Optimal irrigation planning for addressing current or future water scarcity in Mediterranean tree crops

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Water Resource Management
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Mediterranean agriculture faces increasing water scarcity, threatening economic viability.
• Optimal irrigation management is crucial for water conservation and addressing regional water stress.
• Olive and citrus crops are vital economic sectors in water-scarce regions like Crete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply an integrated decision-making system for optimizing water resource management in olive and citrus cultivation.
• To maximize crop yield and agricultural income while promoting significant water savings.
• To assess the impact of climate change on water availability and conservation strategies for agriculture.

Main Methods:

• Integration of field measurements (e.g., soil moisture) with unsaturated zone flow modeling.
• Calibration and validation of a hydrological model using extensive soil moisture data.
• Spatio-temporal analysis of soil moisture and pore water pressure for irrigation guidance.

Main Results:

• Water use reduction of up to 36% for citrus and 41% for olive trees compared to conventional practices.
• Achieved approximately 40% cost savings on irrigation water expenses.
• Projected water savings under RCP 4.5 climate scenario: 53.3% for olive and 46.7% for citrus trees (2019-2030).

Conclusions:

• The developed integrated system effectively optimizes irrigation, leading to substantial water and cost savings.
• The methodology provides a viable solution for sustainable agriculture in water-scarce Mediterranean regions.
• The system's adaptability to climate change projections enhances its long-term applicability for water resource management.