CRC Press Sustainable Micro Irrigation Design Systems for Agricultural Crops: Methods and Practices (Innovations and Challenges in Micro Irrigation)

This new book, Sustainable Micro Irrigation Design Systems for Agricultural Crops, brings together the best research for efficient micro irrigation methods for field crops, focusing on design methods and best practices. Covering a multitude of topics, the book presents research and studies on: Indigenous alternatives for use of saline and alkali waters Hydraulic performance Distribution of moisture Fertigation technology Buried micro irrigation laterals Drip irrigation scheduling Rainwater harvesting Adoption and economic impact of a micro irrigation model This book is a must for those interested in irrigation planning and management, namely, researchers, scientists, educators, and students. Review "I congratulate the editors on the completion and publication of this book volume under the series on Innovations and Challenges in Micro Irrigation. Water for food production is clearly one of the grand challenges of the twenty-first century. Hopefully this book series will help irrigators and famers around the world to increase the adoption of water savings technology such as micro irrigation." ―Vincent F. Bralts, PhD, PE, Professor and Former Associate Dean, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana "Informative and is a must for all irrigation planners to minimize the problem of water scarcity worldwide. The Father of Irrigation Engineering in Puerto Rico of the twentieth century and pioneer on micro irrigation in Latin America, Dr. Goyal [my longtime colleague] has done an extraordinary job in the presentation of this book volume." ―Miguel A Muñoz, PhD, Former President of University of Puerto Rico, and Professor/Soil Scientist "I congratulate Dr. Goyal on his professional contributions and his distinction in micro irrigation. I believe that this innovative book series will aid the irrigation fraternity throughout the world." ―A. M. Michael, PhD, Former Professor/Director, Water Technology Center–IARI; Former Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, Kerala About the Author Megh R. Goyal, PhD, PE, is a retired professor in agricultural and biomedical engineering from the General Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus; and senior acquisitions editor and senior technical editor-in-chief in agriculture and biomedical engineering for Apple Academic Press Inc. He received his BSc in engineering in 1971 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India; his MSc in 1977 and PhD in 1979 from the Ohio State University, Columbus; and his master of divinity in 2001 from Puerto Rico Evangelical Seminary, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, USA. He spent a one-year sabbatical leave in 2002-2003 at the Biomedical Engineering Department at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, USA. Since 1971, he has worked as soil conservation inspector (1971); research assistant at Haryana Agricultural University (1972-75) and Ohio State University (1975-79); research agricultural engineer/professor at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of UPRM (1979-1997); and professor in agricultural and biomedical engineering in the General Engineering Department of UPRM (1997-2012). He was the first agricultural engineer to receive a professional license in Agricultural Engineering in 1986 from College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico. On September 16, 2005, he was proclaimed as "Father of Irrigation Engineering in Puerto Rico for the twentieth century" by the ASABE, Puerto Rico Section, for his pioneering work on micro irrigation, evapotranspiration, agroclimatology, and soil and water engineering. During his professional career of 45 years, he has received awards such as Scientist of the Year, Blue Ribbon Extension Award, Research Paper Award, Nolan Mitchell Young Extension Worker Award, Agricultural Engineer of the Year, Citations by Mayors of