What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to assess the effective management of irrigation for olive trees in saline soils, focusing on optimizing water use and increasing profits.

February 14, 2026Open Access

Sustainable management of olive trees under saline irrigation and soil conditions using micro-irrigation systems and remote sensing

Key Points

This study aims to assess the effective management of irrigation for olive trees in saline soils, focusing on optimizing water use and increasing profits.
Conducted field experiments across two growing seasons (2022-2024) with varying irrigation methods.
Employed seven irrigation systems, including micro-sprinklers and inline drippers.
Analyzed soil moisture and salinity distribution using Surfer software.
Measured yields, oil content, and economic returns associated with each irrigation method.
The inline dripper yielded the highest olive production at 13.78 ton ha −1 in the first season.
Oil content in fruits reached 40.0% using the bubblers and inline PC drippers in the second season.
Inline drip irrigation showed the best water productivity at 31.60 kg m −3 during the initial growing season.
The highest net farm income was noted with the inline PC dripper at 38,664.35 US$ y −1.

Abstract

Abstract The study was carried out to examine the sustainable management of irrigation water for olive cultivation in sandy soils with varying levels of water salinity at a farm situated in the Regwa region of EL-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, which is noted for its arid climate, aiming to improve the effective utilization of sustainable ecosystems while optimizing economic returns for agricultural producers. Field experiments were implemented over two successive growing seasons, specifically 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, employing seven distinct irrigation methodologies: micro-sprinklers, T-tape GR drippers, Root Zone Watering System (RZWS), inline drippers, inline PC drippers, mist sprayers, and bubblers. In the 2022–2023 season, the inline dripper treatment yielded the highest output of 13. 78 ton ha −1, followed by the inline PC dripper and micro-sprinkler systems, which yielded 13. 20 ton ha −1 and 12. 45 ton ha −1, respectively. In contrast, the mist sprayer treatment produced the lowest yield at 7. 61 ton ha −1. The oil content in olive fruits reached optimal levels under bubbler and inline PC dripper treatments in the second growing season at 40. 0% and 39. 87%, respectively. Conversely, the minimum oil content was recorded under micro-sprinkler and inline dripper treatments in the first growing season, yielding 34. 31% and 34. 36%, respectively. During the first growing season, the inline dripper exhibited irrigation water productivities (IWPs) of 31. 60 kg m −3, followed by the inline PC dripper with an IWP of 30. 28 kg m −3. In stark contrast, the mist sprayer reported the lowest IWPs of 0. 74 kg m −3 in the second growing season. The distribution patterns of soil moisture and salinity within the root zone were analyzed utilizing Surfer software. The most significant net farm income (NFI) was attained under the inline PC dripper treatment, with an NFI of 38, 664. 35 US y −1, succeeded by the inline dripper and micro-sprinkler treatments with NFIs of 36, 010. 95 and 30, 265. 94 US y −1, respectively; the mist sprayer demonstrated the lowest NFI at 17, 186. 49 US y −1.

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