Innovation Irrigation Management to Improve Water Use Efficiency

Global rise in earth surface temperature has caused significant changes in local weather condition in many regions. The alteration in global temperature has affected rainfall distribution and intensity, escalating global challenge for agriculture productivity. Farming systems heavily rely on surface water resources or by withdrawal of groundwater, through pumping, which are decreasing at an alarming rate. Freshwater resources limitation mean crop production systems need to adopt innovative irrigation scheduling practices for decreasing crop water consumption without impacting its yield and improving water use efficiency (WUE). Traditional irrigation practices result in low WUE and reduced agriculture productivity whereas innovative irrigation management practices are the needed to improve WUE and optimise crop productivity. The integration of advanced precision irrigation technologies, sensor-based irrigation scheduling and decision system, IoT, remote sensing and simulation modelling offers efficient irrigation water use for optimum crop productivity.

Water resources are decreasing, and irrigation system have been under significant pressure to produce more with less. The goal is to address water scarcity in agriculture through innovative irrigation management practices for improving WUE in agriculture. Efficient irrigation is crucial for sustainable agriculture especially under prevailing water scarcity and climate change. A significant portion of irrigation is lost through evaporation, percolation and runoff in traditional irrigation methods. To avoid these losses and conserve the water resources, this Topic aims to document, highlight and disseminate the advanced and innovative irrigation technologies and management practices.

Precision irrigation management and innovative autonomous irrigation scheduling has great potential in reducing water use and improving crop yield. Sensor based irrigation system, using soil and plant-based sensors for irrigation, ET based irrigation and autonomous irrigation scheduling ensures optimum water application and conserve the water resources. Remote sensing and simulation modelling also helps in precise management of water resources helping farmers and researchers to make data driven decisions.

For achieving sustainability in agriculture and utilization of water resources, contributions are invited that comprised of cased studies, empirical data, and review on innovative irrigation practices for water use efficiency and crop productivity. This will help in reshaping the comprehensive strategies for improving WUE and crop productivity under global challenge of water scarcity.

This Research Topic aims to explore innovative and emerging irrigation technologies including sensors-based irrigation scheduling (soil, plant and ET), remote sensing and simulation modelling, IoT and management practices for improving WUE. Submission should focus on state-of-the-art irrigation strategies for tackling the potential challenges of climate change, water scarcity and crop productivity. This Research Topic will delve into the following potential areas but not limited to:

- Innovative scientific tools for agriculture water management
- Precision irrigation techniques development and implementation
- Irrigation scheduling (soil, plant and weather-based sensors) for WUE
- Simulation modelling and IoT integration for autonomous irrigation management
- Sensor based system for intelligent irrigation management
- Water saving techniques
- Economic feasibility and sustainability of innovative irrigation systems
- Smart irrigation for different crops and climates

Diverse manuscripts including original research articles, review, case studies, short communications and letter to editors are invited for exploring knowledge exchange and adoption of potential irrigation practices under prevailing challenges of climate change and water scarcity.



Conflict of Interest Statement

Younsuk Dong is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Earthmetric Innovations, which makes a micro-weather station.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: sustainable irrigation, innovation and technology, irrigation scheduling, water resource conservation, crop water requirements, evapotranspiration, water saving techniques, crop productivity, simulation modelling, climate change

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.