AXARQUÍA SOSTENIBLE: Implementation of an innovative system for water reclamation and fertigation

La Axarquía is a region with a deep-rooted agricultural tradition in the province of Malaga. Agriculture is a key activity for the local economy and job creation, but at the same time it is highly dependent on the weather. La Viñuela reservoir, the largest in the province and the main source of water for farmers in the area, is currently at 9.7% of its capacity. Low rainfall in recent years is jeopardizing the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Current consumption trends show that there will not be enough water to meet the growing demand without a drastic change in the way this limited resource is used, managed and distributed. There are different strategies to achieve a more efficient use of water in the agricultural sector, such as optimizing irrigation systems to avoid unnecessary contributions to crops, avoiding losses in pipes or using alternative sources such as reclaimed water. All these measures are necessary and must be used together.

The presence of nutrients in the reclaimed water is another advantage for crop management, since it allows reducing the amount of fertilizers needed to obtain optimal yields. However, if the contribution of nutrients is greater than that required by the crop, it can harm the growth of the plant and produce an excessive accumulation of nutrients in the soil with negative effects on aquifers and surface waters, due to the leaching of these with the infiltration and runoff water.

Axarquía Sostenible operational group focuses on the use of reclaimed water, since it is a resource with enormous potential that is being wasted and that allows the reuse of water and nutrients, thus reducing the consumption of fertilizers.

The proposed solution will be a water reclamation system that guarantees high water quality in accordance with the legal requirements for its reuse in agriculture (RD1620/2007 and EU Regulation 2020/741), and that will be integrated with an adapted irrigation system. for the use of reclaimed water and will have software for the management of nutrients contained in reclaimed water.

Axarquía Sostenible will also carry out agronomic and ecophysiological studies to promote better irrigation management according to the needs of the crops at different times of the year.