Irrigation is very important for agriculture and food security. For example, over 75% of the country's total grain production, over 90% of the total cotton and the total vegetables productions are from about 50% of the total irrigated land areas in China. Irrigation is also important for the food security, agricultural and socio-economic development for African countries.
Micro-irrigation has the advantage of: (1) increasing beneficial use of available water; (2) improving fertilizer and other chemical application; (3) enhancing plants growth and yield; (4) eliminating weed growth; (5) decreasing energy requirements; (6) improving cultural practices; reducing salinity hazard to plants; etc. Starting from the goals of high quality, high and stable yield, water saving, efficient utilization of fertilizers and control of agricultural non-point source pollution, advanced precise micro-irrigation & fertigation technology has become the fundamental trend of irrigation development in the world.
In the past 27 years, we have carried out long-term systematic research on micro-irrigation theory and technology, including hydraulic analysis and design, micro-irrigation system model suitable for different users and its key equipment (filtration systems, fertilizer injection systems, control systems, etc.), farmland water and nutrient management methods, irrigation and fertigation scheduling, and salinization preventing method etc..
This lecture is going to introduce the advanced micro-irrigation technology based on our research results. The contents include: introduce of micro-irrigation, effects of irrigation frequency on crop growth and water use, effects of controlling soil matric potential on crop growth and water use, irrigation scheduling for efficient use of water, irrigation scheduling for both purposes of irrigation and salt leaching, and several drip irrigation systems for different types of users.
About the Speaker
Prof. Yaohu Kang
Yaohu Kang, obtained his Ph.D in 1997, from the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Ehime University, Japan, obtained his Master degree in. 1994, from the School of Agricultural Science, Kagawa University, Japan, obtained his Bachelor degree in Jul, 1986, from the Department of Soil-Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University and he is a Professor, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resource Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing-China. Prof. Yaohu Kang, joined the Institute of Desert Research, CAS, as a Research assistant from Jul. 1986 to Jan. 1992, Professor from Dec. 1997 to Sep. 1999, Institute of Geography, CAS, and he is currently a Professor from Sep, 1999 at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, China.
He is distinguished Chair Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice Chairman, Microirrigation Branch, China Association of Irrigation Area and Pre Director, Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes. Associate editor, 《Resource Science》.
Prof. Kang has a long history of research in the fields of water cycle in Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continum (SPAC), microirrtation and sprinkler irrigation, saline water irrigation, saline-alkali soil utilization for agriculture (enclouding vegetation construction), hydraulic analysis and design of microirrigation systems, equipment development of microirrigation systems. He was Awarded by Talent Planning: The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (2001). The Hundred Talent Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for 2006.
Prof. Kang has made internationally-known achievements in both theoretical and technological aspects of microirrigation and sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation with saline water and saline soil utilization for agriculture. He published more than 270 papers, obtained about 30 national patents, 9 software copyrights, and he was one of main members, set two national standards and two national professional standards.
