Development of subsurface irrigation systems capable of controlled release of root growth inhibitors RTC-2015-3321-2.

Irrigated agriculture is essential to the global food supply; although it accounts for only 17% of the world’s cultivated land, it produces 40% of the world’s food.

Increasing water productivity is essential.

To this end, using subsurface drip irrigation—in which the dripline pipes are buried in the cropland—is an efficient solution, as subsurface irrigation offers numerous advantages. Most importantly, it ensures better use of the water and nutrients applied, resulting in higher-quality agricultural products.

However, this presents a challenge: preventing root intrusion—that is, preventing roots from growing into the distribution network’s emitters and rendering them inoperable.

CPLAST’s primary objective is to develop a solution that prevents roots from penetrating underground irrigation systems and, consequently, from clogging them. This makes it possible to increase not only water efficiency compared to conventional systems, but also agricultural and energy sustainability. Furthermore, this solution is specifically designed to be compatible with underground irrigation systems, providing high resistance to clogging.