Agricultural Water Management

This study leverages remote sensing techniques to assess agricultural water management within the Miandoab Irrigation Scheme (MIS) in Iran, focusing on evapotranspiration, biomass production, water productivity, and irrigation performance for key crops such as Alfalfa, vegetables, and others. Utilizing Landsat imagery processed through PySEBAL alongside integrated field data, this analysis explores seasonal and annual water consumption patterns, crop productivity, and irrigation efficiency, while also identifying water deficit hotspots. Statistical assessments of crop water productivity reveal discrepancies in water use efficiency, highlighting disparities among winter and summer crops. Furthermore, groundwater recharge modeling, in conjunction with relative water deficit analysis, provides insights into the impact of irrigation on regional hydrological balances. The study underscores the significance of optimizing irrigation strategies, implementing sustainable crop management practices, and integrating remote sensing data to achieve a balance between agricultural productivity and ecological preservation in water-scarce regions. These findings contribute to informed policymaking and improved water resource management in the MIS.

This study employs AquaCrop modeling to evaluate and optimize irrigation strategies for paddy cultivation in the Halda watershed, a region characterized by significant water dependency due to its dry-season crop cycle. Using six distinct AquaCrop models, the research compares the effects of soil types (sand vs. loam) and irrigation methods (rainfed, fixed, and automated) on biomass yield, evapotranspiration rates, and overall water productivity. Results indicate that sandy soil supports higher biomass production and lower transpiration than loamy soil, with automated irrigation significantly improving yield stability across soil types. Fixed irrigation demonstrates lower efficiency, particularly in loam, where biomass production is nearly half that of sandy soil, leading to reduced water productivity and higher evapotranspiration. The findings highlight automated irrigation as a superior strategy for optimizing water use efficiency, promoting sustainable paddy cultivation, and maintaining ecological balance in the watershed. This study offers valuable insights into water resource management, aiding in the development of sustainable irrigation policies for agriculture in water-scarce regions.

This study explores the optimisation of Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge (AGRIMAR) systems in saline delta environments for effective irrigation management under varied climatic conditions. AGRIMAR systems integrate catchments, reservoirs, infiltration wells, and abstraction wells to manage water resources sustainably. Using meteorological data from the Netherlands and Portugal, key parameters such as catchment area, reservoir dimensions, and well capacities were optimised to minimise costs while reducing system failures. For the Netherlands, optimised system dimensions achieved a total cost of approximately €0.1 million with 0.41% failure days; a 20% failure allowance significantly reduced costs. In Portugal, higher evapotranspiration rates and lower precipitation necessitated larger reservoir volumes and catchment areas, increasing the total cost to €0.24 million. Comparative analysis revealed climate-driven differences in runoff and water management efficiency. The study underscores the importance of tailoring AGRIMAR designs to regional climatic conditions, enabling sustainable irrigation practices and addressing water scarcity in saline environments.