Portal de Cartagena
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A sustainable irrigation based on the water deficit is possible.
The European project Irriman Life +, coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT) in collaboration with the Center for Edaphology and Applied Biology of Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), the Ministry of Agriculture of Murcia, the University of Córdoba (UCO) and the Community of Regantes Genil-Cabra and the Federation of Communities of Irrigators of the Mediterranean (Fenacore) has come to an end after three years of work resulting in the implementation of intelligent irrigation systems reduce up to 30% water consumption and a 40% CO2 emissions from the ground, thus mitigating, according to the project coordinator, Alejandro Pérez Pastor, climate change.
The adoption of this efficient irrigation system will lead to increases in water productivity, increases in carbon sequestration potential in the agroecosystem and will decrease the energy costs of pressurized irrigation.
The researchers calculate a saving of 30% in both water inputs and fertilizers.
In addition, an app has been developed so that farmers know 'at every moment' how much water they can apply to the crop according to the water supply they have at the beginning of the crop cycle.
'With different strategies can apply, save and plan the little water that farmers have', explained Perez Pastor.
The Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering of the UPCT has hosted a day in which different speakers have explained the work done during this time.
The coordinator of the project, UPCT professor Alejandro Pérez Pastor, explained that some 30,000 hectares of crops such as olive, almond, peach or pear trees have benefited from the project's results and that in the next 5 years, ' many more will benefit too.
The secretary general of the Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, María Dolores Valcárcel, has also participated in the conference, which highlighted the current water shortage, which is why she considered it an "important initiative". conclusions drawn from this project.
In turn, the Rector of the UPCT, Alejandro Díaz Morcillo said that this project combines information technologies and communications applied to the field, so it has a tremendous potential, since, has pointed out that it has been possible to reduce Water consumption in agriculture, CO2 emissions 'while continuing to produce quality products'.
'The School of Agronomists shows that in basic research and scientific production, when working with companies, important advances are achieved.
It is possible to investigate and transfer at the same time, "he added.
The project, which is co-financed by the LIFE + Program of the European Union, fulfills the objective of implementing, demonstrating and disseminating a sustainable irrigation strategy based on deficit irrigation to promote its acceptance on a large scale in Mediterranean agroecosystems, characterized because of the scarcity of water, without affecting its quality.
Source: UPCT
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