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VOL. 10, ISSUE 4 (2025)
Water-saving irrigation strategies in agronomy: Innovations, challenges, and opportunities
Authors
Dr. K R Pushpanathan, Dr. A Elango, Dr. L Vimalendran
Abstract
Water scarcity has become one of the most critical constraints to
agricultural production worldwide. Increasing competition for freshwater
resources, climate change, declining groundwater levels, and inefficient
irrigation practices threaten food security and sustainable crop production.
Water-saving irrigation strategies have emerged as essential agronomic
interventions to enhance water-use efficiency while maintaining or improving
crop yields. This review examines major water-saving irrigation technologies,
including drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, deficit irrigation, alternate
wetting and drying, subsurface irrigation, sensor-based irrigation scheduling,
and precision irrigation. The paper discusses recent innovations such as remote
sensing, Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation management, artificial
intelligence-assisted scheduling, and automated irrigation systems. The
agronomic, environmental, and economic benefits of these strategies are
highlighted, including reduced water consumption, improved nutrient-use
efficiency, lower energy requirements, and enhanced resilience to drought
stress. The review also identifies key challenges such as high installation
costs, technical complexity, maintenance requirements, limited farmer
awareness, and policy constraints. Future opportunities lie in the integration
of digital agriculture, climate-smart irrigation management, renewable
energy-powered systems, and location-specific irrigation scheduling models. The
successful adoption of water-saving irrigation strategies will play a pivotal
role in achieving sustainable agricultural intensification, climate resilience,
and long-term food security.
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Pages:73-79
How to cite this article:
Dr. K R Pushpanathan, Dr. A Elango, Dr. L Vimalendran "Water-saving irrigation strategies in agronomy: Innovations, challenges, and opportunities". International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, Vol 10, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 73-79
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