Optimization of Subsurface Smart Irrigation System for Sandy Soils of Arid Climate

Abstract

The Arabian Peninsula is an arid zone with a hot desert climate and severe water scarcity. The low humidity, elevated ambient temperatures, and high evaporation rates in the region deemed conventional surface irrigation unsustainable. The IoT-based subsurface smart irrigation systems can be essentially developed for these regions to avoid surface evaporation losses. In this research, the sandy soil conditions of western Saudi Arabia have been considered in numerical simulations to evaluate the performance of a subsurface smart irrigation system. The influence zone of saturation generated by subsurface diffusers in the target root region has been analysed for two different types of sandy soils. The simulation results generated by the COMSOL Multiphysics program reveal that the subsurface smart irrigation system can be effectively applied to simultaneously manage the target root zone at the ideal saturated conditions and prevent surface evaporation losses.