Precision irrigation management

Authors: IRMAK, SUAT - Pennsylvania State University; AGUILAR, JONATHAN - Kansas State University; ADAMCHUK, SLAVA - McGill University - Canada; HUANG, HSIN-HUI - McGill University - Canada; Oshaughnessy, Susan; KUKAL, MEETPAL - Pennsylvania State University; KISEKKA, ISAYA - University Of California, Davis; PORTER, DANA - Texas A&M Agrilife; ANDRADE-RODRIGUEZ, MANUEL - University Of Nevada; YARI, AGHIL - McGill University - Canada; MADRAMOOTOO, CHANDRA - McGill University - Canada

Submitted to: Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2024
Publication Date: 11/3/2025
Citation: Irmak, S., Aguilar, J., Adamchuk, S., Huang, H., Oshaughnessy, S.A., Kukal, M., Kisekka, I., Porter, D., Andrade-Rodriguez, M., Yari, A., Madramootoo, C. 2025. Precision irrigation management. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. November Issue. 1-21.

Interpretive Summary: Quality water resources for agricultural production are diminishing in the U.S. and across the globe due to non-replenishing groundwater resources, competition from other sectors, climate change, and poor management. These issues directly impact sustainable agriculture and food security. Irrigated agriculture can stabilize yields and produce double to triple the economic yield as compared with rainfed agriculture, however, irrigation systems and irrigation scheduling methods must be improved to increase economic yield per unit of water used by crops and livestock. In this article scientists from USDA-ARS Bushland and nationwide universities provide a synopsis of how precision irrigation technologies can directly increase food production (as compared with rainfed), mitigate yield decline during drought, improve the economic viability of existing cropland, and potentially reduce water usage in relatively inefficient irrigation systems.

Technical Abstract: Water is a crucial input for global food productivity in all aspects of agricultural production from crop cultivation to livestock management to other steps involved in the value chain. Irrigation remains vitally important in the U.S. and worldwide to enhance agricultural productivity. Irrigation provides stability for agricultural productivity, enhances yield quantity and quality, and plays a vital role in sustaining production. Considering the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural production and management practices, especially in terms of increase in air temperature, vapor pressure deficit and increased variability in precipitation timing, amount and intensity, irrigation scheduling is considered as one of the most effective management tools to mitigate climate change impacts on the production of agricultural commodities, especially with respect to managing drought stress. Because drought and/or limited water resources are major limiting factors for food and fiber production worldwide, especially in dry regions, a substantial portion of the increase in crop production and crop water productivity to meet the food and fiber demands of the world’s population will most likely stem from irrigated agriculture. With the projected need of 60% more food production to achieve food security by 2050, the challenge is how to achieve this goal with the same or even reduced water resources without sacrificing its other ecological services and functions. The challenge is even elevated further when other stressors to this resource such as climate change, pollution, poor management, and poor policy are taken into consideration. Thus, producing more food and fiber for meeting the demand of increasing world population requires producing more commodities with equal or less resources, which requires enhancing crop water and nutrient productivity. These enhancements can aid in reducing within-field water losses and increase crop production efficiency by applying the proper amount of water at the right time and at the right place in the production field utilizing precision irrigation technologies.