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Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation...
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Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies—2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395) belonging to the section "Water Use and Irrigation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 6309

Editor

Prof. Dr. Fernando França da Cunha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Engineering (DAE), Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
Interests: geostatistics; soil-water-plant-atmosphere system; digital irrigation; crop production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of Agronomy (MDPI).

The constant search for higher yields and lower production costs is a present objective of 21st century agriculture. A fundamental input for guaranteeing agricultural production and also increasing productivity is water—it is worth bearing in mind that we can achieve plant production even without soil or substrates (e.g., hydroponics), but this is impossible without water.

Efficient water management in agriculture has always been a priority. Over the years, significant advances have been made in understanding and applying irrigation strategies to overcome water deficits in crops. From traditional practices to modern techniques, the evolution of this field has been remarkable.

The fundamental purpose of this Special Issue is to explore and highlight the latest discoveries and innovations related to optimizing water use in crops, with a special focus on irrigation strategies to address water deficits. We seek to deepen our understanding of how recent research has been shaping this vital field, aiming for practical and sustainable advances in agriculture.

We seek work that presents innovative research capable of transforming the way we face the challenges associated with water scarcity in agricultural activities. This may include technological advances, new irrigation methods, forecasting models, or interdisciplinary approaches that integrate science, technology, and agricultural practices.

We encourage the submission of original scientific articles that address the proposed topic, as well as work that demonstrates the application of irrigation strategies in water deficit conditions. We are excited to welcome contributions that drive innovation in this vital field, enabling the scientific and agricultural community to address the growing challenges related to the sustainable use of water in crops. Your participation is crucial for moving towards more efficient and resilient agricultural practices.

Prof. Dr. Fernando França da Cunha
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • deficit irrigation
  • evapotranspiration
  • innovations in water management
  • irrigation management
  • precision irrigation
  • sustainable irrigation strategies
  • water optimization
  • water productivity
  • water use efficiency

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 9412 KB  
Article
Intermittent Irrigation Outweighs the Methanogenic Stimulation of Potassium Fertilization in Rice Paddies
by Zhengyuqi Ma, Yinghao Li, Ce Xu, Dandan Wu, Shujun Wang, Sachini Supunsala Senadheera, Jingjun Li, Jianming Yu and Daocai Chi
Agronomy 2026, 16(16), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16161616 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 226
Abstract
The interplay between water-saving irrigation and potassium (K) management in regulating paddy methane (CH4) emissions remains poorly understood. It remains unclear whether carbon pool enhancement induced by K fertilization could counteract the oxidation effects under non-flooded irrigation. Here, we conducted a [...] Read more.
The interplay between water-saving irrigation and potassium (K) management in regulating paddy methane (CH4) emissions remains poorly understood. It remains unclear whether carbon pool enhancement induced by K fertilization could counteract the oxidation effects under non-flooded irrigation. Here, we conducted a field-based trial over two years to explore how irrigation regimes (continuous flooding, IF; intermittent irrigation, II) and K application rates (K0, K75, K150 kg ha−1) modify soil redox status, carbon pools, crop growth, CH4 emissions and economic benefits. Intermittent irrigation markedly elevated soil redox potential (Eh), suppressed dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and substantially reduced two-year average CH4 emissions by 75.1–76.9%, regardless of K supply. Under IF, high-rate K fertilization (K150) stimulated cumulative CH4 emissions; nevertheless, such K-driven CH4 stimulation was completely offset under intermittent irrigation. Soil Eh, DOC and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) dominated CH4 variation, among which Eh exerted the primary control. Intermittent irrigation combined with K fertilization improved rice grain yield. A comprehensive TOPSIS-Entropy multi-criteria evaluation identified the IIK75 treatment as the optimal option balancing environmental benefits and economic returns. Collectively, intermittent irrigation can mitigate the methanogenic risk from high potassium input, providing a promising redox-regulated strategy for low-CH4 emission and high rice production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies—2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 3977 KB  
Article
Organic Almond Cultivation Under Deficit Irrigation: Ecophysio-Logical Response and Cultivar-Driven Performance
by Abel Calderón-Pavón, Juan Francisco Herencia-Galán, Belén Cárceles Rodríguez, Víctor Hugo Durán-Zuazo, Alfredo E. Rubio-Casal, Juan Carlos Castro-García and Iván Francisco García-Tejero
Agronomy 2026, 16(14), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16141383 - 21 Jul 2026
Viewed by 678
Abstract
Organic production systems (OPSs) for almond crops are rapidly expanding in Mediterranean regions due to the crops’ high adaptation to water-limited conditions and the environmental and economic benefits associated with these farming strategies. However, the response of almond trees to regulated deficit irrigation [...] Read more.
Organic production systems (OPSs) for almond crops are rapidly expanding in Mediterranean regions due to the crops’ high adaptation to water-limited conditions and the environmental and economic benefits associated with these farming strategies. However, the response of almond trees to regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) under OPS remains insufficiently understood. Unlike conventional orchards, organic farming operates under stricter limitations regarding nutrient management and the control of pests and diseases, factors that may modify crop resilience and alter the physiological and productive responses to water deficit. Consequently, it remains unclear how ecophysiological adjustments under organic management translate into yield performance and water productivity, and which cultivars are best adapted to these production conditions. This study evaluated the combined effects of irrigation regime (full irrigation (FI) and RDI), soil management (mulching cover (MC) and incorporated cover (IC)), and cultivar (Guara, Marta, Lauranne, and Marcona) on almond physiology and productivity over two consecutive growing seasons (2024–2025) in a Mediterranean environment. Net photosynthesis (An), stomatal conductance (gsw), transpiration (E), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and stem water potential (Ψstem) were monitored throughout key phenological stages, together with yield components. According to our findings, the phenological stage was the main driver of physiological variability, followed by irrigation doses, whereas cover crop management had negligible effects. The RDI significantly affected Ψstem and E, but not An, indicating that the imposed water deficit did not severely constrain the photosynthetic machinery. As a consequence, yield response was largely insensitive to the imposed treatments, the cultivar being the dominant factor in terms of production, with cvs. Marta and Lauranne showing, on average, the highest and most stable kernel yields (1092 and 1164 kg ha−1, respectively) in comparison to Guara (600 kg ha−1) and Marcona (442 kg ha−1). Overall, the results indicate a partial decoupling between physiological responses and yield performance, suggesting that almond productivity under RDI in OPS is primarily governed by genotype rather than by short-term physiological adjustments, supporting the viability of RDI strategies in with water savings of up to 45% without substantial yield penalties under Mediterranean conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 5046 KB  
Article
Grain Sorghum as a Climate-Resilient Alternative to Maize: Evapotranspiration, Water-Use Efficiency, and Yield Under Weed Competition and Reproductive-Stage Drought
by Ariel Tóth, Zoltán Tóth, Kristóf Kozma-Bognár and Brigitta Simon-Gáspár
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111110 - 4 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 750
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of drought events in Europe, necessitating the identification of more water-efficient cropping systems. This study compared the evapotranspiration dynamics, water-use efficiency, and yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum [...] Read more.
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of drought events in Europe, necessitating the identification of more water-efficient cropping systems. This study compared the evapotranspiration dynamics, water-use efficiency, and yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) under controlled field conditions using a Thornthwaite–Mather-type compensation evapotranspirometer. Three water regimes (100%, 50%, and 30% of optimal water supply) were applied during the reproductive stage, combined with weed-free and weed-infested treatments. Under moderate water deficit (50% water supply), grain sorghum maintained stable grain yield, while maize grain yield decreased by 17.98%. Under severe water deficit (30% water supply), grain yield reductions reached 36.04% in maize and 42.80% in sorghum. Grain sorghum consistently required less water and used 2.87–38.17% less water to produce 1 kg of grain compared to maize across treatments. Weed interference was associated with a lower yield and water-use efficiency in both species, while severe water deficit (70%) caused substantial declines in all measured parameters. Evapotranspiration was primarily driven by solar radiation and temperature, with reduced sensitivity under increasing water limitation. Overall, the results suggest that grain sorghum may represent a viable alternative to maize under moderate drought conditions; however, both crops require supplemental irrigation under severe water scarcity. The study highlights the importance of integrated weed management and provides novel insights into crop water-use dynamics under combined abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies—2nd Edition)
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35 pages, 7117 KB  
Article
Determination of Optimal Drip Irrigation Timing and Duration for Tea Field in Yangtze River Region of China
by Yongzong Lu, Wuzhe Wei, Pengfei Liu and Yongguang Hu
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111089 - 31 May 2026
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Drought frequently constrains tea production in low-slope hilly regions, where inefficient irrigation scheduling often leads to substantial water losses. This study optimized drip irrigation management for tea plantations by quantifying soil wetting dynamics under different emitter flow rates, spacings, and initial soil water [...] Read more.
Drought frequently constrains tea production in low-slope hilly regions, where inefficient irrigation scheduling often leads to substantial water losses. This study optimized drip irrigation management for tea plantations by quantifying soil wetting dynamics under different emitter flow rates, spacings, and initial soil water content conditions. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate wetting-front migration, wetted-body morphology, and soil moisture redistribution. The results showed that emitter flow rate primarily controlled the migration of vertical and lateral wetting fronts, whereas emitter spacing mainly influenced the overlap degree and uniformity of the soil wetted body (SWB). Both vertical and lateral wetting fronts exhibited strong power-function relationships with irrigation duration (R2 > 0.98). The optimal configuration for achieving an effective root-zone wetting depth of 40–45 cm was identified as a flow rate of 2.0 L·h−1 combined with a spacing of 40 cm. Based on multi-depth soil moisture monitoring, a soil water content equivalence model was developed to determine irrigation initiation and duration. Validation experiments demonstrated that the proposed control strategy reduced irrigation water use by 17.6% compared with the conventional method while maintaining adequate root-zone moisture distribution. These findings provide a practical framework for precision irrigation management in tea plantations under drought-prone hilly conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies—2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 3451 KB  
Article
Closing the Nutrient Loop in Smallholder Irrigated Agriculture Through Manure Recycling: Assessing Productivity Response Under Future Climate Stress in Zimbabwe
by Farayi Dube, Martin Moyo, Henning Bjornlund, Jacob Emanuel Joseph, Paramu Mafongoya, Folorunso M. Akinseye, Andre van Rooyen, Thabani Dube and Jamie Pittock
Agronomy 2026, 16(11), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16111052 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 515
Abstract
Smallholder irrigation schemes in semi-arid Zimbabwe are vital for food security but increasingly constrained by declining soil fertility, inefficient water use, and climate variability. Closing nutrient loops through manure recycling offers a potential pathway to improve system sustainability. This study evaluated the effects [...] Read more.
Smallholder irrigation schemes in semi-arid Zimbabwe are vital for food security but increasingly constrained by declining soil fertility, inefficient water use, and climate variability. Closing nutrient loops through manure recycling offers a potential pathway to improve system sustainability. This study evaluated the effects of manure recycling on maize grain yield and water productivity (WP) under supplemental irrigation at Silalatshani, Zimbabwe, using APSIM simulations across historical and mid-century climates. Simulations included manure rates (0–10 t ha−1), nitrogen levels (20–150 kg N ha−1), irrigation regimes, and climate scenarios, with improved irrigation guided by smart water management (SWM) tools. Grain yield was significantly influenced by nitrogen, manure, and irrigation (p < 0.05), with strong climate × nitrogen × manure interactions. Yields declined under increasing climate stress, predominantly under unimproved irrigation. Manure improved yield and water productivity, with greatest benefits at 2.5–5 t ha−1, beyond which responses diminished. Water productivity gains were modest and constrained by water availability. Economic benefits were limited to moderate manure rates with adequate nitrogen. Combining moderate manure application with appropriate nitrogen fertilisation and improved water management, supported by SWM tools, provides a reliable and economically viable pathway for enhancing productivity, profitability, and resilience under climate variability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Crop Water Use: Advances and Applications in Deficit Irrigation Strategies—2nd Edition)
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