Farm Irrigation Management: Principles and Practices

Water is the lifeline of agriculture, and its efficient management is crucial for sustainable food production in an era of climate uncertainty and resource scarcity. Farm Irrigation Management provides a comprehensive guide to the principles and practices that govern water use in agriculture, offering insights into the latest scientific advancements, innovative irrigation techniques, and climate-resilient strategies to optimize water utilization.

This book explores the intricate relationship between soil, water, and plants, delving into critical topics such as soil-water-plant interactions, irrigation methods, drainage, and precision water management. With an emphasis on real-world applications, it equips readers with practical knowledge on land suitability for irrigation, water accounting and auditing, climate change adaptation strategies, and the design and operation of irrigation systems. The book also covers advanced topics such as fertigation, automation in irrigation, and the use of treated wastewater, making it a valuable resource for students, researchers, extension professionals, and policymakers.

Key Features:

• A holistic approach to farm water management, integrating scientific, technical, and practical perspectives.
• In-depth coverage of soil water properties, plant response to water stress, and irrigation scheduling.
• A thorough exploration of irrigation techniques, including surface, subsurface, drip, and sprinkler irrigation.
• Discussions on climate change impacts, water conservation strategies, and groundwater management.
• Emphasis on sustainable and precision irrigation practices for improved water efficiency.
• Latest advancements in automation, remote sensing, and data-driven irrigation systems.

What makes Farm Irrigation Management stand out is its ability to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical implementation, ensuring that readers not only understand key concepts but also gain hands-on knowledge to address real-world agricultural water challenges effectively.

Designed for agricultural scientists, engineers, farmers, and water resource professionals, Farm Irrigation Management serves as an essential reference for optimizing agricultural water use while ensuring environmental sustainability and food security.

Latief Ahmed, MS, DPhil, is a Scientist (Sr. Scale) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar. He has more than 10 years of experience in teaching and research in Agrometeorology and Agronomy. He has published more than 90 research papers in peer-reviewed international journals and conference proceedings. He has authored 3 international books. His expertise is in Agronomy, Precision Farming, Meteorology, Geoinformatics (GIS), and Climatology. Dr. Latief is a visiting scientist at the University of Guelph and University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. His current projects include IoT-based smart irrigation systems, crop water requirement, crop-weather relationships, weather-based agro-advisory services, forecasting agriculture and horticulture crops, and crop simulation modeling of all major crops in the temperate region.

Kahkashan Qayoom is a research scholar currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Sericulture from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), J&K, India. She has completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Sericulture from SKUAST-K, J&K, India. A recipient of a gold medal for academic excellence, she has also received numerous awards at both national and international conferences in recognition of her research contributions. In addition to her active involvement in research, she has participated in many national as well as international conferences. She has published several research and review articles, books, and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Her areas of research interest include agrometeorology, abiotic stress, water management, and precision agriculture.

Sameera Qayoom, currently Professor & Head of the Agro-meteorology Unit, completed her UG, PG, and PhD from Sher- e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), J&K, India. Having expertise in crop production, simulation modeling, and agrometeorology, she has guided more than 30 students from agriculture and horticulture as guide/co-guide and has more than 60 research publications to her credit, in addition to two books and 15 book chapters. Additionally, having proficiency in compilation of institutional reports and documents, she has more than 20 such reports to her credit. She has worked on 8 national and international funded projects and more than 50 institutional research projects. She has not only attended subject-specific national and international training in Agrometeorology and other agricultural fields but also personality development like Leadership and Management. She is a reviewer and life member of more than half a dozen reputed journals and recipient of a dozen appreciation certificates and awards for her dedicated work and contributions.