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In the Yinchuan Plain, the main source of water supply for agricultural crops is irrigation infiltration. Therefore, the irrigation process, method, and time are crucial for the rational planning and utilization of water resources in the region. In this study, the effects of different irrigation methods on groundwater recharge were investigated through irrigation quadrat tests combined with numerical simulations. The water content at depths of 10–50 cm had a more significant response to irrigation than that at 80 and 100 cm in the intelligent irrigation quadrat. The water content change at depths of 10–50 cm was smaller than that at 80 and 100 cm in the flood irrigation quadrat. The flood irrigation method had a greater impact on the water content in the deep vadose zone. The water content of intelligent irrigation was concentrated at depths of 30–50 cm, with weak groundwater recharge. The water content of the flood irrigation quadrat was concentrated at depths of 50–80 cm, with a significant impact in the vertical direction. The simulation results indicated that flood irrigation had the best effect on groundwater recharge, with an infiltration recharge coefficient of 0.73, compared to intelligent irrigation, which had an infiltration recharge coefficient of 0.41. When the groundwater depth range was 0.65–3.8 m, the infiltration recharge efficiencies of intelligent and flood irrigation were the highest at groundwater depths of 1.3 and 1.8 m. Our findings provide a scientific basis for methods of rational irrigation, which could help save water resources in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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