The necessity of water-saving irrigation technology

Water resources are a decisive factor in ensuring the sustainable development of agriculture. Traditional agricultural production methods often employ flood irrigation, resulting in severe water waste. Therefore, developing water-saving irrigation technologies for farmland is essential:

1. Water Conservation: Farmland irrigation accounts for a significant proportion of water resource utilization. Implementing water-saving irrigation technologies can reduce ineffective water consumption, improve water resource utilization efficiency, alleviate water supply shortages, improve the ecological environment, and promote sustainable agricultural development.

2. Increased Agricultural Production Efficiency: Water-saving irrigation technologies can adjust irrigation volume according to the actual needs of different crops at different stages. Combined with advanced equipment and technology, they create more suitable water conditions for crops, allowing the natural environment and related factors to have a positive promoting effect on crop growth, thereby increasing crop yield and quality.

3. Reduced Labor Costs in Irrigation: Water-saving irrigation technologies utilize advanced equipment and technology to improve labor efficiency and reduce manual labor input in agricultural irrigation. This saves more labor for rural economic development, facilitates the optimal allocation of rural labor, and promotes the improvement of rural industrial structure. Commonly Used Water-Saving Irrigation Technologies

With the continuous development of water-saving irrigation technologies in farmland, the following water-saving irrigation technologies have become increasingly mature in agricultural production, and their application and popularization are relatively high:

Sprinkler Irrigation Technology

Sprinkler irrigation refers to pressurizing irrigation water and then spraying it into the air, forming water droplets that fall onto the field to achieve irrigation. Sprinkler irrigation technology is divided into three types: fixed, semi-fixed, and mobile, each with different spraying characteristics. Compared with other irrigation technologies, it has the advantages of saving water, saving land, increasing fertilizer, and conserving soil, and can save about 50% of water resources. Sprinkler irrigation technology uses a variety of equipment, including sprinkler heads such as rocker arm sprinklers, vertical rocker arm sprinklers, and full-jet sprinklers. Sprinkler intensity, sprinkler uniformity, and water droplet intensity are important indicators for evaluating the quality of a sprinkler irrigation system. Currently, sprinkler irrigation technology is widely used in field crops, vegetable cultivation, and landscaping. Micro-irrigation and Mulching Irrigation Technologies

Micro-irrigation technology is a broad concept encompassing pulse irrigation, micro-spraying, fountain irrigation, drip irrigation, and more. It delivers water to the irrigated area through a pipeline system, and emitters on the terminal pipes distribute the water in a small, even flow to the soil near the crop roots. The irrigation volume is primarily regulated by the operating pressure of the equipment. The biggest advantage of micro-irrigation technology is its ability to precisely control irrigation water usage. It is suitable for various soil types and is therefore widely used in arid and rain-scarce regions.

Mulching irrigation mainly includes two types: over-mulch irrigation and under-mulch irrigation. Over-mulch irrigation involves covering the bottom of the furrows with plastic film, allowing irrigation water to flow over the film. Small holes in the film allow water to seep into the soil near the crop roots, achieving the purpose of irrigation. Mulching irrigation not only saves water effectively but also warms and retains moisture in the soil. Under-mulch irrigation involves placing drip irrigation pipes under the film. Compared to over-mulch irrigation, it combines the advantages of irrigation and film covering, resulting in even better water conservation.

Canal seepage prevention technology: Traditional flood irrigation mainly uses canals for water conveyance. This method is not only inefficient, but also suffers from water loss of approximately 50% due to canal leakage during water conveyance, making it a significant factor in water waste. Canal seepage prevention technologies can reduce canal leakage and improve water resource utilization. Widely used canal seepage prevention technologies include concrete lining, mortar lining, stone lining, and plastic film lining. However, in actual irrigation, it is crucial to adapt to local conditions, considering factors such as cost, construction period, and irrigation effectiveness, to select appropriate seepage prevention technologies that improve canal water conveyance capacity and erosion resistance.

Main Trends in the Development of Water-Saving Irrigation Technology for Farmland

Research on water-saving irrigation technology and its development trends involves various aspects. Here, we analyze its development trends only from the perspective of technological research. It is foreseeable that future water-saving irrigation technology for farmland will develop in the following directions:

1. Continuous Improvement in Technological Level

Subsequent water-saving irrigation technologies will develop towards the integration of high-tech systems, achieving close coordination in various dimensions such as time, space, quantity, and quality, thereby improving irrigation precision.

2. Improved Water Use Efficiency Will Also Be an Important Direction for the Development of Water-Saving Irrigation

The development prospects of underground irrigation are very broad. Currently, the popularity of underground irrigation is low, and its promotion is slow, but with the continuous development of key technologies, the popularity of underground irrigation technology will become increasingly widespread.

3. Sprinkler Irrigation Technology Will Remain the Mainstream Irrigation Mode for a Long Period

Especially in the mechanized production of field crops, the advantages of sprinkler irrigation technology are irreplaceable. Future research on this technology will focus on comprehensive utilization, including research on intelligent water-saving irrigation equipment, the application of 3S technology to achieve precision irrigation, and further integration with biotechnology to develop crop-regulated irrigation technology, etc.