Analysis of Advantages, Limitations, and Challenges of Subsurface Drip Irrigation System in Vineyards

Challenges in the agricultural sector are intensifying due to the increasing demand for water driven by climate change, population growth, and shifts in water use patterns. Achieving sustainable agriculture and food security under current conditions will not be possible without reducing water consumption in this sector. In recent decades, modern irrigation systems have been introduced as fundamental solutions to enhance water use efficiency. Surface drip irrigation (SD), by delivering water directly to the root zone, represents a major advancement toward water conservation and improved crop yield. However, several limitations remain, including evaporation losses from the soil surface, weed growth, interference with orchard operations, and the risk of damage to pipes and emitters. The subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system, as a more advanced generation of drip irrigation, has shown great potential to overcome the limitations of SD by burying laterals below the soil surface. SDI not only eliminates direct evaporation from the soil surface but also allows for more precise management of soil moisture within the active root zone. Considering the expansion of vineyards in the country, the implementation of SDI can significantly reduce water use in orchard management. This study aims to investigate the advantages and limitations of the SDI system in vineyards, with a particular focus on a case study conducted in Urmia. The results indicate that the SDI system achieves approximately 35% and 20% water savings compared to the provincial average and the SD system, respectively, while water use efficiency (WUE) can increase by 25–40%. Despite its substantial benefits, the successful application of this irrigation method requires careful consideration of technical aspects during design, equipment procurement, installation, and operation, all of which are discussed in this paper.