NIŢU et al. (2025) Assessment of Soil Moisture Deficit and Adaptation of Irrigation Technologies to the Increasing Frequency of Droughts

Identification

• Journal: Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture Montanology Cadastre Series
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-27
• Authors: Oana Alina NIŢU, Elena Ştefania Ivan, Marinela GHEORHE, Marius CIOBOATĂ
• DOI: 10.52846/aamc.v55i1.1719

Research Groups

• University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Land Reclamation and Environmental Engineering, Romania
• Research Center for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania
• University of Craiova, Faculty of Agronomy, Romania

Short Summary

This study evaluates the increasing soil moisture deficit due to intensifying droughts in southeastern Romania and identifies effective irrigation technologies. It found that droughts lead to significant crop yield reductions, and drip irrigation is superior to sprinkler irrigation, offering 35–40% water savings while maintaining optimal moisture.

Objective

• To analyze the dynamics of soil moisture deficit under intensifying drought conditions, assess its impact on crop water consumption, and identify the most efficient modern irrigation technologies capable of ensuring sustainable crop production under climate change.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Southeastern Romania, specifically the regions of Dobrogea, Muntenia, and southern Moldavia.
• Temporal Scale: Multiannual climatic data, covering several consecutive years, with specific results presented for 2015–2023.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Penman–Monteith equation, FAO 56 guidelines, soil water balance method.
• Data sources: Multiannual climatic data (air temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration) collected from representative meteorological stations; field experimental data and scientific literature for irrigation technology performance evaluation.

Main Results

• Potential evapotranspiration increased by approximately 10–20%, while precipitation decreased during critical crop growth periods.
• Seasonal water deficits in the studied areas frequently ranged between 100 mm and 250 mm, reaching up to 435 mm in 2023.
• Irrigation requirements exceeded classical recommendations by 15–30%.
• Maize and sunflower experienced significant yield reductions of 30–60% without irrigation. Wheat and soybean also showed considerable losses (20–40%).
• Drip irrigation achieved water savings of 35–40% compared to sprinkler irrigation, ensuring more uniform moisture distribution and higher water use efficiency (WUE), particularly for maize and soybean.

Contributions

• Provides a quantitative assessment of intensifying drought conditions and their impact on major crops in southeastern Romania.
• Identifies and validates drip irrigation as a highly efficient technology for water savings and maintaining crop productivity under increasing water stress.
• Emphasizes the critical need for precision irrigation, soil moisture monitoring, regulated deficit irrigation, and modernization of irrigation infrastructure to enhance agroecosystem resilience.
• Offers a scientific basis for improved irrigation management strategies tailored to regional climate change impacts.

Funding

• Not explicitly stated in the provided paper text.

Citation

@article{NIŢU2025Assessment,
  author = {NIŢU, Oana Alina and Ivan, Elena Ştefania and GHEORHE, Marinela and CIOBOATĂ, Marius},
  title = {Assessment of Soil Moisture Deficit and Adaptation of Irrigation Technologies to the Increasing Frequency of Droughts},
  journal = {Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture Montanology Cadastre Series },
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.52846/aamc.v55i1.1719},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.52846/aamc.v55i1.1719}
}