Wang et al. (2026) Optimizing subsurface drip irrigation to enhance root-zone environment and pear orchard productivity in arid regions

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural Water Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-13
• Authors: Jiaxin Wang, Tong Heng, Ning Ma, Fangyuan Zhou, Xinlin He
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110625

Research Groups

• College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University
• College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University
• College of Hydraulic and Civil Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University
• Key Laboratory of Cold and Arid Regions Eco-Hydraulic Engineering of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps

Short Summary

This study investigates the effects of subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI) on root-zone water–heat–salt dynamics and orchard productivity in arid regions. The results show that SSDI improves root-zone water retention, mitigates salt accumulation, and moderates soil temperature, ultimately enhancing comprehensive orchard benefits.

Objective

• Investigate the mechanisms by which subsurface drip irrigation regulates root-zone water–heat–salt dynamics and influences orchard performance.
• Optimize irrigation management to achieve synergistic improvements in yield, water productivity, fruit quality, and profitability.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Field experiment conducted at a pear orchard in southern Xinjiang, China.
• Temporal Scale: Three-year field experiment (2021–2023) with two additional control systems: surface drip irrigation (SDI) and traditional flood irrigation (FI).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
• Data sources: Field measurements of soil moisture content, electrical conductivity, soil temperature, above-ground growth, root sampling, fruit quality, yield, water productivity, and net profit.

Main Results

• SSDI improves root-zone water retention and salt regulation while reducing deep percolation losses.
• Irrigation amount and lateral depth significantly affect soil temperature across the 0–100 cm soil profile.
• Root traits generally increase with irrigation amount, particularly in the 0–30 cm layer.
• The optimized I3L2 treatment (6750 m³ ha⁻¹ irrigation amount and 30 cm lateral depth) exhibits higher values of root traits than SDI and FI.

Contributions

• This study provides a scientific basis for precision irrigation management in arid fruit orchards by elucidating the mechanisms by which SSDI regulates root-zone water–heat–salt dynamics and influences orchard performance.
• The results demonstrate that optimizing SSDI through coordinated regulation of irrigation amount and lateral depth can achieve synergistic improvements in yield, water productivity, fruit quality, and profitability.

Funding

• This research was funded by the Key Laboratory of Cold and Arid Regions Eco-Hydraulic Engineering of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps.

Citation

@article{Wang2026Optimizing,
  author = {Wang, Jiaxin and Heng, Tong and Ma, Ning and Gong, Ping and Xu, Yibin and Zhou, Fangyuan and Zhao, Li and He, Xinlin},
  title = {Optimizing subsurface drip irrigation to enhance root-zone environment and pear orchard productivity in arid regions},
  journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110625},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110625}
}