Irrigation Technology Research Articles

Sustainable Resilience in Flood-Prone Rice Farming: Adaptive Strategies and Risk-Sharing Around Tempe Lake, Indonesia

Recurrent flooding near Tempe Lake, Indonesia, exacerbated by climate change, presents significant challenges for rice-farming communities, threatening their livelihoods and food security. This study explores the adaptive strategies employed by farmers to mitigate flood-related risks and evaluates the role of institutional frameworks in risk-sharing mechanisms. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analysed primary survey data from 140 rice farmers and conducted interviews with irrigation pump operators. The study viewed 30 years of historical flood records to identify environmental patterns affecting agricultural practices. The findings indicate that farmers employ various adaptation strategies to enhance resilience, including irrigation technologies, risk-sharing agreements, and livelihood diversification. Informal co-operative structures play a crucial role, with landowners covering 50% of production costs and farmers receiving 60% of profits after deducting operational expenses. However, flood-related income disruptions and shifting environmental conditions threaten long-term sustainability. This study emphasizes the need to formalize risk-sharing agreements, promote flood-resistant crop adoption, and improve water management infrastructure to address these challenges. Additionally, policies should support the development of community-led co-operative models and flexible contract structures, as well as training and access credit to ensure fair compensation for climate-induced losses. Integrating institutional support, technological advancements, and community-driven adaptation strategies can enhance economic stability, strengthen food security, and ensure the long-term viability of rice farming in flood-prone regions.

Respons Lingkungan terhadap Perubahan Iklim Keterlibatan Masyarakat Petani Kajian Ilmu Alamiah Dasar dan Islami

This research aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the impact of climate change on agricultural yields and identify solutions and strategies that can be applied to maintain agricultural yields amid this global challenge. This research uses the literature study method, presenting it descriptively by analysing, collecting data and scientific information from various sources including books, journals and documents related to the research, the preparation is carried out to explore the object of research and develop a deeper understanding of climate change. The results of the study that climate change has a significant impact on agricultural yields, due to uncertainty in the pattern of summer and rainy seasons, to deal with these circumstances farmers develop strategies, one of which is the selection of crop varieties that are more resistant to extreme conditions and the application of efficient irrigation technology. The conclusion of this study emphasizes that a deep understanding of farmers' responses to climate change is crucial to formulate a more comprehensive approach to agricultural management. With the implementation of appropriate adaptation strategies, it is expected to improve food security and farmers' welfare in the face of global climate change challenges.

Irrigation Water and Security in South African Smallholder Farming: Assessing Strategies for Revitalization

The precipitation pattern in South Africa is unpredictable and irregularly distributed across the nine provinces. Water resources support agriculture, mining activities, and other social and economic activities in the country. Nevertheless, South Africa is a water-scarce country prompting the urgent need for revitalization to increase water availability. There are major issues with irrigation water security in South Africa’s agriculture sector. Water scarcity, exacerbated by population growth, climate change, and wasteful use, threatens smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. Smallholder farmers encounter difficulties obtaining water despite initiatives to enhance water management, such as poor infrastructure, a lack of funding, and exclusion from choices about water management. This study examines the current water security challenges faced by smallholder farmers in ensuring water security in South Africa. It emphasizes the importance of collaborative networks, inclusive water governance, and innovative irrigation technologies. The study highlights the need for programs and policies that promote cutting-edge irrigation technologies and support smallholder farmers’ participation in water management decisions. Effective solutions require a coordinated approach, involving government, NGOs, and the private sector. Addressing these challenges can improve water security, promote sustainable agricultural development, and enhance food security nationwide effectively and efficiently. Additionally, the study suggests that context-specific solutions be developed, considering the requirements and difficulties smallholder farmers face. This entails funding irrigation infrastructure, assisting and training farmers, and advancing water-saving innovations.

Causal impact of adopting irrigation technology on agriculture in Ethiopia: Evidence from a propensity score matching

Causal impact of adopting irrigation technology on agriculture in Ethiopia: Evidence from a propensity score matching

Water footprint and stress index assessment in Mediterranean agriculture.

Water scarcity remains a significant challenge to agricultural sustainability in semi-arid and Mediterranean regions, with Kermanshah Province, Iran, exemplifying this issue. This study evaluates water resource dependency and water stress in Kermanshah's agricultural sector from 2010 to 2019, using comprehensive water footprint indicators, including the Water Stress Index (WSI), Agricultural Water Stress Index (AWSI), Blue Water Scarcity Index (BWS), and Regional Agricultural Water Footprint Intensity (AWFI). Plant-related data, such as evapotranspiration, effective rainfall, crop water requirements, and irrigation needs, were estimated using NETWAT (Network for Water and Agriculture Technologies) software alongside the FAO-Penman-Monteith (Food and Agriculture Organization)-Penman-Monteith equation. The results reveal that producing 26.62 million tons of crops (field and orchard crops) required a total water footprint of 159.8 Gm3, with field crops contributing over 90% of the total. Blue water, representing surface and groundwater resources, was the largest component (71.99%), followed by green water (16.86%) and gray water (11.14%). Among orchard crops, walnuts exhibited the highest total water footprint (4,079.75 m3/ton) under irrigated conditions, while,grapes had a total water footprint of 626.63 m3/ton. For field crops, chickpeas demonstrated a high-water footprint due to irrigation demand and fertilizer use, with a total of 4,646 m3/ton. Water stress indices showed persistent resource pressure. The BWS index exceeded 0.8 in all years, peaking at 0.93 in 2016, while the AWSI peaked at 0.87 in 2013, highlighting severe agricultural water scarcity. Water deprivation reached a maximum of 8,380 MCM in 2014, driven by low rainfall and overextraction of water resources. Although precipitation improvements in 2018-2019 slightly alleviated pressure, increased agricultural demand prevented significant recovery. The findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies, including advanced irrigation technologies, optimized fertilizer application, and cultivation of high-yield, water-efficient crops.

Agricultural Productivity of Solar Pump and Water Harvesting Irrigation Technologies and Their Impacts on Smallholder Farmers’ Income and Food Security: Evidence from Ethiopia

Agricultural Productivity of Solar Pump and Water Harvesting Irrigation Technologies and Their Impacts on Smallholder Farmers’ Income and Food Security: Evidence from Ethiopia

A review on enhancing water productivities adaptive to the climate change

ABSTRACT Crop water requirements depend on climate, soil, and plant characteristics, necessitating responsive and adaptive irrigation systems for efficient water use. The objectives of this study include assessing the implementation of irrigation technology and its impact on water use efficiency, reviewing smart irrigation systems employed as irrigation management systems, and introducing evapotranspirative irrigation technology as a straightforward smart irrigation approach. Globally, research on irrigation technologies highlights significant potential for water conservation. Smart irrigation system, as a facet of irrigation system management, is considered strategic approach for effective irrigation implementation. The adoption of micro-irrigation systems in cultivated crops has shown promising results in enhancing water productivity and significantly increasing yield rates, but smallholder farmers resist due to high costs. This study introduces innovative approaches using simple automatic technology based on the principle of evapotranspiration, aiming to mitigate high costs. This technology is designed to distribute water optimally at the highest evapotranspiration rate during prolonged dry periods. The key success indicators focus on water productivity, encompassing crop water, irrigation water, and total water. The evapotranspirative irrigation system is pivotal in regulating evapotranspiration rates, resulting in reduced water evaporation and increased land and water productivities, making it adaptive to the impacts of climate change.

Emerging Irrigation and Drainage Technologies: A Bibliometric Review of the Journal Irrigation and Drainage From 2010 to 2024

ABSTRACTIrrigation and Drainage (IRD) is a prestigious peer‐reviewed journal with an international reputation and publishes technical papers on all scientific, engineering, environmental and socio‐economic issues associated with irrigation, drainage and flood management. During the past 15 years from 2010 to 2024, 1517 papers were published in the journal. We analysed all these articles using bibliometric techniques to examine the impact of the journal's publications, the most productive and influential authors, and their contributions to the field of irrigation, drainage and flood management. Co‐authorship among the top authors, co‐occurrences of the topics, cocitations of the journals, bibliographic coupling of the authors and affiliated institutes and countries were analysed by applying network analysis techniques via VOSviewer software. The advancements in research during the last 15 years are also critically highlighted to understand recent developments in the field of irrigation, drainage and flood management. Future directions are also proposed in this review and might provide guidance for future research on irrigation, drainage and flood management.

Cellulose-based biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogel: A sustainable approach for water conservation and plant growth in agriculture.

Cellulose-based biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogel: A sustainable approach for water conservation and plant growth in agriculture.

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ ВОДНЫМИ РЕСУРСАМИ КАК ЭЛЕМЕНТ МЕХАНИЗМА РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА НА ОСНОВЕ ИННОВАЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ

The essence and content of water resources management in the system of irrigated agriculture as an element of the development of agricultural production based on innovative technologies are determined, the characteristic interrelations and the influence of innovative opportunities and innovative activity of agricultural producers on the development of irrigation technologies are revealed. The purpose of the study is to develop a mechanism for the development of agricultural production sectors based on innovative technologies in the irrigation system in the region; to achieve it from the standpoint of a systematic approach, general scientific research methods (analysis, synthesis, deduction, etc.), comparative and problem-based approaches were applied. It is established that the process of innovation development has the property of only system objects and itself differs in a certain structure (mechanism). The mechanisms of irrigation development based on innovative technologies represent a certain kind of connection between the set of components of the system involved in the organization of irrigation activities. Some of these components play the role of shaping the process, others – conditions of the process. This allows us to interpret it not as an unchangeable system in the context of management and organization, but taking into account the goals and results set. A process approach was used to develop target functions and boundary conditions for irrigation management. The architecture of water resources management in irrigation has been modelled using innovative technologies based on the implementation of elements and approaches of graphic notations of the IDEF0 standard. A basic scheme of management of the water management complex of the reclamation industry of the Saratov region has been proposed, allowing the implementing the mechanism of paid water use as an integral element of the economic mechanism in the field of irrigated lands, and the algorithm for managing the relationship between agricultural producers and water management organizations using the capabilities of digital and innovative technologies in substantiating economic indicators. In this case, the unified system of economic management at the level of economic entities represents a full cycle of production, processing and sale of products, carrying out a complex of reclamation measures. The creation and usefulness of new forms of system operation management is to ensure the common economic interest of all production and technologically interconnected elements in order to reduce non-productive losses, eliminate intermediate links (intermediaries) and achieve more effective results.

Bio-inputs: An Alternative to Achieve Sustainable Agriculture

Agriculture involves the cultivation and domestication of plants, but dif ferent agricultural practices worldwide have led to the intensive use of natural resources, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the use of heavy machinery and irrigation technologies. This has had negative consequences, mainly through the reduction of biodiversity, the appearance of resistant pests, imbalances in agroecosystems and harmful environmental ef fects. In view of this, research has focused on sustainable agriculture, whose production is economically, socially and environmentally acceptable. To achieve this, the application of bio-inputs formulated with biotechnological techniques from microorganisms, plants, compounds and extracts thereof, capable of improving crop yield and health, has been proposed. Therefore, the objective of this chapter is to show the advances in the production of bio-inputs, their characteristics and application results since they can gradually replace the use of synthetic inputs, reducing the pollutants generated by this sector, in addition to taking advantage of waste from various sectors to incorporate them into the circular economy. It is necessary to continue with research to integrate potential species in the formulation of bioproducts and to deepen in metaomics and bioinformatics with impact and improvement of agricultural activities.

Socio-economic Profiles of Maize Growers in Surguja District, Chhattisgarh, India

The present study was carried out in the Surguja district of Chhattisgarh state. Data were collected from 120 respondents from 8 selected villages. The results indicate that most of the respondents belonged to the middle age group, had a tribal category, had different level of education from primary to higher education level, were small size and had a joint family system, engaged in agriculture with labour activity, had an annual income and also the contribution of maize to their annual income was medium level, medium category of land ownership and large category of area under the maize cultivation, maize was the main commercial crop in wet and dry seasons, productivity of maize was medium level, low experience in cultivation, the majority of respondents consumed maize as flour/ bread, corn and animal/poultry feed, maximum respondents belonged in two or more organizations membership with moderate participation, Progressive farmers, Krishi Sangwari and RAEOs were major sources of technology information, tube wells were main source of irrigation, medium to a high level of knowledge of maize cultivation, regular available agricultural inputs, produce sold to local/outside traders, every respondents adopted the marketing channel as Producer-traders-wholesaler-retailer- consumer for their grain produce and did not adopt storage practice. The association of family size, occupation, annual income, land ownership, maize acreage, productivity, farming experience, knowledge of maize technology, marketing, education and source of irrigation were found positive and significantly correlated with the extent of adoption of maize technology. And remaining variables like the contribution of maize to their annual income, consumption pattern, social participation, extension agency contact, inputs availability and Storage practices were found nonsignificant association.

A solar-powered, internet of things (IoT)-controlled water irrigation system supported by rainfall forecasts utilizing aerosols: a review

Abstract Efficient water management is crucial in modern agriculture, especially in regions facing water scarcity. Traditional irrigation systems often result in water wastage, which challenges sustainability goals. This paper presents a comprehensive review of a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart irrigation system with rainfall prediction based on pollutant concentration designed to optimize water usage through real-time environmental monitoring and promote sustainable agriculture through the integration of photovoltaic (PV) power. The system's components, including 160 Wp semi-crystalline PV panels, ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, Partial Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control methods, and a reversible pump, were selected based on a comprehensive literature review, establishing the foundation for the proposed system’s design. The review extensively covers previous PV-irrigation integration systems, their performance in varied environments, and the cost–benefit analysis with special reference to Indian government subsidies for solar adoption in agriculture. In addition, various IoT-based irrigation systems and communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, LoRa, and Zigbee were reviewed, ensuring that the selected components represent the most efficient and secure combination for field deployment. The key novelty of this system is the rainfall prediction methodology, which focuses on pollutant concentration (PM10, PM2.5, SO₂, NO₂, CO, NH3, Cr and Pb) rather than the traditional aerosol size used in previous studies. This approach leverages the unique environmental characteristics of the chosen location, providing more accurate predictions of rainfall, which can be used to dynamically adjust irrigation schedules, reducing water waste. Sample data of pollutant levels and weather conditions from the area are provided as a demonstration. The paper also reviews security concerns in IoT systems, highlighting potential vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies to ensure robust system operation. By combining IoT, PV, and predictive weather analytics, the proposed system offers significant advantages in water and energy management, with the MPPT controller maximizing solar energy efficiency. The review presents a detailed flow diagram of the system, showcasing components chosen through a thorough literature survey. It also examines portable PV-pumping systems, recommending the proposed design for effective use in both small- and medium-scale farms. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of sustainable irrigation technologies, highlighting their potential to significantly improve agricultural water management practices.

Global insights, local applications: irrigation technologies and agricultural drought mitigation in the canadian prairies

The Canadian Prairies face significant water scarcity challenges despite the country's abundant freshwater resources. This scarcity, driven by limited water availability and increasing agricultural demands, makes the region vulnerable to drought. As a major agricultural hub, droughts have led to economic losses and reduced crop productivity. This scoping review examines global drought response measures, focusing on irrigation technologies adaptable for Western Canada. Case studies from Australia, China, and the United States highlight advances in water use efficiency and irrigation technologies, including drip and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), center-pivot irrigation (CPI), and drought-resistant crop varieties. Examples include Australia's prioritization of essential crops and improved irrigation infrastructure, China's adoption of water-saving rice varieties, and California's use of SDI for water conservation. Adopting these established irrigation techniques could enhance water use efficiency, support food security, and contribute to sustainable water management in the Canadian Prairies. This review underscores the value of integrating global practices to strengthen agricultural resilience in the region.

Benchmarking Measures for the Adaptation of New Irrigation Solutions for Small Farms in Egypt

The aim of this study is to construct and validate an expert system to predict the adaptation of irrigation technologies, water-saving strategies, and monitoring tools by small-scale farmers in Egypt. The research investigates the impact of economic, educational, environmental, and social factors on adaptation rates. To build the expert system, extensive knowledge was collected from experts, key concepts were identified, and production rules were created to generate tailored scenarios. These scenarios utilize the empirical cumulative distribution function (ECDF), selecting the scenario with the highest ECDF as the optimal irrigation technology. This approach ensures well-informed, data-driven decisions that are tailored to specific conditions. The expert system was evaluated under the conditions of ten small farms in Egypt. The results indicate that water cost and availability are significant drivers of technology adaptation. Specifically, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) demonstrated an adaptation percentage of 75% at high water costs, with probabilities of 0.67 and 0.33, while soil mulching (SM) showed a 75% adaptation rate with a probability of 0.33 in high-cost scenarios. Conversely, when water availability was high, the adaptation percentage for all techniques was zero, but it reached 100% adaptation with a probability of 0.76 for SM and SDI and a probability of 1 for variable number of drippers (VND) and the use of sensors as monitoring tools during water shortages. Educational attainment and professional networks enhance the adaptation of advanced technologies and monitoring tools, emphasizing the role of knowledge and community engagement. Environmental conditions, including soil texture and salinity levels, directly affect the choice of irrigation methods and water-saving practices, highlighting the need for localized solutions. The source of irrigation water, whether groundwater or surface water, influences the preference for water-saving technologies. The study underscores the importance of tailored approaches to address the challenges and opportunities faced by small farmers in Egypt, promoting sustainable agriculture and efficient water management. The evaluation findings reveal that SDI is the most favored irrigation technology, with a probability of 0.55, followed by variable number of drippers (VND) at 0.38 and ultralow drip irrigation (ULDI) at 0.07 across various scenarios for small farmers. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and SM are equally preferred water-saving strategies, each with a probability of 0.50. Sensors emerged as the preferred monitoring tool, boasting a high probability of 0.94. The analysis reveals the critical roles of economic pressures, educational levels, environmental conditions, and social networks in shaping the adaptation of sustainable agricultural practices.

Consecutive high-efficient water-saving irrigation increase crop yield and decrease soil salinity through reconstructing rhizosphere soil bacterial communities.

Consecutive high-efficient water-saving irrigation increase crop yield and decrease soil salinity through reconstructing rhizosphere soil bacterial communities.

A Review on Optimizing Water Management in Agriculture through Smart Irrigation Systems and Machine Learning

Optimizing irrigation water usage is crucial for sustainable agriculture, especially in the context of increasing water scarcity and climate variability. Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration (ET), a key component in determining water requirements for crops, is essential for effective irrigation management. Traditional methods of measuring and estimating ET, such as eddy-covariance systems and lysimeters, provide valuable data but often face limitations in scalability, cost, and complexity. Recent advancements in machine learning (ML) offer promising alternatives to enhance the precision and efficiency of ET estimation and smart irrigation systems. This review explores the integration of machine learning techniques in optimizing irrigation water usage, with a particular focus on ET prediction and smart irrigation technologies. We examine various ML models, that have been employed to predict ET using diverse datasets comprising meteorological, soil, and remote sensing data. In addition to ET estimation, the review highlights smart irrigation systems that optimize irrigation schedules based on real-time data inputs. Through this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in ML-based ET estimation and smart irrigation technologies, contributing to the development of more resilient and efficient agricultural water management strategies.

Effect of cooperative membership on farmers' technology adoption based on the mediating effects of technology cognition.

Effect of cooperative membership on farmers' technology adoption based on the mediating effects of technology cognition.

The status and challenges of irrigation infrastructure performance in supporting the agricultural sector: A case study of Kediri Regency, Indonesia

The increase in population in rural and urban areas has an impact on food availability and security. Agriculture, as a major contributor to food security, faces increasing challenges, such as the decline in the area planted for agricultural commodities, the availability of labor, and the water provision for crops. Climate change will affect water availability, planting patterns, and agricultural production. The government has provided irrigation infrastructure services to increase agricultural production. Limited budget, authority, irrigation water sources, and irrigation service areas have not been able to meet farmers’ needs for irrigation water. This study aims to assess the performance of irrigation infrastructure services based on farmers’ perceptions of these services. Measuring irrigation infrastructure services is based on indicators of physical availability, physical quality, appropriateness, utility, and contribution to the economy. The level of satisfaction with irrigation infrastructure services was measured using a Likert scale. The data are used to compare expected values and perceived values. This measurement obtains service gaps, as mentioned in the IPA (Importance Performance Analysis) method. The respondents to this research are farmers or farmer groups who receive irrigation infrastructure services. The results show significant gaps in several indicators, namely the reliability of the irrigation system, application of irrigation technology, regular irrigation infrastructure checks (O&M), and resilience to climate change.

A Multilevel Analysis of Farmers’ Adoption of Water-saving Irrigation Technology: Evidence From the North China Plain

Agricultural water scarcity poses a significant threat to food security and sustainable development. Farmers’ adoption of agricultural water-saving irrigation technologies (WSIT) is essential for addressing this challenge. However, decisions to adopt such technologies are shaped by both individual and structural factors across multiple levels. This study investigated the multilevel determinants of WSIT adoption in the North China Plain (NCP) through a field survey conducted from late 2012 to early 2013. We collected retrospective data from 818 households spanning 2010 to 2012. Initially, we employed a binomial logistic regression model to identify significant household- and village-level factors influencing WSIT adoption. Recognizing the nested nature of adoption decisions within individual and village contexts, and the importance of multilevel interactions, we further utilized a multilevel mixed-effects logistic model. Our findings indicated that household-level factors, such as farm size, access to irrigation resources, education, input costs, and village leadership, were the primary drivers of WSIT adoption. Approximately 22.7% of the variation in adoption was attributable to differences between villages. At the village level, larger village size decreased the likelihood of adoption, while the presence of Water User Associations (WUAs) had a positive influence. Mechanism analysis suggested that household-level characteristics affected farmers’ adoption behavior through possible channels such as technical training, farmers’ perception of climate change, and the availability of alternative technologies. These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple contextual factors in studying farmers’ adoption behavior and provide important policy implications for decision-makers. JEL classification: D1; Q16; Q25