Irrigation Efficiency Research Articles

Collaborative Management of Water‐Energy‐Food‐Ecosystems Nexus in Central Asia Under Uncertainty

AbstractCollaborative management of the water‐energy‐food‐ecosystems (WEFE) nexus can contribute significantly to sustainable development. However, multiple decision‐making levels with diverse preferences and multiple uncertainties in different forms pose intractable challenges to the management process. In this study, a novel optimization method named as multi‐level chance‐constrained fuzzy programming (MCFP) is developed to jointly manage the WEFE nexus. MCFP has advantages in evaluating trade‐offs among multiple competitive decision makers, solving decentralized planning problems with hierarchical structure, and tackling uncertainties expressed as randomness and vagueness. MCFP is then applied to the WEFE nexus in Central Asia, where five countries, 43 states, six water sources, and eight water users are involved over a long‐term planning horizon (2021–2050). A set of scenarios are designed to reflect decision‐making preferences based on different irrigation efficiencies, food, ecological and electricity demands as well as constraint‐violation probability and system credibility levels. The major findings are: (a) the proportion of agricultural water allocation would reduce to 45.4%–56.6% by 2050 to save more water for ensuring ecological restoration and energy supply; and (b) in order to balance water demands and support regional sustainable development, policymakers should sacrifice some of the benefits, set strict arable land limits for cereal crops, improve irrigation efficiency through adopting drip and sprinkler irrigation, and avoid the effects of the irrigation efficiency paradox. The findings are helpful for policymakers in gaining insight into the interrelationships of water, energy, food and ecosystems as well as making decisions for collaborative management of the WEFE nexus system.

Implementasi Sistem Irigasi Smart Garden IoT pada Perkebunan Stroberi

In this research, the Smart Garden IoT system is implemented to enhance the efficiency of strawberry plant management, utilizing Ds18B20 temperature sensor, soil moisture sensor, water pH sensor, and a Flowmeter. Real-time data will be transmitted to the Blynk software for analysis. The research methodology involves the installation of sensors and the use of an ESP32 microcontroller in the strawberry cultivation area. The objectives of the study include improving monitoring and control, as well as supporting timely and efficient irrigation and fertilization of strawberry plants. This smart garden system operates according to predefined time settings and is also adjusted based on soil moisture sensor readings. The watering schedule is set for morning, afternoon, and evening. However, if the soil moisture remains around 80-90%, watering will be withheld. The research conclusion supports the concept of Smart Garden as an innovative solution to enhance efficiency in plant care through IoT technology

Enhancing Smart Irrigation Efficiency: A New WSN-Based Localization Method for Water Conservation

The shortage of water stands as a global challenge, prompting considerable focus on the management of water consumption and irrigation. The suggestion is to introduce a smart irrigation system based on wireless sensor networks (WSNs) aimed at minimizing water consumption while maintaining the quality of agricultural crops. In WSNs deployed in smart irrigation, accurately determining the locations of sensor nodes is crucial for efficient monitoring and control. However, in many cases, the exact positions of certain sensor nodes may be unknown. To address this challenge, this paper presents a new localization method for localizing unknown sensor nodes in WSN-based smart irrigation systems using estimated range measurements. The proposed method can accurately determine the positions of unknown nodes, even when they are located at a distance from anchors. It utilizes the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) optimization algorithm to solve a nonlinear least-squares problem and minimize the error in estimating the unknown node locations. By leveraging the known positions of a subset of sensor nodes and the inexact distance measurements between pairs of nodes, the localization problem is transformed into a nonlinear optimization problem. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, extensive simulations and experiments were conducted. The results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves accurate localization of the unknown sensor nodes. Specifically, it achieves 19% and 58% improvement in estimation accuracy when compared to distance vector-hop (DV-Hop) and semidefinite relaxation-LM (SDR-LM) algorithms, respectively. Additionally, the method exhibits robustness against measurement noise and scalability for large-scale networks. Ultimately, integrating the proposed localization method into the smart irrigation system has the potential to achieve approximately 28% reduction in water consumption.

Urbanization Impacts on Rice Farming Technical Efficiency: A Comparison of Irrigated and Non-Irrigated Areas in Indonesia

By 2050, the world population is expected to double, with the majority living in urban areas. Urbanization is a result of population pressure, often emphasized in developing countries. It has various impacts on all economic sectors, among which is agriculture through irrigation, which plays an important role in the production and sustainability of farming. This paper aimed to analyze the effect of urbanization on farm performance using a sequential mixed method. The data of approximately 80,053 farmers were extracted from the Indonesian Rice Farm Household Survey (SPD) dataset. A stochastic frontier was employed to analyze technical efficiency (TE) and its determinants, which consist of farmers’ age, education level, climate change, land ownership, membership status, and pest infestation. The estimation results showed that the mean technical efficiency in both irrigation and non-irrigation rice farming was 64.7% and 66.2%, respectively. Although TE’s achievement in non-irrigated rice farming areas was greater than in irrigated ones, rice productivity in irrigated areas was greater than in non-irrigated. All technical efficiency determinants have significant effects on technical efficiency. The estimation results also showed that rice farming in urban areas tends to decrease technical efficiency.

Resilient agriculture: water management for climate change adaptation in Lower Saxony

Abstract Climate change has increased the intensity, frequency and duration of heatwaves and droughts in Europe turning water management into an even more complicated issue. Because water is a fundamental resource for agriculture, water management has to be addressed with climate change adaptation. While stakeholders in Lower Saxony are aware of adaptation measures they could implement to dampen the effects of climate change, evidence of the effectiveness of adaptation measures at a local scale is still missing. An analysis of adaptation measures using a new hydrological model was performed to test four adaptation measures suggested by stakeholders. Changing crops has the strongest effect followed by improving irrigation efficiency, humification and, finally, artificial aquifer recharge. If crops are changed, irrigation water demand and energy consumption could be reduced by up to 20.7%, costs could be reduced in 19.1%, the aquifer level could rise up to 284.85 mm and emissions could be reduced by 26.6% by the end of the century. Artificial recharge proved to be an inadequate method for the region as it does not impact the irrigation water demand, and an insufficient amount of water is available to have a substantial effect on the aquifer.

Review of Advanced Techniques for Efficient Irrigation Pipeline Routing

Review of Advanced Techniques for Efficient Irrigation Pipeline Routing

Effect of sodium hypochlorite temperature and concentration on the fracture resistance of root dentin

BackgroundSodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the most efficient root canal irrigant to date. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of NaOCl used at different temperatures and concentrations on the compressive strength of root dentin.Materials and methodsSeventy-two extracted human single-canaled straight roots of comparable size and length were selected and randomly divided into six groups (n = 12): Group (A) served as a control with unprepared canals. The other groups were instrumented with rotary ProTaper Universal files up to size F3. Group (B) was irrigated with 1% NaOCl at room temperature, Group (C) with 1% NaOCl heated to 70 °C, Group (D) with 5.25% NaOCl at room temperature, and Group (E) with 5.25% NaOCl heated to 70 °C. Saline was used in Group (F). The roots were sectioned into 2-mm-thick disks that underwent compression testing using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.ResultsA total of 255 disks were tested. The control group showed the highest compressive strength (p = 0.0112). However, this did not differ significantly from that of heated (p = 0.259) or unheated (p = 0.548) 1% NaOCl. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups of instrumented teeth.ConclusionWithin the conditions of this study, irrigation with NaOCl at different concentrations and temperatures during root canal preparation did not affect the compressive strength of root dentin. Clinical Relevance: This study demonstrates that the use of NaOCl as a root canal irrigant is not associated with a clinically relevant decrease in root compressive strength, especially when compared to saline.

Effect of Climate Change and Recent Droughts on Quantitative and Qualitative Performance of Horticultural Crops in Badghis

This study aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on horticultural crops in Badghis province, Afghanistan. Data was collected through a questionnaire completed by gardeners and experts in the horticulture department. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze the data, and the results showed that climate change had a significant negative impact on the performance of horticultural crops, including decreased yield and quality and an increase (33%) in plant pests and diseases. The study highlights the need for complete and comprehensive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and recent droughts on horticulture in Badghis province. The majority of interviewers (51%) reported a decrease in yield and quality of their crops due to changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. In addition, many interviewers reported an increase in plant pests and diseases (54%), which they attributed to climate change. The study also found that orchards in Badghis have adopted some adaptation strategies, such as changing their planting schedules and using more efficient irrigation methods. However, these strategies are not enough to fully address the challenges posed by climate change.

Fitting a numerical model for the analysis of wet bulb dimensions by drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is globally acknowledged as the most efficient system. However, the concept of "efficiency" relies on irrigation cultural practices, local agro-climatic conditions, and soil characteristics. In Uruguay, the absence of accurate wet bulb shape prediction often leads to common over-irrigation practices. Consequently, water loss through deep percolation, groundwater contamination, reduced crop yields, higher energy expenditure, and elevated fertilizer usage introduce uncertainties about the true efficiency of drip irrigation. The primary objective of this study is to develop a methodology for estimating wet bulb dimensions and their dynamics under drip irrigation. To achieve this, an experiment was conducted using a lysimeter containing representative soil from southern Uruguay. Alfalfa was irrigated using a central dripper with varying application times and flow rates. The lysimeter was equipped with tensiometers, and moisture observations were made with a neutron probe. The collected data were used to calibrate a numerical model implemented in the Code Bright program (UPC, Barcelona, Spain). The model exhibited a good fit in the upper strata (h<60cm), and revealed a deeper and thinner bulb compared to estimates found in the literature for soils of similar texture. This model, accurately computing the wet bulb's shape in heavy and stratified soils in Uruguay, allows simulations of various irrigation scenarios. Consequently, this work holds great potential for improving the efficiency of drip irrigation in the region.

Performance assessment of furrow irrigation in two different soil textures under high rainfall and field slope conditions

Furrow irrigation systems have been widely evaluated around the world. However, there is no national data indicating how efficient furrow irrigation is under Uruguayan conditions. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the performance of a system of furrow irrigation in two different soils texture. Seventeen irrigation events were analyzed in sugar-cane cultivation in northern Uruguay during 2016-17 and 2017-18 irrigation seasons. The water advance and recess curves were determined; flow rate during irrigation and runoff were monitored. The maximum furrow length studied was 100 m and the average slope was 0.24%. Application efficiencies in both types of soils were observed above 75%. These field data were compared with data simulated by the WinSRFR model, where high correlations were observed in the results of water application efficiency, distribution uniformity and runoff. These first results encourage to continue working in the efficient use of water, not only thinking about a better use of the resource but also in less loss by run-off, and therefore, less possibility of contamination and lower cost of energy and labor.

A New Method for Evaluating the Technical Efficiency of Irrigation and Drainage Networks Using LRDEA and Three-Step Monte Carlo Simulation

A New Method for Evaluating the Technical Efficiency of Irrigation and Drainage Networks Using LRDEA and Three-Step Monte Carlo Simulation

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.

Analisis Surplus-Defisit Air Daerah Irigasi Gondang Kabupaten Lamongan

Population growth in Indonesia has increased by an average of 1.25% from the previous population every year from 2020 to July 2022 (Badan Pusat Statistik, 2022). Population growth is in line with increasing food needs, where development in agriculture is one of the priorities in building food security in the future. Lamongan Regency contributed 564,139 tons of rice in 2020 and was nominated for 5 (five) largest major contributors at the national level (Redaktur Jatim, 2021). High population growth and increasing food demand require adequate infrastructure, including efficient irrigation systems. The balance of available irrigation water and required water determines success in irrigation water management. This study aims to analyze reliable water discharge using the F.J. Mock method, calculating plant needs to determine water surpluses. This research was conducted in the Gondang Irrigation Area located in Sugio District, Lamongan Regency. The area of gondang irrigation area is 10588 ha. From the results of the study, the highest discharge occurred in 2013, in April period II amounting to 77.71 m3 / s. The water needs of plants experience water shortages for 3 months (July-September).

Efecto de la pendiente del terreno y tuberías terciarias en la uniformidad de riego, bulbo húmedo y rendimiento del cultivo de arveja (<i>Pisum sativum</i>)

The Sierra of Perú region has agricultural soils with pronounced slopes that are not used throughout the year, because there are limitations when applying traditional gravity irrigation that leads to low infiltration speed, soil erosion, runoff formation, leaching, leaching of applied fertilizers and low irrigation efficiency; In that understanding, the objective of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of the slope of land and the arrangement of tertiary pipes on the uniformity of irrigation, wet bulb formation and the crop yield of peas. Three plots were conditioned with slopes of 10%, 20%and 40%; And in each plot three irrigation subunits were installed, inserting 0, 2 and 6 valves in the tertiary pipes, having a total of 09 treatments. The subunits were installed with irrigation tapes of 1.6 l/h of emitter flow at 20cm between drippers and 60cm between sides. The irrigation uniformity coefficient (CU) was determined with the Keller and Karmeli method; Treatment 7 (slope of land 40% + tertiary pipe with 06 valves) presented greater efficiency Cu = 96.30%; valued with an excellent qualifier to irrigation uniformity. All treatments have similarity in the formation of the humid bulb at 45min of irrigation; With a wet soil radius ≥10cm, depth ≥30cm on sandy frank soil. Regarding performance, treatment 3 (slope of land 10% + tertiary pipe with 02 valves) presented 10.75 t/ha.

Estimation of loss in arable land and irrigation requirements using high‐resolution imagery and Google Earth Engine

AbstractWater resources planning and management are critical in intricate basins such as the Indus Basin, shared by India and Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) for food security, conserving the environment, sustainable economic development and supporting livelihoods. The present study assesses arable land loss within the Padshahi and Sindh Extension (SE) canal catchments over 54 years, utilizing high‐resolution satellite imagery and Google Earth Engine's normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derivations for strategizing irrigation efficiency, minimizing water loss and ensuring sustainable utilization of limited water resources under the IWT. Results revealed that irrigated land has decreased from 5127 ha (1966) to 3501 ha (2020) in both canals. The Padshahi canal sees substantial loss (1278 ha), primarily due to the highest transitions from agricultural land/crop land (−69%) to built‐up areas. The SE canal, experiencing shifts to horticulture and plantation, records relatively fewer changes in built‐up areas (348 ha). The monthly variation in the NDVI clearly depicted the high demand for irrigation to cater to agricultural lands with the onset of the sowing season for paddy in the Padshahi (1900 ha) and SE (2600 ha) canals in May.

Silicon via fertigation with and without potassium application, improve physiological aspects of common beans cultivated under three water regimes in field

Frequent droughts have led to an expansion of irrigated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation areas. An effective strategy to enhance water use efficiency and optimize crop growth is the application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K). However, the interaction between Si dosage, water regimes, and plant potassium status, as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms, remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the effects of Si doses applied via fertigation under various water regimes, in the presence and absence of potassium fertilization, on gas exchange, water use efficiency, and growth of Common beans in field conditions. Two experiments were conducted, one with and one without K supply, considering that the potassium content in the soil was 6.4 mmolc dm-3 in both experiments and a replacement dose of 50 kg ha was applied in the with K treatment, with the same treatments evaluated in both potassium conditions. The treatments comprised a 3 × 4 factorial design, encompassing three water regimes: 80% (no deficit), 60% (moderate water deficit), and 40% (severe water deficit) of soil water retention capacity, and four doses of Si supplied via fertigation: 0, 4, 8, and 12 kg ha−1. Where it was evaluated, content of photosynthetic pigments, fluorescence of photosynthesis, relative water content, leaf water potential and electrolyte extravasation, dry mass of leaves, stems and total. The optimal doses of Si for fertigation application, leading to increased Si absorption in plants, varied with decreasing soil water content. The respective values were 6.6, 7.0, and 7.1 kg ha−1 for the water regimes without deficit, with moderate water deficit, and with severe water deficit. Fertigation application of Si improved plant performance, particularly under severe water deficit, regardless of potassium status. This improvement was evident in relative water content, leaf water potential, and membrane resistance, directly impacting pigment content and gas exchange rates. The physiological effects resulted in enhanced photosynthesis in water-deficient plants, mitigating dry mass production losses. This research demonstrates, for the first time in common bean, the potential of Si to enhance irrigation efficiency in areas limited by low precipitation and water scarcity.

Do rainfed production systems have lower environmental impact over irrigated production systems?: On -farm mitigation strategies

The intensive agriculture practices improved the crop productivity but escalated energy inputs (EI) and carbon foot print (CF) which contributes to global warming. Hence designing productive, profitable crop management practices under different production systems with low environmental impact (EI and CF) is the need of the hour. To identify the practices, quantification of baseline emissions and the major sources of emissions are required. Indian agriculture has diversified crops and production systems but there is dearth of information on both EI and CF of these production systems and crops. Hence the present study was an attempt to find hot spots and identify suitable strategies with high productivity, energy use efficiency (EUE) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Energy and carbon balance of castor, cotton, chickpea, groundnut, maize, rice (both rainfed and irrigated), wheat, sugarcane (only irrigated), pigeon pea, soybean, sorghum, pearl millet (only rainfed) in different production systems was assessed. Field specific data on different crop management practices as well as grain and biomass yields were considered. Rainfed production systems had lower EI and CF than irrigated system. The nonrenewable sources of energy like fertilizer (64 %), irrigation (78 %), diesel fuel (75 %) and electricity (67 %) are the major source of energy input. Rainfed crops recorded higher CUE over irrigated condition. Adoption of technologies like efficient irrigation strategies (micro irrigation), enhancing fertilizer use efficiency (site specific nutrient management or slow release fertilizer), conservation agriculture (conservation or reduced tillage) rice cultivation methods (SRI or Direct seeded rice) were the mitigation strategies. These results will help policy makers and stake holders in adoption of suitable strategies for sustainable intensification.

Improving vineyard irrigation efficiency with soil water sensors

Improving vineyard irrigation efficiency with soil water sensors Using soil water sensors to automatically schedule irrigation in winegrape vineyards offers the potential for growers to enhance water use productivity under warmer climate conditions. The use of electrical soil water sensors for improving crop water use efficiency is an emerging trend in agricultural regions of the world where irrigation is vital for sustainable food production. This advancement uses solar powered electronic capacitance probes to activate irrigation in real time for maintaining a desired level of soil water content needed by a particular crop.

Dry Direct-Seeded Rice Yield and Water Use Efficiency as Affected by Biodegradable Film Mulching in the Northeastern Region of China

In the realm of agriculture, biodegradable films are emerging as a promising substitute for traditional polyethylene (PE) films. Despite their potential, there has been a notable lack of extensive research on their effectiveness in the context of dry direct-seeded rice cultivation. Addressing this gap, a comprehensive biennial study was conducted in the northeastern regions of China, focusing on the ‘Baonong 5’ rice variety. This study meticulously compared three distinct cultivation methods: (1) employing biodegradable film mulching, (2) using conventional plastic film mulching, and (3) cultivating without any mulch. The findings revealed that biodegradable film mulching significantly enhanced soil moisture control, increased leaf area, and improved rice yield and water utilization efficiency (p < 0.05) compared to the plots without mulch. Notably, there was no marked difference in outcomes between the plastic film mulching and the unmulched plots. This research underscores the profound benefits of biodegradable film in rice cultivation, particularly from an environmental sustainability perspective. This innovative method not only boosts agricultural productivity but also addresses critical environmental challenges like climate change and water conservation. The application of biodegradable mulch has proven to be remarkably effective in improving irrigation efficiency and crop water conservation, leading to enhanced rice development and higher yields. The study recorded a substantial increase in water productivity—30% in 2021 and between 52.85% and 60% in 2022—compared to traditional cultivation practices. Furthermore, the use of biodegradable mulch resulted in significantly higher rice yields than the non-mulched plots, thus contributing to increased profitability. Such methods not only yield higher crop outputs but also mitigate environmental issues like water pollution and help alleviate prevalent water shortages in rice farming.

Estimating crop water requirement in Madhya Pradesh's agro-climatic regions: A CROPWAT and CLIMWAT software case study

Estimating actual crop evapotranspiration is vital in water-scarce environment affected by climate change, particularly for optimizing irrigation and enhancing crop yield. This research focuses on assessing crop water and irrigation requirement for major crops across six districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, spanning diverse agro-climatic regions. Employing CLIMWAT 2.0 and CROPWAT 8.0 software, calculated crop evapotranspiration and devised irrigation strategies tailored to local climatic conditions. The FAO-Penman-Montieth (FAO-PM) equation for reference evapotranspiration (ET0), aiding in crop water requirement computation and irrigation planning. Our findings reveal substantial variations in crop water requirements across crops and districts. For instance, soybean in Indore requires the highest water input at 380 mm, while in Guna, was least at 303 mm. Wheat, on the other hand, register the highest water needs in Khandwa at 510.6 mm and the lowest in the Neemuch district at 370.8 mm, particularly during the rabi season. Besides that, this study underscores the need for district-specific considerations, taking into account climate and soil characteristics when formulating water management strategies. Employing efficient irrigation practices and techniques to manage water stress becomes imperative for optimizing crop yield and achieving economic returns. Implementing customized approaches to enhance water use efficiency and promote sustainability in agricultural production is crucial. These research outcomes provide valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural practitioners, and water resource managers to develop context-specific water management strategies.