New progress and prospects in variable rate irrigation technology

Efficient utilization of agricultural water resources is crucial for ensuring global food security. As a core technology of precision agriculture， variable rate irrigation （VRI） represents a key approach to addressing water resource challenges and achieving precise crop irrigation. Based on clarifying the conception and system architecture of VRI， this paper systematically reviews research advances in key technologies such as irrigation decision models， management zone delineation， dynamic prescription map generation， and spatial-temporal accuracy. It elaborates on the core modules and key components of VRI systems， including perception， decision-making， execution， and feedback. The paper also discusses the existing challenges in the application of VRI technology for field crops， such as difficulties in multi-source data fusion， insufficient adaptability of decision models， and high costs of technology promotion. Furthermore， it outlines future development priorities for VRI technology， including deep integration with the Internet of Things， artificial intelligence， and big data platforms， with a focus on enhancing application adaptability， reducing product costs， and optimizing decision-making models. The paper aims to provide theoretical reference for the research and application of VRI technology and to offer technical support for the high-quality development of high-water-efficiency and green agriculture.