Optimizing water use efficiency in greenhouse cucumber cultivation: A comparative study of intelligent irrigation systems

This study investigated the use of an intelligent irrigation system for greenhouse cucumber cultivation, aiming to manage water consumption efficiently. During the initial phase, irrigation was tested at four levels: 80%, 90%, and 100% of Field Capacity (FC), and Conventional Flood Irrigation (CFI)....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2024-10, Vol.19 (10), p.e0311699
Main Authors: Behzadipour, Faeze, Ghasemi-Nejad-Raeini, Mahmoud, Mehdizadeh, Saman Abdanan, Taki, Morteza, Moghadam, Bijan Khalili, Bavani, Mohammad Reza Zare
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural Irrigation - methods
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Agriculture - methods
Best practice
Biology and Life Sciences
Chlorophyll - metabolism
Comparative studies
Crops, Agricultural - growth & development
Cucumbers
Cucumis sativus - growth & development
Cultivation
Earth Sciences
Environmental conditions
Evaluation
Field capacity
Flood irrigation
Flood management
Greenhouse gardening
Greenhouses
Growth
Irrigation
Irrigation efficiency
Irrigation systems
Management
Optimization
Photosynthesis
Plant Leaves - growth & development
Sensors
Social Sciences
Vegetable cultivation
Water
Water consumption
Water shortages
Water supply
Water use
Water use efficiency
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Summary:This study investigated the use of an intelligent irrigation system for greenhouse cucumber cultivation, aiming to manage water consumption efficiently. During the initial phase, irrigation was tested at four levels: 80%, 90%, and 100% of Field Capacity (FC), and Conventional Flood Irrigation (CFI). Data on environmental conditions and water usage were meticulously recorded. Optimal yields and crop quality (measured by size and firmness) were achieved at CFI and 100% FC, with CFI consuming the most water (0.148 m3/m2) Consequently, 100% FC was identified as the best practice, informing the intelligent system's calibration in the subsequent phase. This adjustment resulted in reduced water consumption and a 15.6% improvement in Water Use Efficiency (WUE) over CFI. Additionally, by examining the product performance and the color characteristics, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis of the leaves, it was observed that the quality and optimal water supply and the product performance were maintained in the smart irrigation system. The study concludes that, considering long-term outcomes, the intelligent irrigation system is preferable to CFI, offering significant water savings and enhanced WUE without compromising crop quality.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0311699