Effects of Irrigation Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Horticultural and Fruit Crops in a Context of Water Scarcity

Dear Colleagues,

Irrigation in arid and semi-arid areas with low or erratic rainfall is known to improve crop growth and quality, allowing farmers to till fields to create more reliable food supplies. Climate change, population growth and increasing water scarcity place pressure on food supply as most freshwater, about 70 percent on average, is used for agriculture. Even using treated wastewater and saline becomes a resource; however, the potential environmental/human risks must be evaluated. The theme of irrigation in scientific research in agriculture has become of primary importance due to problems that have emerged during recent years of water scarcity. This requires further research and the application of innovative technologies and decision-making tools to provide secure solutions that promote resilient current and future irrigation management.

The objectives of this Special Issue on The Effects of Irrigation Management Practices on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Horticultural and Fruit Plants aim to:

1. Investigate the possible interactions in a warming climate between irrigation, fertilization and/or other cultivation techniques in crops to better understand their benefits.
2. Obtain a better understanding of the synergistic use of irrigation and biostimulants on yield and fruit quality;
3. Apply different irrigation management techniques (e.g., regular deficit irrigation–RDI, partial drying of the root zone–PRD and water reuse) to horticultural and fruit crops;
4. Optimize water management in crops, including the use of novel technologies (modeling, remote sensing) and tools to save water;
5. Evaluate the management, development, and planning of water resources, including the reuse of wastewater;
6. Consider all opportunities to implement a wide variety of adaptation techniques (from physiology to technology) to improve the irrigation management of crops in future climatic conditions.

This Special Issue offers an opportunity to gather studies and multidisciplinary approaches related to advanced technologies and innovative methodologies for irrigation management.

Different articles can be submitted, including original research papers, reviews, briefs and case reports.

Dr. Giuseppe Ferrara
Dr. Annalisa Tarantino
Prof. Dr. Alejandro Pérez-Pastor
Guest Editors

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