"THIS PROPOSAL IS BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED IN THE RESEARCH PROJECTS ""SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WATER AND ENERGY USE IN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. PET2008-0175"" (2009-2011) AND ""ACTIONS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN IRRIGATED AREAS. AGL2011-30328-C02-01 ""(2012-2014). IN THESE PROJECT WERE DEVELOPED, CALIBRATED AND VALIDATED METHODOLOGIES AND SOFTWARE FOR IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, COLLECTIVE PRESSURIZED IRRIGATION NETWORKS AND PUMPING SYSTEMS.

"BASED ON PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESEARCH TEAM, RELATED TO REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION AND RECLAIMED WATER USE IN CITRUS AND FRUIT TREES IN MURCIA REGION, OBTAINED IN PREVIOUS PROJECTS AGL2010-17553 AND AGL2010-14861, THIS PROJECT UNITES BOTH RESEARCH GROUPS IN AN INTEGRATED PROJECT TO IMPROVE IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OF WOODY CROPS, BASED ON KNOWLEDGE OF THE AGRO-PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT IRRIGATION REGIMES AND WATER QUALITY.

"THE AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE THE WATER MANAGEMENT IN WOODY CROPS OF GREAT INTEREST TO SPAIN AND COUNTRIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN. THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE OLIVE AND THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR TABLE GRAPES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHERRY GROWING IN NON-TRADITIONAL CROPPING AREAS HAS BEEN THE KEY IN CHOOSING THESE CROPS. THE PROJECT IS BASED ON THE NEED TO HAVE A PRECISE KNOWLEDGE OF CROP RESPONSE TO WATER DEFICIT, BOTH AGRONOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL LEVEL, TO DEVELOP PRECISE REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION (RDI) SCHEDULING.