Subsurface Irrigation Research Articles

Natural Purification Through Soils: Risks and Opportunities of Sewage Effluent Reuse in Sub-surface Irrigation.

Natural Purification Through Soils: Risks and Opportunities of Sewage Effluent Reuse in Sub-surface Irrigation.

Tile-Drain and Denitrification Bioreactor Water Chemistry for a Soybean (<i>Glycine max</i>(L.) Merr.)-Corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Rotation in East-Central Missouri (USA)

Nitrogen transport from agriculture production fields raises the specter of environmental degradation of freshwater resources. Our objectives were to document and evaluate nitrate-N, ammonium-N, phosphorus and other nutrients emanating from a 40-ha controlled subsurface irrigation drainage technology coupled in series with a denitrification bioreactor. The intent of the denitrification bioreactor is to create an environment for anoxic microbial populations to support denitrification. We monitored the tile-drainage effluent and denitrification bioreactor water chemistry under a corn-soybean rotation to estimate the nutrient concentrations and the competence of the denitrification bioreactor to foster denitrification. Nitrate-N bearing tile drainage effluents ranged from less than 1.5 to 109 mg NO3- -N/L, with the nitrate concentration differences attributed primarily to the: 1) timing of nitrogen fertilization for corn, 2) soil mineralization and residue decomposition, and 3) intense rainfall events. The denitrification bioreactor was highly effective in reducing drainage water nitrate-N concentrations providing the rate of water flow through the denitrification bioreactor permitted sufficient time for equilibrium to be attained for the nitrate reduction reactions. The nitrate-N concentrations entering the denitrification bioreactor ranged from 0.4 to 103 mg NO3- -N/L in 2018, whereas the outlet nitrate concentrations typically ranged from 0.3 to 5.2 mg NO3- -N/L in 2018. Nitrate tile-drainage effluent concentrations in 2019 were marginal, given soybeans obtain nitrogen from biological nitrogen fixation. Nutrient uptake by corn reduced the soil nitrate leaching pool and created nitrogen-bearing biomass, features important for formulating best management practices.

Evaluation and Optimization of Subsurface Irrigation (SDI) System: A review

Evaluation and Optimization of Subsurface Irrigation (SDI) System: A review

Comparing evapotranspiration and yield performance of maize under sprinkler, superficial and subsurface drip irrigation in a semi-arid environment

In arid and semiarid environments, with shortage of water resources, maize production is competing for available water. This study analyzed the effect of different irrigation systems on maize yield, crop evapotranspiration and its components, i.e., canopy transpiration (T) and soil evaporation (E). A 2-year field experiment was conducted at the ITAP Research facilities located in Albacete (southeast Spain). Four treatments were assessed: surface drip irrigation with a spacing between drip lines of 1.5 m (SDI_1.5) and 0.75 m (SDI_0.75); subsurface drip irrigation (SubDI); solid set sprinkler irrigation (Sprink). In all treatments, irrigation was applied to refill the estimated potential water demand. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and E/T partitioning were estimated using a Simplified Two-Source Energy Balance (STSEB) approach. Although there was an important difference in the irrigation water applied between treatments, ranging from 743 and 722 for Sprink system to 534 and 495 for SubDI system in 2014 and 2015, respectively, yield was unaffected by the irrigation regime, resulting in an increase in the irrigation water productivity (IWP) by an average of 25% when irrigation was applied by the subsurface system. Maize ETc was affected by the irrigation system, with the SubDI achieving in 2015 a 39% reduction of seasonal ETc in comparison with the Sprink system. Similar reductions were obtained for separated E and T components with soil evaporation accounting in general for 15–20% of the total ETc. It is concluded that subsurface irrigation is a water savings strategy for irrigation of maize reducing the consumptive water use and increasing IWP. The final convenience for the widespread adoption of subsurface irrigation will depend on water availability and prices.

Life cycle assessment of decentralized greywater treatment systems with reuse at different scales in cold regions

Decentralized source-separated wastewater treatment systems offer an attractive alternative to conventional centralized wastewater treatment systems in various regions, yet few system analyses specifically address decentralized greywater treatment over different scales. Here we present a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) and focus on global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EUP) and human health – carcinogenic potential (HHCP) of decentralized greywater management systems at different scales for a hypothetical community in a cold (winter) region. To provide a comparison between nature-based and engineered greywater treatment solutions, constructed wetlands (CW) and membrane bioreactors (MBR), respectively, were investigated at three different scales; community (3500 person equivalent [PE]), neighborhood (350 PE) and household (a single household [up to 5 PE]). Conventional centralized wastewater treatment was also included as a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. In the MBR scenarios, greywater reuse was also considered for multiple non-potable applications due to its high-quality effluent and subsurface garden irrigation was considered for reuse in the CW scenarios. For scenarios with the same treatment technology, larger scales reduced GWP, EUP and HHCP up to 57 kg CO2-eq.PE−1.y−1, 0.2 kg N-eq.PE−1.y−1 and 5.3E-6 CTUh.PE−1.y−1, respectively, despite the need for more extensive wastewater networks. The CW scenarios at community and neighborhood scales outperformed the MBR and BAU scenarios for greywater treatment, while the community-scale MBR scenario may be environmentally preferable when large amount of greywater can be reused. The scale of decentralized systems, quantity of water reused and mix of electricity technologies all played important roles in determining GWP, EUP and HHCP values.

Polymer‐clay nanocomposite hydrogels for molecular irrigation application

ABSTRACTNovel nanocomposite hydrogel pipes on the basis of polyvinyl alcohol and montmorillonite (MMT) clay were prepared via a cyclic freezing–thawing technique and designed for subsurface irrigation in the agricultural sector with extraordinarily reduced water consumption. The results showed that the prepared nanocomposite hydrogel pipes had an exfoliated morphology with improved mechanical and thermal properties. It was shown that the gel contents of nanocomposite hydrogel pipes were increased by increasing the loading level of MMT and, in contrast, the swelling and drying abilities decreased. The water permeation and irrigating performances of the prepared pipes were investigated at the laboratory scale by taking into account the effects of the MMT loading levels in nanocomposite hydrogels and the thickness of pipes. The results indicated a significant decrease in water consumption in nanocomposite hydrogel pipes compared to the pure hydrogel pipe. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48631.

Influence of membrane characteristics on performance in soil-membrane-water subsurface desalination irrigation systems

Desalination using dense membranes, where water transport is driven by soil-water potential, offers an important tool for water managers in agricultural systems; however, progress in this area has been limited by a lack of understanding between membrane characteristics and performance in these systems. This investigation evaluated the performance of different commercially available membranes, representing a range of physical and surface chemical characteristics, and correlated these with performance using kaolin clay as a model soil. Membranes were tested in cross-flow systems containing a soil-membrane-water system, representative of a subsurface irrigation process. Steady-state water flux varied from 0.12 to 2.20 LMH as a function of feed water composition (ionic strength) and membrane properties, namely membrane structural parameter and active layer hydrophilicity. As structural parameter increased, so too did the reduction of net driving force, and the corresponding flux decline, over time. Flux decline after initial wetting of the soil was attributed to dewetting of the microporous membrane support resulting in more tortuous flow paths from the membrane and into the soil.

Improvement of Economic Water Productivity of Cucumber by using Soil Water Retention Technology under Subsurface Trickle Irrigation System

Subsurface soil water retention (SWRT) is a recent technology for increasing the crop yield, water use efficiency and then the water productivity with less amount of applied water. The goal of this research was to evaluate the existing of SWRT with the influence of surface and subsurface trickle irrigation on economic water productivity of cucumber crop. Field study was carried out at the Hawr Rajab district of Baghdad governorate from October 1st, to December 31st, 2017. Three experimental treatments were used, treatment plot T1 using SWRT with subsurface trickle irrigation, plot T2 using SWRT with surface trickle irrigation, while plot T3 without using SWRT and using surface tickle irrigation system. The obtained results showed that the economic water productivity in plot T1 was greater than plots T2 and T3. The increasing value was about 65 % and 124 %, respectively. The benefit of the installing SWRT along with subsurface trickle irrigation in the crop root zone assisted to keep the water, nutrients and fertilizers during the root zone profile, improving the field water use efficiency and then the parameter of water productivity.

Subsurface Water Retention a Technology for Increasing the Field Use Efficiency and Water Saving Values of Cucumber Plant

The technology of subsurface soil water retention (SWRT) uses a polyethylene ‎trough that is fixed under the root zone of the plant. It is a modern technology to increase the values of water ‎use efficiency, plant productivity and saving irrigation water by applying as little irrigation water ‎as possible. This study work aims at improving the crop yield and water use efficiency of a cucumber plant with less applied irrigation water by installing membrane trough below the soil surface. The field experiment was conducted in the Hawr Rajab District of ‎Baghdad Governorate in Winter 2018 for testing various trickle irrigation ‎systems. Two agricultural ‎treatment plots were utilized in a greenhouse for the comparison. Plot T1 has used ‎a subsurface trickle irrigation together with membrane trough. Plot T2 has used only ‎surface trickle irrigation system without using SWRT. The total area of the plots T1and T2 was 13.2 ‎m2 and 6.66 m2, respectively. The obtained results of the study confirmed that the plot T1 satisfies values greater than plot ‎T2 in terms of crop yield, field water use efficiency and in saving the applied irrigation water. The increase rate of field water use efficiency and crop yield in plot T1 compared with plot T2 was 103 %, ‎and 24 %, respectively. Additionally, the increase rate in saving the applied irrigation water ‎in plot T1 comparing with plot T2 was 64 %. The installation of the membrane trough below the plant’s root zone together with subsurface trickle irrigation system assisted in keeping the water, nutrients, and fertilizers during the root zone profile, improving the field water use efficiency and then the parameter of water productivity.
 ‎ Subsurface trickle irrigation, subsurface water retention technology, yield, ‎water use efficiency.

Effects of different irrigation management parameters on cumulative water supply under negative pressure irrigation

The pressure of the water supply is controlled to a negative value relying on soil matric suction and is called negative‐pressure irrigation (NPI), a subsurface irrigation method used to improve water use efficiency; however, the impacts of initial soil water conditions and emitter hydraulic conductivity on water movement under NPI remain unknown. To study the effects of irrigation management parameters on water movement under NPI, 300 scenarios using different soil textures, initial soil matric potentials, emitter hydraulic conductivities, negative pressure inside emitter and time were simulated using the Hydrus-2D software package. The effects of these variables on water movement under NPI were analyzed following the simulations, and a empirical model was created to quantify the cumulative water supply based on initial soil matric potential, emitter hydraulic conductivity, negative pressure inside emitter, and time. The results showed that the cumulative water supply increased as the emitter hydraulic conductivity increased or initial soil matric potential decreased. The relationships between the cumulative water supply and both the hydraulic conductivity of the emitter wall and the absolute value of the initial soil matric potential were logarithmic. Cumulative water supply had exponential and linear relationships with the absolute value of the negative pressure inside emitter and time, respectively. The empirical model created to quantify the cumulative water supply under NPI yielded estimations that were in good agreement with the measured values. Therefore, this model can be applied to calculate water supply under NPI, providing a smiple and reliable tool for future NPI applications and management.

Improved water management using subsurface membrane irrigation during cultivation of Phaseolus vulgaris

Subsurface membrane irrigation systems, controlled by changes in the water potential in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, were used to cultivate Phaseolus vulgaris over a full growth cycle (64 days). Membrane irrigation systems used a thin polyamide film supported on either a woven hydrophilic support (FO-TFC treatment) or a non-woven hydrophobic support (RO treatment). Water use efficiency was assessed using leaf biomass per unit irrigation water and compared to conventionally irrigated plants (control). Additionally, gas exchange and fluorescence parameters, as well as stable isotopes, were used to assess the plants’ physiological status. Soil water content over the growth cycle was maintained at 0.7 cm3 cm−3 under control conditions and declined from 0.6 to 0.12 cm3 cm−3 during plant growth, below residual moisture content, under both FO-TFC and RO membrane irrigation. Notwithstanding this, the total leaf dry matter was statistically equivalent for control plants (38.4 g) and FO-TFC treated plants (29.6 g) and approximately 68% lower for RO treated plants. The internal over external carbon concentration (Ci/Ca) in the leaves and efficiency of open Photosystem II reaction centres in the light (Fv'/Fm') were statistically equivalent in membrane treatments and control plants. Similarly, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope composition, as well as %N, of green bean pods and leaves were statistically equivalent for plants grown on FO-TFC and control, indicating no effect on beans protein content. Total bean production per parcel and plant water use efficiency (WUE) for conventional irrigation (0.24 kg at 10.2 kg m−3 WUE) was statistically equivalent to plants grown on FO-TFC treatment (0.19 kg at 12.8 kg m−3 WUE). Although the WUE for RO treatment (11.4 kg m−3) was statistically equivalent to control, the total bean production per parcel was significantly lower (0.07 kg). Results indicate that subsurface membrane irrigation may be a solution for improved water management without compromising yield production and quality.

Rice Cultivation without Synthetic Fertilizers and Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) under Continuous Irrigation with Treated Wastewater

To obtain a high rice yield and quality for animal feed without synthetic fertilizers, an experiment with bench-scale apparatus was conducted by applying continuous irrigation with treated municipal wastewater (TWW). Uniform rice seedlings of a high-yield variety (Oryza sativa L., cv. Bekoaoba) were transplanted in five treatments to examine different TWW irrigation directions (“bottom-to-top” and “top-to-top” irrigation) and fertilization practices (with and without P-synthetic fertilizers) as well as one control that simulated the irrigation and fertilization management of normal paddy fields. The highest rice yield (14.1 t ha−1), shoot dry mass (12.9 t ha−1), and protein content in brown rice (14.6%) were achieved using bottom-to-top irrigation, although synthetic fertilizers were not applied. In addition, this subsurface irrigation system could contribute to environmental protection by removing 85–90% of nitrogen from TWW more effectively than the top-to-top irrigation, which showed a removal efficiency of approximately 63%. No accumulation of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, and As) in the paddy soils was observed after TWW irrigation for five months, and the contents of these metals in the harvested brown rice were lower than the permissible limits recommended by international standards. A microbial fuel cell system (MFC) was installed in the cultivation system using graphite-felt electrodes to test the capacity of electricity generation; however, the electricity output was much lower than that reported in normal paddy fields. Bottom-to-top irrigation with TWW can be considered a potential practice to meet both water and nutrient demand for rice cultivation in order to achieve a very high yield and nutritional quality of cultivated rice without necessitating the application of synthetic fertilizers.

Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat

Groundwater plays a major role in agro-hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP). The NCP is facing a water deficit, due to a rapid decline in the water table because of the double cropping system. A two crop (maize and wheat) rotation is required to balance the food supply and demand, which leads to an imbalance between evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation. Thus, there has been a decline of about 1.35 m yr−1 of groundwater (Luancheng Agroecosystem Experimental Station (LAES), NCP) during the last 10 years. Lysimeter experiments were conducted under different irrigation treatments (flood, surface drip, and subsurface drip) to account for ET in the selection of a suitable irrigation method. Subsurface drip irrigation reduced ET by 26% compared to flood irrigation, and 15% compared to surface drip irrigation, with significant grain yield and biomass formation due to decreased evaporation losses. Grain yield, yield components, and above ground biomass were similar in subsurface drip and flood irrigation. However, these biomass parameters were lower with surface drip irrigation. Furthermore, subsurface drip irrigation increased the crop water productivity (24.95%) and irrigation water productivity (19.59%) compared to flood irrigation. The subsurface irrigated plants showed an increase in net photosynthesis (~10%), higher intrinsic water use efficiency (~36%), lower transpiration rate (~22%), and saved 80 mm of water compared to flood irrigation. Our findings indicate that subsurface drip irrigation can be adopted in the NCP to increase water use efficiency, optimize grain yield, and minimize water loss in order to address scarcity.

Performance of direct root-zone deficit irrigation on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon production and water use efficiency in semi-arid southcentral Washington

The direct root-zone irrigation system is a new technique to deliver water directly to the root zone of grapevines at specific irrigation rates and delivery depths. The response of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon to direct root-zone deficit irrigation was investigated in a commercial vineyard with loamy sand soil in the semi-arid lower Columbia Basin of southcentral Washington State, USA. Three irrigation rates and three delivery depths were compared for effects on grape yield and crop water use efficiency during three consecutive growing seasons. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of irrigation rate on grape quality, and used an in situ root imaging system for root phenotyping under different delivery depths for two years. Results showed that delivery depth had no significant effect on grape yield and crop water use efficiency; however, increases in delivery depth from 30 cm to 90 cm resulted in 60–70% decreased root number and 46–59% decreased root length in the upper soil profile (0–60 cm). Moderate irrigation rates (35% less water use on average) improved crop water use efficiency by 14–23% and only reducing grape yield 15–18% per individual grapevine, without sacrificing grape quality or inducing early defoliation for the first two years. Surprisingly, no significant reduction of grape yield was found in the third year, which can be attributed to cooler and wetter weather and potentially vine acclimation to the direct root-zone irrigation strategy. We conclude that direct root-zone deficit irrigation could be a convenient and efficient subsurface irrigation method to improve crop water use efficiency without reducing grape quality under seasonal drought. Future studies should compare the economic and environmental returns of direct root-zone deficit irrigation with other traditional irrigation strategies under different environmental conditions to optimize the direct root-zone deficit irrigation method.

Ceramic patch type subsurface drip irrigation line: Construction and hydraulic properties

In subsurface irrigation, emitter orifices can become clogged by root intrusion. Using the technologies of subsurface drip irrigation, porous ceramic moulding and 3D printing, a new ceramic patch type subsurface drip irrigation line (CP-SDIL) with a simple structure was developed. The CP-SDIL consists of a plastic pipe, a plastic patch, a porous ceramic water-seepage pad and a rubber leakage-proof gasket. The CP-SDIL discharge can be adjusted by changing the material of the ceramic water-seepage pad which is the core component. The CP-SDIL pressure–discharge relationship is linear, and the flow region index is one. The working pressure and the ceramic materials had a significant influence on the discharge of water from the CP-SDIL into the soil. The higher the ceramic porosity and the working pressure, the larger the discharge and the movement of the wetting front. Based on a theoretical analysis and using the reference value for the soil saturation zone radius, an equation for calculating the discharge from CP-SDIL into the soil was developed. The results of this study can be used as a reference for the promotion and application of CP-SDIL.

Subsurface irrigation system design for vegetable production using HYDRUS-2D

In the subsurface irrigation management of extensively cropped vegetables, uniform crop growth requires the maintenance of uniform soil water suction at the root zone across a field. Moreover, a fixed value of suction that is suitable for crop growth should be maintained. However, accounting for the temporal and spatial changes in the suction is beyond human capability. Using HYDRUS-2D, this study modeled a spinach field in Tsukuba, Japan, which is irrigated by subsurface irrigation pipes. The subsurface pipes were located 55 cm below the soil surface. The pipes were placed 150 cm apart. Belt-shaped water shielding sheets were installed beneath the pipes. Irrigation was empirically managed. The measured physical soil properties of the spinach field were input into the model as initial values and then calibrated using the irrigation data and observed soil water suction across the field. The calibrated model was further verified by comparing the simulated and other observed suctions. After model verification, several scenarios were created by varying the given conditions: (1) the intervals of subsurface irrigation pipes, (2) the depths at which the irrigation pipes were located, (3) the existence of a water shielding sheet beneath the irrigation pipes, and (4) the shape of the water shielding sheet. These scenarios were compared, and the optimal scenario, which facilitates equal soil water suction that is close to the suction required for the growth of spinach, was selected.

Performance of a ring-shaped emitter for subsurface irrigation in bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) cultivation

A low-cost subsurface irrigation system with ring-shaped emitters has been applied and considered as a way to improve water irrigation efficiency in a region where farming is performed on a small scale, especially in rural areas of Indonesia. To build a ring-shaped emitter, a rubber water hose was bent into a ring shape with a diameter of about 20 cm, and a given number of 5-mm holes were drilled into it. The ring-shaped hose was then covered fully with a permeable textile so that irrigation water can be distributed in all directions around the emitter. Our previous study showed that, depending upon the soil type, the number of holes can be reduced from 5, which was originally used, to 2. We also proposed an emitter that was covered partially by the permeable textile to simplify maintenance. The study showed that the partially covered emitters performed similarly to a fully covered one. This study aims to investigate the performance of the newly designed emitter, with two drilled holes, in bell pepper cultivation. Cultivation experiments were carried out in a greenhouse during the summer of 2017. In the experiment, a bell pepper nursery was planted in a plant pot in which the ring-shaped emitter was buried at a depth of 15 cm. In addition to the newly designed emitter with two holes that was partially covered by the permeable textile, the original fully covered emitter with five holes was used in this experiment for comparison. Water was then supplied from a Mariotte tank connected to the buried emitter by maintaining a water pressure head of 1 cm at the inlet of the emitter for 2 h during cultivation. Plant heights, biomasses and yields were measured to determine water-use efficiency. As a result, while the irrigation was more efficient with the modified emitter in terms of enhancing root zone water distribution and water use efficiently (96.0% with the new emitter compared to 75.2% with the original emitter), plant growths were not significantly different. This study suggested that subsurface water application using a modified ring-shaped emitter will be able to maintain soil water content (SWC) in the root zone properly without causing water stress for plants.

HERBIGATION MANAGEMENTS FOR MAXIMIZING GREEN BEANS CROP PRODUCTIVITY UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm at Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University (loam soil); to study herbigation managements for maximizing green beans crop productivity under drip irrigation system. Two application techniques were used for weed control with pre-emergence Pendimethalin herbicide (Stomp 50% EC), the first application technique was injection herbicide through drip irrigation systems (surface and sub-surface) with three concentrations (100%, 75% and 50%) of herbicide recommendation dose (1.7 L/ fed) using venture device, secondly by conventional spraying using knapsack sprayer and control without treatment. The results showed that the best water application efficiency was (96%) and the highest value of water distribution uniformity was (95%) achieved with Sub surface-drip irrigation system. The best weeds control efficiency was (82%) achieved with injection herbicide through sub surface-drip irrigation system with 75% - (1.28 L/fed) - of the herbicide recommendation dose in compare with other treatments, which maximized the benefit from the applied herbicides and obtained high productivity and an export product with high quality. According to the obtained results herbigation with sub-surface irrigation system is an excellent method of controlling weeds for the growers with good management.

Water table management and fertilizer application impacts on CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes in a corn agro-ecosystem

Water table management with controlled drainage and subsurface-irrigation (SI) has been identified as a Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) to reduce nitrate leaching in drainage water. It has also been shown to increase crop yields during dry periods of the growing season, by providing water to the crop root zone, via upward flux or capillary rise. However, by retaining nitrates in anoxic conditions within the soil profile, SI could potentially increase greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, particularly N2O through denitrification. This process may be further exacerbated by high precipitation and mineral N-fertilizer applications very early in the growing season. In order to investigate the effects of water table management (WTM) with nitrogen fertilization on GHG fluxes from corn (Zea mays) agro-ecosystems, we conducted a research study on a commercial farm in south-western Quebec, Canada. Water table management treatments were: free drainage (FD) and controlled drainage with subsurface-irrigation. GHG samples were taken using field-deployed, vented non-steady state gas chambers to quantify soil CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes weekly. Our results indicate that fertilizer application timing coinciding with intense (≥24 mm) precipitation events and high temperatures (>25 °C) triggered pulses of N2O fluxes, accounting for up to 60% of cumulative N2O fluxes. Our results also suggest that splitting bulk fertilizer applications may be an effective mitigation strategy, reducing N2O fluxes by 50% in our study. In both seasons, pulse GHG fluxes mostly occurred in the early vegetative stages of the corn, prior to activation of the subsurface-irrigation. Our results suggest that proper timing of WTM mindful of seasonal climatic conditions has the potential to reduce GHG emissions.

Evaluation of mobile 3D light detection and ranging based canopy mapping system for tree fruit crops

In this study, 3D light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) were integrated on a ground vehicle for mapping tree fruit crops. A custom interface was developed in robot operating system for synchronous communication with hardware modules and for continuous field data collection. Point cloud data processing methods were developed for reconstruction and estimation of canopy parameters including height, voxel grid and convex hull methods-based volume and gap fractions in the canopy. The system was tested in apple tree and grapevine canopies. Overall, the mobile 3D LiDAR mapping system provided realistic representation of the canopy compared to the manual methods. For apple trees, the manual canopy volume measurements were strongly correlated to volume derived from the mobile 3D LiDAR mapping system (Convex hull: r = 0.81, Voxel grid: r = 0.51). The voxel grid method adequately considered gaps in the canopy during volume estimation and performed better than the convex hull method. The system was also evaluated for estimating canopy growth in grapevines with different rates of subsurface irrigation treatments. Deficit irrigation treatments did not show any significant effect on the canopy growth due to a high moisture content in the soil, resulting from high winter snowpack prior to that particular season. Nonetheless, the 3D LiDAR mapping system was able to aid in visualization of the temporal changes in canopy growth during the growing season. Change in vine canopy volume for the treatments followed a similar trend to the area ratio estimated from normalized differential vegetation index images derived from small unmanned aerial system based multispectral imagery. Overall, the 3D LiDAR based canopy mapping system and pertinent data mining algorithms can be the useful tool to the growers in rapid assessment of perennial fruit crop canopies for real-time management decision making.