Irrigation Distribution Network Design Parameters and Their Influence on Sustainability Management

In 2030, the world population will exceed 8.5 billion, increasing the challenges to satisfy basic needs for food, shelter, water, and/or energy. Irrigation plays a vital role in productive and sustainable agriculture. In the current context, it is determined not only by water availability but also by optimal management. Several authors have attempted to measure the performance of irrigation networks through various approaches in terms of technical indicators. To improve the sustainability in the pipe sizing of the pressurised irrigation networks, 25 different models were evaluated to discuss the advantages and disadvantages to consider in future methodologies to size water systems, which guarantee the network operation but contribute to improving the sustainability. They enable water managers to use them as tools to reduce a complex evaluation of the performance of a system, and focusing on better management of resources and sustainability indicators for agricultural ecosystems are clear and objective values.