Search Results (212)

Modernizing irrigation systems (ISs) from traditional gravity methods to sprinkler and drip technologies has significantly improved water use efficiency. However, it has simultaneously increased electricity demand and operational costs. Integrating photovoltaic generators into ISs represents a promising solution, as solar energy availability typically aligns with peak irrigation periods. Despite this potential, photovoltaic pumping systems (PVPSs) often face reliability issues due to fluctuations in solar irradiance, resulting in frequent start/stop cycles and premature equipment wear. The IEC 62253 standard establishes procedures for evaluating PVPS performance but primarily addresses steady-state conditions, neglecting transient regimes. As the main contribution, the current paper proposes a non-intrusive, high-resolution monitoring system and a methodology to assess the performance of an isolated, high-power PVPS, considering also transient regimes. The system records critical electrical, hydraulic and environmental parameters every second, enabling in-depth analysis under various weather conditions. Two performance indicators, pumped volume efficiency and equivalent operating time, were used to evaluate the system’s performance. The results indicate that near-optimal performance is only achievable under clear sky conditions. Under the appearance of clouds, control strategies designed to protect the system reduce overall efficiency. The proposed methodology enables detailed performance diagnostics and supports the development of more robust PVPSs. Full article

To address freshwater scarcity and the underutilization of low-saline water in the North China Plain, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of alternating sprinkler irrigation using saline and fresh water on soil water–salt dynamics and corn growth. Two salinity levels (3 and 5 g·L⁻¹, representing S1 and S2, respectively) and three irrigation strategies—saline–fresh–saline–fresh (F1), saline–fresh (F2), and mixed saline–fresh (F3)—were tested, resulting in six treatments: S1F1, S1F2, S1F3, S2F1, S2F2, and S2F3. S1F1 significantly improved soil water retention at a 30–50 cm depth and reduced surface electrical conductivity (EC) and Na⁺ concentration (p < 0.05). S1F1 also promoted more uniform Mg²⁺ distribution and limited Ca²⁺ loss. Under high salinity (5 g·L⁻¹), surface salt accumulation and ion concentration (Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) increased, particularly in S2F3. Corn growth under alternating irrigation (F1/F2) outperformed the mixed mode (F3), with S1F1 achieving the highest plant height, leaf area, grain number, and 100-grain weight. The S1F1 yield surpassed others by 0.4–3.0% and maintained a better ion balance. These results suggest that alternating irrigation with low-salinity water (S1F1) effectively regulates root-zone salinity and improves crop productivity, offering a practical strategy for the sustainable use of low-saline water resources. Full article

Intensive irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions can cause significant environmental issues, including salinity, waterlogging, and water quality deterioration. Watershed modeling helps us understand essential water balance components in these areas. This study implemented a modified SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model tailored to capture irrigation practices within a 15,900 km² area of the Arkansas River Basin from 1990 to 2014. The model analyzed key water balance elements: surface runoff, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, lateral flow, and groundwater return flow, distinguishing between wet and dry years. Over 90% of precipitation is consumed by evapotranspiration. The average watershed water yield comprises 19% surface runoff, 39% groundwater return flow, and 42% lateral flow. Various irrigation scenarios were simulated, revealing that transitioning from flood to sprinkler irrigation reduced surface runoff by over 90% without affecting crop water availability in the intensively irrigated region of the watershed. Canal sealing scenarios showed substantial groundwater return flow reductions: approximately 15% with 20% sealing and around 57% with 80% sealing. Scenario-based analyses like these provide valuable insights for optimizing water resource management in intensively irrigated watersheds. Full article

In this study, a self-propelled hard hose traveler is developed as a modification of the conventional design. The traveler demonstrated enhanced field applicability and intelligence level in Europe and central–eastern China. A parametric configuration scheme was attained through the irrigator’s computational modeling and experimental validation. This study proposed a uniform water distribution calculation model for single-sprinkler linear-move irrigation. The deviation rate between calculated and experimental values was 7.3%. The average application depth decreased with increased sprinkler motion speed and path spacing. The uniformity of water distribution (CU value) exhibited an oscillating trend as the path spacing changed. As the sprinkler rotation angle increased along a specific path, the CU value first rose from 69.2% to 80.0% and then declined to 68.7%. When irrigation and sprinkler motions were combined, the CU value at 1.5 R initially decreased from 92.1% to 72.9%, then increased to 84.2% as the sprinkler rotation angle increased. The combined sprinkler and irrigation motions showed a significantly better uniformity than the specific path irrigation. The highest CU value was 95.0%, with a nozzle diameter of 16.0 × 6.0 mm, a sprinkler rotation angle of 180°, and a path spacing of 1.6 R. This study introduces a novel approach for water-saving irrigation equipment and offers practical guidance for farmers on operating the self-propelled hard hose traveler. Full article

This manuscript addresses the issue of irrigation water management with high efficiency and effectiveness and focuses on systems associated with significant water losses, which is sprinkler irrigation. This article presents mathematical modeling that enables the application of precision irrigation using a gun sprinkler robot. The sprinkler robot was fabricated in the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources workshop at As-wan University. The experiments were conducted using 12, 14, and 16 mm nozzle sizes and three gun heights, 1.25, 1.5, and 2 m, at three forward speeds, 25, 50, and 75 m/h. The results revealed that at nozzle 12, the actual wetted diameter would be less than the theoretical diameter by a percentage of 2–5%, while at nozzle 14, it ranged from 2 to 7%, but at nozzle 16, it increased from 6 to 9%. The values of evaporation and wind drift losses were always less than 2.8 mm. The highest efficiency was achieved at the lowest forward speed (25 m/h) and using a 1.5 m gun height. The highest water application efficiency was 81.8, 82.5, and 81.1% using nozzle 12, nozzle 14, and nozzle 16, respectively. Precise irrigation control using sensor and variable rate technology will be the preferred option in the future. Full article

Cylindrospermopsin is an emerging cyanotoxin that can lead to phytotoxicity through different mechanisms. The presence of CYN in irrigation waters is of concern due to potential accumulation in plants, increasing the risk of human exposure by the consumption of vegetables. In this case, it is proposed to evaluate the effects of CYN on a crop considered staple food in Colombia, such as Solanum tuberosum, group Phureja var Criolla Colombia, known as “yellow potato”. This work evaluates for the first time the effects of CYN in potato plants exposed to this toxin using two different irrigation systems, surface and sprinkler irrigation. The parameters evaluated were CYN bioaccumulation and biotransformation in different parts of the potato plants irrigated with water containing CYN at environmentally relevant concentrations (84.65, 33.80, 3.05 and 3.05 µg/L after first, second, and third to fourth applications, respectively) and changes in nutritional mineral content in tubers. For this purpose, the concentrations of CYN and its potential metabolites in leaves, stem, roots, and tubbers of the plants exposed to the toxin were determined by Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography–MS/MS (UHPLC-MS/MS). Mineral content was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). CYN bioaccumulation was detected only in aerial parts of plants with sprinkler irrigation. A total of 57 CYN metabolites were found, and the main differences obtained in CYN biotransformation are linked to tissues and exposure conditions. There are significant differences in levels of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in tubers depending on CYN treatment, with higher contents after surface irrigation, and lower content with sprinkler application. These results demonstrate that the exposure conditions are an important factor for the potential presence and effects of CYN in potato plants. Full article

Sprinkler system performance enhancement has been a key area of research due to concerns about water shortages and rising energy costs. This study evaluated the hydraulic performance of the newly designed Spiral Fluidic Sprinkler (SFS) with various nozzles under different operating pressures. MATLAB R2020b software was used to simulate sprinkler uniformities under various operating pressures and the droplet diameter, velocity, and kinetic energy were measured using a 2DVD video raindrop spectrometer. The results showed that larger nozzle sizes generally improved application uniformity and efficiency. The 4 mm nozzle at 200 kPa achieved the lowest coefficient of variation (CV) at 6.2%, while the 3 mm nozzle showed a higher CV of 10.4%. Under 200 and 250 kPa of pressure, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between the CVs for the 4 mm nozzle. Droplet size distributions revealed that over 90% of droplets produced by the 4 mm nozzle were under 3 mm in diameter across all pressures. Kinetic energy analysis indicated that droplet momentum increased with pressure, enhancing coverage but potentially increasing drift at higher levels. Overall, the SFS demonstrated strong potential for water conservation and improved irrigation efficiency in controlled agricultural environments. Full article

Frost poses a significant threat to agricultural production, leading to reduced crop yields and deterioration in quality. This review systematically provides an overview of the types and causes of plant frost, and delves into the principles, research progress, and application status of three key active frost protection (FP) technologies: air disturbance, sprinkler irrigation, and heating. It also scrutinizes the challenges faced by current FP equipment, such as high costs, complex maintenance, and noise pollution. Air disturbance technology utilizes fans to mix upper and lower air layers, increasing the canopy temperature, with research focusing on fan optimization and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) application. Sprinkler irrigation technology releases latent heat through water freezing, with research centering on water saving and automation. Heating technology directly supplies heat, with attention on heat source optimization and mobile heating strategies. Finally, this review outlines the development trends of plant FP equipment and technologies, highlighting the promising application prospects of agricultural UAVs in FP, which can have multi-purpose use and effectively reduce costs. Full article

The agricultural sector faces growing environmental and societal pressures to balance natural resource use with food security, particularly within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus (WEFE). Increasing water demand, competition, and challenges like droughts and desertification are driving the need for innovative irrigation practices. Pressurized irrigation systems, such as sprinkler and micro-irrigation, are gaining prominence due to their automation, labor savings, and increased water application efficiency. To support farmers in designing and managing these systems, the R&D project AGIR developed a computational tool that simulates water application efficiency under site-specific conditions. The tool integrates key parameters, including system design, scheduling, soil properties, topography, meteorological data, and vegetation cover, providing a robust methodological framework with classification criteria for evaluating irrigation options. Validated using data from six case studies, the tool achieved simulated irrigation efficiencies of 73% to 90%, which are consistent with field observations. By simplifying complex irrigation requirement calculations, the model offers a user-friendly alternative while maintaining accuracy at the farm level. This innovative tool enables stakeholders to optimize irrigation systems, reduce water losses, and establish standardized recommendations for design, management, performance, and socio-economic considerations. It represents a significant step forward in supporting sustainable water management and advancing the goals of Agriculture 4.0. Full article

Over the past years, we experienced more extreme weather conditions during the growing season, April till October, with prolonged droughts. Rain-fed production of high-quality forest trees was possible, but recent droughts proved to have an economic impact on the plant quality. Therefore, the hardy nursery sector demands irrigation thresholds and suitable tools including soil and plant sensors to schedule irrigation based on crop water demand. Two trials were conducted with Acer pseudoplatanus liners (1 + 0) grown in a sandy soil in 2022 and 2023 at Viaverda (Destelbergen, Belgium). A rain-fed treatment was compared with a sprinkler irrigation treatment in both trials. Irrigation doses were evaluated with a soil water balance model, which is based on reference crop evapotranspiration (ET₀), rainfall, and soil hydraulic properties. The soil water balance model was calibrated based on the measurements of soil sensors and soil samples. Simultaneously, stem water potential at solar noon, tree length, and growth were measured. The irrigation treatment had a positive effect on the stem water potential of Acer in both trials with a less negative value, ±0.7 MPa, compared to the rain-fed treatment. Irrigation increased growth with 28.4% in 2022 and 5.8% in 2023 compared to the rain-fed treatment, resulting in trees of higher commercial quality that could even be classified into a superior grading range in 2022. Full article

The spraying time of nitrogen fertilizer is a key factor to consider when fertilizing with an intelligent micro-sprinkler irrigation system. This study aims to investigate the impact of nitrogen fertilizer spraying time on the seed oil quality of tree peony, with the expectation of providing theoretical support for the application of intelligent micro-sprinkler irrigation systems in the production of tree peony. In 2022 and 2023, foliar nitrogen application was conducted on Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ utilizing an intelligent micro-spray irrigation system, with four distinct nitrogen fertilizer spraying times (3:00–4:00, 7:00–8:00, 14:00–15:00, and 19:00–20:00). Based on this, the study assessed nitrogen metabolism indicators in leaves and seeds at various growth stages and the fatty acid composition of seed oil in Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’. The results revealed that foliar nitrogen application between 14:00 and 15:00 significantly enhanced the levels of free amino acids (FAA), nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity in both leaves and seeds. Furthermore, the ratio of α-linolenic acid in the seed oil was significantly increased. Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive or highly significant positive correlation between the levels of nitrogen metabolism indicators and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, foliar nitrogen application between 14:00 and 15:00 significantly enhances the FAA content and the activity of nitrogen metabolism enzymes within the leaves and seeds and promotes the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in seed oil. This study contributes to the efficient and high-quality cultivation of tree peony. Full article

A syndrome called “Kiwifruit Decline Syndrome” (KiDS) affects kiwifruit in several Mediterranean areas, causing growth arrest and wilt that rapidly progress to desiccation, scarce root growth, absence of fibrous roots, brown soft-rotting areas, and cortical detachment from the central cylinder. The origin is considered multifactorial, and a correlation with hydraulic conductance impairment caused by a high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature was detected. In this work, over-tree micro-sprinkler irrigation and shading nets were tested to protect leaves from overheating and locally decrease VPD. Leaf gas exchanges, leaf temperature, stem water potential, stem growth, root starch content, root xylem vessel diameter, density, and vulnerability to cavitation were assessed. A positive effect of over-tree irrigation associated with shading was observed: lower leaf temperature, higher stem water potential, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis were detected; moreover, root starch content was higher in the summer. Narrow xylem vessel diameters were observed, indicating a long-term adaptation to rising VPD for lower vulnerability to cavitation, in all plants, but higher diameter, lower density, and higher vulnerability index indicated lower plant water stress under over-tree irrigation associated with shading. These results indicate that microclimate control by proper agronomic management can protect kiwifruit from climate stress, decreasing the risk of KiDS onset. Full article

The spatial and temporal distribution of water and nitrogen supply affects soil-borne nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. In this study, the effects of different irrigation technologies (no irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation) and nitrogen (N) application types (no fertilizer, broadcasted and within irrigation water) on N₂O flux rates and the quantities of functional genes involved in the N cycle in potato cropping were investigated over an entire season. The volume of irrigation water affected microbial N₂O production, with the highest N₂O flux rates found under sprinkler irrigation conditions, followed by drip and no irrigation. Nitrifier denitrification was identified as the potential pre-dominant pathway stimulated by fluctuations in aerobic-anaerobic soil conditions, especially under sprinkler irrigation. Regarding the different N application types, increased N use efficiency under fertigation was expected. However, N₂O flux rates were not significantly reduced compared to broadcasted N application under drip irrigation. On average, the N₂O fluxes were higher during the first half of the season, which was accompanied by a low N use efficiency of the potato crops. Potato crops mainly require N at later growth stages. Due to the different water and nutrient demand of potatoes, an adjusted application of fertilizer and water based on crop demand could reduce N₂O emissions. Full article

Improvements in irrigation water productivity constitute an ongoing effort globally. In California, growers are under regulatory pressure to stabilize groundwater levels and reduce nitrate leaching, partially, by further improvements in irrigation optimization. Evapotranspiration (ET)-based methods can inform crop water requirements and boost irrigation efficiency, but in practice, they can be challenging for farmers to implement, especially in vegetable systems. Irrigation field trials were conducted near Salinas CA in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the crop coefficient model employed by the CropManage ET-based irrigation decision support system (DSS) for summer cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis cv. Symphony) and investigate potential water savings through improved irrigation scheduling. Overhead sprinklers were used for crop establishment, and surface drip was used subsequently. A randomized complete block design was used to administer treatments near 50, 75, 100, and 150% of crop evapotranspiration (ET) during the drip period with an added treatment at 125% in 2019. Water requirement for the 100% treatment was determined by the CropManage DSS model based on crop coefficients derived from fractional canopy cover. Deliveries to remaining treatments were scaled proportionally. The total yield and irrigation productivity were maximized by the 100% treatment both years with total applied water ranging from 275 to 300 mm. At present, the reported water application for summer cauliflower averages 465 mm in the region. Hence, implementing ET-based irrigation scheduling, administered through the CropManage DSS, could reduce water use in summer cauliflower by an average of 30% relative to current practices and serve to enhance groundwater management while maintaining crop returns. Full article

The increasing global reliance on water resources has necessitated improvements in turfgrass irrigation efficiency. This study aimed to compare measured field data with predicted data on irrigation water distribution in turfgrass rootzones to verify and enhance the accuracy of the HYDRUS-2D simulation model. Data were collected under controlled greenhouse conditions across unvegetated plots with two- and three-layered rootzone construction methods, each receiving 10 mm of water (intensity of 10 mm h⁻¹) via subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) or a sprinkler (SPR). The water content was monitored at various depths and time intervals. The hydraulic soil parameters required for the simulation model were determined through laboratory analysis. The HYDRUS-2D model was used for testing the sensitivity of various soil hydraulic parameters and subsequently for model calibration. Sensitivity analysis revealed that soil hydraulic property shape factor (n) was most sensitive, followed by factor θ_s^w (water content at saturation for the wetting water retention curve). The model calibration based on shape factors n and α_w either in Layer 1 for SPR variants or in both upper layers for SDI variants yielded the highest improvement in model efficiency values (NSEs). The calibrated models exhibited good overall performance, achieving NSEs up to 0.81 for the SDI variants and 0.75 for the SPR variants. The results of the irrigation management evaluation showed that, under SPR, dividing the irrigation amount of 10 mm into multiple smaller applications resulted in a higher soil storage of irrigation water (SOIL_S) and lower drainage flux (DFLU) compared to single large applications. Furthermore, the model data under the hybrid irrigation approach (HYBRID-IA) utilizing SPR and SDI indicated, after 48 h of observation, the following order in SOIL_S (mm of water storage in the topmost 50 cm of soil): HYBRID-IA3 (3.61 mm) > SDI-IA4 (2.53 mm) > SPR-IA3 (0.38 mm). HYDRUS-2D shows promise as an effective tool for optimizing irrigation management in turfgrass rootzones, although further refinement may be necessary for specific rootzone/irrigation combinations. This modeling approach has the potential to optimize irrigation management, improving water-use efficiency, sustainability, and ecosystem services in urban turfgrass management. Full article