Murcia, Spain – April 2025
A new scientific paper has been published showcasing groundbreaking research on sustainable water use in agriculture, with key contributions from a FARMWISE project partner. Titled “Controlled Drainage with Subirrigation Systems: Reduce Water Supply by Automatic Control,” the study is a collaborative effort by leading institutions including KWR Water Research Institute, Wageningen University & Research, KnowH2O, and the Institute for Environmental Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The research explores how Controlled Drainage with Subirrigation (CDSI) systems—an advanced method of managing groundwater through automated control—can drastically reduce the amount of external water needed for irrigation, without compromising crop yields.
Using a combination of field data and modelling tools, including the Soil, Water, Atmosphere, Plant (SWAP) model, the researchers simulated various growing conditions and water management strategies in the Dutch sandy Pleistocene uplands. The findings were compelling:
- Dynamic CDSI systems reduced the water requirement by up to 348 mm during wet growing seasons, compared to traditional fixed-level systems.
- By allowing minor water stress—accepting up to 10% daily drought or oxygen stress—water demand dropped by an additional 235 to 628 mm, depending on seasonal variation.
- Factors such as ditch water levels, root depth, and soil hydraulic properties were also found to significantly influence water needs.
This innovative approach to irrigation aligns with the growing demand for climate-resilient farming strategies in Europe and beyond. As climate change increases the frequency of droughts and floods, solutions like CDSI offer farmers a way to optimize water use, reduce costs, and ensure long-term productivity.
Wageningen University & Research, a key scientific partner in the FARMWISE consortium, played a central role in the project. Their contribution reinforces the FARMWISE initiative’s focus on leveraging research and digital innovation—such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and scenario modelling—to solve real-world water challenges in agriculture.
The paper’s publication marks another important step for the FARMWISE project, which brings together more than 20 partners from across Europe to develop cutting-edge tools and methods for sustainable water management. With over €6 million in EU funding, FARMWISE aims to empower farmers and policymakers with solutions that support environmental goals while maintaining agricultural output.
By advancing automated irrigation technologies like CDSI, FARMWISE and its partners are shaping a future where smart water management is central to sustainable farming.
FARMWISE – Advancing Agricultural Sustainability Through Innovation and Collaboration
