Work

Evaluating mobile drip irrigation as a water-saving alternative to center pivot irrigation for large-scale alfalfa production

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Mobile drip irrigation (MDI) has been proposed as a retrofit option to improve the water productivity of center pivot irrigation (CPI) for water-limited alfalfa production. However, how differences in root-zone soil water dynamics, inter-row soil evaporation, and short-term sap flow responses between MDI and CPI are associated with alfalfa yield, forage quality, and water productivity under large-scale field conditions remains insufficiently understood. In a two-year field study, MDI and CPI were compared in a large-scale alfalfa production system. During irrigation events, MDI showed no obvious short-term suppression of sap flow rate, whereas CPI induced a pronounced transient reduction. After irrigation, sap flow rate under CPI remained about 1.7 g h –1 lower than under MDI for approximately 24 h. MDI maintained higher root-zone soil water content, while annual hay yield under MDI was numerically 11.48% higher in 2022 and 4.22% higher in 2023 than under CPI. Crop water productivity (WP c ) varied among cuttings and years without consistent system differences, whereas irrigation water productivity (WP I ) was numerically higher under MDI in all irrigated cuttings, with a significant difference in the second cutting of 2022 (3.81 kg m –3 for MDI vs. 3.10 kg m –3 for CPI). Forage quality responses were modest, with MDI increasing crude protein in some cuttings, whereas relative feed value did not improve and occasionally declined. Overall, the results support MDI as a potential water-saving alternative to CPI by reducing non-productive water losses while sustaining alfalfa yield and overall forage quality under water-limited conditions.

Source: Agricultural Water Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110817