Water Productivity of Irrigated Agriculture in India Potential areas for improvement

Global food security is highly dependent on grain crops, which produce edible dry seeds that serve as a good source of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Being the most critical component of a human diet, it is not astonishing that over 50% of world daily caloric intake is derived directly from grains. These crops are grown in greater quantities worldwide than any other crop and have undoubtedly played a key role in shaping human civilization.

Introduction  The purpose of this guide is to familiarize those injecting pesticides into irrigation systems with the federal government's equipment requirements on the pesticide label. The guide will cover the legal requirements as well as discuss practical ways to meet the requirements.

Purpose of Irrigation Some of the main purposes of irrigation are enlisted below: 1. To supply essential moisture for plant growth 2. Transportation of fertilizers (Fertigation) 3. To leach or dilute salts in the soil 4. To help in field preparation, dust control, etc. 5. Other benefits of irrigation include cooling the soil and atmosphere to create a more favorable environment for crop growth and frost control.

In the last century, innovations in agricultural technologies centered on maximizing food production to feed the growing population have contributed to significant changes in agroecosystem processes, including carbon, nutrients, and water cycling. There are growing concerns regarding soil fertility depletion, soil carbon loss, greenhouse gas emissions, irrigational water scarcity, and water pollution, affecting soil health, agricultural productivity, systems sustainability, and environmental quality. Soils provide the foundation for food production, soil water and nutrient cycling, and soil biological activities. Therefore, an improved understanding of biochemical pathways of soil organic matter and nutrient cycling, microbial community involved in regulating soil health, and soil processes associated with water flow and retention in soil profile helps design better agricultural systems and ultimately support plant growth and productivity. This book, Agroecological Approaches in Soil and Water Management, presents a collection of original research and review papers studying physical, chemical, and biological processes in soils and discusses multiple ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, nutrients and water cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and agro-environmental sustainability.