Adaptation of pressurized irrigation networks to new strategies ofirrigation management: Energy implications of low discharge andpulsed irrigation

This paper analyzes the consequences of adopting new on-farm irrigation management strategies (lowdischarge rates, long irrigation times and high frequencies) in an existing on-demand and sectorizedpressurized irrigation system in eastern Spain. The sectorized behavior of the network was analyzedusing two criteria: (i) the operating sectors obtained in a first stage by arranging the hydrants dependingon their altitude respecting the pumping station and (ii) the operating sectors obtained by means ofan optimization process. The Simulated Annealing combinatorial metaheuristic optimization techniquewas employed to find the best solution. Random on-demand patterns were generated using a Montecarlosimulation. The hydraulic requirements of the network were analyzed in every scenario by the Epanet2.0 engine. The effect on energy consumption, power requirements and energy costs was assessed takinginto account the electricity tariff billing structure. It was found that reductions in emitter discharge (qe)and Energy consumption (E)-Energy Cost (EC) savings are not inherently related to each other. Certainamounts of E and EC could be saved when the number of sectors and operating time parameters wereproperly selected. Pulsed irrigation in the current scenario showed an energy saving potential of 10.67,6.43 and 6.99% for power capacity, E and EC, respectively.The study has been partially funded by the IMPADAPT project (CGL2013-48424-C2-1-R) with Spanish MINECO (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad) and Feder funds.Garcia-Prats, A.; Guillem Picó, S. (2016). Adaptation of pressurized irrigation networks to new strategies ofirrigation management: Energy implications of low discharge andpulsed irrigation. Agricultural Water Management. 169:52-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.02.023S526016

Water: advanced irrigation technologies

Limited opportunities to expand the volume of global freshwaters allocated to irrigation means that advanced irrigation technologies, aiming to improve efficiency of existing systems are needed, timely, and are of paramount importance. There is little scope for greater use of allocated global freshwaters for irrigation, due to unprecedented expansion since the 1950s, plus other multiple demands on that resource to meet higher living standards: projected as +400% (manufacturing), +140% (thermal electricity generation), and +130% (domestic use) by 2050 (OECD, 2012). Providing for a further 2 billion people by 2050 will challenge our ability to manage and restore natural assets, including freshwaters, on which life depends (OECD, 2012). Irrigation will need to support a projected 50% increase in global food supply to feed the additional 2 billion people (Jury and Vaux, 2007)