The Role of Hydraulic Engineering in Sustainable Water Resource Management for Agriculture

Dear Colleagues,

Water scarcity and climate change are reshaping the global water–food balance, with agriculture—which is responsible for almost 70% of freshwater withdrawals—facing unprecedented challenges. Irrigation remains essential for food security, but conventional practices are increasingly unsustainable due to low efficiency and excessive water consumption. This Special Issue, ‘The Role of Hydraulic Engineering in Sustainable Water Resource Management for Agriculture’, will explore how innovations in hydraulic engineering, from field-scale interventions to basin-wide strategies, can contribute to sustainable and resilient agricultural futures.

The central focus is on the role hydraulic engineering has in improving irrigation efficiency, ensuring water security, and supporting sustainable intensification under climate variability. This includes technological advances such as innovative infrastructures and hydrodynamic modelling, as well as the rethinking of traditional practices through affordable upgrades. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses field-level innovations (e.g., precision surface irrigation, land preparation, strip subdivision, flow-control devices, and IoT-based monitoring) together with system-scale strategies such as irrigation channel network modernization, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, and managed aquifer recharge. Cross-cutting issues, including the socio-economic impacts of modernization, water governance, and the valuation of ecosystem services, are equally central. The purpose of this Special Issue is to gather contributions that demonstrate how targeted hydraulic solutions can define, measure, and operationalize sustainability in agriculture by quantifying water savings, reducing costs, and maintaining ecological balance. By highlighting the modernization of traditional systems, this Special Issue will supplement existing research and position hydraulic engineering as a bridge between conventional practices and high-tech precision irrigation. Contributions are expected to explore how hydraulic design and management strategies can be embedded into governance structures, transforming engineering solutions into actionable sustainability policies.

This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, and case studies addressing topics such as the following: precision surface irrigation, field geometry optimization, and flow-control devices; hydrodynamic modelling for irrigation assessment; IoT-based monitoring and decision-support tools for irrigation scheduling; water–energy–food nexus approaches; socio-economic analyses of modernization and adoption; policy frameworks fostering sustainable hydraulic practices; and the integration of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and cultural heritage into irrigation planning. By bridging engineering innovation with agronomy, hydrology, economics, and governance, this Special Issue will promote sustainable water management innovation. The collected contributions will provide scientific evidence and practical pathways to support the transition toward resilient, climate-smart irrigation systems.

Dr. Cosimo Peruzzi
Dr. Fabiola Gangi
Guest Editors

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• agricultural engineering
• irrigation
• sustainable water management
• hydraulic modelling
• hydraulic structures