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AgriEngineering
Special Issues
Water-Efficient Farming: Harnessing Smart Irrigation for Increased Crop Yields
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Water-Efficient Farming: Harnessing Smart Irrigation for Increased Crop Yields

A special issue of AgriEngineering (ISSN 2624-7402). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Irrigation Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 4357

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lucia Bortolini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dept. Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University od Padova (Italy), 35122 Padova, PD, Italy
Interests: sprinkle and trickle irrigation; landscape irrigation; precision irrigation; natural water retention measures; sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS); green roof; rain garden; blue-green infrastructure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marco Sozzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry—TESAF, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: farm machinery; precision and digital agriculture; precision crop protection; site-specific management; variable-rate technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water-efficient farming is a critical component of sustainable agriculture, given the increasing pressure on global water resources and the need to ensure food security. Traditional farming practices often rely on inefficient irrigation methods, which can lead to excessive water wastage and reduced crop productivity. Smart irrigation, on the other hand, leverages technology to optimize water usage and enhance agricultural sustainability.  Water-efficient farming through smart irrigation systems is a promising solution to enhance crop yields while conserving water resources. It not only addresses the challenges of water scarcity and agricultural sustainability but also contributes to the economic prosperity of farmers and the overall health of the environment. Encouraging the adoption of smart irrigation technologies and supporting research and development in this field is crucial for a more sustainable and productive agricultural future.

The adoption of smart irrigation systems offers numerous advantages, including increased crop yields, reduced water consumption, lower energy costs, and improved environmental sustainability. These systems also lead to labor savings as they automate many aspects of irrigation management.

Water-efficient farming helps mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture. Reduced water consumption, runoff, and soil erosion contribute to improved water quality and a smaller carbon footprint. While the initial investment in smart irrigation systems can be significant, the long-term benefits in terms of increased yields and resource savings make it economically viable for farmers.

Smart irrigation is gaining traction worldwide, with both small and large-scale farmers embracing this technology. Governments and organizations are also promoting its adoption through incentives and awareness campaigns.

Smart irrigation systems employ various technologies, such as sensors, weather data, and automation, to precisely manage water delivery to crops. These systems enable farmers to monitor soil moisture levels, weather conditions, and crop water requirements in real time.

Some of the key technologies used in smart irrigation include:

Soil Moisture Sensors: to adjust watering schedules based on real-time data and prevent overwatering or underwatering.

Weather Stations and Data: to help irrigation systems in adjusting their schedules to account for current and future weather conditions.

Remote Control and Monitoring: Smart irrigation systems can be controlled and monitored remotely through mobile apps or web interfaces. This enables users to make real-time adjustments and access system data from anywhere.

Mobile Apps and Software: Many smart irrigation systems come with companion apps and software that allow users to monitor and control their systems, receive alerts, and access historical data.

Wireless Connectivity: Smart irrigation systems often rely on wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or radio frequency (RF) to connect sensors, controllers, and other components.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Some advanced smart irrigation systems use AI to analyze data and make autonomous decisions about watering schedules, taking into account factors like weather forecasts and historical usage data.

Plant Health Monitoring: Some advanced systems use sensors to monitor plant health parameters, allowing for more precise irrigation management.

Dr. Lucia Bortolini
Dr. Marco Sozzi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. AgriEngineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • automation
  • sustainability
  • efficiency
  • remote monitoring
  • precision irrigation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 9092 KiB  
Article
Electronic Sensor-Based Automated Irrigation System for Rice Cultivated Under Alternate Wetting and Drying Technique
by Mukesh Kumar, Ramesh Kumar Sahni, Abhishek M. Waghaye, Manoj Kumar and Ravindra D. Randhe
AgriEngineering 2024, 6(4), 4720-4738; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering6040270 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 3395
Abstract
Rice is a water-intensive crop, conventionally grown under submerged conditions, with standing water for about 80% of its growth period. There is an urgent need for water-saving technologies to address challenges associated with conventional irrigation techniques for rice. The alternate wetting and drying [...] Read more.
Rice is a water-intensive crop, conventionally grown under submerged conditions, with standing water for about 80% of its growth period. There is an urgent need for water-saving technologies to address challenges associated with conventional irrigation techniques for rice. The alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technique is one of these water-saving techniques; however, it requires continuous monitoring of water levels in the field. The implementation of real-time, electronic sensor-based precision irrigation technology may address the problems associated with conventional irrigation systems and AWD leading to high water use efficiency. Therefore, a study was undertaken to develop a suitable sensor-based automated irrigation system to maintain optimal water levels in rice fields. This study conceptualized an electronic sensor-based automated irrigation system for rice cultivated under the AWD technique. In this method, the rice field is initially flooded to a maximum depth of 5 cm. Irrigation is reapplied once the water level reduces to 10 cm below the soil surface. This developed system helps address water scarcity by regulating water levels, preventing excess ponding. It uses magnetic float-based sensors and electronic circuits to detect water levels, converting them into electronic signals transmitted wirelessly via radio frequency (RF) to a controller. The controller has been programmed for different growth stages that need to be set manually during the cropping period. The system is designed primarily for the AWD method but includes an option for continuous ponding (CP), needed during the flowering stage. The maximum water level at full maturity is set at 5 cm above the soil surface, while irrigation with the AWD method begins when the water level falls 10 cm below the soil surface. The developed system was tested during the Kharif season of 2018–19; the irrigation water productivity was 6.15 kg ha−1mm−1 with the automated system, compared to 3.06 kg ha−1mm−1 in the control (continuous ponding). Total water productivity was 4.80 kg ha−1mm−1 for the automated system and 2.63 kg ha−1mm−1 for the control. The automated system achieved 36% more water savings over the control, which used continuous ponding as farmers practice. The developed system supports AWD, a proven water-saving technique in rice cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Efficient Farming: Harnessing Smart Irrigation for Increased Crop Yields)
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