"IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IS THE PRIMARY USER OF WATER IN EUROPE AND IS A VERY COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC SECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. ALMOST THE 46% OF THE REGION�S POPULATION LIVES IN PLACES (ALMOST NINE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES), WHICH ARE WATER-STRESSED (EEA, 2009 ). MOREOVER, IN EUROPE ALSO THE PROBLEM OF WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER BODIES HAS RECEIVED GREAT INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE USE OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS IN AGRICULTURE (OECD, 2013 ).

"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.