Sustainable Irrigation Research Articles

Recent impacts of water management on dryland’s salinization and degradation neutralization

Reducing soil salinization of croplands with optimized irrigation and water management is essential to achieve land degradation neutralization (LDN). The effectiveness and sustainability of various irrigation and water management measures to reduce basin-scale salinization remain uncertain. Here we used remote sensing to estimate the soil salinity of arid croplands from 1984 to 2021. We then use Bayesian network analysis to compare the spatial–temporal response of salinity to water management, including various irrigation and drainage methods, in ten large arid river basins: Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, Tarim, Amu, Ili, Syr, Junggar, Colorado, and San Joaquin. In basins at more advanced phases of development, managers implemented drip and groundwater irrigation and thus effectively controlled salinity by lowering groundwater levels. For the remaining basins using conventional flood irrigation, economic development and policies are crucial for establishing a virtuous circle of “improving irrigation systems, reducing salinity, and increasing agricultural incomes” which is necessary to achieve LDN.

The impact of sinkholes on crop choices in water-scarce regions

ABSTRACT Irrigation is crucial in enhancing agricultural productivity, which is vital for ensuring food security. However, overusing water for irrigation, often due to weak water resource management, leads to groundwater depletion and sinkhole formation. This problem is particularly salient in our research region in Turkey, a water-poor area where farmers intensively irrigate their crops despite limited precipitation and irrigation resources. The expansion of irrigated farmlands in this region has resulted in hundreds of sinkholes, posing serious threats to both the land and the livelihoods dependent on it. This study uses detailed micro-level datasets and panel data econometric techniques to estimate the impact of sinkhole occurrences on farmers’ decisions concerning crop cultivation. Our findings show that despite recurrent sinkhole incidents, farmers persist in their existing farming practices, showing a marked insensitivity to the escalating environmental consequences. This evidence underscores the urgent need for effective policy interventions to regulate water usage and promote more sustainable irrigation techniques.

Smart control of soil water and salt content for improving irrigation management of tomato crop field: Kairouan area.

A good assessment of soil water and salt content is required for sustainable irrigation with brackish/saline water. The use of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been initiated for the tomato crop (Savera variety) as part of the PRIMA MEDITOMATO project. An experiment was carried out between February and June 2022 at a farmer's site. For continuous soil water and salt content assessment, TEROS (11/12) probes were implemented at depths of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 cm. The data logging process was performed by a ZL6 device and delivered by the ZENTRA Cloud web application (METER GROUPE Company). For the accuracy of the introduced sensors, calibration tests were first processed. Results of the calibration of the probes in the laboratory and in situ showed linear relationships between the humidity values measured by ZL6 (θZL6) and those determined by the gravimetric method, with high correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.86 and 0.96, respectively. There were also strong linear relationships between the ECbulk(ZL6) and the ECe measured on saturated paste extract with high correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.96 and 0.95. Corrected data, according to the determined linear regression equations, present the real-time assessment of soil water and salt content over the entire growth stage of tomatoes. The results of this monitoring showed that soil water content remained close to its status at field capacity (32%) at the beginning of the assessment and increased with the intensification of irrigation, reaching 46 and 54% at 20 and 30 cm, respectively, around mid-April. The salinity level was greater with depth. Indeed, it was low in topsoil with the increase in irrigation frequency and higher at 30 and 60 cm toward the end of the tomato cycle. According to this study, real-time data given by ZENTRA Cloud allows us to adjust irrigation management on time.

I-RAT: A discussion support system to rapidly assess economic and environmental impacts of different sugarcane irrigation practices

Water pollution and climate change are among the greatest threats to the iconic Great Barrier Reef (GBR). To improve the GBR’s long-term outlook, making improvements on these fronts is required. Owing to the complex interactions between soils, climate, and farm management, a tool is needed to guide agricultural land managers about which management practice changes are more likely to deliver improved water quality and climate resilience outcomes whilst maintaining profitability. Using concepts drawn from social studies of science and technology, a ‘discussion’ support system (DSS) named Irrigation Rapid Assessment Tool (i-RAT) was developed through participatory processes designed to enhance co-learning from the development of this DSS. i-RAT is a rapid assessment-visualisation tool in an interactive web application (https://i-rat.net) to visualise the impacts of changed irrigation practices for sugarcane farmers and extension staff. Specifically, i-RAT compares these impacts regarding farm economics, water quality, productivity, carbon and nitrogen cycles, and greenhouse gas emission. The core of i-RAT is the sugarcane module from the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) modelling platform. i-RAT was first developed for the Burdekin sugarcane growing region in Queensland (Australia’s largest sugarcane producing region). Various soil types and management scenarios representing farming practices in the Burdekin region were used for simulations (1971–2021) to generate a datacube. In this paper, we describe how fundamental learnings about more (drought) resilient farming systems and more sustainable irrigation practices can be extracted from i-RAT. Details of the participatory approach with research and industry partners that informed the design and function of i-RAT and how APSIM was set up and parameterised are described. A ‘what-if’ analysis demonstrated the i-RAT features and application.

The Influence of Winter Irrigation Amount on the Characteristics of Water and Salt Distribution and WUE in Different Saline-Alkali Farmlands in Northwest China

Winter irrigation is widely carried out to alleviate soil salinization in Northwest China. In recent years, the effects of irrigation amount and irrigation schedule on soil water and salt distribution and water use efficiency (WUE) during crop growth periods have been extensively studied, but the effects of winter irrigation on water use efficiency have been generally ignored. This work was conducted from November 2018 to October 2020 in two kinds of saline-alkali farmlands (mild saline-alkali farmland and moderate saline-alkali farmland) with five winter irrigation amounts (0, 150, 225, 300 and 375 mm). The results indicated that, during the winter irrigation period, the maximum moisture content layer in the soil becomes more shallow with the increase in the winter irrigation amount and the salinity of the soil. The salt return process mainly occurs during the late thawing period. After two years, for a winter irrigation amount of 150 mm to 375 mm, the change rate of soil salt in mild saline-alkali farmland decreased from −2.50% to −15.38% in the 0–100 cm profile, and that value in moderate saline-alkali farmland decreased from 12.22% to −16.85%. Compared with the non-winter irrigation treatment, the sprouting rate, survival rate, morphological index and cotton yield in the coming year are greater under the winter irrigation treatment. For mild saline-alkali farmland and moderate saline-alkali farmland, to keep soil desalinated, enhance cotton growth and save water resources, the recommended winter irrigation amounts are 225 mm and 300 mm, respectively. The research methods and results are of great significance for rationally evaluating the sustainable winter irrigation amount for cotton fields under mulched drip irrigation in different saline-alkali farmlands.

Deficit irrigation strategies (PRD, SDI) and titanium nanoparticles improve water use efficiency and flower quality in greenhouse-grown cut roses

This study explored the use of deficit irrigation techniques for water management in the hydroponic greenhouse cultivation of cut roses. A factorial experiment was conducted using three irrigation treatments: full irrigation (FI), partial root drying (PRD), and sustained deficit irrigation (SDI), and three doses of titanium dioxide nanoparticle foliar application (0, 15, and 30 ppm) as stress alleviation. Results showed that drought stress increased biochemical parameters such as the plants' proline and total phenol content. Compared to SDI treatment, the PRD treatments have an increase in flower number by 40%. The PRD strategy has positive effects on drought tolerance by increasing osmotic and elastic adjustment. Therefore, higher relative water content and longer root length in PRD treatments were observed. Thus, Biomass water use efficiency significantly increased in PRD treatments compared to others. In the PRD treatment, yield WUE increases by 26% and 61% compared to FI and SDI, respectively. The results showed TiO2-NPs positively affected mitigating and even improving some traits in drought stress conditions. These results suggest the superiority of the PRD strategy, which improves growth characteristics and water use efficiency, leading to increased sustainability, reduced environmental impact of greenhouse toxic wastewater, and total profitability of the greenhouse.

Environmental and Agro-Economic Sustainability of Olive Orchards Irrigated with Reclaimed Water under Deficit Irrigation

Increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of irrigated agriculture is a vital challenge for the Mediterranean crop production sector. This study explores the effects of the adoption of reclaimed water (RW) as source of irrigation in conjunction with the application of deficit irrigation strategies in an olive orchard (different genotypes) located within the “Valle dei Margi” farmhouse (Eastern Sicily). Specifically, the RW was obtained in situ by treating the wastewater coming from the farmhouse throughout a nature-based treatment wetland system (TW). The effects of RW on crop water status (CWS) was assessed by conducting plant-based measurements (i.e., leaf water potential, Ψ; and leaves’ relative water content, RWC) and determining satellite-based biophysical indicators. An economic and environmental evaluation of the proposed sustainable irrigation practices was carried out using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The RW quality showed high variability due to fluctuations in the number of customers at the farmhouse during the COVID-19 pandemic period. A strong impact on the variation in Ψ was observed among the olive orchard under the different water regimes, evidencing how CWS performances are conditioned by the genotype. However, no differences in leaves’ RWC and in satellite-based biophysical indicators were detected. Finally, the results of the LCA analysis underlined how the use of RW may permit us to obtain important economic and environmental gains, representing an added value for olive growing for operating in accordance to more sustainable development models.

Effect of deficit irrigation and mulching on the agronomic and physiological response of mandarin trees as strategies to cope with water scarcity in a semi-arid climate

In order to increase the crop water productivity (WPc) of the agricultural systems, and to support farmers in minimizing uncertainty of water availability, we conducted a three-years experiment in a commercial adult mandarin orchard to quantify the effect of sustained and severe deficit irrigation in combination with the use of geotextile mulch on the agronomic and physiological response of the crop. For this purpose, five treatments were tested: (i) a control (CTL) irrigated at 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during the entire season; ii) sustained deficit irrigation (SDI), irrigated at ∼70% of CTL; (iii) regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), irrigated as SDI, except during the initial period of the second fruit growth stage, when trees were irrigated at 35% of the CTL, maintaining a moderate water stress level of around –1.5 MPa of stem water potential (Ψs), until fruits reached 70% of their final size. In addition, two geotextile mulch treatments were established, using the same irrigation criteria as the SDI and RDI treatments. The available irrigation water supplied about 66% of the crop evapotranspiration, but if it is managed under a SDI regime with the incorporation of mulching it is possible to increase the crop sustainability and reduce the pressure over the water resources. Since SDI did not reduce the yield with respect to the CTL treatment, it increased WPc by 35% and the incorporation of mulch significantly increased the water status of the soil and the crop, thus reducing the intensity of water stress by 18% on average, which was expressed in a higher leaf gas exchange rate and was also a factor that significantly increased crop production variables and WPc.

Micro‐irrigation technologies as management tool to support the ‘water–energy–food’ nexus

AbstractThis paper investigates the potential of micro‐irrigation technologies' adoption as tools to achieve integrated management for the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. In addition, the study examines policy aspects of a nexus approach with a focus on the linkages between water, food, and energy systems, which are essential for management and policymaking. The WEF nexus policies effectively highlighted the trade‐offs and interactions at the nexus of water, energy, and food in ecosystem services. Sustainable agricultural production requires irrigation policies and strategies to minimize losses through optimizing water, land, and energy use competencies. Systematic approaches such as the WEF nexus assist in improving the performance of irrigated agriculture through irrigation modernization. The article provides a conceptual framework for considering the nexus approach in relation to micro‐irrigation technology adoption, discusses the policies synergies and trade‐offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective. The evidence‐based perspectives of this approach consider the factors of agricultural productivity, water use efficiency, and energy consumption. It could be concluded that a nexus‐based adaptation approach that integrates water, energy, and food within irrigation systems is crucial for the effective and sustainable use of different resources. This can promote inclusive and sustainable irrigation development, especially with the great challenges of climate change. Such situations need urgent action from policymaking, contradictory strategies, and the different levels of resources managers.

Groundwater Level Prediction with Machine Learning to Support Sustainable Irrigation in Water Scarcity Regions

Predicting groundwater levels is challenging, especially in regions of water scarcity where data availability is often limited. However, these regions have substantial water needs and require cost-effective groundwater utilization strategies. This study uses artificial intelligence to predict groundwater levels to provide guidance for drilling shallow boreholes for subsistence irrigation. The Bilate watershed, located 80 km north of Arba Minch in southern Ethiopia and covering just over 5250 km2, was selected as the study area. Bilate is typical of areas in Africa with high demand for water and limited availability of well data. Using a non-time series database of 75 boreholes, machine learning models, including multiple linear regression, multivariate adaptive regression splines, artificial neural networks, random forest regression, and gradient boosting regression (GBR), were constructed to predict the depth to the water table. The study considered 20 independent variables, including elevation, soil type, and seasonal data (spanning three seasons) for precipitation, specific humidity, wind speed, land surface temperature during day and night, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). GBR performed the best of the approaches, with an average 0.77 R-squared value and a 19 m median absolute error on testing data. Finally, a map of predicted water levels in the Bilate watershed was created based on the best model, with water levels ranging from 1.6 to 245.9 m. With the limited set of borehole data, the results show a clear signal that can provide guidance for borehole drilling decisions for sustainable irrigation with additional implications for drinking water.

Effects of different irrigation methods on regional climate in North China Plain: A modeling study

Agricultural irrigation is important in boosting crop yields in especially water-stressed regions, but little is known about the distinct climatic effects induced by different irrigation methods, particularly in the North China Plain (NCP) where irrigation is applied extensively. Here we examine the climatic effects of flood (FI), sprinkler (SI) and drip irrigation (DI) over NCP during the growing season using dynamic irrigation schemes implemented into a coupled land-atmosphere model. The model generally captures the spatial distribution of surface temperature, relative humidity and precipitation. The changes in regional average surface temperature induced by FI, SI and DI are –0.43, –0.53 and –0.19 °C, respectively. The relatively larger cooling effect for SI than that for FI is associated with enhanced cloud formation. By shifting the surface energy balance, FI and SI cause a wet, cool, cloudy and shallow planetary boundary layer, while DI exhibits the smallest effect and indeed inhibits cloud formation. The increases in convective available potential energy and precipitable water induced by FI and SI enhance convective precipitation over NCP by 0.8–1.2 mm d–1. In contrast, the reduced precipitation due to surface cooling within DI leads to a warmer and drier surface from June to August, which likely increases upper-level geopotential heights and in turn suppresses precipitation in a series of climate feedbacks. The distinct hydrometeorological interactions and feedbacks arising from different irrigation methods are likely related to different irrigation rates, frequencies and approaches of water application. While DI is recognized as the most water-saving method, it also generates the least surface cooling among the three methods and is thus less effective in safeguarding grain yields against rising temperatures. Our study emphasizes the need for more sustainable and adaptive irrigation methods to ensure food security, water conservation and climate stability in the face of climate change.

Predicting Crop Evapotranspiration under Non-Standard Conditions Using Machine Learning Algorithms, a Case Study for Vitis vinifera L. cv Tempranillo

This study focuses on assessing the accuracy of supervised machine learning regression algorithms (MLAs) in predicting actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) for a deficit irrigated vineyard of Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo, influenced by a typical Mediterranean climate. The standard approach of using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) crop evapotranspiration under standard conditions (FAO-56 Kc-ET0) to estimate ETc act for irrigation purposes faces limitations in row-based, sparse, and drip irrigated crops with large, exposed soil areas, due to data requirements and potential shortcomings. One significant challenge is the accurate estimation of the basal crop coefficient (Kcb), which can be influenced by incorrect estimations of the effective transpiring leaf area and surface resistance. The research results demonstrate that the tested MLAs can accurately estimate ETc act for the vineyard with minimal errors. The Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) values were found to be in the range of 0.019 to 0.030 mm·h⁻¹. Additionally, the obtained MLAs reduced data requirements, which suggests their feasibility to be used to optimize sustainable irrigation management in vineyards and other row crops. The positive outcomes of the study highlight the potential advantages of employing MLAs for precise and efficient estimation of crop evapotranspiration, leading to improved water management practices in vineyards. This could promote the adoption of more sustainable and resource-efficient irrigation strategies, particularly in regions with Mediterranean climates.

Evaluation of the sustainability of groundwater irrigation development in Tejakula and Kubu Districts

The Sustainable Agricultural Irrigation Development Project in Buleleng and Karangasem (SDIABKA) is project activities aim to increase community access to irrigation infrastructure and facilities needed to support increased agricultural productivity and food subregional security in north-east Bali. Institutional developmentof tubwell users group (TUG) have been carried out which in turn will be able to support the management of efficient and sustainable groundwater irrigation facilities both economically and environmentally.It is very important to be known the sustainability of the project such as: Financial independence of the irrigation system, irrigation water supply, and the sustainability status. This valuable experience of developing groundwater irrigation is useful for lesson learned. The target population in this study is 24 SDIABKA TUGs. The TUGs located is in 9 villages in Tejakula and 3 villages in Kubu District.

Multilevel life cycle assessment to evaluate prospective agricultural development scenarios in a semi-arid irrigated region of Tunisia

CONTEXTTo design policies for sustainable irrigation planning, public decision-makers need knowledge about the potential environmental impacts of irrigated farming systems. In a previous paper, we proposed to couple Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Agrarian System Diagnosis (ASD) to build the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of a farming region in a context of data scarcity and farming system diversity. This method was applied to the semi-arid irrigated plain of Kairouan (Tunisia). OBJECTIVESThe aim of the present paper is to demonstrate how this new ASD-based LCA method is used to conduct the impact assessment of this farming region, under current conditions and for two prospective scenarios. METHODSTwo functional units (FU) were used: the area and the gross product generated. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) was conducted based on a multilevel process, by converting LCI data collected for each cropping/ livestock system into LCIA outputs, which were then consolidated at the farming system (FS) and at the regional scales. Two scenarios, based on observed trends, were assessed: the “agrarian” scenario (driven by a shift from family to corporate farming) and the “hydrological” scenario (driven by a water table drawdown). RESULTSEnvironmental hotspots were identified at each scale: the most impactful FS was the “mixed family farming” (intermediate access to water), because of its large share of land at the regional scale (45%). In this FS, the most harmful cropping system was input-intensive olive groves intercropped with a melon-pepper/ cereal/ tomato rotation, in which most impacts (35%) were attributable to the input-intensive “melon” crop, and more particularly to “manufacture and transport of fertilizer”, including farmyard manure. Globally, the most harmful processes were water and fertilizer use (fertilizer manufacturing and transportation). This downscaling is very useful to inform public policies on the most harmful productions. The impacts in human, ecosystem and resource endpoints increased by 11%, 2%, 9% and 23%, 27% and 40%, for the agrarian and hydrological scenarios respectively. SIGNIFICANCEThese results show that observed trends in farming practices evolution (more irrigation) should be stopped. Our method has three main strengths: i) inter-farms synergies are accounted for in the LCIA, which is essential to promote circularity; ii) thanks to the innovative and multilevel approach, the origins of environmental hotspots can be investigated and later mitigated by future policies; iii) ASD helps to design sustainable scenarios by identifying current trends and regional thresholds (resources, pollution and workforce) that cannot be overcome.

Evaluating Performance of Community-based Irrigation Schemes Using Remote-sensing Technologies to Enhance Sustainable Irrigation Water Management

Evaluating Performance of Community-based Irrigation Schemes Using Remote-sensing Technologies to Enhance Sustainable Irrigation Water Management

Techno-economic and environmental assessment of solar photovoltaic, diesel, and electric water pumps for irrigation in Assam, India

This study assesses the techno-economic and environmental aspects of solar photovoltaic (PV), diesel, and electric water pumps for irrigation in Assam, India. Two practical crop rotations are considered: Sali rice, strawberry, and Ahu rice; and Sali rice, mustard, and Boro rice. A comprehensive analysis, including performance, cost-effectiveness, and CO2 emissions, was conducted through field surveys and data analysis. The findings highlight the advantages of solar photovoltaic water pumps (SPVWP), including reduced CO2 emissions, lower operational costs, and the potential revenue from selling surplus electricity generated and participating in carbon trading. The study explores the sensitivity to varying subsidy rates, emphasizing the potential to promote SPVWP adoption through revised policies. Factors like crop rotation, energy costs, and groundwater availability are also considered. SPVWP emerges as a viable and sustainable irrigation solution in Assam and similar regions with appropriate financial incentives and support. The research offers valuable insights for policymakers and advances the understanding of renewable energy-based irrigation systems.

Investigating the effects of irrigation with indirectly recharged groundwater using recycled water on soil and crops in semi-arid areas

The utilization of direct wastewater for irrigation poses many environmental problems such as soil quality deterioration due to the accumulation of salts, heavy metals, micro-pollutants, and health risks due to undesirable microorganisms. This hampers its agricultural reuse in arid and semi-arid regions. To address these concerns, the present study introduces a recent approach that involves using indirectly recharged groundwater (GW) with secondary treated municipal wastewater (STW) for irrigation through a Soil Aquifer Treatment-based system (SAT). This method aims to mitigate freshwater scarcity in semi-arid regions. The study assessed GW levels, physicochemical properties, and microbial diversity of GW, and soil in both impacted (receiving recycled water) and non-impacted (not receiving recycled water) areas, before recycling (2015–2018) and after recycling (2019–2022) period of the project. The results indicated a significant increase of 68–70% in GW levels of the studied boreholes in the impacted areas. Additionally, the quality of indirectly recharged GW in the impacted areas improved notably in terms of electrical conductivity (EC), hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), along with certain cations and anions (hard water to soft water). No significant difference was observed in soil properties and microbial diversity of the impacted areas, except for EC and SAR, which were reduced by 50% and 39%, respectively, after the project commenced. The study also monitored specific microbial species, including total coliforms, Escherichia coli (as indicator organisms), Shigella, and Klebsiella in some of the harvested crops (beetroot, tomato, and spinach). However, none of the analysed crops exhibited the presence of the studied microorganisms. Overall, the study concludes that indirectly recharged GW using STW is a better sustainable and safe irrigation alternative compared to direct wastewater use or extracted hard GW from deep aquifers.

A Review of Fluid Flow Applications and Hydraulic Performance of Sustainable Drip Irrigation to Improve Water Resource Management

Fluid flow applications to improve water resource management towards sustainable irrigation are one of the main targets of engineers nowadays, especially with global climate change. The performance assessment of the irrigation system is an important area of research to improve water resource management. Through drip irrigation systems, this review evaluated the application uniformity of water and nutrients to sustain agricultural production and protect the environment’s natural resources. To achieve these goals, the adequate use of nutrients and water must be emphasized by utilizing sufficient water and nutrient management approaches, including a drip irrigation system that supplies the inputs immediately to the crop’s root zone. The process operating pressure and the drip line length are the two most crucial aspects that affect the uniformity of the water and nutrient distribution in fields. Inconsistent or inadequate applications of fertilizers and water in the fields contribute to the incorrect supply of useful water and nutrients in the soil profile along the drip line length resulting in a significant decrease in crop yields and poor product quality. The main cause behind the operating pressures in a “micro-irrigation system” is the inadequate distribution of fertilizers and water in the fields. Therefore, the effects of such non-uniform distribution must be carefully quantified and studied to understand the reasons behind soil degradation and groundwater contamination, which occurs due to excess nutrient leaching from the crop’s root zone. Data on the distribution and movement of water and nutrients in the soil is essential for designing efficient fertilization systems. Drip irrigation can reduce water exposure and input costs, making agribusiness more resilient, profitable, and successful. This paper discusses the uniformity of the nutrients and water application for crops grown in various agro-climatic regions. In addition, an effort was made to compare the findings’ quality of various commonly used methods of water and nutrient application under different climatic conditions.

Acoustic signal-based indigenous real-time rainfall monitoring system for sustainable environment

The rainfall weather station employs a tipping bucket rain gauge, which serves as a specialized instrument for the meticulous assessment and documentation of various rainwater parameters. The implementation of a tipping bucket rain gauge for rainfall monitoring bears significant implications for both societal productivity as well as improvement of human life. A noteworthy example can be the constructive influence of rainwater over the sustainable agricultural irrigation practices, wherein the precise monitoring of rainfall through a tipping bucket rain gauge enables the formulation of tedious irrigation strategies. The rainfall monitoring if often handle using rain gauge which majorly faces two challenges named as mechanical devices failure and high installation and maintenance cost. Considering the challenges, we propose the fully automated rain gauge (RG) based on the principle of sound and its properties for rainfall monitoring. The working prototype is part of our work whose primary task is to collect the rainfall acoustic value and store it in the cloud. Our mechanism is to use the acoustic property of rain data to categorize rainfall intensity. We perform blind signal separation on the received signal (acoustic signal recorded with the help of microphone sensor) and feed the separated signal to a recurrent convolution neural network (RCNN). The source separation of the collected acoustic signals is primarily being done using independent component analysis and principal components analysis. The proposed solution can be able to make the classification of rain intensity with more than 80% accuracy. In addition to this, the developed method provides the sustainable solution to the challenges with the low-cost and application-specific acceptable threshold criteria and supplement rain measurement techniques.

Toward sustainable landscape irrigation using a novel design for water collection systems that use atmospheric moisture condensation

Abstract This paper introduces a novel design that uses high-emissivity materials with no hydrophobic surfaces to increase the speed of condensation and the dropping-off process in water collection systems from atmospheric moisture. The design incorporates simple and low-cost technology that takes advantage of advanced material properties to enable sustainable irrigation in regions characterized by water resource scarcity, generally favoring greening. The concept is based on the application of universal physics principles such as dew point, wetting and antiwetting, and material emissivity coefficients. The innovative collection system design and experimentation confirm the feasibility of collecting water from the air in various semi-arid regions with a low number of rainy days. The first novel aspect of the collection system design is the rapid increase in condensation and the use of materials with a high capacity to release collected water to address unwanted evaporation. The second novel feature is that the volume is reduced, and the system is flexible and inexpensive, allowing it to be distributed across a specific landscape. Reduced construction costs and ease of use demonstrate the real possibility of its use in developing and poor countries to first increase vegetation diffusion and then contribute to sustainable agriculture and green architecture.