An Integrated Water-Saving and Quality-Guarantee Uncertain Programming Approach for the Optimal Irrigation Scheduling of Seed Maize in Arid Regions

Abstract Agricultural water resources have been limited over the years due to global warming and irregular rainfall in the arid and semi-arid regions. To mitigate the water stress in agriculture, mulching has a crucial impact as a water-saving technique in rain-fed crop cultivation. It is important mainly for preserving soil moisture, relegating soil temperature, and limiting soil evaporation, which affects the crop yield. Mulching has many strategic effects on soil ecosystem, crop growth, and climate. Mulch insulates the soil, helping to provide a buffer from cold and hot temperatures that have a crucial activity in creating beautiful and protected landscapes. This study has accumulated a series of information about both organic and plastic mulch materials and its applicability on crop cultivation. Moreover, future research potentials of mulching with modeling were discussed to quantify water loss in agriculture.

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Salt Tolerance Analysis of Crops using the SWAP Model

Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia ◽

10.13005/bbra/2490 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 643-649

Author(s):

Forough Kamyab-Talesh ◽

Behrouz Mostafazadeh-Fard ◽

Majid Vazifedoust ◽

Mohammad Shayannejad ◽

Maryam Navabian

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Water ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Good Accuracy ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Tolerance Analysis ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Threshold Values ◽

Irrigation Network ◽

Swap Model ◽

Semi Arid

ABSTRACT: Soil and water salinities are major environmental factors limiting the productivity of agricultural lands especially in arid and semi arid regions. To determine salinity threshold values and slope of the yield decrements for crops of wheat, barley and maize, SWAP model was study for an arid region located in Semnan Province (52◦25' N 35◦11' E), central part of Iran with area of 35000 ha including 94 villages belonged to irrigation network of Garmsar district. The data collected from the above 94 villages for years 1998 to 2007 were used to calibrate and simulate yield of wheat, barley and maize using the SWAP model. The irrigation water salinities of 2, 4, 6 and 8 dS m-1 were used and yield reductions versus soil saturation extracts were evaluated and salinity threshold values and slope of the yield reductions were determined for each of the above crops. The results showed that the SWAP model predict crop yields with good accuracy and the threshold values and slope of the yield reductions are site dependent. These values should be determined for each area in order to be able to plan better irrigation scheduling for arid regions which have soil and irrigation water salinities problems.

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Optimization of Irrigation Scheduling for Maize in an Arid Oasis Based on Simulation–Optimization Model

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10070935 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 935 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jiang Li ◽

Xiyun Jiao ◽

Hongzhe Jiang ◽

Jian Song ◽

Lina Chen

Keyword(s):

Simulation Model ◽

Optimization Model ◽

Simulation Optimization ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Irrigation Schedule ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Water Saving ◽

Scheduling Optimization ◽

Agricultural Water Resources ◽

Crop Water Consumption

In arid regions, irrigation scheduling optimization is efficient in coping with the shortage of agricultural water resources. This paper developed a simulation–optimization model for irrigation scheduling optimization for the main crop in an arid oasis, aiming to maximize crop yield and minimize crop water consumption. The model integrated the soil water balance simulation model and the optimization model for crop irrigation scheduling. The simulation model was firstly calibrated and validated based on field experiment data for maize in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Then, considering the distribution of soil types and irrigation districts in the study area, the model was used to solve the optimal irrigation schedules for the scenarios of status quo and typical climate years. The results indicated that the model is applicable for reflecting the complexities of simulation–optimization for maize irrigation scheduling. The optimization results showed that the irrigation water-saving potential of the study area was between 97 mm and 240 mm, and the average annual optimal yield of maize was over 7.3 t/ha. The simulation–optimization model of irrigation schedule established in this paper can provide a technical means for the formulation of irrigation schedules to ensure yield optimization and water productivity or water saving.

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The Water-Saving Strategies Assessment (WSSA) Framework: An Application for the Urmia Lake Restoration Program

Water ◽

10.3390/w12102789 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 2789

Author(s):

Somayeh Shadkam ◽

Pieter van Oel ◽

Pavel Kabat ◽

Amin Roozbahani ◽

Fulco Ludwig

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Lake Restoration ◽

Water Saving ◽

Urmia Lake ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Policy Agenda ◽

Return Flows ◽

The Impact ◽

Semi Arid

Increases in water demand often result in unsustainable water use, leaving insufficient amounts of water for the environment. Therefore, water-saving strategies have been introduced to the environmental policy agenda in many (semi)-arid regions. As many such interventions failed to reach their objectives, a comprehensive tool is needed to assess them. We introduced a constructive framework to assess the proposed strategies by estimating five key components of the water balance in an area: (1) Demand; (2) Availability; (3) Withdrawal; (4) Depletion and (5) Outflow. The framework was applied to assess the Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP) which aimed to increase the basin outflow to the lake to reach 3.1 × 109 m3 yr−1. Results suggested that ULRP could help to increase the Outflow by up to 57%. However, successful implementation of the ULRP was foreseen to be impeded because of three main reasons: (i) decreasing return flows; (ii) increased Depletion; (iii) the impact of climate change. Decreasing return flows and increasing Depletion were expected due to the introduction of technologies that increase irrigation efficiency, while climate change could decrease future water availability by an estimated 3–15%. We suggest that to reach the intervention target, strategies need to focus on reducing water depletion rather than water withdrawals. The framework can be used to comprehensively assess water-saving strategies, particularly in water-stressed basins.

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Irrigation Scheduling. I: Integer Programming Approach

Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering ◽

10.1061/(asce)0733-9437(2004)130:1(9) ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 130 (1) ◽

pp. 9-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Tonny T. de Vries ◽

Arif A. Anwar

Keyword(s):

Integer Programming ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Programming Approach

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TRANSITION FROM SURFACE TO DRIP IRRIGATION IN MOROCCO: ANALYSIS THROUGH THE MULTI-LEVEL PERSPECTIVE

AGROFOR ◽

10.7251/agreng1803142a ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Oumaima ASSOULI ◽

Hamid EL BILALI ◽

Aziz ABOUABDILLAH ◽

Rachid HARBOUZE ◽

Nabil El JAOUHARI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Land Tenure ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Water Saving ◽

Surface Irrigation ◽

Irrigation Water Use ◽

Multi Level

Agriculture uses more than 80% of water resources in Morocco. The sector isinefficient in terms of water use due to the dominance of surface irrigation. Toaddress this issue, there have been efforts in Moroccan strategies to convert surfaceirrigation to localized one. This paper analyses the dynamics of conversion fromsurface irrigation to drip irrigation in Fez-Meknes region (north-eastern Morocco)through the lens of the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) on socio-technicaltransitions. MLP framework suggests that transitions are the results of dialecticinteractions among a niche (cf. novelty of drip irrigation), a regime (cf. traditionalsystem of surface irrigation) and the socio-technical landscape (e.g. policies). MLPwas complemented with a multi-capital approach to better assess transitionimpacts. Results show that the area equipped with drip irrigation in Fez-Meknesregion increased from 2174 ha in 2008 to 39290 ha in 2016. Different programshave been implemented in the framework of the Green Morocco Plan to fosterirrigation transition e.g. the National Irrigation Water Saving Program (PNEEI),launched in 2007, aims to convert 550,000 ha to localized irrigation (e.g. dripirrigation) in 15 years. Thanks to these programs, financial and technical supporthas been provided to farmers to promote the adoption of water-saving irrigationtechniques and practices. Farm-level results show that transition to localizedirrigation decreases irrigation water use, increases yields and profitability (cf. grossmargin per ha), and improves water productivity. Despite an enabling policylandscape and positive transition impacts, surface irrigation is still maintained inthe region and farmers are reluctant to change for many reasons (e.g. age andeducation level, unclear land tenure, financial and administrative difficulties).Efforts are still needed to train farmers on irrigation scheduling and on the use ofsmart irrigation techniques to save water. Further research is required to betterunderstand current bottlenecks in the irrigation transition process and designappropriate and context-specific transition governance strategies.

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Options for water saving in tropical humid and semi-arid regions using optimum compost application rates

Irrigation and Drainage ◽

10.1002/ird.283 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 87-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Molengar Ngoundo ◽

Chun-E. Kan ◽

Yu-Chuan Chang ◽

Shiow-Long Tsai ◽

I. Tsou

Keyword(s):

Arid Regions ◽

Water Saving ◽

Application Rates ◽

Compost Application ◽

Semi Arid

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Efficient IoT-Based Control for a Smart Subsurface Irrigation System to Enhance Irrigation Management of Date Palm

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21123942 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 3942

Author(s):

Maged Mohammed ◽

Khaled Riad ◽

Nashi Alqahtani

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Date Palm ◽

Root Zone ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Water Amount

Drought is the most severe problem for agricultural production, and the intensity of this problem is increasing in most cultivated areas around the world. Hence improving water productivity is the primary purpose of sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to use cloud IoT solutions to control a modern subsurface irrigation system for improving irrigation management of date palms in arid regions. To achieve this goal, we designed, constructed, and validated the performance of a fully automated controlled subsurface irrigation system (CSIS) to monitor and control the irrigation water amount remotely. The CSIS is based on an autonomous sensors network to instantly collect the climatic parameters and volumetric soil water content in the study area. Therefore, we employed the ThingSpeak cloud platform to host sensor readings, perform algorithmic analysis, instant visualize the live data, create event-based alerts to the user, and send instructions to the IoT devices. The validation of the CSIS proved that automatically irrigating date palm trees controlled by the sensor-based irrigation scheduling (S-BIS) is more efficient than the time-based irrigation scheduling (T-BIS). The S-BIS provided the date palm with the optimum irrigation water amount at the opportune time directly in the functional root zone. Generally, the S-BIS and T-BIS of CSIS reduced the applied irrigation water amount by 64.1% and 61.2%, respectively, compared with traditional surface irrigation (TSI). The total annual amount of applied irrigation water for CSIS with S-BIS method, CSIS with T-BIS method, and TSI was 21.04, 22.76, and 58.71 m3 palm−1, respectively. The water productivity at the CSIS with S-BIS (1.783 kg m−3) and T-BIS (1.44 kg m−3) methods was significantly higher compared to the TSI (0.531 kg m−3). The CSIS with the S-BIS method kept the volumetric water content in the functional root zone next to the field capacity compared to the T-BIS method. The deigned CSIS with the S-BIS method characterized by the positive impact on the irrigation water management and enhancement on fruit yield of the date palm is quite proper for date palm irrigation in the arid regions.

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Estimating the Pan Evaporation in Northwest China by Coupling CatBoost with Bat Algorithm

Water ◽

10.3390/w13030256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 256

Author(s):

Liming Dong ◽

Wenzhi Zeng ◽

Lifeng Wu ◽

Guoqing Lei ◽

Haorui Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Regions ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Bat Algorithm ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Northwest China ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Gradient Boosting ◽

Accurate Estimation ◽

Pan Evaporation ◽

Semi Arid

Accurate estimation of pan evaporation (Ep) is vital for the development of water resources and agricultural water management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where it is restricted to set up the facilities and measure pan evaporation accurately and consistently. Besides, using pan evaporation estimating models and pan coefficient (kp) models is a classic method to assess the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) which is indispensable to crop growth, irrigation scheduling, and economic assessment. This study estimated the potential of a novel hybrid machine learning model Coupling Bat algorithm (Bat) and Gradient boosting with categorical features support (CatBoost) for estimating daily pan evaporation in arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China. Two other commonly used algorithms including random forest (RF) and original CatBoost (CB) were also applied for comparison. The daily meteorological data for 12 years (2006–2017) from 45 weather stations in arid and semi-arid areas of China, including minimum and maximum air temperature (Tmin, Tmax), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (U), and global solar radiation (Rs), were utilized to feed the three models for exploring the ability in predicting pan evaporation. The results revealed that the new developed Bat-CB model (RMSE = 0.859–2.227 mm·d−1; MAE = 0.540–1.328 mm·d−1; NSE = 0.625–0.894; MAPE = 0.162–0.328) was superior to RF and CB. In addition, CB (RMSE = 0.897–2.754 mm·d−1; MAE = 0.531–1.77 mm·d−1; NSE = 0.147–0.869; MAPE = 0.161–0.421) slightly outperformed RF (RMSE = 1.005–3.604 mm·d−1; MAE = 0.644–2.479 mm·d−1; NSE = −1.242–0.894; MAPE = 0.176–0.686) which had poor ability to operate the erratic changes of pan evaporation. Furthermore, the improvement of Bat-CB was presented more comprehensively and obviously in the seasonal and spatial performance compared to CB and RF. Overall, Bat-CB has high accuracy, robust stability, and huge potential for Ep estimation in arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China and the applications of findings in this study have equal significance for adjacent countries.

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Water-saving Effect by Rotational Irrigation Scheduling System (RISS) in the Dongwha Dam

Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers ◽

10.5389/ksae.2012.54.2.147 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 147-156

Author(s):

Tai-Cheol Kim ◽

Duck-Young Moon ◽

Jae-Myun Lee ◽

Jong-Pil Moon

Keyword(s):

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Water Saving ◽

Scheduling System ◽

Saving Effect

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