

Evolution Trend of Depth to Groundwater and Agricultural Water-Saving Measure Threshold under Its Constraints: A Case Study in Helan Irrigated Areas, Northwest China

Water conservation is imperative for alleviating water shortages and fostering the establishment of a water-saving society. However, the implementation of water-saving measures caused an increase in the depth to groundwater, resulting in ecological issues. Therefore, reasonable water saving should consider the appropriate depth to groundwater and its evolution trend. This study focuses on the Helan irrigation area in Ningxia as the research subject, aiming to establish thresholds for agricultural water-saving measures while considering constraints by depth to groundwater. The evolution trend of depth to groundwater from 1995 to 2018 was analyzed using the k-Shape cluster and complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) methods. Then, the thresholds of agricultural water-saving measures involved comparing groundwater numerical simulation results for water-saving scenarios, with the control area of ecological groundwater table depth and water shortage rate serving as the evaluation indices. The thresholds for implementing agricultural water-saving measures are as follows: the canal water utilization coefficient is set at 0.62; the proportion of water-efficient irrigation areas to effective irrigation areas should be 40% in the Yellow River irrigation area and 90% in the pumps-up Yellow River irrigation area; additionally, a reduction of 75% in the rice planting area is targeted.

Preliminary results of irrigation management for mango using LSTM neural networks and IoT

Mango cultivation in Colombia faces the impact of regional climate variability. To improve fruit development and minimize environmental and economic effects, it is necessary to implement efficient irrigation and appropriate water management technologies. In this study, we developed a trend forecasting system based on an LSTM neural network and technologies such as ThingsBoard, LoRA, and MQTT. The aim was to improve mango irrigation practices through informed decisions based on monitoring and predicting matric potential and evapotranspiration variables. This article describes the development and application of the system for mango irrigation management. Results validate the effectiveness of the proposed system for mango cultivation, with RMSE indices of 1.56 and 0.0019 and determination coefficients (R2) of 0.9989 and 0.9971 for matric potential and evapotranspiration, respectively. These findings support enhancing growth conditions and promoting sustainable practices. Despite data availability limitations, the system's efficacy in prediction and irrigation management demonstrates significant potential to maximize productivity and reduce the environmental and economic impacts of inadequate water management.

Responses of Tomato Crop and Water Productivity to Deficit Irrigation Strategies and Salinity Stress in Greenhouse

Saudi Arabia faces water scarcity and inadequate sustainable sources, particularly in agriculture, necessitating efficient irrigation water management to improve productivity amidst rising demand. The study investigated the impact of irrigation levels and water salinity on tomato plants in greenhouses, covering four irrigation levels (100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% of ETc) and three water sources (FW (0.9 dS·m−1), SW (3.6 dS·m−1) and MW (2.25 dS·m−1)). Salinity impacts crop yield, physiological responses, and fruit quality. The photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and chlorophyll content decrease with MW and SW, negatively affecting morphological characteristics. For MW, it was recommended to apply 60% deficit irrigation with a yield of 98 kg·ha−1, and water productivity (WP) improved to 21.93 kg·m−3 compared to 13.65 kg·m−3 at full irrigation (FI). In SW, 80% irrigation was suggested, as there was no significant difference in yield compared to FI. For FW, 60% deficit irrigation produced the best water conservation (104.58 kg·ha−1 yield and 23.19 kg·m−3 WP), while FI produced the highest yield per unit area (123.48 kg·ha−1 yield and 16.51 kg·m−3 WP). Nonetheless, greater water and salinity stress was associated with increased fruit quality measures such as total acidity, vitamin C, and soluble solids. The results show that implementing deficit irrigation with salinity strategies in greenhouse tomatoes could improve crop adaptability, yield, and water productivity in the face of water scarcity and salinity variability.

Magnetically treated water drip irrigation combined with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) application: A regulating strategy for enhancing the jujube yield and quality in southern Xinjiang of China

Developing effective regulation strategies for improving the efficiency of irrigation water and fertilizers, and preventing further expansion of desertification in southern Xinjiang, China, is crucial. Magnetically treated water (MTW) has been shown to have a positive effect on plant growth. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been widely used as an efficient soil amendment to improve soil aggregation and hydraulic properties. This study aimed to explore the optimal mode of combining MTW drip irrigation and CMC application for high-quality jujube production. Conventional freshwater irrigation was set up in both 2021 and 2022 (control group, CK). CMC treatments under MTW drip irrigation included C0 (0), C150 (150 kg/ha), C250 (250 kg/ha), C350 (350 kg/ha), and C450 (450 kg/ha) in 2021, and C0 (0), C150 (150 kg/ha), C300 (300 kg/ha), C450 (450 kg/ha), and C600 (600 kg/ha) in 2022. The results showed that CMC significantly increased soil porosity, water-holding capacity, and decreased soil bulk density and soil saturated hydraulic conductivity. CMC contributed 2.88 % to 27.96 % of large aggregates (>0.25 mm), significantly improving soil aggregate stability. Water and fertilizer (N, P, K) productivity increased by 4.5 % to 11.0 % and 1.9 % to 11.3 %, respectively. Jujube yield increased by 2.75 % to 15.98 %, and MTW increased jujube yield by 3.10 % compared to the CK. The recommended optimal CMC application rate was approximately 430 kg/ha. This mode provides a reliable theoretical reference for jujube industry development and soil desertification improvement in southern Xinjiang, China.

Agriculture water poverty status of sugarcane cultivation along canals of Jayakwadi Dam, Maharashtra, India

This article delves into the critical realm of water scarcity and emphasises the significance of accessible water and effective water management. Water scarcity is a major issue that affects the entire world and has a number of serious repercussions. In India, the real problem lies in water management issues that need to consider water conservation, water use efficiency, adequate water infrastructure development, awareness, gender equity, and participation. The study focuses on advancing the approach of the Water Poverty Index to enhance sustainable practices.The study specifically delves into the intricacies of the Agriculture Water Poverty Index (AWPI) within chosen command areas neighbouring the Jayakwadi Dam Canals in Maharashtra, India. Spatial data and various AWPI components are employed to decipher the prevailing water scarcity scenario in this region.The analysis underscores a negative correlation between available resources and their consumption. Notably, sub-indicators such as access, usage, and capacity exhibit a positive correlation with the AWPI. Within the study area, the components of 'resources' and 'capacity' manifest relatively lower values compared to 'use,' 'access,' and 'environment.' The insights derived from this study advocate for bolstering both capacity and water usage components to elevate AWPI status. Furthermore, the study advocates for prioritising enhancements in social aspects of AWPI, particularly in terms of capacity. It underscores the potential of implementing strategies like drip irrigation, integrating scientific knowledge, and promoting sustainable community practices to optimise irrigation water efficiency—particularly beneficial for farms situated within 2 km of the canal.

Irrigation Technology Interventions as Potential Options to Improve Water Security in India and Africa: A Comparative Review

Water is an essential resource for the realization of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The increasing global food insecurity, hunger, human population, and uneconomical extraction and use of non-renewable resources require, among other things, a substantial intensification of agricultural production. In this context, there has been a need to adopt irrigation technologies, especially in developing countries where agriculture and its allied sectors employ more than 50% of the total population but account for up to 90% of the total freshwater consumptive use. India and Africa are at the crux of this conundrum, where there is an urgent need to build resilience with the already excessively allotted water resources. Innovative and water-efficient irrigation technologies could be one of the windows of opportunity to overcome water scarcity and enhance food security in these regions. This review sought to comparatively explore how irrigation technological interventions could help overcome water security challenges in India and Africa. Literature retrieved from multidisciplinary electronic databases indicated that, as part of the global south, both India and Africa have untapped irrigation potential due to the adoption of individual-centric irrigation. The irrigation approaches that possess the capacity to increase water and food security as well as reduce poverty levels in India and Africa are broadly grouped into micro-irrigation technologies, renewable energy-powered irrigation technologies, flood recession agriculture, and underground transfer of surface flood water for irrigation. Unlike in India, where overexploitation or extraction is the primary driver of water scarcity (physical scarcity), water insecurity in Africa results from poor management (economic scarcity). The adoption of the foregoing interventions is challenged by existing cultural and land tenure issues, limited access to efficient irrigation technologies and credit services, as well as an overreliance on national governments for support. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist for smallholder irrigation expansion. This study indicates that both Indian and African governments ought to offer stimulus packages that encourage holistic farmer-centric irrigation technologies to improve food and water security.

Assessing forecasting performance of daily reference evapotranspiration: A comparative analysis of updated temperature penman-monteith and penman-monteith forecast models

Accurate forecast of reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is essential for effective water resource management and efficient irrigation scheduling. The Penman-Monteith model (PM) recommended by FAO56 is widely used as the standard method for ET0 forecasting, but PM model application is often limited by the absence of forecasted meteorological variables, especially solar radiation (Rs). Previous studies have proposed two types of models based on temperature and sunshine duration to estimate Rs. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive comparative analysis research to evaluate the performance and applicability of these two types of models combined with weather forecast data for ET0 forecasting using the PM model. To address this issue, we selected China as the research area, which has complex climate zones and an uneven distribution of water resources. The forecasting results of Rs from temperature-based models (M1–M8) and a sunshine duration-based model (M9) are input independently into the PM model for ET0 forecasting. The updated PM model is named PMTM1–PMTM8 and PMF, respectively. We conducted a comprehensive and analytical assessment of the updated PMTM1–PMTM8 model, the PMF model and the Hargreaves-Samani (HS) model in different climate zones of China. The results showed that the accuracy of the M1–M8 and the M9 for forecasting Rs decreased as the forecasting period increased. The accuracy of the M9 was higher than that of M1–M8 in the overall accuracy in the subtropical monsoon climate (SMZ). Both the updated PMTM1–PMTM8 and PMF models were utilized to evaluate the ET0 forecasting performance in all five zones. The PMTM3 model exhibited the highest accuracy, with RMSE and MAE ranges of 0.671–1.572 mm d−1 and 0.532–1.365 mm d−1, respectively. In contrast, the PMF model displayed RMSE and MAE ranges of 0.690–1.590 mm d−1 and 0.641–1.437 mm d−1, respectively. Compared to the PMF model, the updated PMTM1–PMTM5 model showed higher accuracy in forecasting ET0 in the plateau mountain climate, temperate continental climate, temperate monsoon climate, and tropical monsoon climatic zones, but was slightly less accurate in the SMZ. Moreover, both models outperformed the Hargreaves-Samani (HS) model in terms of ET0 forecasting accuracy. Specifically, the updated PMTM1–PMTM5 model demonstrated improved accuracy compared to the temperature-based model HS model across various climate zones, with reductions in RMSE and MAE ranging from 0.117 mm d−1 to 0.616 mm d−1and 0.012 mm d−1 to 0.450 mm d−1, respectively. Overall, the updated PMTM3 model was better than the PMF and thus this model was recommended for daily ET0 forecasting for the near-future at all climate regions across China.

Towards Sustainable Abundance: The Advancements in Tamarind Production Technology

Tamarind, a tropical fruit-bearing tree, is essential for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Advancements in tamarind production technology are needed to ensure sustainable cultivation and efficient processing. This review focuses on innovative cultivation practices, breeding strategies, pest management, post-harvest practices, and value addition. It explores intercropping, agroforestry, and water-efficient irrigation systems to maximize land utilization and water resources. Integrated pest management strategies, such as biological control and organic pesticides, are proposed to reduce chemical dependency, minimize environmental impact, and maintain ecological balance. Post-harvest technology, including innovative harvesting, cleaning, storage, and processing techniques, is evaluated to maintain product quality and shelf life. The review also examines the economic viability and value addition opportunities within the tamarind industry, identifying potential product diversification and reducing the carbon footprint.

Green waste-derived compost (GWC) alleviates drought stress and promotes sugar beet productivity and biofortification

ABSTRACT Green waste-derived compost (GWC) is a valuable soil amendment for improving soil organic matter and decreasing waste products and potential pollutants. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of GWC application on the yield and quality of sugar beet under deficit irrigation conditions using different irrigation systems. A field experiment was conducted using the commercial sugar beet variety Gazelle in sandy soil. Two doses (0 and 14 t ha−1) of GWC were applied to the soil. Three water deficiency levels (60, 80 and 100% of the soil field capacity) under either drip and sprinkler irrigation systems were applied. The application of 14 ton ha−1 of GWC resulted in the highest root and recoverable sugar yields, especially under the well-irrigated conditions under drip irrigation. Sugar beet root biofortification and juice quality were also significantly improved under drip irrigation in response to the application of 14 ton ha−1 of GWC by increasing sucrose content, quality index (Qz)% and recoverable sugar (RS)%. The application of GWC under drip irrigation enhanced water use efficiency for root (WUERY) and recoverable sugar yields (WUERSY), in particular under drip irrigation and water deficit conditions (60% of the soil field capacity). The soil physicochemical properties were significantly improved in response to the application of GWC. GWC application promoted the yield and biofortification of sugar beet by improving the soil physiochemical properties, and nutrient mobilization and uptake. The application of GWC is essential for sustainable sugar beet production and efficient irrigation water use in sandy soils.

Impact-oriented assessment of carbon, water and energy footprints for maize production: a case study in Shandong, China

ABSTRACT The continuously increasing demands of food, feed and various corn-derived products accelerate the concern about the corn production on environment. Nevertheless, few researches simultaneously address the issue from different perspectives of carbon, water and energy as well as their temporal variations. Herein, a systematic cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of maize production was conducted with a case study in Shandong, China. Different midpoint and endpoint indices including 10-year average data from 2011 to 2020 and their temporal variations were investigated. The contribution analysis of different processes to these indices revealed that irrigation dominated the midpoint of water scarcity, whereas the sum of direct consumption, fertilizer and diesel production contributed more than 80% to all the other indices. The sensitivity analysis also illustrated that these environmental indices can be reduced by as high as 4% when the aforementioned inputs were individually decreased by 5%. The temporal variation of the global warming potential, aquatic eutrophication and fossil depletion demonstrated that all the three indices were decreased by about 25.0%–31.7% over the last decade. Further persistent efforts to enhance mechanized operation efficiency and explore green and efficient methods for fertilizer and diesel production were highlighted. Moreover, implementations of rational agricultural management such as scientific fertilization and water-efficient irrigation were suggested, in order to have an eco-friendly maize production system.

EFFECT OF UV RADIATION ON WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY UNDER WATER DEFICIT IRRIGATION

Water Scarcity and increasing ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-B and C bands, are direct affects of both negative climate change phenomenon and environmental pollution. Both functioned individually or synergically resulting stress in plants. Deficit irrigation and biophysical applications can be implemented to optimize the use of available water resources and increase productivity per unit area to achieve self-sufficiency of strategic crops. Pretreatedsoft wheat seeds cv. Gmeza 11 by three UV- bands UV-BS (A, B and C) with approximately dose (2.9×103mJ cm-2 ± 50), were grown till maturity on pot experiment under the winter spring of 2022/2023 season. Their response was evaluated in terms of biomass components, harvest and seed indexes, and some spike parameters, under three water deficit WD percentage 100, 85, 70% (W1,W2 and W3) of ETC, using split plot design. Moreover, some financial, technical and economic indicators for the efficiency of irrigation water were computed. Results affirmed that, all parameters had a stimulatory significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) with current studied treatments. They affected positively following UV-C, B, and A, as well as, 70, 85 and 100%. This effect may be caused individually or as a result of the interaction between them. Meanwhile, the irrigation water productivity IWP has an opposite proportion with WD, and direct proportion with UV- BS. Thehighest values of parameters were recorded with fully irrigation, 100% & UV-A treatment, except for IWP and irrigation water return IWR. In contrast, the lowest values were recorded at 70% &UV-C treatment, except for IWP. The results concluded that, the deficit percentage might not be increased more than 15% and UV wavelength might not be less than315nm. While the profit rate reached 61.04% at UV-A&W1 treatment. The economic indicators, e.g., IWR and crop requirement, have a negative correlation with both UV-BS and WD.

Effects of Microbial Organic Fertilizer (MOF) Application on Desert Soil Enzyme Activity and Jujube Yield and Quality

Developing effective regulatory strategies to enhance irrigation water and fertilizer efficiency in the southern Xinjiang region of China, while simultaneously combatting desertification, is of paramount significance. This study focuses on Chinese jujube in Xinjiang and presents findings from a two-year field experiment aimed at investigating the optimal application strategy of microbial organic fertilizer (MOF). The research aims to provide a scientific foundation for achieving high-quality jujube production. The experiment involved a control group (utilizing only freshwater, referred to as CK) and various combinations of MOF treatments. In 2021, these treatments included M1 (0.6 t/ha), M2 (1.2 t/ha), M3 (1.8 t/ha), and M4 (2.4 t/ha), while in 2022, they encompassed M1 (0.6 t/ha), M2 (1.2 t/ha), M4 (2.4 t/ha), and M5 (4.8 t/ha). Over the two-year trial period, we assessed various indices, including the soil’s physical properties, hydraulic characteristics, soil enzyme activities, and relative chlorophyll content. Additionally, we evaluated jujube yield, quality, and economic benefits. The results indicate that MOF application led to significant improvements in soil conditions. Specifically, the average moisture content and profile water storage of the 0–50 cm soil layer increased by 10.98% to 36.42% and 1.8% to 26.8%, respectively. Moreover, in both the 2021 and 2022 experiments, soil saturated water content (SSWC) and water-holding capacity (WHC) increased by 6.25% to 15.98%, while soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and bulk density (BD) decreased by 2.91% to 9.88% and 0.63% to 8.08%, respectively. In 2021, MOF application resulted in significant enhancements in soil enzyme activities, with urease activity increasing by approximately 22.5% to 100.5%, peroxidase activity rising by around 24.2% to 148.5%, and invertase activity augmenting by about 5.4% to 32.9%. Notably, the M4 treatment in 2021 demonstrated a substantial jujube yield increase of approximately 19.22%, elevating from 7.65 t/ha to 9.12 t/ha. Based on comprehensive analysis, this study recommends an optimal MOF application rate of approximately 2.4 t/ha. This approach not only provides robust support for the sustainable development of the jujube industry but also serves as a valuable reference for enhancing local soil resilience against desertification.

Statistical Analysis of Growth and Installation Cost of Sprinkler Irrigation System in Bikaner District of Rajasthan, India

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the growth and economic feasibility of sprinkler irrigation systems in water-stressed regions, specifically Rajasthan and India, to promote sustainable agriculture and mitigate water scarcity challenges.
 Study Design: Mixed-Methods study design.
 Methodology: The study analyzes time series data from 2005 to 2022 to estimate the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the area under sprinkler irrigation system in Rajasthan and India. This research also investigates the economic feasibility of sprinkler irrigation systems in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India, where water resources are limited. SPSS 16.0 was used to perform the statistical analysis.
 Results: The findings reveal a significant growth in sprinkler-irrigated areas in both regions. The research findings reveal significant CAGR values of 27.9 per cent for Rajasthan and 18.6 per cent for India, highlighting the growing acceptance and importance of sprinkler irrigation system. The 2-inch sprinkler system emerges as the most feasible choice, with a short payback period, high net present worth, internal rate of return, and benefit-cost ratio.
 Conclusion: The research underscores the significance of sprinkler irrigation system technologies in enhancing water-use efficiency, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods. Policy recommendations are provided to promote the adoption of water-efficient irrigation practices in combating water scarcity and achieving sustainable agriculture.

Estimation of actual evapotranspiration using the simplified-surface energy balance index model on an irrigated agricultural farm

Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a crucial role in the energy and water balance of agricultural ecosystems and is a vital component of the hydrological cycle. Efficient irrigation water management relies on accurate spatiotemporal coverage of crop ET across a farm. Thanks to the availability of multi-temporal high-resolution satellite datasets and remote sensing-based surface energy balance models, near-real-time estimation of ET is now possible. This study utilized Landsat 8/9 data to estimate ET using the simplified surface energy balance index (S-SEBI) model, which was then compared to eddy covariance measurements over a semi-arid agricultural farm in New Delhi, India during the post-monsoon periods of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The S-SEBI model predicted daily ET from Landsat 8/9 data with an average correlation coefficient and RMSE of 0.89 and 0.79 mm/day, respectively. The spatiotemporal map was also used to evaluate the model's performance, and it could accurately differentiate between ET over dryland crops and well-irrigated wheat fields on the farm. Despite underestimating ET (0.51 mm/day) during the initial growing season (Nov-Dec) and overestimating it (0.73 mm/day) during mid-season (Feb-Mar), the S-SEBI model can still be an operational tool for mapping ET with high accuracy and sufficient variation across pixels, making it an ideal option for incorporating into irrigation scheduling.

Effects of Inequality of Access to Irrigation and Water Productivity on Paddy Yield in Nigeria

This study assessed the equity in irrigation water uses and its impacts on paddy yield and water productivity among rice farmers in the Kano River Irrigation Project. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) respondents were used for the data collection from January to June 2021. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal Walli’s test, Tukey kramer post-Hoc test, physical water productivity, and the Logit model. The results indicated that the downstream farmers had the lowest mean yield (1625 kg/acre), lowest access to irrigation water, and lowest irrigation water use (2430 m3/acre). However, they had the highest water productivity (0.66 kg/m3) against 0.44 kg/m3 and 0.58 kg/m3 for middle and upstream farmers, respectively. The logit regression results disclosed that the farm locations, quantity of irrigation water, access to irrigation water, and training on water use were statistically significant determinant of paddy output. Efforts to teach farmers about the actual crop water requirements are needed to promote irrigation water efficiency and conserve scarce resources for other competing users.