Agroecological Approaches for Soil Health and Water Management
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.
Agroecological Approaches for Soil Health and Water Management
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.
Modelling and Management of Irrigation System
Irrigation is becoming an activity of precision, where combining information collected from various sources is necessary to optimally manage resources. New management strategies, such as big data techniques, sensors, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and new technologies in general, are becoming more relevant every day. As such, modeling techniques, both at the water distribution network and the farm levels, will be essential to gather information from various sources and offer useful recommendations for decision-making processes. In this book, 10 high quality papers were selected that cover a wide range of issues that are relevant to the different aspects related to irrigation management: water source and distribution network, plot irrigation systems, and crop water management.
Modelling and Management of Irrigation System
Irrigation is becoming an activity of precision, where combining information collected from various sources is necessary to optimally manage resources. New management strategies, such as big data techniques, sensors, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and new technologies in general, are becoming more relevant every day. As such, modeling techniques, both at the water distribution network and the farm levels, will be essential to gather information from various sources and offer useful recommendations for decision-making processes. In this book, 10 high quality papers were selected that cover a wide range of issues that are relevant to the different aspects related to irrigation management: water source and distribution network, plot irrigation systems, and crop water management.
The Green Side of the Water Cycle: New Advances in the Study of Plant Water Dynamics
Precision irrigation is becoming a crucial management approach for environmentally and
economically sustainable fruit tree production. The vast majority of fruit crops need irrigation
supply as rainfall does not match crop water requirements (Stöckle et al., 2011; Snyder, 2017).
In most cases of fruit crops cultivated in dry areas, rainfed agriculture is not sustainable and
deficit irrigation (DI) is a reasonable strategy to improve water use efficiency. Fereres and
Soriano (2007) highlighted the benefits of regulated DI as a strategy to reduce agricultural
water use. The main purpose of regulated DI is to reduce irrigation at specific developmental
stages of the crop with no or limited effects on yield. The use of DI in different phenological
stages of fruit crops started in the 1980s by Chalmers et al. (1981, 1986).
The Green Side of the Water Cycle: New Advances in the Study of Plant Water Dynamics
Precision irrigation is becoming a crucial management approach for environmentally and
economically sustainable fruit tree production. The vast majority of fruit crops need irrigation
supply as rainfall does not match crop water requirements (Stöckle et al., 2011; Snyder, 2017).
In most cases of fruit crops cultivated in dry areas, rainfed agriculture is not sustainable and
deficit irrigation (DI) is a reasonable strategy to improve water use efficiency. Fereres and
Soriano (2007) highlighted the benefits of regulated DI as a strategy to reduce agricultural
water use. The main purpose of regulated DI is to reduce irrigation at specific developmental
stages of the crop with no or limited effects on yield. The use of DI in different phenological
stages of fruit crops started in the 1980s by Chalmers et al. (1981, 1986).
Optimizing Plant Water Use Efficiency for a Sustainable Environment
The rising shortage of water resources in crop-producing regions worldwide and the need for irrigation optimisation call for sustainable water savings. The allocation of irrigation water will be an ever-increasing source of pressure because of vast agricultural demands under changing climatic conditions. Consequently, irrigation has to be closely linked with water-use efficiency with the aim of boosting productivity and improving food quality, singularly in those regions where problems of water shortages or collection and delivery are widespread. The present Special Issue (SI) showcases 19 original contributions, addressing water-use efficiency in the context of sustainable irrigation management to meet water scarcity conditions. These papers cover a wide range of subjects including (i) interaction mineral nutrition and irrigation in horticultural crops, (ii) sustainable irrigation in woody fruit crops, (iii) medicinal plants, (iv) industrial crops, and (v) other topics devoted to remote sensing techniques and crop water requirements, genotypes for drought tolerance, and agricultural management.
Optimizing Plant Water Use Efficiency for a Sustainable Environment
The rising shortage of water resources in crop-producing regions worldwide and the need for irrigation optimisation call for sustainable water savings. The allocation of irrigation water will be an ever-increasing source of pressure because of vast agricultural demands under changing climatic conditions. Consequently, irrigation has to be closely linked with water-use efficiency with the aim of boosting productivity and improving food quality, singularly in those regions where problems of water shortages or collection and delivery are widespread. The present Special Issue (SI) showcases 19 original contributions, addressing water-use efficiency in the context of sustainable irrigation management to meet water scarcity conditions. These papers cover a wide range of subjects including (i) interaction mineral nutrition and irrigation in horticultural crops, (ii) sustainable irrigation in woody fruit crops, (iii) medicinal plants, (iv) industrial crops, and (v) other topics devoted to remote sensing techniques and crop water requirements, genotypes for drought tolerance, and agricultural management.
Water and Agriculture: Towards Sustainable Solutions
The main pressures from agriculture are linked to diffuse pollution from nutrients and chemicals, water abstraction and hydromorphological changes. Often several pressures act at the same time, potentially increasing the range of ecological impacts. According to information reported under the WFD, around one third of surface water bodies fail to achieve good status because of one or several of these pressures.
Water and Agriculture: Towards Sustainable Solutions
The main pressures from agriculture are linked to diffuse pollution from nutrients and chemicals, water abstraction and hydromorphological changes. Often several pressures act at the same time, potentially increasing the range of ecological impacts. According to information reported under the WFD, around one third of surface water bodies fail to achieve good status because of one or several of these pressures.
Watering Floodplain Wetlands in the Murray–Darling Basin to Benefit Native Fish A Discussion with Managers
This report describes the content and outcomes of a workshop entitled ‘Watering Floodplain Wetlands of the Murray–Darling Basin for Fish: A Discussion with Managers’ held on 5 March 2008 at Wonga Wetlands in Albury (NSW). The workshop was part of a four-year, National Water Commission funded project aimed at optimizing wetland environmental watering protocols to maximize benefits to native fish populations.
Watering Floodplain Wetlands in the Murray–Darling Basin to Benefit Native Fish A Discussion with Managers
This report describes the content and outcomes of a workshop entitled ‘Watering Floodplain Wetlands of the Murray–Darling Basin for Fish: A Discussion with Managers’ held on 5 March 2008 at Wonga Wetlands in Albury (NSW). The workshop was part of a four-year, National Water Commission funded project aimed at optimizing wetland environmental watering protocols to maximize benefits to native fish populations.
Water Productivity of Irrigated Agriculture in India Potential areas for improvement
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to estimate water productivity in irrigated agriculture in selected basins in India; and to identify the drivers of change in water productivity in these regions.
Water Productivity of Irrigated Agriculture in India Potential areas for improvement
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to estimate water productivity in irrigated agriculture in selected basins in India; and to identify the drivers of change in water productivity in these regions.