Abstract

The global agricultural sector is facing increasing challenges due to water scarcity, climate change, and environmental degradation. As water is a crucial resource for agricultural production, optimizing its use is essential to ensure food security and sustainable development. Modern irrigation methods, such as drip irrigation, subsurface irrigation, and smart irrigation systems, have emerged as effective solutions to improve water use efficiency and reduce the negative environmental impacts of traditional irrigation practices. This review explores the key modern irrigation techniques, their environmental benefits, and the challenges hindering their widespread adoption. The findings highlight how these technologies can significantly reduce water consumption, improve soil quality, and protect water resources from contamination. However, barriers such as high initial costs, technical expertise requirements, and water availability must be addressed to ensure their successful implementation. The review concludes by emphasizing the need for integrated water management strategies, policy support, and further research to overcome these challenges and maximize the environmental benefits of modern irrigation.