A Review of Fluid Flow Applications and Hydraulic Performance of Sustainable Drip Irrigation to Improve Water Resource Management

Abstract: Fluid flow applications to improve water
resource management towards sustainable irrigation are
one of the main targets of engineers nowadays, especially
with global climate change. The performance assessment
of the irrigation system is an important area of research to
improve water resource management. Through drip
irrigation systems, this review evaluated the application
uniformity of water and nutrients to sustain agricultural
production and protect the environment’s natural
resources. To achieve these goals, the adequate use of
nutrients and water must be emphasized by utilizing
sufficient water and nutrient management approaches,
including a drip irrigation system that supplies the inputs
immediately to the crop’s root zone. The process operating
pressure and the drip line length are the two most crucial
aspects that affect the uniformity of the water and nutrient
distribution in fields. Inconsistent or inadequate
applications of fertilizers and water in the fields contribute
to the incorrect supply of useful water and nutrients in the
soil profile along the drip line length resulting in a
significant decrease in crop yields and poor product
quality. The main cause behind the operating pressures in
a “micro-irrigation system” is the inadequate distribution
of fertilizers and water in the fields. Therefore, the effects
of such non-uniform distribution must be carefully
quantified and studied to understand the reasons behind
soil degradation and groundwater contamination, which
occurs due to excess nutrient leaching from the crop’s root
zone. Data on the distribution and movement of water and
nutrients in the soil is essential for designing efficient
fertilization systems. Drip irrigation can reduce water
exposure and input costs, making agribusiness more
resilient, profitable, and successful. This paper discusses
the uniformity of the nutrients and water application for
crops grown in various agro-climatic regions. In addition,
an effort was made to compare the findings’ quality of
various commonly used methods of water and nutrient
application under different climatic conditions.