Vega Baja Research Articles

Image Recognition for Floating Waste Monitoring in a Traditional Surface Irrigation System

In the traditional surface irrigation system of Vega Baja del Segura (Spain), large amounts of floating waste accumulate at certain points of the river, irrigation channels and drainage ditches, causing malfunctioning of the irrigation network and rising social problems related to the origins of waste. This work proposes a standardized and quick methodology to characterize the floating waste to detect changes in its amount and components. A dataset was created with 477 images of floating plastic items in different environments and was used for training an algorithm based on YOLOv5s. The mean Average Precision of the trained algorithm was 96.9%, and the detection speed was 81.7 ms. Overhead photographs were taken with an unmanned aerial vehicle at strategic points of the river and channels, and its automatic count of floating objects was compared with their manual count. Both methods showed good agreement, confirming that water bottles were the most abundant (95%) type of floating waste. The automatic count reduced the required time and eliminated human bias in image analysis of the floating waste. This procedure can be used to test the reach of corrective measures implemented by local authorities to prevent floating waste in the river.

Concomitant Serological and Molecular Methods for Strongyloides stercoralis Screening in an Endemic Area of Spain.

Strongyloidiasis is a widespread parasitic disease that can be life-threatening in immunosuppressed people. In the Mediterranean basin, autochthonous cases coexist with imported ones. We aimed to assess the utility of different screening methods, along with the frequency of strongyloidiasis and its associated risk factors in migrants and the native population. This cross-sectional study took place from 2019 to 2022 in the area of the Vega Baja Hospital in Alicante, Spain. Screening was performed in people who were immunosuppressed, at risk of immunosuppression, with blood asymptomatic eosinophilia, and in asymptomatic people from highly endemic countries. Screening methods were serological techniques (ELISA), stool parasitological tests (fecal concentration methods and agar plate culture), and a stool molecular test (PCR). Of the 168 participants (62.5% males, 53.0% migrants, 36.3% immunosuppressed, median age 57 years), 14 (8.3%) had confirmed strongyloidiasis, where 6 were confirmed by serology, 4 by PCR, and 4 by both methods. Overall, 9% of the migrants and 7.6% of the native-born patients were infected. Elevated IgE and hemoglobin and Latin American origin were associated with strongyloidiasis diagnosis. Screening with serology alone would have missed 28.6% of cases. We conclude that strongyloidiasis prevalence is high in our population, both in native and migrant groups, and stool PCR is a useful tool to increase case detection.

Bringing Back Reef Fish: Sustainable Impacts of Community-Based Restoration of Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (2008–2023)

Bringing Back Reef Fish: Sustainable Impacts of Community-Based Restoration of Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (2008–2023)

Hospitalization forecast to inform COVID-19 pandemic planning and resource allocation using discrete event simulation

Purpose: This study aims to address the pressing need for accurate forecasting of healthcare resource demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. It presents a novel approach that combines a stochastic Markov model and a discrete event simulation model to dynamically predict hospital admissions and daily occupancy of hospital and ICU beds.Design/methodology/approach: The research builds upon existing work related to predicting COVID-19 spread and patient influx to hospital emergency departments. The proposed model was developed and validated at San Juan de Alicante University Hospital from July 10, 2020, to January 10, 2022, and externally validated at Hospital Vega Baja. The model involves an admissions generator based on a stochastic Markov model, feeding data into a discrete event simulation model in the R programming language. The probabilities of hospital admission were calculated based on age-stratified positive SARS-COV-2 results from the health department's catchment population. The discrete event simulation model simulates distinct patient pathways within the hospital to estimate bed occupancy for the upcoming week. The performance of the model was measured using the median absolute difference (MAD) between predicted and actual demand.Findings: When applied to data from San Juan hospital, the admissions generator demonstrated a MAD of 6 admissions/week (interquartile range [IQR] 2-11). The MAD between the model's predictions and actual bed occupancy was 20 beds/day (IQR 5-43), equivalent to 5% of total hospital beds. For ICU occupancy, the MAD was 4 beds/day (IQR 2-7), constituting 25% of ICU beds. Evaluation with data from Hospital Vega Baja showcased an admissions generator MAD of 2.42 admissions/week (IQR 1.02-7.41). The MAD between the model's predictions and actual bed occupancy was 18 beds/day (IQR 19.57-38.89), approximately 5.1% of hospital beds. The ICU occupancy MAD was 3 beds/day (IQR 1-5), making up 21.4% of ICU beds.Practical implications: The dynamic predictions of hospital admissions, ward beds, and ICU occupancy for COVID-19 patients proved highly valuable to hospital managers, facilitating early and informed planning of resource allocation. Additionally, this study underscores the importance of utilizing simulation techniques to predict and manage hospital occupancy levels, thereby enhancing decision-making in hospital bed management, not only during pandemics but also during regular periods.Originality/value: This study introduces a novel hybrid approach that combines stochastic modeling and discrete event simulation to forecast healthcare resource demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology's effectiveness in predicting admissions and bed occupancy contributes to improved resource planning and situational awareness.

Uses and opportunities of emergency calls as a resource for flood risk management

Floods pose significant risks to both human lives and property, necessitating effective flood risk management strategies. One promising approach for enhancing flood risk management is the utilization of emergency calls as a valuable data source. This paper proposes two primary applications of these calls: 1) enhancing the cartography of flood risk areas and 2) improving risk communication systems. The disastrous flood event that took place in the Vega Baja region (Spain) in September 2019 is taken as a case study for this research. On the one hand, by analysing and geolocating emergency calls related to this flood event, we identify additional affected zones that are not represented in the existing cartography, leading to more comprehensive and accurate mapping. On the other hand, the analysis of the 112 calls is used to create a context-based catalogue of warning messages, tailored to address the unique requirements and challenges faced by the local population during the flood event under study. Thus, emergency calls serve as a direct link between the needs of affected population during a flood event and emergency response agencies. Overall, the outputs of this research underscore the importance of integrating emergency call data into flood management frameworks to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience in flood-prone regions in the framework of climate change.

Clinical evaluation of subcutaneous immunotherapy with a polymerized molecular allergoid of Alt a 1 in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or allergic asthma caused by the mould Alternaria alternata.

This is a retrospective analysis of the clinical evolution of 14 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR) and/or allergic asthma (AA) caused by Alternaria alternata, who were attended by the allergology service of Vega Baja Hospital of Orihuela (Alicante, Spain). The purpose was to assess the clinical impact and safety of 1-year of subcutaneous immunotherapy with a polymerized molecular allergoid of Alt a 1. Impact of the treatment on allergic diseases (mean number AR/AA episodes and ARIA/GINA classifications), changes in symptoms and prescribed medication, change in the global subjective clinical status of patients and satisfaction with the treatment were also evaluated. Adverse reactions were also recorded and analyzed. After 1-year of treatment, fewer AR and AA episodes (p less than 0.05) and improvements in ARIA/GINA classifications were observed. Significant improvements of symptoms (p less than 0.05) and a resulting general reduction of the medication prescribed was also detected. Improvements in the global subjective clinical status and good satisfaction rates were observed. Only 1 patient presented a local and not clinically relevant adverse reaction. The treatment showed promising effects with a significant improvement in the clinical status of all patients with a good safety profile.

Proposal of the “Wastewater Use Basin” Concept as an Integrated Sewage and Rainwater Management Unit in Semiarid Regions—A Case Study in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula

Semi-arid and arid regions are characterized by their water scarcity, which leads territories to seek ways of increasing the water resources available to meet their demands (urban, agricultural, industrial, leisure and tourism, etc.). For this reason, this article proposes the term “wastewater use basin”; the concept of the “wastewater use basin” is presented as a working unit of a smaller scale than traditional river basins, which allows for a better management of the water collected in the sewerage network and rainwater of urban agglomerations. It is a geographically-focused proposal for the integrated management of wastewater and stormwater that ends up in a wastewater treatment plant for treatment and reuse. The study area is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain; specifically, the Campo of Cartagena-Mar Menor district (Murcia) and Vega Baja district (Alicante). The results show the trend behaviour of rainfall in the Segura river basin in recent episodes of torrential rainfall. There is a clear tendency for these episodes to occur in the coastal and pre-coastal areas, so that the water does not reach the headwaters where the reservoirs are located. For this reason, the proposed concept includes the area of the basin that would be formed by the wastewater and rainwater collectors which, in short, are intended to be treated in a treatment plant for subsequent reuse. The calculations made on the basis of the capacity of the environmental tanks executed and projected amount to four cubic hectometers which could be added to the hydrological planning of the Segura basin. In conclusion, the collection of rainwater allows the incorporation of an additional volume of water that complements and increases the resources offered by the treatment plants in the hydrological planning. It also serves as a measure of adaptation to climatic extremes (droughts and floods) and to the effects of climate change, supporting a circular management of the use of resources.

Integrated Management to Address Structural Shortage: The Case of Vega Baja of the Segura River, Alicante (Southeast Spain)

The principal objective of this study is the detailed analysis of the water deficit based on the information gathered by hydrological planning in terms of both the supply of water resources from different sources (surface and groundwater natural sources, transferred from other basins and non-conventional sources based on the reuse of regenerated waters and the desalination of seawater) and the demand for water (urban, agricultural, environmental, industrial, and recreational uses). To do this, the balance between resources and demand is determined, identifying the water deficit and its repercussions, mainly in the agricultural sector. Subsequently, a series of recommendations are proposed that can contribute to the management of water resources in accordance with their origin and availability. The study focuses on the district of Vega Baja del Río Segura, which is located in Southeast Spain, specifically in the Segura River Basin of the province Alicante, and characterized by being one of the European spaces with the greatest structural shortage of water resources. The 27 municipalities, which it constitutes and are the object of analysis in this study, have a semi-arid climate with mild temperatures and scarce torrential rainfall, which generates a continuous situation of water stress and structural shortage. The management of water resources in this area is vitally important for socio-economic development and the maintenance of the natural ecosystems. According to the climate change predictions, this deficit situation is set to worsen, which will aggravate the water imbalance.

Floods and Emergency Management: Elaboration of Integral Flood Maps Based on Emergency Calls (112)—Episode of September 2019 (Vega Baja del Segura, Alicante, Spain)

Emergency mapping makes it possible to manage an emergency situation and even to analyze the catastrophic event, a posteriori, in order to improve action protocols for Civil Protection. The emergency maps are produced from the analysis of calls to the Emergency Coordination Centre (911 or 112). Thus, the concept of integral risk mapping arises, in which risk mapping and aspects that allow for more realistic analysis and mapping through the analysis of emergency calls in the event of a natural event converge. In this case, the analysis is focused on the floods that occurred from 12 to 15 September 2019 in the Vega Baja del Segura district (Alicante, Spain). The results obtained show that this is the flooding episode with the highest number of emergency calls in Valencian region and Vega Baja del Segura district (2010–2022). Likewise, the spatial-temporal analysis of the geolocation of the calls and their reasons, have allowed us to draw up a much more detailed map of flooding or affected areas in 2019 than the official maps. In conclusion, the analysis of emergency calls makes it possible to identify problems and vulnerable areas where proposals can be made to reduce the impact of floods and increase the resilience of a territory. At the same time, it is presented as a novel field of research for the analysis of natural and anthropic risks.

The Effects of Climate Change on the Tagus–Segura Transfer: Diagnosis of the Water Balance in the Vega Baja del Segura (Alicante, Spain)

Climate change is one of the most important problems facing society in the 21st century. Despite the uncertainty about the behaviour of rainfall due to climate change, what is clear is that average rainfall has been reduced in the inland areas and headwaters of Spain’s river basins. The Tagus basin is one of the most affected, with implications for the Jucar and Segura basins. The working hypothesis is to corroborate with the data collected on the effects of climate change on the TTS. To this end, the following methodology has been applied: (a) analysis in the headwaters of the Tagus, using data on precipitation, surface runoff and reservoir water; (b) analysis of the resources of the Segura basin (supply and demand), based on the basin organisation’s own data; (c) construction of a water balance adjusted to the Bajo Segura district (Alicante), a user of the water transferred for agricultural use. Likewise, the data provided by the basin organisation have made it possible to corroborate the data on consumption and allocation of the corresponding volumes of water. The results obtained make it possible to put forward a novel proposal in the scientific field related to hydrological planning based on the principles of sustainability.

A Socio-Economic and Environmental Analysis of the Implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems in Vega Baja—Alicante (Spain)

One of the territories most affected by flooding in Spain is the district of Vega Baja del Segura, located in the southernmost point of the province of Alicante. The objective of this article is to estimate the socio-economic and environmental efficiency of implementing sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) as part of the Vega Baja Nature Plan. This plan seeks to optimise rainfall management by reproducing and restoring the natural hydrological processes altered by the urban development of cities through integrated actions that generate new natural areas to be used and enjoyed by the residents. To this end, a cost–benefit analysis was carried out in accordance with the methodology established by the European Commission, and a social profitability of 4.3% (IRR) was obtained for the project, which shows the social benefit to be gained from its execution.

Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers Xavier Navarro Aquino (bio) We wanted to steal it. The famed six-hundred-ton Cristóbal Colón statue that made the rounds across the Atlantic, trying to find its permanent home, rejected by Uncle Sam, all but forsaken, eventually snuck its way onto our island as quietly as an angry ex looking to get even. We saw on Noticentro the news about Cris. His ugly Greek head, showing no features that resembled a massive human face. At his base were these terribly sculpted ships and waves. All of it something a toddler must've drawn up. We knew the logistics were against us. But stealing the head of Cris seemed possible. The guys had gotten notorious for sneaking out of construction sites with copper and metal and selling it cheap to contractors. We had contacts in Vega Baja and Hatillo that Danny made. They were his go-to people. But that was before Danny got caught in attempted armed robbery. After that, he was hotter than asphalt in June. No one wanted a piece of him. Now he was out on parole and living at Tata's. Only visited Tito Lomo on that rare occasion. As news broke of Cris, and Danny got to daydreaming, the government let everyone in Lomo know our neighborhood school was being shut down. Lack of funding, no teachers, the usual. Except word also got out that our illustrious alcalde wanted Lomo shut down too. We'd have nowhere to live. Yariel was a lobster hand. Danny never liked when he tagged along because he had difficulty carrying shit and had us a couple of times get close and personal with the cops. Yari was much older than us but wanted to keep his young soul together. Danny would strip Yari of his dignity when he got pissed, reminded him of the cocaine sniffing his mom must've done while in labor. And that it was no wonder she got her tubes tied by the government. "That's not how it went," Yari would say. He was right. His mom and her generation were all part of that famed forced sterilization in Puerto [End Page 126] Rico. Danny knew too, but it never stopped him from poking fun at Yari. I let him tussle Yari around for the spectacle. "She's a snorter, Yari. You're lucky to have come out of that chocha in one piece," I'd say to him, playing stupid. "That's not what happened to her! She didn't ask—" "Cool it, Yari!" Danny said. "The sixties were a good time. The important thing is you're alive, right. Even if you're all monstruo looking. El chakal's very spawn. The likes which hit the feo tree. Every. Leaf. Down." He danced in a circle and smacked my hand whenever we cornered him. Yari's eyes would water. He'd sit there, recién nacido, his old face pruned up in search of his mom's pezón. Yet he always stuck by us, sucking on our words like nectar. Ma had taken to ignoring me and Danny. Her disappointment weighed on the glares she gave us whenever we hung out together at Lomo. We were done with high school and our career prospectus went up in smoke. After a decade bumming around, neither Danny or me managed out of school, and even though we laminated our resumes with glossy details, the jobs wouldn't return calls. I was Ma's biggest disappointment. Still living at home while Danny, like a pariah, only came around to reconvene with the guys and start trouble. My grades had been top of the class. Danny, however, barely graduated. I felt guilty. So, I loitered around. Didn't look to attend college. Didn't want to leave home. But Ma. She repeated to me with emphasis, tu eres la gran desepción. Her method of coping with all her disappointment became sleeping her days away. Never moved to brush her teeth in the mornings, or bathe when she got real stinky. Sometimes she'd disappear for days on end. I was grateful that at least Danny was up and moving...

Episodio de lluvias torrenciales del 11 al 15 de septiembre de 2019 en el sureste de la Península Ibérica: análisis meteorológico y consecuencias de las transformaciones en los usos del suelo

The formation of a Cutoff low in the southeast of the peninsula was the genesis of an episode of torrential rainfall. Large accumulations of rain were collected in a short period of time, which resulted in a strong runoff that raised the flow of ravines and wadis causing floods in the Vega Baja and Campo de Cartagena. The potential of these floods and their consequences could have been aggravated by a considerable increase in the impermeable surface, in particular of urban spaces, as a result of the remarkable transformations made in these areas in recent decades.

Floating Debris in the Low Segura River Basin (Spain): Avoiding Litter through the Irrigation Network

The Vega Baja region lays on the lower course of the Segura River (southeastern Spain). It is one of the six traditional “huerta” European landscapes and has an ancient, extensive, and complex network of irrigation and drainage channels. The accumulation of floating waste causes numerous economic, environmental, and landscape problems in its irrigation infrastructures, hindering farmers’ water management practices. This work classifies and estimates the total volume of floating waste at various points along the Segura River and its irrigation channels as a first systematic approach to define and quantify the problem of floating waste accumulation. Aerial images taken by a drone were analyzed over time and a manual count of residues was performed on selected points. The results obtained show that reeds and residues of riparian vegetation represent more than 95% of the floating debris volume measured on the riverbed. Anthropogenic waste, which represents less than 5% of debris volume, was characterized, finding that plastics of domestic sources are the most abundant by count (14.9%) and only a reduced part of the floating waste can be attributed to agricultural activities (3.8%). Assessing the type and origin of the floating waste is essential to inform the actions required in order to avoid the floating waste reaching the Mediterranean Sea.

The Huerta Agricultural Landscape in the Spanish Mediterranean Arc: One Landscape, Two Perspectives, Three Specific Huertas

The Huerta is recognised as one of the 13 specific agricultural landscapes in Europe, present in only three Mediterranean countries, namely Spain, Italy, and Greece. In the case of Spain, three areas fall within the established Huerta agricultural classification: the Huertas de Valencia, Murcia, and Vega Baja. While all of them share common landscape features, each Huerta has distinguishing singularities which are approached through two perspectives: firstly, the structural tangible elements, related to functional networks—water distribution, pathways networks, settlement patterns, and the agricultural production system; and secondly, the role of the intangible components—connotations of the word Huerta, water management, canal and path upkeep rules, and the administration of these territories. The analysis of the tangible elements and intangible components in the three Spanish Huertas shows these territories as complex and balanced systems that have historically counterbalanced the environmental drawbacks in one of the most arid European regions. Despite being a highly appreciated environmental and productive asset, these Huertas are under intense pressure from urban development in highly urbanized metropolitan areas. This study shows Huertas’ uniqueness through their historical role in the territorial planning and management strategies at the local level, finally depicting Huertas as a present strategical opportunity for reaching environmental goals in peri-urban areas.

Evaluation of Soil Water Content Measurements with Capacitance Probes to Support Irrigation Scheduling in a “Red Beaut” Japanese Plum Orchard

Advances in electromagnetic sensor technologies in recent years have made automated irrigation scheduling a reality through the use of state-of-the-art soil moisture sensing devices. However, correct sensor positioning and interpretation of the measurements are key to the successful implementation of these management systems. The aim of this study is to establish guidelines for soil moisture sensor placement to support irrigation scheduling, taking into account the physiological response of the plant. The experimental work was carried out in Vegas Bajas del Guadiana (Extremadura, Spain) on a drip-irrigated experimental orchard of the early-maturing Japanese plum cultivar “Red Beaut”. Two irrigation treatments were established: control and drying. The control treatment was scheduled to cover crop water needs. In the drying treatment, the fruit trees were irrigated as in control, except in certain periods (preharvest and postharvest) in which irrigation was suspended (drying cycles). Over 3 years (2015–2017), a series of plant parameters were analyzed in relation to the measurements provided by a battery of frequency domain reflectometry probes installed in different positions with respect to tree and dripper: midday stem water potential (Ψstem), sap flow, leaf stomatal conductance, net leaf photosynthesis and daily fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation. After making a comparison of these measurements as indicators of plant water status, Ψstem was found to be the physiological parameter that detected water stress earliest. The drying cycles were very useful to select the probe positions that provided the best information for irrigation management and to establish a threshold in the different phases of the crop below which detrimental effects could be caused to the crop. With respect to the probes located closest to the drippers, a drop in the relative soil water content (RSWC) below 0.2 would not be advisable for “non-stress” scheduling in the preharvest period. When no deficit irrigation strategies are applied in the postharvest period, the criteria are similar to those of preharvest. However, the probes located between the dripper at 0.15 and 0.30 m depth provide information on moderate water stress if the RSWC values falls below 0.2. The severe tree water stress was detected below 0.1 RSWC in probes located at 60 cm depth from this same position.

Public Food Procurement as a Driving Force for Building Local and Agroecological Food Systems: Farmers’ Skepticism in Vega Baja del Jarama, Madrid (Spain)

In the last decade, efforts to re-localize the food system have been gaining ground in a way that is intended to induce changes in the primary sector, thereby improving its conditions and sustainability. The European Union has identified food as one of the ten key sectors with outstanding potential for an ecological transition, and public procurement of (organic) food as an appropriate policy to foster agricultural development and support small farmers. In this study, we analyze changes in land use and farming dynamics in three municipalities close to the metropolitan area of Madrid (Spain). We also explore how stakeholders and farmers perceive the driving forces of these changes and the potential for public procurement in providing stability for farmers and more specifically, boosting the articulation and consolidation of the emerging agroecological sector in an up-to-date hostile peri-urban environment. Some urban policies and food strategies in nearby cities, such as Madrid, have introduced measures to promote sustainable food in public procurement. The procurement could drive 10% of the total food grown in the Comunidad de Madrid, with large variations in the impact on different food subsectors. However, if public procurement is to be organic, local production has no capacity to meet increases in demand, except for honey and oil. Food procurement would not lead to improved stability and increases in farmers’ incomes if public policies to boost ecological transition are not adopted in parallel. For farmers, economic viability takes precedence over other problems, and although public procurement has been mainstreamed as a valuable tool to support local agriculture, stakeholders do not have high expectations for it. The research shows that farm size and specialization have a strong influence on market orientation, and the agroecological farmers and social movements that support them are primed for innovation adoption and may act as catalysts for the process.

Strongyloidiasis in Southern Alicante (Spain): Comparative Retrospective Study of Autochthonous and Imported Cases.

Background: Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic disease with global prevalence. In Spain, autochthonous cases are concentrated in the Mediterranean basin. We aimed to analyze clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Vega Baja del Segura (Spain), comparing autochthonous versus imported cases. Methods: Observational retrospective study of all strongyloidiasis cases from January 2009 to January 2019. Cases were diagnosed by stool larvae visualization, positive culture, PCR, Strongyloides serology, and/or compatible histology. Results: We included 36 patients (21 men) with a mean age of 60.8 years ±17.6; 15 cases were autochthonous and 21 imported 80.9% from Latin America. Autochthonous cases were associated with older age (mean 71.3 vs. 53.3 years; p = 0.002), male sex (odds ratio (OR) 5.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–24.68; p = 0.041), and agricultural activity (OR 13.5; 95% CI 2.4–73.7; p = 0.002). Fourteen were asymptomatic, three autochthonous cases presented with hyperinfection syndrome, and two patients died. There was no difference between autochthonous versus imported origin in eosinophilia at diagnosis (93.3% vs. 75%; p = 0.207), treatment received, or clinical response (85.7% vs. 88.9% cured; p = 1). Conclusion: In our region, imported strongyloidiasis coexists with autochthonous cases, which are mainly in older male farmers who are diagnosed at more advanced stages. Systematic screening programs are needed.

Effects of three irrigation systems on ‘Piel de sapo’ melon yield and quality under salinity conditions

The melon crop is moderately sensitive to soil salinity and, as a consequence, its yield decreases under saline conditions. Nevertheless, the exposure to moderate salinity also influences the melon quality by improving it, which offers compensation to the farmer. As a consequence, in moderately salt-affected lands, like the traditional irrigation area of the ‘Vega Baja del Segura’ (Alicante, Spain), melons are being grown. In this area the modernization of the secular irrigation system through the replacement of flood by drip systems, is currently being fostered. This fact, however, is generating some controversy, due to the known salt leaching effect that flood irrigation followed by drainage makes in the soil. In this study, the effects of three irrigation systems, namely, drip (DI), subsurface drip (SDI) and flood (FI), on soil salinity and thus, on the yield and quality of the melon, were compared. According to the results, the FI system kept the soil salt levels during the growth period at 4.1 ± 0.3 dS/m, that is, significantly lower than the 4.7 ± 0.2 dS/m attained with the DI and SDI systems. Nevertheless, the DI and, overall, SDI, provided higher and more homogenous soil moisture completely counteracting the effect of salinity as revealed by the soil water potential calculations. As a result, the SDI gave 27 ± 5 Mg/ha of total yield in comparison to 23 ± 2 Mg/ha (DI) and 20 ± 6 Mg/ha (FI). Besides, the SDI system reduced the number of damaged melons, thus additionally contributing to the significant higher marketable yield of the SDI (25 ± 4 Mg/ha) in comparison to the DI (20 ± 1 Mg/ha) and the FI (19 ± 7 Mg/ha). On the contrary, in the SDI treatment the fruit soluble solids content, tritatable acidity and pulp firmness decreased a bit, however, in the sensory evaluation no differences among irrigation treatments were observed.

Using Soil Moisture Sensors for Automated Irrigation Scheduling in a Plum Crop

The growing scarcity and competition for water resources requires the urgent implementation of measures to ensure their rational use. Farmers need affordable irrigation tools that allow them to take advantage of scientific know-how to improve water use efficiency in their common irrigation practices. The aim of this study is to test under field conditions, and adjust where required, an automated irrigation system that allows the establishment of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies in a stone fruit orchard. For this, an automated device with an algorithm which combines water-balance-based irrigation scheduling with a feedback adjustment mechanism using 15 capacitive sensors for continuous soil moisture measurement was used. The tests were carried out in 2016 and 2017 in Vegas Bajas del Guadiana (Extremadura, Spain) on an experimental plot of ‘Red Beaut’, an early-maturing Japanese plum cultivar. Three irrigation treatments were established: control, RDI and automatic. The control treatment was scheduled to cover crop water needs, a postharvest deficit irrigation (40% crop evapotranspiration (ETc)) strategy was applied in the RDI treatment, while the Automatic treatment simulated the RDI but without human intervention. After two years of testing, the automated system was able to “simulate” the irrigation scheduling programmed by a human expert without the need for human intervention.