Impact of Irrigation or Drainage on Soil Environment and Crop Growth

Dear Colleagues,

Water is a core element of soil ecosystems, and its dynamic changes directly affect soil physical structure, chemical properties, and microbial community activity, thereby regulating crop growth, development, yield, and quality formation. Unsuitable irrigation and drainage practices may lead to soil degradation, nutrient loss, salinization, waterlogging, or even increased greenhouse gas emissions, posing serious challenges to sustainable agricultural development. To explore the scientific mechanisms and technological optimization of agricultural water management, this Special Issue focuses on the theme of “Impact of Irrigation and Drainage on Soil Environment and Crop Growth", calling for original research articles and reviews. The aim is to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the efficient use and the ecological security of agricultural water resources worldwide.

Core topics include, but are not limited to, the following directions:

1. Irrigation/drainage and Soil Environment

• Effects of irrigation or drainage on soil pore structure, aggregate stability, salt migration, and organic matter transformation.
• Changes in soil microbial community structure and function under water regulation and their coupling mechanisms with nutrient cycling.

2. Irrigation/drainage and Crop Growth

• Impact of different irrigation methods (e.g., drip irrigation, flood irrigation, and subsurface irrigation), water quality (e.g., reclaimed water and non-reclaimed water), or drainage measures on crop root development, photosynthetic efficiency, yield formation, and quality indicators.
• Correlation analysis between water stress (drought or waterlogging) and crop disease occurrence.

3. Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and Prediction

•  Pathways and mitigation strategies for nitrogen and phosphorus loss during irrigation or drainage.
•  Mechanisms driving CH₄ and N₂O emissions under agricultural water management.
•  AI-based models for irrigation water quality prediction and pollutant identification.
•  Dynamic monitoring in drought/waterlogging-prone areas.

4. Technology Integration and Innovation

•  Smart monitoring and evaluation of irrigation water use in medium- and large-scale irrigation districts.
•  Applications of remote sensing and IoT technologies in precision irrigation.
•  Synergistic regulation strategies for water-saving irrigation and ecological drainage.
•  Integration of agricultural machinery and agronomic practices in irrigation or drainage.

This Special Issue encourages interdisciplinary research, particularly studies incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning, remote sensing inversion, and big data analytics. By elucidating the interactions among water, soil, and crops, we aim to advance high-quality development for agricultural irrigation and drainage management.

We sincerely invite researchers to contribute original research or review papers to jointly provide innovative ideas and solutions for a sustainable future in irrigated agriculture.

We look forward to your valuable contributions.

Prof. Dr. Maomao Hou
Guest Editor

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