Search Results (221)

Amid global freshwater scarcity and soil salinization, brackish irrigation is a potential alternative, yet its effects under low-leaching soilless systems remain unclear. We tested brackish irrigation (30 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl; EC ≈ 4.8 dS m⁻¹, including fertilizer) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in peat–perlite substrates with non-saline (CK), mildly saline (M), and moderately–severely saline (S) initial salinity. Substrate moisture and bulk electrical conductivity (EC_b) were monitored at upper, middle, and deep layers with multi-depth sensors; lettuce physiological and growth traits were measured. Under negligible drainage, salt moved downward promptly after irrigation in CK, accumulated at the surface in M, and remained high with spatiotemporal variability in S. Brackish irrigation had minimal effects on biomass and water use efficiency in CK and M, but significantly reduced both in S. These findings support tailoring brackish irrigation to initial salinity severity and motivate future work to measure drainage and calibrate EC indices to establish operational thresholds. Full article

Rice is a vital staple food crop worldwide and also one of the major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, generating substantial methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). As one of the key management practices for rice production, the GHG mitigation potential of water management has attracted extensive attention, whereas its global scalability remains to be further investigated. Based on 15,458 global observations of field experimental data, we employed advanced machine learning methods to quantify the GHGs and soil carbon sequestration of global rice systems around 2020. Furthermore, we identified the optimal spatial distribution of GHG mitigation for five rice water management practices (continuous flooding (CF), flooding–midseason drainage–reflooding (FDF), alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD), flooding–midseason drainage–intermittent irrigation (FDI), and rainfed cultivation (RF)) through scenario simulation, under the premise of no yield reduction. The results of machine learning simulation showed that optimizing water management could reduce global rice greenhouse gas emissions by 39.17%, equivalent to 340.46 Mt CO₂ eq, while increasing rice yields by 3.55%. This study provides valuable insights for the optimization of agricultural infrastructure and the realization of agricultural sustainable development. Full article

Agricultural production remains highly susceptible to water-related risks, such as drought and flooding. Although hydrologic forecasting systems, such as the National Water Model (NWM), have advanced considerably, their outputs are rarely used for real-time agricultural decision-making. This study developed the Agricultural Water Risk Indicator (AWRI), a framework that translates NWM streamflow forecasts into crop-specific risk assessment indicators. The AWRI framework has three key components: (1) the hydrological threat and exposure characterization based on NWM streamflow forecasts (B1); (2) crop sensitivity by growth stage and water needs (B2); and (3) adaptive capacity reflecting the presence of irrigation or drainage infrastructure (B3). The AWRI was evaluated across three NWM reach IDs covering five farm sites in the Black Belt region of Alabama, USA. The results show that the AWRI captured variations in hydrologic conditions, risk, and crop tolerance across the research sites within the one- to four-week forecast range. Crops in the reproductive stage were especially sensitive. Without resilience measures, up to 55% of the crops simulated at some sites had high-risk AWRI categories. Including irrigation or drainage decreased risk scores by one to two levels. The AWRI tool provides farmers and stakeholders with critical information to support proactive agricultural water management. Full article

This paper develops a mathematically grounded neuro-fuzzy control framework for IoT-enabled irrigation systems in precision agriculture. A discrete-time, physically motivated model of soil moisture is formulated to capture the nonlinear water dynamics driven by evapotranspiration, irrigation, and drainage in the crop root zone. A Mamdani-type fuzzy controller is designed to approximate the optimal irrigation strategy, and an equivalent Takagi–Sugeno (TS) representation is derived, enabling a rigorous stability analysis based on Input-to-State Stability (ISS) theory and Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). Online parameter estimation is performed using a Recursive Least Squares (RLS) algorithm applied to real IoT field data collected from a drip-irrigated orchard. To enhance prediction accuracy and long-term adaptability, the fuzzy controller is augmented with lightweight artificial neural network (ANN) modules for evapotranspiration estimation and slow adaptation of membership-function parameters. This work provides one of the first mathematically certified neuro-fuzzy irrigation controllers integrating ANN-based estimation with Input-to-State Stability (ISS) and LMI-based stability guarantees. Under mild Lipschitz continuity and boundedness assumptions, the resulting neuro-fuzzy closed-loop system is proven to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Experimental validation in an operational IoT setup demonstrates accurate soil-moisture regulation, with a tracking error below 2%, and approximately 28% reduction in water consumption compared to fixed-schedule irrigation. The proposed framework is validated on a real IoT deployment and positioned relative to existing intelligent irrigation approaches. Full article

On a planet intending to move toward carbon neutrality while ensuring food security, maximizing water and nutrient use efficiency in agriculture is essential. Soilless cultivation offers a promising solution for food production, yet in substrate-based systems, excess nutrient solution (drainage) is often discarded to maintain phytosanitary safety, resulting in considerable water and nutrient waste. Reusing this drainage requires disinfection to eliminate pathogens. Among available methods, slow sand filtration (SSF) is ecological, economical, and simple, showing strong biological control potential, though not always fully effective against Fusarium oxysporum. Trichoderma atroviride, an antagonistic fungus, may enhance SSF performance. Its antagonistic capacity was evaluated in vitro via direct confrontation assays and in vivo using a closed-loop soilless cucumber cultivation system with eight treatment combinations of SSF, T. atroviride, and F. oxysporum. SSF reduced F. oxysporum incidence by approximately 48%, T. atroviride in irrigation by 44%, and SSF enriched with T. atroviride reached 58% disease incidence reduction, though this increase was not statistically significant. These results confirm that both SSF and T. atroviride can partially suppress F. oxysporum, but further optimization is needed for consistent and complete pathogen control. Full article

Ensuring the safe, efficient, and economically viable operation of irrigation and drainage infrastructures is essential for long-term system resilience. This field-based study presents a comparative evaluation of the semi-quantitative William T. Fine (WF) method and a simplified probability–consequence (SM) approach applied in the Lis Valley Irrigation and Drainage Association (Leiria, Portugal). Monthly on-site observations of routine maintenance and conservation activities were conducted between January 2023 and December 2024, covering eight main operation types and resulting in 87 distinct occupational risk scenarios (N = 87). The mean Hazard Risk Score (HRS) was 88.9 ± 51.1, corresponding predominantly to “Substantial” risk levels according to the William T. Fine classification (HRS = 70–200). Both methods consistently identified the highest-risk activities—tractor rollover, work at height, and boat-based removal of aquatic plants. Quantitative differences emerged for medium and chronic hazards; WF produced a wider dispersion of risk scores across tasks, while the SM aggregated most hazards into a limited number of intervention classes (74% classified as Intervention Level II and 26% as Level III). These differences reflect complementary methodological limitations; WF requires greater data input and expert judgment but offers finer prioritization, whereas SM enables rapid field application but tends to group ergonomic and low-intensity hazards when consequences are not immediately observable. Based on these findings, a combined assessment framework is proposed, integrating the discriminative capacity of WF with the operational simplicity of SM. Recommended mitigation measures include targeted personal protective equipment, task rotation, focused training, and technology-assisted monitoring to reduce worker exposure. The methodology is readily replicable for Water Users’ Associations with similar operational contexts and supports evidence-based decision-making for sustainable irrigation management. From a sustainability perspective, this integrated risk assessment framework supports safer working conditions, more efficient maintenance planning, and informed policy decisions for the long-term management of irrigation and drainage infrastructures. Full article

In the context of global climate change and intensified water resource constraints, studying the evolution of the urban–agricultural–ecological spatial structure and the water–heat–vegetation responses driven by large-scale irrigation and drainage projects in arid and semi-arid regions is of great significance. Based on multitemporal remote sensing data from 1985 to 2015, this study takes the Inner Mongolia Hetao Plain as the research area, constructs a “multifunctionality–dynamic evolution” dual-principle classification system for urban–agricultural–ecological space, and adopts the technical process of “separate interpretation of each single land type using the maximum likelihood algorithm followed by merging with conflict pixel resolution” to improve the classification accuracy to 90.82%. Through a land use transfer matrix, a standard deviation ellipse model, surface temperature (LST) inversion, and vegetation fractional coverage (VFC) analysis, this study systematically reveals the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of spatial structure evolution and surface parameter responses throughout the project’s life cycle. The results show the following: (1) The spatial structure follows the path of “short-term intense disturbance–long-term stable optimization”, with agricultural space stability increasing by 4.8%, the ecological core area retention rate exceeding 90%, and urban space expanding with a shift from external encroachment to internal filling, realizing “stable grain yield with unchanged cultivated land area and improved ecological quality with controlled green space loss”. (2) The overall VFC shows a trend of “central area stable increase (annual growth rate 0.8%), eastern area fluctuating recovery (cyclic amplitude ±12%), and western area local improvement (key patches increased by 18%)”. (3) The LST-VFC relationship presents spatiotemporal misalignment, with a 0.8–1.2 °C anomalous cooling in the central region during the construction period (despite a 15% VFC decrease), driven by irrigation water thermal inertia, and a disrupted linear correlation after completion due to crop phenology changes and plastic film mulching. (4) Irrigation and drainage projects optimize water resource allocation, constructing a hub regulation model integrated with the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus, providing a replicable paradigm for ecological effect assessment of major water conservancy projects in arid regions. Full article

Alfalfa cultivation is an effective way to achieve soil improvement while utilizing saline soils. Irrigation and drainage, as physical measures to leach salts, can effectively reduce the soil salt content, while application of organic fertilizer fermented with an effective microorganism (EM) may further enhance the improvement effect of saline–alkaline soil by improving soil fertility and microbial community structure. However, there is still a lack of systematic assessment on the effects of applying these three measures on the saline soil–plant system. In this study, we used alfalfa as the plant material and set three water depths of 8 mm (IR1), 16 mm (IR2), and 24 mm (IR3) under the condition of irrigating every 10 days with remote-controlled timed and quantitative irrigation, which is the most acceptable to farmers in the era of smart agriculture. EM organic fertilizer dosage was designed as 0 kg/ha (CK), 1500 kg/ha (OF1), 3000 kg/ha (OF2), 4500 kg/ha (OF3), and 6000 kg/ha (OF4). The multiple-crop alfalfa yield, quality (crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF)), and soil electrical conductivity (EC) were observed. The results showed that after the application of EM organic fertilizer, the soil’s EC value of fertilized treatments was higher than that of CK, but this difference became smaller with the prolongation of alfalfa’s growing period, implying that EM organic fertilizer could absorb more soil salts by promoting alfalfa’s growth; the water depth was obviously negatively correlated with the soil’s EC value, demonstrating that the increase in the water depth had a stronger ability to reduce the soil salts. By the end of the experiment, the soil’s EC values were reduced by 21.4–43.7% for the treatments. The alfalfa yield was significantly increased by EM organic fertilizer application, and the three alfalfa yields were increased by 63.3–69.1%, 65.4–83.6%, and 52.6–56.2%, respectively, when fertilizer application was elevated from CK to OF4. The highest alfalfa yields were all found at IR2OF4, reaching 1164.7, 2637.3 and 2519.7 t/ha, corresponding to the first, second, and third alfalfa crops, respectively. The analysis of alfalfa quality indexes revealed that higher CP values were found in the IR2 treatments, and increasing fertilizer application from OF1–OF4 resulted in an increase in CP values by 2.4–9.1%, 1.5–7.4%, and 0.8–6.7% for the three alfalfa crops. Relatively low NDF and ADF values were observed for alfalfa under IR2 conditions; however, the application of EM organic fertilizer reduced the NDF and ADF values within a certain range. According to the results of the entropy weight evaluation model, IR3OF4, IR3OF2, and IR3OF3 were the top three treatments with the best overall benefits, respectively, with relative closeness values of 0.71, 0.70, and 0.68, in that order, which suggests that the appropriate water depth is 24 mm, while the appropriate EM organic fertilizer dosage is in the range of 3000–6000 kg/ha. There was a pattern observed in our study, in which the treatments with better overall benefits were better distributed at high water depths, which emphasizes the critical role of the irrigation volume in ameliorating saline soils. The conclusions of the study are intended to provide a practical basis for the comprehensive utilization and sustainable development of saline soils. Full article

In the Hetao Irrigation District of China, land consolidation to expand cultivated areas has disrupted the regional water–salt balance, increasing soil salinization risks. This study investigates the spatial optimization of cultivated land and salt-accumulating wasteland, using the SahysMod model to simulate soil water–salt dynamics and develop multi-scenario plans. The objective is to identify optimal strategies for regulating the dry drainage system and controlling salt accumulation by optimizing three key parameters: cultivated land-to-wasteland area ratio, elevation difference between cultivated land and wasteland, and spatial layout schemes. The results show that the SahysMod model accurately simulates soil water–salt interactions. Under the current scenario, the root zone ECe of cultivated land is projected to reach 6.16 dS·m⁻¹ by 2030, surpassing the salt tolerance threshold for sunflowers and threatening crop yield. The optimized scenario, which reduces the cultivated land-to-wasteland ratio from 14.41 to 12.97, increases wasteland area to 22.01 hm² and raises the elevation difference from 20 cm to 40 cm, significantly improving salt accumulation efficiency. By 2030, the ECe in the root zone decreases to 5.37 dS·m⁻¹, bringing soil conditions within the tolerance range for major crops in the region. Between 2021 and 2025, salt accumulation in cultivated land decreases dramatically from 19.08% to 5.60% under the optimized scenario, demonstrating effective early-stage salt control. However, from 2026 to 2030, the annual salt accumulation rate stabilizes at 24.88% (optimized) versus 25.20% (current), with a difference of only 0.32%. This finding reveals that while spatial optimization effectively mitigates short-term salt buildup, it has limited efficacy in preventing long-term salt accumulation. Spatial simulations suggest that a northern concentrated and southern patchwork wasteland layout enhances salt-accumulating capacity. These results demonstrate that spatial optimization of cultivated land and wasteland configuration alone is insufficient to fundamentally resolve soil salinization. Therefore, comprehensive measures, including drainage system improvements, soil amendments, and refined irrigation management, are necessary for sustainable salt management in arid irrigation regions. Full article

The Yellow River Diversion Irrigation District is a critical area for food security within the river basin; however, a significant contradiction exists between water supply and demand. The lag process of irrigation return flow is crucial for effective water resource management, yet this aspect has been overlooked in existing studies. This research focuses on the east-ern part of the Jingdian Irrigation District, where data related to agricultural hydrology was collected through monitoring efforts. The unit hydrograph method was introduced to construct a model, and numerical simulations were developed using Hydrus-2D to investigate the lag characteristics of irrigation return flow. The findings indicate that the lag time of return flow in response to precipitation and irrigation in the Hongbiliang Basin ranges from 0 to 2.3 months, while in the Nanshahe Basin, it spans from 0 to 5 months. The unit hydrograph model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with a coefficient of determination (R²) exceeding 0.72 and a mean relative error (MRE) below 11.6% in both basins. The peak lag times recorded were 60 days and 110 days, respectively. The formation of return flow occurs in three stages: soil water infiltration, groundwater recharge, and channel drainage. Additionally, the unit hydrograph exhibited a strong fitting effect on silt loam and other soil types, confirming the validity of the “proportion and superposition” principle. This study contributes to the optimization of the water cycle model and the establishment of a comprehensive system within the irrigation district, thereby aiding in alleviating the pressure on water resources. Full article

This study evaluates groundwater quality dynamics in the Harran Plain (∼1500 km²), a key agricultural zone within Türkiye’s Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Satellite images from Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS were used to assess land-use changes over the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, with the GIS employed for classification and analysis. In this study, groundwater samples collected from twenty different locations in 2005, 2015 and 2025 were analyzed. For each sample, pH, EC, and various ion concentrations (Na, K, Cl, SO₄, NO₃, Ca, Mg, HCO₃) were measured. All analyses were performed using standard hydrogeochemical methods. Data from 20 wells (2005–2015) revealed significant reductions in EC (8235 to 2510 µS/cm) and NO₃⁻ (720 to 327 mg/L), due to drainage systems, improved irrigation, and fertilizer management. Nonetheless, localized pollution persisted. Land-use shifts toward high-value crops improved water efficiency, while urban and industrial expansion introduced new pressures. Results emphasize integrated water–land policies for sustainable groundwater management in arid agroecosystems. Full article

The wisdom embedded within traditional human settlements offers profound insights for addressing contemporary ecological challenges. This study systematically investigates the spatial management strategies and ecological wisdom of ancient settlements in the Yiluo River Basin (Luoyang Section), a cradle of Chinese civilization. A mixed-methods approach combined with historical document analysis was utilized, and the results reveal how these settlements achieved harmonious coexistence between human activities and the natural environment over millennia. The research uncovers a sophisticated system of ecological wisdom, primarily manifested across four key dimensions: (1) Macro-Topography-Responsive Siting Strategy: Settlement locations adhered to the principle of “nestling against mountains and facing water,” utilizing natural barriers and resources to mitigate flood risks and optimize microclimates. (2) Context-Adaptive Spatial Layout: The internal layout of settlements was attuned to local topography, water systems, and wind corridors, enhancing living comfort and aesthetic appeal. (3) Gray–Green–Blue infrastructure Synergy: Ancient water management systems were integrated with farmland and transportation routes, forming a synergistic network for irrigation, drainage, flood control, and transportation. (4) Culture–Nature Symbiosis: Cultural practices integrated human life cycles with natural landscapes, fostering regional identity and cultural sustainability. This study argues that the ecological wisdom of ancient Yiluo settlements—marked by its systematic and adaptive nature—provides a valuable historical paradigm for enhancing ecosystem services, building climate resilience, and achieving human–nature harmony in contemporary watershed management and urban–rural development. Full article

In the São Brás de Alportel municipality, water scarcity poses a significant constraint on agricultural activities. This study utilises Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GISs) to identify existing irrigated areas, delineate catchment basins, and select the most suitable sites for the installation of new surface water reservoirs. First, the principal territorial components were characterised, including physical elements (climate, geology, soils, and hydrography) and anthropogenic infrastructure (road network and high-voltage power lines). Summer Sentinel-2 satellite imagery was then analysed to calculate the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), enabling the identification and classification of irrigated agricultural parcels. Flow directions and accumulations derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) facilitated the characterisation of 38 micro-catchments and the extraction of 758 km of the drainage network. The siting criteria required a minimum setback of 100 m from roads and high-voltage lines, excluded farmland currently in use, and favoured mountainous areas with low permeability. Only 18.65% (2854 ha) of the municipality is agricultural land, of which just 4% (112 ha) currently benefits from irrigation. The NDVI-based classification achieved a Kappa coefficient of 0.88, indicating high reliability. Three sites demonstrated adequate storage capacity, with embankments measuring 8 m, 10 m, and 12 m in height. At one of these sites, two reservoirs arranged in a cascade were selected as an alternative to a single structure exceeding 12 m in height, thereby reducing environmental and landscape impact. The reservoirs fill between October and November in an average rainfall year and between October and January in a dry year, maintaining a positive annual water balance and allowing downstream plots to be irrigated by gravity. The methodology proved to be objective, replicable, and essential for the sustainable expansion of irrigation within the municipality. Full article

Background and Objectives: Lateral osteotomies in rhinoplasty run adjacent to the lacrimal drainage system (LDS), risking postoperative tearing. Piezoelectric (piezo) devices enable precise bone cuts that may reduce LDS trauma. We compared the 1-month incidence of objective lacrimal dysfunction after piezo versus classic osteotomy. Materials and Methods: Retrospective, single-center controlled cohort (1 January 2024–1 January 2025) at a tertiary ENT clinic. Consecutive patients aged 19–45 with pre-operative paranasal sinus CT and no prior lacrimal disorder were grouped by osteotomy technique (piezo vs. classic; n = 65 per arm). Assessments were performed at postoperative day 7–10 and at 1, 3, and 6–12 months. The primary endpoint was 1-month objective lacrimal dysfunction, defined as fluorescein dye disappearance test (FDDT) grade ≥1 or reflux/resistance on irrigation plus symptoms (Munk ≥2). Pre-specified statistical tests were used. Results: Early tearing favored piezo. At week 1, epiphora occurred in 32.3% with piezo versus 46.1% with classic (p = 0.041); by month 6, rates were 4.6% versus 15.1% (p = 0.031). Differences at months 1 and 3 also favored piezo but were not statistically significant (p = 0.062 and p = 0.088). FDDT positivity was lower with piezo at week 1 (23.0% vs. 38.4%, p = 0.045) and month 6 (3.0% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.048). Irrigation obstruction was less frequent with piezo at week 1 (7.6% vs. 21.5%, p = 0.026), but groups converged by months 1 (15.4% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.80) and 3 (6.2% vs. 4.6%, p > 0.99). Punctum stenosis/occlusion remained uncommon in both groups without significant differences. Conclusions: Piezo-assisted lateral osteotomy is associated with less early lacrimal dysfunction and lower 6-month epiphora compared with the classic technique. Convergence of irrigation findings by 1–3 months suggests postoperative edema as the dominant transient mechanism. Given the retrospective, single-center design and low event rates, multicenter prospective studies powered for early LDS outcomes are warranted. Full article

This study investigated the effects of different water management practices on the growth, yield, and grain quality of rice grown under environmentally friendly farming methods in Apgok-Ri, Gungnyu-Myeon, Uiryeong-Gun, from 2022 to 2024. Treatments included mid-season drainage for 2, 3, or 4 weeks (2MD, 3MD, 4MD), followed by either low-level water management (MD-1) or alternate wetting and drying (MD-2), with continuous flooding (CF) as the control. The rice variety was machine-transplanted on 9–10 June, and organic fertilizer (90 kg N/ha) was applied as a basal dressing. Water treatments were initiated in mid-July each year. The highest yield was consistently recorded in the 2MD-2 treatment, with 5.85, 5.74, and 5.38 tons/ha from 2022 to 2024, representing 15.0%, 14.5%, and 7.8% increases over CF, respectively. On average, alternate irrigation (MD-2) resulted in higher yields than low-level water management (MD-1) by 1.19–5.90%. Grain quality was also highest in 2MD-2, showing the greatest percentage of ripened grains each year, whereas CF had the highest proportion of immature and unripe grains. Crude protein content in brown rice was lowest in 3MD-2 (6.12%), followed by 2MD-2 (7.51%). Incidences of major diseases such as sheath blight, rice blast, panicle blight, and bacterial grain blight were highest in the CF treatment. Rice leaf blight was not significantly different in 2022, but was most prevalent in CF in 2023 and 2024. There were no major differences in brown planthopper and false smut incidence, although false smut peaked in CF in 2024. These findings suggest that 2-week mid-season drainage followed by alternate irrigation (2MD-2) is an effective strategy to improve yield, grain quality, and disease resistance in sustainable rice farming systems. Full article