REGENERACTION Operational Group: Irrigation with reclaimed water and energy interconnection

Irrigation Management Advisory Needs: This document identifies the main irrigation management advisory needs identified directly with farmers and irrigation communities (ICCs) through focus groups. The results show what kind of practical support irrigators require to improve irrigation scheduling, optimize water use, and reduce irrigation and energy costs. The participation of ICCs in the workshops and the expression of specific needs by farmers confirm the relevance of this assessment. For farmers, the main value of these results is having a clear basis of recommendations tailored to the actual conditions of their farms. This knowledge will facilitate technical advice and the use of irrigation management tools, enabling more precise decisions about when and how much to irrigate. This will translate into water savings, reduced energy consumption, and improved crop productivity. In short, it presents opportunities to improve irrigation systems and practical solutions for farm profitability.

Irrigators' Evaluation of the Developed Tool and its Practical Application: The results show the level of acceptance and perceived usefulness of the tool among farmers who have tested it, as well as the percentage of users satisfied with its performance within the irrigation community. The information was obtained through surveys, feedback workshops, and analysis of participants' practical experience. For farmers, this result confirms that the tool can be easily applied under real-world farming conditions. Its use allows for improved irrigation planning and more informed decisions regarding the timing and amount of water to apply. This helps optimize water and energy use, reduce irrigation costs, and improve crop yields. Farmers can use this tool to support more efficient irrigation management, adapting it to the needs of the crop and the conditions of their plot, thus contributing to increased profitability and sustainability of the farm.

Irrigation Recommendation Module: The irrigation recommendation module is adapted to various woody crops such as persimmon, peach, grapevine, and olive. This system generates personalized irrigation recommendations at the plot scale, taking into account crop characteristics and local conditions. The results have been validated on different agricultural areas, demonstrating its ability to provide practical irrigation recommendations tailored to each farm. For farmers, the main benefit is having clear recommendations on when to irrigate and how much water to apply to each plot. This facilitates decision-making and reduces the need for manual calculations or inaccurate estimates. Applying these recommendations improves water use efficiency, reduces energy consumption associated with irrigation, and maintains good crop productivity. Farmers can use this module as a support tool to manage irrigation more precisely, optimize available resources, and improve the profitability and sustainability of their farm.

Irrigation report with vegetation indices and soil moisture, N, P, and K evolution. This plot-scale irrigation report combines information provided by farmers with objective data obtained through satellite vegetation indices and soil sensors installed in the field. The result integrates crop development, as well as key soil parameters such as moisture and nutrient availability (N, P, and K), thus more accurately analyzing the crop's actual water needs. For farmers, this provides a practical tool to better understand how their crops respond to irrigation. The availability of combined information on crop status and soil moisture allows for precise irrigation decisions, avoiding both over- and under-watering. This helps improve irrigation efficiency, reduce water and energy costs, and maintain balanced crop development. These reports facilitate monitoring plot development throughout the growing season and optimize irrigation management, thereby improving the productivity and sustainability of the farm.

Water Distribution Network Model and its Energy Requirements: This model of the irrigation water distribution network simulates the operation of irrigation shifts and estimates the system's energy needs. It integrates information on network infrastructure, water demand, and energy consumption, allowing for the analysis of different operating scenarios. This yields the percentage of energy required to operate the network and assesses the influence of shift scheduling on energy consumption. For irrigation districts, this result provides a useful tool for better planning shifts and optimizing energy use in the irrigation system. The model allows for the identification of more efficient shift configurations, reducing energy consumption and lowering irrigation operating costs. Irrigation district managers can use this information to improve irrigation campaign planning, make better use of available energy, including energy from renewable sources, and increase the overall efficiency of the system, thus contributing to cost reduction and improved irrigation sustainability.

Energy Optimization and Efficiency Module: This energy optimization module combines grid power, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and battery storage. This system allows for the analysis of grid energy performance and the evaluation of how different energy supply configurations can improve efficiency. The module calculates the system's energy balance and the percentage reduction in grid energy consumption, while maintaining adequate pressure for irrigation in the fields. For agricultural cooperatives, this result provides a practical tool for more efficiently managing the energy used in irrigation. Utilizing this information allows for better use of available solar energy, reduces dependence on the grid, and lowers system energy costs. Furthermore, the combined use of photovoltaics and batteries helps stabilize the energy supply during irrigation periods. Implementing these recommendations can improve irrigation system efficiency, reduce electricity costs, and contribute to more sustainable farm management.

Reclaimed Water Quality Control Module: This module allows for the analysis and visualization of data from analyses of water used for irrigation. The system integrates an AI agent to automatically extract and process the analysis data, generating clear reports on the evolution of reclaimed water quality over time. This verifies that the water used meets the requirements for agricultural use and facilitates its monitoring. For irrigation communities, this provides a practical tool for greater confidence in the use of reclaimed water for irrigation. Thanks to access to clear and up-to-date information on water quality, it is possible to make more informed decisions about its use in crops. This facilitates the use of alternative water resources, especially in water-scarce areas, reducing dependence on other sources and improving water availability for irrigation. Using this system increases confidence in the use of reclaimed water, optimizes irrigation management, and strengthens the sustainability of the farm.

Dissemination Materials: The project's training materials and results are available on the eufarmbook.eu platform, along with specific courses on irrigation scheduling and the use of weekly management reports. In addition, training workshops have been organized for farmers and irrigation associations interested in improving irrigation management through the use of the developed tools. These resources allow users to access practical content, real-world examples, and guides for applying these irrigation recommendations. For farmers, this outcome offers an opportunity to learn how to use digital tools that facilitate daily irrigation management. Through the courses and workshops, users can better understand irrigation reports, adjust the amount of water applied, and improve the efficiency of water and energy use on their plots. The availability of these materials on an open platform allows access to the information at any time. This knowledge helps reduce costs, optimize available resources, and improve the productivity and sustainability of farms.

Internal Communication and Dissemination Plan: This plan defines how to bring the project's solutions to farmers and irrigators. It consists of a Practical Guide that clearly explains how to use the tool developed to improve irrigation management, as well as dissemination materials and communication channels adapted to the agricultural sector. The plan establishes a coordinated strategy to disseminate useful information and facilitate user access to advice and training. For farmers, this outcome offers a direct path to learning about and applying practical solutions that improve water use and irrigation efficiency on their farms. The Practical Guide makes it easy to learn how to use the tool, facilitating more precise irrigation decisions. Furthermore, access to training materials, events, and technical advice helps implement these solutions in real-world conditions. Applying this knowledge can reduce water and energy costs, improve crop productivity, and increase farm sustainability, while also facilitating the adoption of new technological opportunities in the sector.

Technology Transfer: Project Events and Workshops. This outcome has allowed for a practical demonstration of the project solutions' functionality under real-world conditions, facilitating direct contact between users, technicians, and developers. Workshops and trade fairs have served to disseminate irrigation and energy management tools, as well as to share experiences and results with other professionals in the sector. For farmers, this outcome offers the opportunity to learn firsthand how to apply these solutions on their own farms. Through practical demonstrations and interaction with other users, they can better understand the tools and their real benefits. Participating in these workshops allows for the identification of specific improvements in irrigation management, reduced water and energy costs, and increased productivity. Furthermore, access to networks and other operational groups facilitates the adoption of new technologies and opens up opportunities for collaboration and innovation in the agricultural sector.

Technology transfer: digital dissemination channels. Through the EU FARMBOOK platform, social media, and electronic newsletters, farmers can easily access up-to-date information and audiovisual materials showcasing real-world application examples in crops such as grapevines, olive trees, persimmon trees, and peach trees. This content clearly explains how to use the developed solutions and the benefits they can provide under real field conditions. For farmers, this provides quick and easy access to practical knowledge without the need to travel. Through videos, publications, and newsletters, they can learn how to improve irrigation management, optimize water use, and reduce energy costs. Furthermore, access to real-world experiences from other farmers allows for a better understanding of the results and the adaptation of solutions to their own farms. Using these digital channels helps farmers make more informed decisions, improve irrigation efficiency, and leverage new technologies, contributing to increased profitability and sustainability in agricultural activity.

Publications: Technical and outreach publications on the project's results have been generated and disseminated: protocols, reports, and a final guide to best practices for irrigation and fertilization with reclaimed water. This information has been disseminated through media outlets, technical journals, digital platforms, and the project website, facilitating access to useful and up-to-date content for the agricultural sector. The outcome provides clear and practical documentation based on real-world field experiences. For farmers, this provides access to reliable and easy-to-implement recommendations for improving irrigation management and fertilizer use. The best practices guide helps farmers use reclaimed water safely and efficiently, optimizing resource use and reducing costs. Furthermore, the technical publications help farmers better understand how to apply new tools and strategies on the farm, thereby improving productivity, reducing water and energy consumption, and facilitating the adoption of more sustainable practices, increasing the sector's profitability and competitiveness.