Abstract Due to the complexity of numerical models and the need for much information and data in these models, one of the important solutions is to use artificial intelligence models with a small number of required inputs and a simpler structure. In this study, using wavelet transform analysis (cross wavelet transform and wavelet transform coherence), a model was developed to extract the relationship between climatic data (i.e., temperature and precipitation) and groundwater level changes. The developed model provides the best relationship between the main effective climatic parameters and gro ..read more

Abstract Jujubes are a crucial characteristic industry in China. Predicting jujube production in various regions of China is significant to developing the jujube industry. This study aims to predict jujube yields across China by machine learning and optimize water-nitrogen applications to achieve the highest yields. We utilized four machine learning methods (i.e., linear regression, support vector machine, ensemble learning and Gaussian process regression) to create predictive models based on the jujube production, irrigation, fertilization and planting density data sets. The results showed th ..read more

Abstract Accelerated soil acidification from excessive nitrogen fertilizer use and unreasonable irrigation has seriously increased. The advantages of saving water and fertilizer make drip irrigation feasible for reducing soil acidification. However, it is still unknown how drip irrigation influences the distribution of pH in the soil. Experiments were conducted in 30° wedge-shaped plexiglass containers to study the transformation of nitrogen and the distribution of pH in the soil profile under subsurface drip irrigation. The apparent cylindrical water application rate varied from 4.8 to 12&nbs ..read more

Abstract Rural domestic reclaimed water (RDRW) for agricultural irrigation is an effective way to alleviate the contradiction between the supply and demand of water. In this research, four kinds of irrigation water sources (primary and secondary treated water [R1 and R2], purified water [R3] and river water [CK]) and three kinds of water level regulations (low, medium and high water level control [W1, W2 and W3]) were set to study the impact of RDRW irrigation and its reuse on the properties of paddy soil, water and nitrogen utilization and yield of rice through a combination of field experime ..read more

Abstract In the wake of climate change and water scarcity issues, protected cultivation combined with precise irrigation management allows effective water resource utilization. This research was intended to find the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) of vertically trained cucumber vines in a soilless medium and develop crop coefficients (K c) under greenhouse conditions. Experiments were performed in three micro-lysimeters (volume 0.015 m3) placed inside a naturally ventilated greenhouse from April to June 2018 (season I) and September to December 2019 (season II) with a planting density of ..read more

Abstract As the main challenge to water resource management, the impacts of irrigation method improvement need to be addressed in regional hydrological processes. This study investigates the hydrological impacts of developing pressurized irrigation systems at the basin scale using the WEAP–WA (water evaluation and planning system–water accounting) coupling approach. Regarding the development of pressurized irrigation systems since 2006, two separate periods can be mentioned for surface irrigation (1998–2006) and for pressurized irrigation development (2006–2013) in the intermediate basin of Ah ..read more

Irrigation and Drainage, EarlyView ..read more

Abstract A new type of water–pesticide integrated microsprinkler has been developed in this study. Microsprinklers can irrigate crop roots to meet the irrigation index demand under low-pressure conditions and apply pesticides on the backs of crop leaves to meet the spraying pesticide index demand under medium-pressure conditions. In this paper, the structure and working principle of the water–pesticide integrated microsprinkler are discussed, and the key structural parameters are the number and diameter of the small round holes and the number and width of bevel grooves. Computational fluid dyn ..read more

Abstract The nozzle spray range is an important parameter in the design of sprinkler systems because it affects the wetted area and water application rate. In this study, the jet deformation parameter k jet, which can measure the mass and shape of the jet microelement, was investigated, and a spray range prediction model for a rotating nozzle was established based on the modified ballistic trajectory equation. A comparison verified the accuracy of the model, and the degree of influence of different factors on the spray range was analysed. The results showed the following: (1) The dimension of ..read more

Abstract Globally, food and agriculture lie at the heart of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially for the goals of ending poverty, hunger and malnutrition, sustaining natural resources, and responding to climate change. Hence, water management is critical for food production. A survey was conducted by the Agricultural Research Council and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish the key drivers to homestead food garden production. The objectives were (i) to identify and describe the drought status of households and (ii) to identify and describe ..read more