General Theme: Less is better than more to provide water & food security to people: Drop to boom.
Theme A: Challenges to Sustaining Microirrigation into the Future
A1. Microirrigation in action: Status, challenges, barriers, redesigning, case studies, advances & innovative
technologies; operation and maintenance of MI systems (Filtering, flushing, chemical treatment and eco-friendly
ultrasound methods).
A2. Digital transformation in microirrigation to make predictions, minimize risk, and aid with design &
decision making: Web-based, MobileApp, Satellite and GPS, Google maps, MI Software, & ANNs, SWATc
models, data-driven strategies, sensors, bioinformatics; scope & applications of AI & ML, IoTs, ChatGPT,
ChatBat, LLMs, & Scada, etc.
A3. Sustainable MI R&D: Adaptation, performance, challenges, opportunities, appropriate strategies &
technologies.
Theme B: Technological Advancements in Microirrigation Systems
B1. Mathematical modeling from soil to microirrigation: Evapotranspiration (ET) models (evaluation/
comparison), hydraulic design (emitters, laterals/ sublaterals, filtration, etc.), non-saturated & saturated flow in
soils, FEM, CFD, ANNs, etc.
B2. Fertigation & pestigation (chemigation) via microirrigation: fertilizers/ nutrients, pesticides, colorants,
chlorine/ acids, & clogging issues, etc.
B3. Circular economy context in MI: Use & reuse of wastewater (treated or nontreated)/ rainwater/ recycled water,
water/saline & alkaline water; water quality; recycling of waste materials from MI industry & field, etc.
Theme C: Role of Microirrigation Systems in Land, Water, Energy, & Food Security
C1. Microirrigation versus Climate for improving land/ water/ energy/ food securities; Water-land-energy-
climate food nexus perspective in Microirrigation: role of MI under climate change conditions.
C2. Sustainable MI management & irrigation scheduling under climate change & water scarcity: Best
management (BMPs) & LID practices, more crop per drop, crop water requirements, Lysimeters, automation/
monitoring & control.
C3. Sustainable Microirrigation for trees (fruits/shade/ forest)/ wines; cereal & grains; rice; vegetables, root crops,
herbs & medicine plants, & organic farming, etc.
Theme D: Stakeholder & Community Engagement & Education
D1. Country experience & outreach programs: case studies, indigenous MI systems, capacity building programs;
bridging the gap among shareholders.
D2. Microirrigation for urban (city) and peri-urban agriculture: Recreation, home & community gardening,
vertical farming, rooftop farming, indoor farming, landscaping, parks & recreation facilities, ornamental plants,
historic sites.
D3. Outreach MI activities: Empowerment of farmers, outreach irrigation programs by Agric extension services/
capacity building projects, capacity building & training programs, social dimensions of MI.
D4. United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (1, 2, 3, 6, 13, 15, 17): Contentious issues in MI.
D5. Unveiling Stakeholder perspectives, attitudes, behaviors, and actions: Smart and precision irrigation in
coastal/arid/ semiarid/ humid regions and undulating areas, sandy/ alkaline & saline/ poor soils.
Theme E: Microirrigation Design, Innovations, and New Techniques for increased Crop Productivity
E1. Alternate water & green-energy resources: water deficit; Low energy precision application (LEPA) method,
solar pumps, solar/ wind energy in remote areas.
E2. Farm machines for management of MI systems: Design & development & manufacturing & evaluation.
E3. Sustainable Microirrigation: Economics; cost/benefit ratios; water conversation/ conservation benefits, &
mobile microirrigation.