Agro-Environmental Evaluation of Irrigation Water from Different Sources, Together with Drainage and Escape Water of Rice Irrigation Systems, According to its Impact on Maize

Water supply deficit requires agro-environmental rationale for the use of alternative water sources to feed agricultural crops, viz.: industrial wastes, municipal drains, farm animal waste, drainage and escape water of rice irrigation systems. We have analyzed the quality of irrigation water from different sources, with regard to the content of cations, anions, water-soluble salts, power of hydrogen (рН), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), etc. in it. In the course of greenhouse trial, we diagnosed its impact on the indicator crop (maize) (Zea mays L.) with its herbage crop stage of 10 leaves, supplied with water of varied quality. We proved the viability of improved drainage and escape water of rice irrigation systems in irrigated agriculture, owing to which maize herbage had been diminished, at an average, by 5.82 %. We verified the negative impact of irrigation water, which contains effluent disposals of metallurgical production, on croppers – it had contributed to diminishing the watered maize herb, at an average, by 39.27 %. Correlation analysis of the test data proved the closely interrelated feedback between the maize herbage amount and the content of cations, anions and water-soluble salts in irrigation water (coefficient of correlation r varied between 0.88 and 0.98). The worked-out linear regressive model for maize herbage, based on the content of water-soluble salts in irrigation water, together with SAR index (Y=2342.71-1.82×x1+366.78×x2), affirmed the validity of the pattern, discovered by means of correlation analysis

Low-Cost Smart Farm Irrigation Systems in Kherson Province: Feasibility Study

The growth of the world population requires an increase in food production. Its solution requires the introduction of advanced technologies, including automated irrigation systems. Commercially available smart irrigation systems are not widespread because of their high cost. A low-cost smart irrigation system based on satellite monitoring is proposed to schedule irrigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the smart irrigation system during five-year field experiments. Water-use productivity, irrigated water-use productivity, and payback period were used as indicators to evaluate the low-cost irrigation system. This study was carried out for four crops: wheat, corn, sunflower, and rapeseed. The results obtained were compared to conventional irrigation systems. The experiments were designed at five farms locations. Their results showed that average water-use productivity rose from 4.09% (wheat) to 9.8% (sunflower). An increase in yields varied from 5.72% (wheat) to 13.42% (corn). Corn had a maximum yield deviation (26.72%). The payback period depended on the crop variety and the plot area. The payback period for wheat production under the proposed system was the longest (up to 82 months). Payback periods for corn, sunflower, and rapeseed production were shorter (from 3 to 12 months). Therefore, the smart irrigation system provides advantages and can be recommended as a low-cost solution