Assessing grain yield (GY), irrigation water productivity (IWP), and irrigation crop water use efficiency (ICWUE) provides valuable insights into optimizing irrigation water use while maintaining crop yield. For this purpose, irrigation is varied either in crop phenological stages or based on the maximum allowable depletion/deficit (MAD) or crop evapotranspiration (ET_C) or ratio of irrigation water to cumulative pan evaporation. No study has been identified that analyzed and compared GY, IWP, and ICWUE for drip and flood irrigated treatments based on MAD, ET_C, and conventional practices for wheat. This study analyzed and compared GY, IWP, and ICWUE among drip-irrigated (DI) and flood-irrigated (FI) treatments based on MAD, ET_C, and conventional practices by conducting field experiments for the wheat crop during 2023-24. The treatments were 50% MAD (DI), 50% MAD (FI), 100% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (FI), 60% ET_C (DI), 40% ET_C (DI), and conventional practice replication (referred to as farmers’ field replication). Compared to farmers’ field replication, GY increased by 30.5%, 16.9%, 23.2%, 15.6%, 9.6%, and 0.4% in 50% MAD (DI), 50% MAD (FI), 100% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (FI), 60% ET_C (DI) treatments, respectively. Furthermore, compared to the farmers’ field replication, the irrigation amount in 50% MAD (DI), 50% MAD (FI), 100% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (FI), 60% ET_C (DI), and 40% ET_C (DI) reduced by 16.4%, 7.9%, 18.3%, 36.8%, 33.9%, 52.4%, and 65.5%, respectively. IWP values in 50% MAD (DI), 50% MAD (FI), 100% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (DI), 80% ET_C (FI), 60% ET_C (DI), 40% ET_C (DI), and farmers’ field replication were 29, 23.6, 28, 34, 39.2, 50.3, and 18.6 kg/ha-mm, respectively. For the same level of irrigation, IWP and ICWUE were higher in DI treatments compared to FI treatments. The values of IWP and ICWUE in 50% MAD (DI) increased by 23.1% and 41.5%, respectively compared to 50% MAD (FI). Similarly, IWP and ICWUE in 80% ET_C (DI) increased by 20% compared to 80% ET_C (FI). Among the treatments, the 50% MAD (DI) and 100% ET_C (DI) produced significantly higher GY of 5336.2 kg/ha and 5036.3 kg/ha, respectively. Between these two treatments, GY was higher in 50% MAD (DI). This can be attributed to the MAD in the 100% ET_C (DI) treatment reaching 67% during the high-water demand growth stage, which exceeded the MAD level in the 50% MAD (DI) treatment. This study suggested that with the priority to produce the higher grain yield and save irrigation water (16.4 to 18.3%) as compared to existing irrigation practices followed by the farmers in the study region, 50% MAD (DI) or 100% ET_C (DI) treatment must be employed. With the priority of saving the highest irrigation amount (52.4 %) without compensating for the GY, 60% ET_C (DI) can be utilized by the farmers in the local region.

How to cite: Giri, G., Upreti, H., and Singhal, G. D.: Evaluation of Wheat Yield and Water Productivity for Drip and Flood Irrigated Treatments Based on Maximum Allowable Deficit, Crop Evapotranspiration, and Conventional Practices, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-673, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-673, 2025.

Date palms, an economically important crop, are extensively grown in the Arava Valley, Israel. Despite their adaptation to arid climates, they are intensively irrigated, commonly with two high-flow emitters per tree, based on recommended amounts derived from crop evapotranspiration estimates, to ensure high productivity and manage soil salinity. Until now, date palm farmers in Israel have made only limited use of soil sensors for irrigation management. This study aimed to integrate soil-based sensors for irrigation decision support into date palm cultivation. We hypothesized that increasing the irrigated area around the tree and giving the trees less water than recommended would increase water use efficiency and maintain optimal yields. To achieve this, sixteen fully mature date palm trees were irrigated under two irrigation systems: a larger irrigated area around the tree with fifty drippers (D) and a smaller area with two emitters per tree (E), both having the same total flow rate; and two irrigation levels: 50% and 100%. Soil-based sensors (TDR, tensiometers, and suction cups) were used to continuously monitor soil water status and electrical conductivity (ECpw) at depths of 40 and 80 cm. Fruit yield and quality (i.e., fruit mass, blistering, and moisture level) were also analyzed. Across all treatments, soil water content was higher at 80 cm, with E100 and D100 showing the highest values (20–50%), while D50 and E50 showed the lowest values, particularly at 40 cm depth (10–20%). Soil tension values displayed the following order, E50>D50>D100≈E100, at both depths. ECpw on D100 and E100 averaged 3 dS/m throughout most of the growing season at both depths, while D50 and E50 showed elevated levels, especially at the lower depth, of up to 26 dS/m (D50). There was no significant difference in yield or yield quality between treatments. It is concluded that the irrigation system had less impact than the irrigation level on ECpw and soil water status. Therefore, sensors show an enormous potential to provide farmers and researchers with data that can be integrated into irrigation scheduling algorithms.

How to cite: Ongeso, J., War War May Maung, N., Groenveld, T., and Lazarovitch, N.: Integrating soil-based sensor technologies for irrigation decision support in date palm trees, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1513, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1513, 2025.

Date palm cultivation in Israel, particularly in the Arava Valley with its high evaporative demand, relies on high-frequency irrigation with saline water. Irrigation plays a crucial role in date palm growth, soil salinity, and yield quality. However, over-irrigation not only wastes water resources but also contaminates water bodies with agrochemicals. Plant-based sensors offer a promising avenue for real-time monitoring of plant physiological responses to water stress, providing valuable insights into plant water status. The objective of this study was to optimize irrigation scheduling by using plant-based sensors to monitor date palm responses to varying irrigation systems and amounts, thereby establishing threshold parameters for effective irrigation management. Sixteen fully mature date palm trees were irrigated under two irrigation systems: a larger irrigated area with fifty number of drippers (D) and a smaller area with two emitters per tree (E), both having the same flow rate; and two irrigation levels: 50% and 100%. Sap flux density, frond growth rate, and stem daily shrinkage were continuously measured by automated sensors, while frond growth rates were also periodically manually measured. Additionally, stomatal conductance was measured biweekly using the LI-600. The 100% irrigation treatment significantly increased the frond growth rate, stomatal conductance, and sap flux density compared to the 50% irrigation. However, the 50% irrigation treatment increased maximum daily shrinkage. There was no difference in yield between 50% and 100% irrigation. No effect of the irrigation systems on the measured parameters was seen. The integration of plant-based sensors, for measuring plant physiological processes, into date palm cultivation has the potential to enable real-time monitoring of the water stress effect, facilitating precise irrigation management.

How to cite: Maung, N., Ongeso, J., Groenveld, T., and Lazarovitch, N.: Increasing Water Use Efficiency in Date Palm Cultivation with Plant-Based Sensors, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1515, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1515, 2025.

In arid regions conducting flood irrigation, irrigation practice often results in the temporary formation of water ponds in the cropland, which plays a critical role in agricultural productivity. The prompt identification of irrigation water ponds in irrigation districts is important for the effective management of irrigation water. Utilizing the OPtical TRApezoid Model (OPTRAM) for soil moisture estimation, we have proposed an improved version of OPTRAM aimed to identify irrigation water ponds in irrigation district using Sentinel-2 data through Google Earth Engine platform. While the wet edge determined from OPTRAM refer to those with saturated status, irrigation ponds are usually oversaturated regions. Therefore, an additional threshold was added and calibrated to the model in accordance with the irrigated area to identify irrigation water ponds. The improved OPTRAM was applied in Hetao Irrigation District (HID) of Northwest China from 2016 to 2023, where autumn irrigation applied in late autumn after crop harvesting was considered. The identified distributions of autumn irrigation were validated with observations from field survey and statistical data, and were also compared with other remote sensing products. Results show that the proposed model is effective in identifying irrigation ponds. The overall accuracy is 0.90 based on the observations from field survey, with mean absolute relative errors for irrigated areas across sub-irrigation districts recorded as 20.55%, 8.10%, 12.83%, and 11.38%, respectively, when compared with statistical data. With regard to temporal and spatial distributions, autumn irrigated croplands are mainly concentrated in Jiefangzha sub-irrigation district while being scattered across other sub-irrigation districts, depicting an overall decreasing trend in the autumn irrigated area. In summary, the proposed model performed well in identifying irrigation ponds and can offer valuable support for irrigation management.

How to cite: Chen, X., Yang, L., Qian, X., Liu, Y., and Shang, S.: An improved optical trapezoid model to identify irrigation water ponds in the arid irrigation district using Google Earth Engine, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2125, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2125, 2025.

In India, governmental agencies and industries are working to promote the adoption of micro-irrigation to enhance irrigation efficiency and farm outputs. However, despite these efforts, the level of development achieved has been unsatisfactory. Improving the irrigation efficiency of existing projects can conserve water to irrigate new areas or meet the needs of the non-agricultural sector. This approach is cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, as it minimizes the need to create additional irrigation potential, which can be resource-intensive and have adverse environmental impacts. A social survey was conducted in the Gadarjudda minor canal command area of the Upper Ganga Canal of Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India to assess the socio-economic and technical factors influencing farmers' perspectives on adopting micro-irrigation systems. Data has been collected through structured interviews across the canal system's head, middle, and tail regions. The study analyzed key aspects: age, education, occupation, cropping patterns, landholding, irrigation sources, and techno-economic feasibility. The results indicated that while farmers had medium awareness, knowledge, and a positive attitude toward micro-irrigation, their low purchasing capacity significantly hindered adoption. Despite a high willingness to adopt the technology, financial constraints remain a significant barrier, even with existing government schemes. The study concludes that, while there is strong interest in adopting micro-irrigation, targeted financial incentives, subsidies, and technical training are essential to overcoming economic constraints, especially for small and marginal farmers, to promote sustainable water management in the canal command area.

How to cite: Chourasia, S. K. and Pandey, A.: Farmers' Perspectives on the Adoption of Micro-Irrigation in Canal Command Areas for Sustainable Water Management Management, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5466, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5466, 2025.

The importance of irrigation water management has increased in recent years with the declining summer availability due to climate change, especially for surface waters. Along with an increase of efficiency, the diffusion of pressure irrigation systems (sprinklers, drip irrigation, pivot, etc.) allows for a demand-based irrigation, overcoming the limitations of turn-based management typical of flood irrigation. The challenge of correctly addressing this approach shift is addressed within the GUARDIANS project (https://guardians-project.eu/), funded by the Horizon Europe program. GUARDIANS involves 22 partners from 9 countries in the development and demonstration of IT technologies, specifically designed for small farms, in several study areas. One of these case studies is the irrigation reservoir of Rivoira (Boves, Piedmont, NW Italy), built in 2017 along with a pipeline network that complements the existing irrigation canals. This reservoir, with a capacity of 42000 m³, is supplied by one of these canals and is connected to a pressure irrigation network that can serve about 300 ha; initially conceived as a "last resort basin", it has become the primary water supply source for several farms.

One of the approaches adopted for on-demand irrigation is the use of Decision Support Software (DSS) based on remote sensing satellite images with indicators such as NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). A major limitation of this approach was found in the limit of 1 ha surface due to the spatial resolution of satellite images (10 m for Sentinel 2), which is hardly met in small farms contexts, and in the scarce correlation between indicators such as NDWI and the ground-based measures of volumetric water content (VWC). The performance of DSS could be improved with ground-based VWC sensors, but their cost is unsustainable for small farms. Low-cost sensors with remote transmission, which have been recently released in the mass-market, have therefore been tested. This solution, which can partially bridge the gap between small and large farms, could be implemented through specific training courses.

This work is carried out within the framework of the GUARDIANS project, funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Programme - Farm2Fork (Grant Agreement n. 101084468).

How to cite: Casasso, A., Tavernelli, G., Tesio, F., Vallauri, D., and Allisiardi, C.: Decision Support Software (DSS) in irrigation management: application to small farms, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9266, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9266, 2025.

Climate change is already having an impact on agricultural production even in sub-humid regions such as parts of Austria that have not yet been confronted with the problem of limited water availability. Moreover, conditions are set to worsen in the future. In order to meet the expected increased irrigation demand in particular regions and conserve water resources in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive, water resources for crop production should be managed with foresight and the focus should be on efficient irrigation strategies. This approach is in line with broader efforts to adapt agricultural systems to evolving environmental challenges.

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of irrigation strategies on potato production in north-eastern Austria as well as future developments under the given local conditions. The potato is important for food security both regionally and globally. Potatoes were grown for the study in 2023 and 2024. The trials were set up as a block system in larger plots with a row/dam spacing of 0.75 m and a length of around 150 m. The variants were irrigated with different irrigation systems: drip lines on the dams, sprinklers on a pipe system, and a hose reel with irrigation boom. The potato yield and the irrigation water applied were measured. The actual irrigation strategies as well as future conditions were simulated and evaluated using the FAO AquaCrop crop growth model. The simulations utilized local meteorological data sets from a nearby weather station and future climate scenarios based on RCP 4.5 projections.

In general, the yield differences between the two study years were greater than between the irrigation variants. Drip irrigation resulted in the largest crop water productivity, but the absolute yields showed a more differentiated picture. The evaluation of observed and simulated data from 2023 showed that sprinkler irrigation delivered better production results, while drip irrigation had the lowest yield. In 2024, the drip-irrigated variant produced the largest yields. On average, the boom irrigation was performing best. The AquaCrop simulations reflect a similar picture. In addition, simulated irrigation strategies show how sufficient potato yields are possible with limited water availability. In this respect, more specific irrigation strategies that better incorporate the actual environmental conditions are needed. The climate scenario simulated with AquaCrop for the given site shows future yields and the corresponding water requirements. The results could serve as a basis for adapting local irrigation strategies to changing climatic conditions in order to enable sustainable potato production north-eastern Austria.

How to cite: Rizqi, F. A., Kastelliz, A., and Nolz, R.: Evaluating irrigation strategies for potato production at a sub-humid site under current conditions and future climate scenarios, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10344, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10344, 2025.

Water, energy, and food security are essential for human health and  development. However the increasing demand for natural resources, has surpassed the capacity of multiple ecosystems and is compromising their sustainability and resilience. The management of these resources is interconnected, and cannot be managed independently, since water and energy are essential for food production. Also their management is crucial for the maintenance of ecosystems, so the WEFE NEXUS emerges as a resource management strategy.

In the Spanish demarcation of the Duero River basin, water scarcity and water stress have become a concern (especially in the main water consumer: irrigated agriculture), which, together with the increase in energy prices, have affected food production and degraded ecosystems. All these WEFE challenges have been traditionally carried out independently, contrary to the international community recommendation of treating them together as WEFE Nexus in order to address their interrelationships and achieve a balance. To promote and co-define WEFE-Nexus transition actions to improve local WEFE-Nexus conditions, four workshops with stakeholders have been performed. The first one aimed to bring together various stakeholders from different institutions or organizations working in the different WEFE NEXUS entities, to concretize a diverse work group and present the WEFE NEXUS methodology through the RRI, applying the RRI Roadmap ©^TM, and begin to identify the main challenges from a WEFE NEXUS perspective. The second workshop presented the concrete vision of WEFE NEXUS, the concepts and vision of an expert on the topic, as well as his experiences and points of view. Based on this information and the challenges identified in the first workshop, the serious game methodology was used to analyse in a positive, negative and alternative way possible measures and actions to be to address the challenges. Identifying the advantages and limitations of these actions. The third workshop presented the “as it is” scenario with real relevant data, to set numbers to the challenges identified by the stakeholders themselves. Based on this, a codefined vision of the objective scenario “as it should be” was developed, proposing the priority measures and actions on which the NEL should focus. Co-creating a WEFE NEXUS transition plan in the fourth workshop.

The co-created WEFE NEXUS plan aims at achieving a resilient irrigated agriculture in the Spanish Douro Basin, maintaining the gross income of farmers under the potential future scenarios of water stress, energy increase and agricultural inputs’ cost. It focuses on optimizing the use of resources (water, energy, and fertilizers) for food production while preserving the NEL's natural and productive ecosystems. This plan has four measures: 1) Improve fertilizer use efficiency, 2) Increase energy efficiency, 3) Optimize water use efficiency and 4) Reduce energy dependence. Likewise, it includes eight concrete and complementary actions, which are evaluated with 10 indicators.

How to cite: Rodriguez-Sinobas, L., Schneider, X., Matendo, S. E., Sanchez-Revuelta, M., and Segovia Cardozo, D. A.: Co-creating a Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem (WEFE) transition in irrigated agriculture systems within the Spanish Duero River Basin ., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12866, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12866, 2025.

Slovenia is one of the countries whose agriculture will be even more susceptible to droughts in the future and is also one of the countries with one of the lowest percentages of agricultural land equipped with irrigation systems. Less than 4% of all land potentially suitable for irrigation (8,000 ha) is equipped with irrigation systems, which means that the majority of agriculture is dependent on rain. In order to improve the situation and pursue an appropriate development policy, the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan for the period 2023–2027 provides funds for the construction of individual irrigation systems, the purchase of equipment and the construction of multi-user irrigation systems.

The proposed measures to enhance irrigation include (i) scaling up irrigation systems, (ii) modernizing irrigation systems (replacing sprinkler systems with drip irrigation, repairing distribution and supply lines and modernizing pumps), (iii) improving efficiency through transfer of property rights (improved irrigation management) and (iv) integrating tools to support irrigation decisions into daily agricultural production.

Our analysis shows that the water use efficiency of the existing irrigation systems is quite high, as closed pressurized systems with sprinklers and drip irrigation were used from the beginning, while large-scale irrigation systems were only introduced in the 1990s. However, obtaining documentation for the construction of new irrigation systems is a lengthy and complex process, as it must take into account the protection of nature, water bodies and cultural heritage, as well as the  existing infrastructure. Studies show that there is no solution in the form of simplified legislation that would lower the quality standards of irrigation development. Appropriate approaches are the organization of applications and participation. A system of operational support must be created for investors and producers to help them manage the difficult process of obtaining permits and approvals for irrigation facilities. This requires better organization of work at the local level and stronger support for investors and producers at the national level.

Of the commonly available tools for improved irrigation management, Slovenia has recently introduced a national decision support system for irrigation (SPON). SPON combines the current water content in the soil, the development phase of the plant and the weather forecast. On this basis, it calculates the plants' water requirements on a daily basis, which it provides in the form of irrigation recommendations at plot level. The use of SPON reduces overall water consumption. The possibility of nutrient leaching is reduced, irrigation rations are shortened and the energy consumption of the pumping station is reduced. SPON is available to all farmers in Slovenia (www.spon.si) and is supported by the Slovenian Environment Agency. After its initial phase, SPON has regular users, but there is a great need for training and support for users to accelerate the dissemination of SPON. This strategy will sustainably increase the resilience of agricultural production in Slovenia to drought.

How to cite: Zupanc, V., Pintar, M., Glavan, M., Železnikar, Š., Žvokelj, L., and Cvejić, R.: Toward sustainable irrigation development - case study for Slovenia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12906, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12906, 2025.

Efficient irrigation practices are essential to address water scarcity and sustain wheat production in semi-arid regions. This study evaluates the performance of two distinct irrigation strategies, real irrigation and net irrigation, using the AquaCrop-OSPy (ACOSP) model to simulate the actual water requirements of wheat. The research was conducted in two experimental fields (Field F1 and Field F2) in the Chichaoua region of Morocco during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons. Real irrigation supplied by the farmer in the fields revealed potential inefficiencies, such as over-irrigation and crop stress, particularly in Field F1. To address these issues, a net irrigation strategy was introduced. Net irrigation focuses on maintaining soil moisture at a level that satisfies crops' water needs without applying too much water and without stressing the plant. A threshold of 60% of total available water (TAW) was applied for irrigation scheduling under net irrigation, based on literature findings. The AquaCrop model was firstly calibrated and validated using field data, achieving high accuracy in key simulated growth parameters such as canopy cover (CC), biomass and actual evapotranspiration, with R² values ranging from 72% to 98%. These results confirm the reliability of the model for assessing wheat growth under different irrigation strategies. Significant differences were observed between the two irrigation strategies regarding irrigation quantities, yield, and water productivity. In field F1, the net irrigation approach led to slightly increased water application compared to real irrigation, rising from 369.40 mm to 400 mm in the first season and from 287.61 mm to 388.15 mm in the second season. In field F2, irrigation decreased from 490.75 mm (real) to 400 mm (net) in season 1 and from 454.46 mm to 388.15 mm in season 2. These differences highlight the model's ability to align water application with crop needs under net irrigation. Yields varied from field to field and from season to season. For field F1, yields ranged from 3.45 to 6.84 tones/ha in season 1 and from 3.85 to 7.07 tones/ha in season 2.  For field F2, yields under net irrigation showed less variability, ranging from 6.39 to 6.84 tones/ha in season 1 and from 6.59 to 7.07 tones/ha in season 2. WP was always higher under net irrigation, reaching 1.82 kg/m³, confirming that excess water applied under real irrigation did not improve crop water productivity. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of net irrigation in accurately meeting crop water needs and reducing inefficiencies in real irrigation. This study underscores the importance of adopting efficient irrigation strategies to optimize water use and improve agricultural sustainability in semi-arid regions.

How to cite: Kaissi, O., Er-raki, S., Bouras, E. H., Belaqziz, S., and Chehbouni, A.: Application of different irrigation strategies for enhancing water efficiency in wheat production using the AquaCrop model: A case study in semi-arid Morocco , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13391, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13391, 2025.

This study presents SWAB (Soil-Water-Atmosphere Advanced Budget), a state-of-the-art and highly operational modeling framework designed for precision irrigation of grapevine, apple, and olive in alpine regions, addressing the practical needs of the agricultural sector and policymakers. SWAB is based on the water budget methodology outlined in FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56, which provides a robust framework for estimating crop water requirements. However, SWAB extends and improves this methodology by incorporating advanced parameterizations of the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC), specifically adapted to the alpine context. This region is characterized by substantial variability in soil properties and microclimates, requiring a flexible yet precise approach. Furthermore, the model integrates crop-specific parameters tailored to the high-quality production goals of Trentino's agriculture, ensuring it meets the stringent demands of premium apple and wine production.

The study focuses on the Trentino region, where approximately 20,000 hectares of irrigated land are split nearly evenly between apple orchards and vineyards. Apple orchards produce approximately 565,000 tonnes of apples with a Gross Production Value (GPV) of around €187 million. Vineyards yield approximately 141,000 tonnes of wine grapes with a GPV of roughly €160 million. The average GPV per hectare of €17,500 underscores the critical economic importance of irrigated agriculture in the region.

Agriculture in the Alpine arc does not typically face arid conditions during the growing season, as significant precipitation, including extreme events, is observed. However, a notable decline in snowfall has been recorded, which affects the primary water reserves available in spring, crucial for the onset and maintenance of the growing season. These water stocks (reservoirs, lakes, streams) are also used for various other purposes, including ecological sustainability—such as ensuring minimum vital flow for aquatic organisms—as well as tourism and hydropower generation, thereby increasing competition for water resources, particularly during dry winters and springs.

In mountain agriculture, irrigation water is managed by Irrigation Consortia that aim to provide equitable access to all members, considering meteorological conditions to some extent, but largely independent of crop type or soil characteristics. SWAB seeks to meet local demands by estimating the required water supplies to fulfill irrigation needs of the SPAC in the alpine context, while also offering recommendations to irrigation Consortia for enhanced short-term precision irrigation management.

This study focuses on estimating the water supplies needed to meet irrigation requirements in the alpine context, with the potential for analyzing medium- to long-term trends. The results highlight how an integrated modeling approach can support sustainable water resource management in mountain agriculture, enhancing the resilience of the sector in the face of increasing competition for water and climate change.

How to cite: Zottele, F., Mattedi, C., Centurioni, F., and Corradini, S.: Precision Irrigation in the Alps: how SWAB tackles the Water Challenges, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17073, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17073, 2025.

In Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) systems, the emitter flow rate is affected by the root intrusion phenomena and the so-called back pressure that limit the buried emitters’ outflow. Several technological solutions have been developed over the years to mitigate these undesired effects (Souza et al, 2014). In this work, in a 6-year experimental campaign, from 2018 to 2023, carried out in a Citrus orchard in Sicily, Italy (38° 4’ 53.4’’ N, 13° 25’ 8.2’’ E), the effect of root intrusion and back pressure on SDI performance was investigated. The experimental field is divided into 4 equivalent plots, in which different root guard emitter treatments were tested. Specifically, two kinds of different herbicides substances (He 1 and He 2), one with copper (Cu) and one without additional substances that was used as a reference (control, Ctrl), were considered. During the six irrigation seasons, inlet discharges and pressure heads were collected, and their variations were used to quantify the effect of root intrusion in terms of local losses. The change in the SDI hydraulic performance was studied using a recent and innovative methodology (Baiamonte et al., 2024) based on a modified Hardy Cross method (HCM), which is suitable for lopped drip irrigation networks. The HCM applications considered local losses and back pressure and required a comprehensive hydraulic characterisation of the soil to estimate accurately the parameters influencing back pressure. Specifically, the influence of root intrusion in different emitters was analysed by considering the time variation of the coefficient of local losses, namely the α-fraction of the kinetic head. The results showed various behaviours among the four root guard emitter treatments. Emitters treated with different herbicides (He 1 and He 2), revealed no significant α-fraction variation in the analysis periods, denoting the effectiveness of He 1 and He 2 treatments in root intrusion protection. On the contrary, for Copper (Cu) and control (Ctrl) treatments, a severe decrease in emitter flow rate was observed, which was determined by high α-fraction variations over the investigated period, reaching α = 50 and α = 32, respectively, by 2023, thus limiting the benefits of SDI systems.

References

Baiamonte G, Vaccaro G, Palermo S (2024) Quantifying local losses due to root intrusion in subsurface drip irrigation systems by monitoring inlet discharge and pressure head. Irrig Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-024-00990-y

Souza WDJ, Sinobas LR, Sánchez R, Botrel TA, Coelho RD (2014) Prototype emitter for use in subsurface drip irrigation: Manufacturing, hydraulic evaluation and experimental analyses. Biosyst Eng 128:41–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2014.09.011

How to cite: Vaccaro, G., Alagna, V., De Caro, D., Franco, L., Fusco, M., Giardina, G., Ippolito, M., Palermo, S., and Baiamonte, G.: Investigating Root Intrusion in Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems: A Comparative Study, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17139, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17139, 2025.

IRRITRE for a sustainable irrigation in agriculture of Trentino

Francesco Centurioni, Cecilia Mattedi, Fabio Zottele, Stefano Corradini, Alessandra Gattolin, Fabio Antonelli, Francesca Paolucci, Pietro Franceschi

We present the IRRITRE project, conceived to optimize and monitor water usage for the irrigation of three key crops in Trentino’s Alpine region: apples, wine grapes, and olives; within the context of climate change. Led by the Province of Trento, the initiative is supported by the Edmund Mach Foundation (agronomic expertise), the Bruno Kessler Foundation (sensor development and soil moisture monitoring), and Trentino Digitale (IoT network infrastructure).

Launched in 2024 and set to conclude in 2025, the project has established three pilot sites strategically selected to represent the principal cultivation zones for the crops under study: Tres (Val di Non) for apples, Roverè della Luna (Piana Rotaliana) for vines, and Varone (Garda Trentino) for olives.

At each of these sites, a suite of sensors is being deployed, linked via the LoRaWAN network, which offers wide-area coverage with low energy consumption. These sensors are designed to monitor soil moisture through tensiometers and capacitive probes, measure water volumes with pulse counters on sector valves, and track irrigation flow using flow meters installed along the drip lines near the crops.

By integrating sensor data with a network of meteorological stations, a robust understanding of crop water requirements, and the capabilities of artificial intelligence, the project employs an advanced forecasting model for irrigation known as SWAB (Soil Water Advanced Budget). This model enables the estimation of the water balance for irrigated lands and provides tailored irrigation recommendations to agricultural consortia.

Looking ahead, the project aspires to extend this irrigation decision-support service to more than two hundreds of irrigation consortia around Trentino. By doing so, it aims to gather location-specific data and consolidate insights into water usage in the region, ultimately fostering more sustainable agricultural practices.

How to cite: Centurioni, F., Zottele, F., Mattedi, C., Corradini, S., Franceschi, P., Gattolin, A., Paolucci, F., and Antonelli, F.: IRRITRE for a sustainable irrigation in agriculture of Trentino, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17487, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17487, 2025.

The cultivation of mango (Mangifera indica L.) is increasingly spreading in the Mediterranean basin, but it faces significant challenges, including limited water availability and the use of low-quality water during the irrigation season. These issues are further intensified by the impacts of climate change, making it essential to adopt crop and soil management strategies that optimize and preserve this resource. A common management strategy in the Mediterranean environment involves cultivating mango plants on raised beds covered with black plastic mulch. The study aimed to assess the impact of mulching on soil temperature, moisture and salinity, as well as on the eco-physiological behaviour, yield, and fruit quality of mango plants irrigated with very high salinity water during an irrigation season. The experiment was conducted in a 4 -year-old mango orchard (cv. Keitt) near Palermo, Italy. Two soil management strategies were compared: black plastic mulch and unmulched soil, both combined with very high salinity water irrigation (4 mS/cm). Results indicate that, within the first 5 cm of soil depth, the temperature differences between the two experimental conditions were particularly marked. Unmulched soil showed a higher daily temperature excursion, reaching 50°C during the season. At depths between 5 and 10 cm, unmulched soil recorded temperatures above 40°C, while mulched soil did not exceed 32°C. Mulching plays a crucial role in maintaining lower and more stable soil temperatures, especially on days characterized by high air temperatures. The mulched soil also had a higher volumetric water content, probably due to reduced evaporation and a more uniform water distribution in the soil profile. An increase in soil electrical conductivity was observed in the unmulched soil over the season, suggesting a potential surface salt accumulation caused by evaporation. However, at a depth of 25-30 cm, no significant differences were observed between the two experimental conditions. Regarding the net photosynthesis rate, as well as yield and fruit quality parameters, the plants responded similarly under the two different management strategies. Despite mango being notoriously sensitive to saline conditions, plants irrigated with very high salinity water maintained a high photosynthetic activity. In addition, fruits achieved an average weight of 750 g and a total soluble solids content of 15 °Brix, according to the quality standards required by the European market. The results of the study are promising, but the data collected will need to be further validated in the next season to assess the long-term impact of mulching and salt accumulation in the soil.

Aknowledgment: this research was funded under Action 2 of the “Budget Strategico del Dipatimento SAAF” of the University of Palermo prot. 206917 – 18/12/2023.

How to cite: Bellitti, S., Autovino, D., Farina, V., Franco, L., Gugliuzza, G., Iovino, M., and Mezzano, M.: Impact of mulching and high salinity water irrigation on mango: a preliminary study in Mediterranean environment, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18114, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18114, 2025.

Spain is one of the most important tomato producers of the European Union, but the elevated water requirements of this crop together with the water scarcity that the country undergoes, lead farmers to look for new alternatives to optimize the use of the water and nutrients used for its growth. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combined treatment of biostimulation and irrigation reduction on the yield parameters, irrigation water productivity (WPi), productivity of the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) and soil enzymatic activity in two commercial greenhouses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The treatments evaluated were: i) FARMER: irrigated by farmer criteria, and ii) BIO: Biostimulated with seaweed extracts and microorganisms, and irrigated by monitoring the soil water content during the whole crop cycle through the use of real-time probes. The biostimulation program consisted of Ascophyllum nodosum extract applied by foliar and drip irrigation in both trials. In addition, the application of a third biostimulant composed by Bacillus paralicheniformis was added in trial 2. In both trials, the water savings in the BIO treatment with respect to their FARMER were 842 m³ ha^-1 and 117 m³ ha^-1, for trial 1 and 2, respectively. BIO treatment increased the number of fruits and the yield of tomato, therefore, an increase in the WPi and the productivity factor of N-P-K was observed. In addition, the enzymatic activities of the soil, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease showed a trend to improve in the BIO treatments in comparison to FARMER, making the nutrients more available for the plants. In conclusion, the application of biostimulants combined with irrigation reduction has been proved to be a strategy that allows reducing the water irrigation and fertilizers applied to tomato, improving its yield and soil enzymatic activities. This combination increases the economical and environmentally sustainable of tomato under greenhouse.

This work is a result of the AGROALNEXT programme and was supported by MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and by Fundación Séneca with funding from Comunidad Autónoma Región de Murcia (CARM). Funding has also been received from the FMC Agricultural Sciences chair of the UPCT, an agreement between FMC Agricultural Solutions and UPCT.

How to cite: Pérez-Pastor, A., Marin-Durán, L., Zapata-García, S., Berrios, P., Temnani, A., Pérez-López, R., and Monllor, C.: Strategies to resources optimization in tomato, combination of soil water monitoring and biostimulation, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20348, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20348, 2025.

In recent years, considerable efforts have been dedicated to developing simple solutions for designing one-lateral and rectangular drip irrigation systems (Baiamonte, 2018). However, the trapezoidal shape that often aligns more naturally with the division of agricultural fields, has been poorly attempted; furthermore, it serves as a fundamental model from which rectangular and triangular configurations can be derived as specific cases. Building on previous research, new analytical solutions for trapezoidal units have been proposed (Baiamonte and Palermo, 2025), demonstrating that the rectangular shape (RCT) is a special case of these solutions. Moreover, a comprehensive performance analysis of trapezoidal units was conducted using the pressure head tolerance concept. Two types of trapezoidal units were evaluated based on their feed points: major base-fed (MJR) and minor base-fed (MNR). Interestingly, the MJR-fed trapezoidal unit exhibited higher hydraulic emission uniformity than both the RCT and MNR configurations. This improved performance is attributed to lower manifold inside diameters, reduced inlet pressure heads, and a smaller coefficient of variation in the pressure head distribution. As a result, MJR is recommended over both RCT and MNR. An application demonstrating the near-complete hydraulic emission uniformity achievable with MJR trapezoidal drip irrigation units is presented and analyzed, further supporting the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.

References

Baiamonte, G. (2018). Explicit Relationships for Optimal Designing of Rectangular Microirrigation Units on Uniform Slopes: the IRRILAB Software Application. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 153:151-168, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.compag.2018.08.005

Baiamonte, G., Palermo, S. (2024). Designing Trapezoidal Drip Irrigation Units laid on Flat Fields. J Irrig Drain E-ASCE. Doi: 10.1061/JIDEDH/IRENG-10437

How to cite: Palermo, S. S. and Baiamonte, G.: Achieving near-complete hydraulic emission uniformity in Trapezoidal Drip Irrigation Units fed from the Major Base, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11610, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11610, 2025.