scholarly journals Mulching as water-saving technique in dryland agriculture: review article

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abdul Kader ◽  
Ashutus Singha ◽  
Mili Amena Begum ◽  
Arif Jewel ◽  
Ferdous Hossain Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Dryland Agriculture ◽  
Crop Cultivation ◽  
Agricultural Water Resources ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Agricultural water resources have been limited over the years due to global warming and irregular rainfall in the arid and semi-arid regions. To mitigate the water stress in agriculture, mulching has a crucial impact as a water-saving technique in rain-fed crop cultivation. It is important mainly for preserving soil moisture, relegating soil temperature, and limiting soil evaporation, which affects the crop yield. Mulching has many strategic effects on soil ecosystem, crop growth, and climate. Mulch insulates the soil, helping to provide a buffer from cold and hot temperatures that have a crucial activity in creating beautiful and protected landscapes. This study has accumulated a series of information about both organic and plastic mulch materials and its applicability on crop cultivation. Moreover, future research potentials of mulching with modeling were discussed to quantify water loss in agriculture.

Obstacles in Chinese Agricultural Water-Saving Technology Promotion and Related strategies

2013 ◽  
Vol 448-453 ◽  
pp. 1011-1014
Author(s):  
Hong Xia Pan ◽  
Heng Yang Fu ◽  
Lai Xi Bai
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Irrigation Technology ◽  
Agriculture Irrigation ◽  
Semi Arid

In recent decades, China has done a great deal of effort in promotion of agricultural water-saving irrigation technology, but there are still many problems, especially in the northwest, north and other arid and semi-arid regions. This paper describes the present situation of China's agriculture irrigation, and analyses Obstacles of Chinese agricultural water-saving technology promotion from various perspectives. Some suggestions are given for existing problems.

scholarly journals Multispectral Remote Sensing of Wetlands in Semi-Arid and Arid Areas: A Review on Applications, Challenges and Possible Future Research Directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 4190
Author(s):  
Siyamthanda Gxokwe ◽  
Timothy Dube ◽  
Dominic Mazvimavi
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Multispectral Imagery ◽  
Aquatic Life ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Semi Arid

Wetlands are ranked as very diverse ecosystems, covering about 4–6% of the global land surface. They occupy the transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and share characteristics of both zones. Wetlands play critical roles in the hydrological cycle, sustaining livelihoods and aquatic life, and biodiversity. Poor management of wetlands results in the loss of critical ecosystems goods and services. Globally, wetlands are degrading at a fast rate due to global environmental change and anthropogenic activities. This requires holistic monitoring, assessment, and management of wetlands to prevent further degradation and losses. Remote-sensing data offer an opportunity to assess changes in the status of wetlands including their spatial coverage. So far, a number of studies have been conducted using remotely sensed data to assess and monitor wetland status in semi-arid and arid regions. A literature search shows a significant increase in the number of papers published during the 2000–2020 period, with most of these studies being in semi-arid regions in Australia and China, and few in the sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviews progress made in the use of remote sensing in detecting and monitoring of the semi-arid and arid wetlands, and focuses particularly on new insights in detection and monitoring of wetlands using freely available multispectral sensors. The paper firstly describes important characteristics of wetlands in semi-arid and arid regions that require monitoring in order to improve their management. Secondly, the use of freely available multispectral imagery for compiling wetland inventories is reviewed. Thirdly, the challenges of using freely available multispectral imagery in mapping and monitoring wetlands dynamics like inundation, vegetation cover and extent, are examined. Lastly, algorithms for image classification as well as challenges associated with their uses and possible future research are summarised. However, there are concerns regarding whether the spatial and temporal resolutions of some of the remote-sensing data enable accurate monitoring of wetlands of varying sizes. Furthermore, it was noted that there were challenges associated with the both spatial and spectral resolutions of data used when mapping and monitoring wetlands. However, advancements in remote-sensing and data analytics provides new opportunities for further research on wetland monitoring and assessment across various scales.

scholarly journals Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Water Use Efficiency in Northwest China—Based on a Super-DEA Model and a Spatial Panel Econometric Model

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 632
Author(s):  
Weinan Lu ◽  
Wenxin Liu ◽  
Mengyang Hou ◽  
Yuanjie Deng ◽  
Yue Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Econometric Model ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Agricultural Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Semi Arid

Improving agricultural water use efficiency (AWUE) is an important way to solve the shortage of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. This study used the Super-DEA (data envelopment analysis) to measure the AWUE of 52 cities in Northwest China from 2000 to 2018. Based on spatial and temporal perspectives, it applied Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) to explore the dynamic evolution and regional differences of AWUE. A spatial econometric model was then used to analyze the main factors that influence the AWUE in Northwest China. The results showed firstly that the overall AWUE in Northwest China from 2000 to 2018 presented a steady upward trend. However, only a few cities achieved effective agricultural water usage by 2018, and the differences among cities were obvious. Secondly, AWUE showed an obvious spatial autocorrelation in Northwest China and showed significant high–high and low–low agglomeration characteristics. Thirdly, economic growth, urbanization development, and effective irrigation have significant, positive effects on AWUE, while per capita water resource has a significant, negative influence. Finally, when improving the AWUE in arid and semi-arid regions, plans should be formulated according to local conditions. The results of this study can provide new ideas on the study of AWUE in arid and semi-arid regions and provide references for the formulation of regional agricultural water resource utilization policies as well.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Water-Storage and Water-Saving Potential for Paddy Fields in Gaoyou, China

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanjuan Wang ◽  
Shaoli Wang ◽  
Haorui Chen ◽  
Jiandong Wang ◽  
Yuan Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern China ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Average Water ◽  
Agricultural Water Resources ◽  
Water Fee

In China, the stress on agricultural water resources is becoming increasingly severe. In response, a range of water-saving irrigation (WSI) policies and practices have been promoted to improve irrigation efficiency. In this study, a water-balance model in paddy fields was calibrated and validated using a 2-year field experimental dataset collected from an irrigated area in Gaoyou, China, in 2014–2015. The model was used to assess the effects of WSI practices and provides options for implementing water-price reforms. Results show that paddy fields effectively retain rainfall with utilization rates greater than 70% for both shallow wet irrigation (SWI) and shallow humidity-regulated irrigation (SHRI) scenarios. The estimated average water-saving rates from 1960 to 2015 using SWI and SHRI are 33.7% and 43%, respectively, which represent considerable reductions in water consumption. The benefits of WSI practices combined with water management policies are also evident. For example, conversion of irrigation water to industrial water yields a 3-year average water fee of 205.2 yuan/ha using SWI and 20.6 yuan/ha using SHRI, considerably reducing farmers’ financial burden for agricultural water supplies. In conclusion, we recommend the adoption of SWI and SHRI practices in southern China as a means of partially alleviating China’s water-shortage problem.

Interactions between agricultural mulching plastic debris and pesticides

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Beriot ◽  
Paul Zomer ◽  
Raul Zornoza ◽  
Violette Geissen Geissen
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Soil Organisms ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Sorption Behaviour ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Plastic Mulching ◽  
Safe Approach ◽  
Active Substances ◽  
Semi Arid

<div> <p>In semi-arid regions, the use of plastic mulch and pesticides in conventional agriculture is nearly ubiquitous. The use of plastics and pesticides lead both to the release of residues in the soils. The degradation of plastic and pesticide residues in the soil have been previously studied, but not together despite the fact that pesticides may be sorbed to plastics and that the sorption may change the degradation rate. In fact, the sorption of pesticides on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) has been previously  studied, but no data is available for other plastics such as Pro-oxidant Additive Containing (PAC) plastics or “biodegradable” (Bio) plastics. The aim of this research was to measure the sorption pattern of active substances from 38 pesticides on LDPE, PAC and Bio plastic mulches and to compare the decay of the active substances in the presence and absence of plastic debris. For this purpose, 38 active substances from 17 insecticides, 15 fungicides and 6 herbicides commonly applied with plastic mulching in South-east Spain were incubated at 35°C for 15 days with a 3×3 cm² square of plastic mulch (LDPE, PAC and Bio). The QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) approach was adapted to extract the pesticides. The sorption behaviour depended on both, the pesticide and the plastic mulch type. On average, the sorption percentage was ~23% on LDPE and PAC, and ~50% on Bio. The decay of active substances in the presence of plastic was, on average, 30% lower than the decay of active substances in solution alone. Therefore, efficacy, transport, degradability and/or eco-toxicity of active substances from pesticides may be affected by sorption on plastics. Additionally the sorption of pesticides on plastic debris may affect the plastic degradability due to the toxicity of pesticides to some soil organisms.</p> </div><p> </p>

scholarly journals A MOISTURE CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR REDUCING SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR CANTALOUPE PRODUCTION IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS.

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 587b-587
Author(s):  
David A. Bender ◽  
Frank J. Dainello
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Emergence Time ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Supplemental Irrigation ◽  
Vine Growth ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Semi Arid

Trenched beds covered with plastic mulch was used to capture and retain precipitation for dryland cantaloupe production. Two trenches were formed in the fall in raised beds. Plastic mulch was laid over the beds and slitted at ca. 1 meter intervals over the trenches. Soil was placed over the slits, conforming the plastic to the shape of the trenches and channeling precipitation into the beds. Cantaloupes were seeded in the spring and grown with no supplemental irrigation. Planting moisture was significantly greater under the capture system than in unmulched beds. Seedling emergence time was reduced from 18 to 6 days and vine growth in the first 6 weeks was almost doubled. Total and marketable yields were doubled and fruit size significantly increased when water was limiting. Elevated soil temperatures under the mulch enhanced plant growth and yield even when moisture was not limiting. Combining a moisture capture system with supplemental irrigation could allow commercial production of cucurbit crops under limited water conditions in semi-arid areas.

scholarly journals The Water-Saving Strategies Assessment (WSSA) Framework: An Application for the Urmia Lake Restoration Program

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2789
Author(s):  
Somayeh Shadkam ◽  
Pieter van Oel ◽  
Pavel Kabat ◽  
Amin Roozbahani ◽  
Fulco Ludwig
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Lake Restoration ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Urmia Lake ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Policy Agenda ◽  
Return Flows ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

Increases in water demand often result in unsustainable water use, leaving insufficient amounts of water for the environment. Therefore, water-saving strategies have been introduced to the environmental policy agenda in many (semi)-arid regions. As many such interventions failed to reach their objectives, a comprehensive tool is needed to assess them. We introduced a constructive framework to assess the proposed strategies by estimating five key components of the water balance in an area: (1) Demand; (2) Availability; (3) Withdrawal; (4) Depletion and (5) Outflow. The framework was applied to assess the Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP) which aimed to increase the basin outflow to the lake to reach 3.1 × 109 m3 yr−1. Results suggested that ULRP could help to increase the Outflow by up to 57%. However, successful implementation of the ULRP was foreseen to be impeded because of three main reasons: (i) decreasing return flows; (ii) increased Depletion; (iii) the impact of climate change. Decreasing return flows and increasing Depletion were expected due to the introduction of technologies that increase irrigation efficiency, while climate change could decrease future water availability by an estimated 3–15%. We suggest that to reach the intervention target, strategies need to focus on reducing water depletion rather than water withdrawals. The framework can be used to comprehensively assess water-saving strategies, particularly in water-stressed basins.

scholarly journals Soil Salinity: Causes and Impacts on Agriculture and the Environment: ملوحة التربة: أسبابها وآثارها على الزراعة والبيئة

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sleem Ali Saleem Kreba
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Important Method ◽  
Remote Sensing Technology ◽  
Sensing Technology ◽  
The Right ◽  
Semi Arid

  Soil salinity is an important issue for agriculture and the environment, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Soil salinity influences agricultural productivity and soil properties. It is strongly related to irrigation and groundwater. This review article considers collecting published scientific knowledge about the soil salinity issue. It considers introducing the soil salinity, its types, its causes, its impacts on agriculture and the environment, its measuring methods, and its reclamation methods. The article considers also the remote sensing technology and its use in monitoring and predicting soil salinity. This article was prepared to help farmers, students, scientists, and researchers in agricultural and environmental sectors. Conserving affected lands with salinity is costly and time consuming, and choosing the right crops and plant species is the most important method to deal with this issue.    

scholarly journals A laboratory comparison of the interactions between three plastic mulch types and 38 active substances found in pesticides

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Beriot ◽  
Paul Zomer ◽  
Raul Zornoza ◽  
Violette Geissen
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Sorption Behavior ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Plastic Mulching ◽  
Safe Approach ◽  
Active Substances ◽  
Semi Arid

Background In semi-arid regions, the use of plastic mulch and pesticides in conventional agriculture is nearly ubiquitous. Although the sorption of pesticides on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) has been previously studied, no data are available for other plastics such as Pro-oxidant Additive Containing (PAC) plastics or “biodegradable” (Bio) plastics. The aim of this research was to measure the sorption pattern of active substances from pesticides on LDPE, PAC and Bio plastic mulches and to compare the decay of the active substances in the presence and absence of plastic debris. Methods For this purpose, 38 active substances from 17 insecticides, 15 fungicides and six herbicides commonly applied with plastic mulching in South-east Spain were incubated with a 3 × 3 cm2 piece of plastic mulch (LDPE, PAC and Bio). The incubation was done in a solution of 10% acetonitrile and 90% distilled water at 35 °C for 15 days in the dark. The Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe approach was adapted to extract the pesticides. Results The sorption behavior depended on both the pesticide and the plastic mulch type. On average, the sorption percentage was ~23% on LDPE and PAC and ~50% on Bio. The decay of active substances in the presence of plastic was ~30% lesser than the decay of active substances in solution alone. This study is the first attempt at assessing the behavior of a diversity of plastic mulches and pesticides to further define research needs.

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