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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Precision Irrigation in Horticultural Production
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Precision Irrigation in Horticultural Production

A Special Issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524) belonging to the section "Vegetable Production Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 February 2027 | Viewed by 5273

Editors

Dr. Xuewen Gong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
Interests: efficient use of water; evapotranspiration; crop water requirements; aerodynamic resistance; crop water quality response; water transport of SPAC system; regulate deficit irrigation; crop water deficit index; energy processes; balances of farmland
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xianbo Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
2. Shangqiu Agro-Ecological System National Observation and Research Station, Shangqiu 476000, China
Interests: irrigation; production

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Precision irrigation in greenhouse horticulture has emerged as a key strategy to balance high crop productivity with sustainable resource management. In controlled environments, the integration of sensor networks, climate monitoring, and automated irrigation systems allows growers to tailor water delivery precisely to crop needs, minimizing leaching and nutrient loss. Advances in imaging technologies, root-zone monitoring, and machine learning have further improved the accuracy of irrigation scheduling, ensuring uniform growth and enhancing the quality of vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals. Precision irrigation in greenhouses not only supports efficient water use but also contributes to reducing energy consumption and optimizing fertigation practices. This Special Issue invites studies addressing innovative approaches for irrigation management in greenhouse systems, including sensor development, data-driven decision support, modeling techniques, and real-world applications. Contributions that assess system performance under climate variability, explore scalability for commercial adoption, and demonstrate economic and environmental impacts are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Xuewen Gong
Dr. Xianbo Zhang
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 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. Horticulturae 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 2400 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

  • precision irrigation
  • greenhouse horticulture
  • sensor networks
  • automated irrigation
  • fertigation management
  • sustainability

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 3374 KB  
Article
Calibration of AquaCrop-OSPy Model for Greenhouse Tomato Under High Temperature Conditions Based on Whale Optimization Algorithm
by Wei Zeng, Xuewen Gong, Tianli Ren, Xinyu Wu, Yanbin Li, Rangjian Qiu, Jiankun Ge, Huanhuan Li, Jiehao Liang and Sitong Chen
Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070883 - 19 Jul 2026
Viewed by 659
Abstract
Calibration of crop model parameters using optimization algorithms can substantially improve model performance, particularly under different environmental scenarios. Here, we take greenhouse drip-irrigated tomato as an example. Two temperature treatments (high temperature, TH: 35 °C ≤ Tmax ≤ 40 °C; non-high [...] Read more.
Calibration of crop model parameters using optimization algorithms can substantially improve model performance, particularly under different environmental scenarios. Here, we take greenhouse drip-irrigated tomato as an example. Two temperature treatments (high temperature, TH: 35 °C ≤ Tmax ≤ 40 °C; non-high temperature, TD: Tmax ≤ 35 °C) and two water treatments (well watered, WH: 100%Epan; water deficit, WD: 60%Epan, where Epan is the pan evaporation coefficient) were combined and implemented in 2024 and 2025. Canopy cover, yield, aboveground biomass, and water consumption of tomatoes were measured, and then a global sensitivity analysis was conducted using the extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (EFAST). Thereafter, in order to evaluate the performance of AquaCrop-OSPy under different combinations of temperature and water conditions, the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) was coupled with the AquaCrop-OSPy model, and an automatic parameter optimization framework was developed using the aforementioned measured indicators as objective functions. The results showed that CCx, Senescence_CD, CGC_CD, WP, HI0, and Kcb were highly sensitive parameters of the AquaCrop-OSPy model across different temperature and water treatments. Compared with the traditional trial and error (TAE) method, WOA demonstrated superior global optimization capability and significantly improved model performance. Validation indicated that the root mean square error (RMSE) was ≤4.52% for canopy cover, ≤0.67 t/hm2 for yield, and ≤0.98 t/hm2 for aboveground biomass. Notably, even after WOA optimization, water consumption simulation under combined high temperature and water deficit conditions still showed some deviation, which was attributed to limitations in soil water simulation and the oversimplification of model mechanisms under combined stress. Nevertheless, the model remained reliable for estimating canopy cover, yield, and biomass, while ET simulation under combined stress should be interpreted with caution. Therefore, future improvements of AquaCrop-OSPy should focus on addressing the effects of soil water and refining the inhibitory feedback of physiological stress to better adapt the model to the combined conditions of high temperature and water deficit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Irrigation in Horticultural Production)
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15 pages, 1726 KB  
Article
Effect of Ozonated Water Irrigation on the Production and Development of Lettuce Seedlings
by Francisco Horácio Sitoe, Lêda Rita D’Antonino Faroni, Marcus Vinícius de Assis Silva, Fernando França da Cunha, Paulo Roberto Cecon, Carollayne Gonçalves Magalhães, Eugénio da Piedade Edmundo Sitoe, Gutierres Nelson Silva and Letícia Elisa Rossi
Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070762 - 23 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1105
Abstract
The seedling production stage of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is crucial for crop success, as it determines the initial quality of the plants. The use of seeds with rapid and uniform germination is essential to ensure proper seedling establishment. Among sustainable alternatives [...] Read more.
The seedling production stage of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is crucial for crop success, as it determines the initial quality of the plants. The use of seeds with rapid and uniform germination is essential to ensure proper seedling establishment. Among sustainable alternatives for water management, irrigation with ozonated water stands out due to its disinfectant potential and its ability to stimulate plant physiology. This study evaluated the effects of irrigation with ozonated water on the production and development of lettuce seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with four replications. Two lettuce cultivars were tested: one with smooth leaves and another with crisp leaves. The variables analyzed included germination parameters (final percentage, germination index and mean germination rate, uniformity, and time to reach 10, 50, and 90% germination), as well as initial growth parameters (total height, shoot and root height, and dry matter content). Analyses were performed on 20 seedlings per cultivar. Irrigation with ozonated water promoted significant growth (p < 0.05) of the shoot and root growth, with increases of 16.90 and 4.99% for the smooth-leaf cultivar, and 24.27 and 9.26% for the crisp-leaf cultivar, compared to the control. Ozone application did not alter the microbiological, physical, or chemical parameters of the water. These growth-promoting effects are likely associated with increased oxygenation of the root zone, enhanced oxidation of organic matter in the substrate, and improved nutrient availability promoted by ozone-derived radicals, which may also optimise root respiration and reduce pathogenic pressure. The applied concentration of 5 mg L−1 O3 over a 25-day seedling production cycle proved effective and did not cause phytotoxic effects. Irrigation with ozonated water is an efficient and environmentally safe alternative for producing vigorous lettuce seedlings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Irrigation in Horticultural Production)
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Graphical abstract

28 pages, 4233 KB  
Article
Coupled Simulation of Greenhouse Crop Growth and Soil CO2 Emissions Under Variable Irrigation Levels
by Jianhong Ji, Feifei Li, Xinyang Liu, Jiahao Cao and Meng Zhang
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030269 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1146
Abstract
How to achieve the goal of water–carbon synergistic optimization in greenhouse crop production under water-saving irrigation strategies constitutes a key pathway for the development of protected agriculture. Our study takes muskmelon and tomato with drip irrigation in greenhouses as an example and establishes [...] Read more.
How to achieve the goal of water–carbon synergistic optimization in greenhouse crop production under water-saving irrigation strategies constitutes a key pathway for the development of protected agriculture. Our study takes muskmelon and tomato with drip irrigation in greenhouses as an example and establishes different irrigation levels based on cumulative surface evaporation (Ep) from a 20 cm pan. Here, four irrigation amounts (0.6 Ep, 0.8 Ep, 1.0 Ep, and 1.2 Ep) were set for muskmelon, and three irrigation amounts (0.5 Ep, 0.7 Ep, and 0.9 Ep) were set for tomato, and then a two-year fixed-site field experiment was conducted. The growth rates of both crops were significantly higher under full-water-supply treatments (M1.0 and M1.2 for muskmelon, T0.9 for tomato) than under water-deficient treatments (M0.8 and M0.6 for muskmelon, T0.5 for tomato) (p < 0.05) at the flowering stage, while the opposite was true at the harvesting stage. More than 85% of root systems were distributed in the soil layer, ranging from 0 to 40 cm, and the average RLD under M1.0 and T0.9 was significantly higher than that under other treatments by 14.3%~27.6% (p < 0.05). Muskmelon yields at 1.0 Ep were 22.9%~45.7% higher than those at 0.6 Ep and 0.8 Ep, while tomato yields peaked at 0.9 Ep and were 17.0%~19.4% higher than those under the other two treatments. Daily average soil CO2 emission fluxes of muskmelon under M1.2 were 9.2%~32.2% higher than those of other treatments respectively, and that of tomato under T0.9 was more than 20% higher than under T0.7 and T0.5 treatments, respectively. The WHCNS-Veg model demonstrated excellent performance in simulating SWC, LAI, and soil CO2 emission fluxes. The RMSE for SWC simulation ranged from 0.013 to 0.022 cm3·cm−3, for LAI simulation, it varied from 0.103 to 0.210 cm2·cm−2, and for soil CO2 emission flux simulation, it changed from 1.057 to 2.188 kg·hm−2. It should be noted that the performance was higher under high irrigation levels than under water deficit levels. These results can provide a scientific basis for optimizing greenhouse irrigation schedules and regulating water–carbon synergy under different water resource conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Irrigation in Horticultural Production)
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20 pages, 2369 KB  
Article
Optimizing Irrigation Strategies in Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) for Enhanced Productivity and Essential Oil Yield
by Jefferson dos Santos Martins, Joaquim Alves De Lima Junior, Oriel Filgueira de Lemos, Maryjane Diniz de Araújo Gomes, Helane Cristina Aguiar Santos, Marcos Augusto de Souza Gonçalves, Arthur Nardi Campalle, Heytor Lemos Martins and Mariana Casari Parreira
Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010113 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1576
Abstract
Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is an important crop in Pará, Brazil; however, irrigation management remains one of the main constraints to achieving stable productivity and high essential oil yield. By determining soil water tension for rational irrigation management that ensures high [...] Read more.
Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is an important crop in Pará, Brazil; however, irrigation management remains one of the main constraints to achieving stable productivity and high essential oil yield. By determining soil water tension for rational irrigation management that ensures high agronomic performance of black pepper, it is possible to optimize irrigation water use efficiency through monitoring critical soil moisture with the aid of tensiometers. This study evaluated yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and essential oil yield of two black pepper genotypes under five soil water tensions (15–55 kPa) using a split-plot experimental design. The Uthirankotta genotype showed higher yield and WUE, reaching maximum values at 35 kPa, whereas the highest essential oil extraction yield occurred at 15 kPa. Positive correlations were observed between essential oil yield and the main productive traits. Therefore, cultivation of the Uthirankotta genotype under tensiometer-based irrigation management is recommended under the edaphoclimatic conditions of Pará, using a critical tension of 35 kPa as a reference to increase productivity and optimize irrigation water use efficiency, considering the differential genotype response to irrigation management under humid tropical conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Irrigation in Horticultural Production)
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