Irrigated agriculture and the use of water resources in agriculture face the challenges of sustainable development. Research has advanced our knowledge of water use by crops, soil-water-solutes interactions, and the engineering and managerial tools needed to mobilize, convey, distribute, control and apply water for agricultural production. However, the achievements booked in user practice have revealed the need for new developments in the areas of resource conservation, control of environmental and health impacts, modernisation of technologies and management, economic viability and the social acceptance of changes. The contributions to Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture cover most of the relevant disciplines. Besides its multidisciplinarity, the different origins, experience, backgrounds and practices of the authors provide a wide, in-depth analysis of the various aspects of water resource utilization in agriculture. The papers review scientific, technical and managerial aspects, highlighting the main problems, issues and future developments. The book covers the different aspects of sustainability, including environmental, technical, economic, institutional and social ones. Advances in irrigation science and engineering are dealt with, both on- and off-farm. Special attention is paid to the different components of water quality management, to the transfer of technology, and to capacity building.

This volume is a tribute to Professor Dr Da Ruan, who passed away suddenly on July 31, 2011, aged 50. The flood of emails that spread throughout the fuzzy logic research community with the tragic news was testimony to the respect and liking felt for this remarkable man. Da was a hardworking , highly productive scientist who, during his short life, published 35 books and more than 250 research papers in highly ranked journals and conference proceedings. He established two successful conferences, FLINS and ISKE, as well as the international journal, JCIS. This book is a collection of contributions from 88 of Da's academic friends from 47 institutes, presented in 60 chapters and over 70 pictures. A Foreword by Lotfi Zadeh begins Da's story. Section 1 provides an overview of Da's funeral on August 6, 2011. Part II outlines Da’s scientific life, his education, scientific career, publications and keynote talks. Part III presents testimonials by Da's colleagues of academic activities, including guest professorships and his many visits to foreign institutes. Part IV contains thirty contributions from colleagues and friends across the world to describe their collaborative experience with Da. We hope this book will keep the memory of Da alive – great scientist, great friend, great humanitarian. He will remain in our hearts forever.

This report presents a methodology for identifying the main features (constraints and opportunities) of gravity-fed irrigation systems, which influence management and operation of the system for the purpose of water delivery. It presents the development of a generic for improving irrigation system operations. A case study of 64 irrigation systems in Sri Lanka is presented illustrating the practical application of the proposed typology.

Introduction; Institutions, policy and research; Research and policy on irrigation: the case of Pakistan; Discussion: linking research with policy; Conclusion.

The management of irrigation systems is context-dependent, socially constructed, and technically uncertain. An example of complex social-ecological systems, irrigation deals with both the ecosystem uncertainty and the implementation of new technological systems and water management options. Issues to be addressed by irrigation systems at the global scale include: water productivity and food security, field operation and maintenance, spate irrigation in climate change scenarios, and vulnerability of environmental resources. This book provides examples of some of the current challenges faced by irrigation systems from technical and social perspectives. The book offers an easy-to-follow format focused on different case studies combining evidence-based solutions for increasing resilience and reducing vulnerability of irrigation systems in semi-arid and arid regions across the world.