There are many challenges to be faced in order to achieve the optimum use of available resources against the increasing food and other demands of the world population with the shrinking resources. Optimization can be considered as the ensemble of steps which must be taken to find the minimum, or maximum, of a function that is usually called an objective function. This paper provides snapshots of research and practical implementation of optimum design concepts and criteria of surface irrigation systems. Technical papers and reports are reviewed addressing challenges and different aspects of this issue, in addition to optimum allocation systems of surface water and ground water. It is concluded that the optimum irrigation may be defined more broadly as maximization of overall benefits, including nonmonetary benefits as water quality protection, food security, increased employment, and resettlement of populations. Linear programming, dynamic programming and genetic algorithms techniques are still very popular to get optimal surface irrigation systems. Surface irrigation parameters identification represents an important way to get optimal surface irrigation systems. Optimal conjunctive use of surface and ground water resources may be needed in some cases, such as water deficits in arid and semi-arid regions and uncertainty.
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