3. Conclusions
The proposed smart drainage management approach will reduce yield losses
during summer drought and also reduce nutrient loading to surface water
from the agricultural field. Application of solar panels, reusing
drainage water and reducing the nutrient loads are supportive of the
concept of circular economy and
sustainable resources management. The presented approach can lead to
optimizing resources in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus of Nordic
agriculture. The key advantages of the proposed approach are: (i) It is
simple, flexible, and eco-friendly; (ii) It can support sustainable crop
production in the Nordic region by reducing yield losses during summer
drought; (iii) It contributes to the European Union Water Framework
Directive’s (WFD) by potentially reducing nutrient loading from
agricultural fields to surface and sub-surface waters; (iv) It supports
the use of renewable energy sources in line with the EU Green Deal and
COP26 objectives, and; (v) It supports UN SDGs (SDG goal 6, targets 6.3
and 6.4) as it promotes the safe reuse of agricultural drainage water
for irrigation and provides opportunities to increase water use
efficiency.