Conceptual principles of water resources management in irrigated agriculture

Abstract. Climate change causes a progressive deterioration of natural water supply increasing the need for irrigation and more rational use of water resources in it as the main mean for ensuring sustainable agriculture. Here we present the conceptual provisions intended to provide a capability to achieve maximum irrigation efficiency, which generalize our experience in irrigation water management in Ukraine. Main principles that should be integrated in an efficient decision support system include the use of a narrow high range of maintained moisture content in the root zone of soil; pressure as a criterion of moisture content level; differential, particularly fractional-order, models of moisture transfer for the prediction of irrigation schedules and rates; several methods of evapotranspiration assessment to improve the accuracy; remote sensing data to disseminate predictions to areas not covered by instrumental monitoring tools. The application of these principles support an increase in crop yields accompanied by irrigation water volumes reduction eliminating water losses for infiltration and the development of flooding and secondary salinization processes.