scholarly journals Water Use Characteristics of Weeds: A Global Review, Best Practices, and Future Directions

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandeep Singh ◽  
Meetpal Singh Kukal ◽  
Suat Irmak ◽  
Amit J. Jhala
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Agricultural Water Management ◽  
Reporting Practices

Weeds usually penalize crop yields by competing for resources, such as water, light, nutrients, and space. Most of the studies on the crop-weed competition domain are limited to assessing crop-yield losses due to weed pressure and other crop-weed interactions, overlooking the significant uptake of soil-water by weeds that exacerbates global water constraints and threatens the productivity and profitability. The objective of this review was to synthesize globally available quantitative data on weed water use (WU) sourced from 23 peer-reviewed publications (filtered from 233 publications via a multi-step protocol of inclusion criteria) with experimental investigations across space (3 continents), time (1927–2018), weed species (27 broadleaf and 7 grasses) and characteristics, cropping systems (5), soil types (ranging from coarse-textured sand to fine-textured clay soils), determination techniques, experimental factors (environment, management, resource availability, and competition), and aridity regimes (ranging from semi-arid to humid climate). Distributions of weed WU data reported via eight different metrics were assessed for variability and mean WU. A lack of the best experimental and reporting practices in weed WU research was identified that undermined the robustness, transferability, and application of the WU data. Mandatory protocols and the best practices typically followed in the agricultural water management research were described and recommended for weed scientists to avoid pitfalls in quantifying and presenting weed WU. A model of mixed plant community evapotranspiration (ET) was adapted to model weed-crop-soil system evaporation and transpiration in a crop canopy infested with multiple (n) weed species. Finally, potential cross-disciplinary questions across the domains of crop science, weed science, agricultural water management, irrigation science and engineering, and environmental changes were proposed to direct and prioritize future research efforts in the crop-weed-water arena.

The State of Irrigation Infrastructure in Ghana: The Way Forward

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-67
Author(s):  
P. Glitse ◽  
B. V. Nyamadi ◽  
K. W. Darkwah ◽  
K. A. Mintah
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Agricultural Water Management ◽  
Irrigation Development ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Irrigation Infrastructure

The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is a public sector organization established to promote agricultural growth through the provision of irrigation infrastructure and other agricultural water management techniques. Irrigated agriculture in Ghana is categorized into formal, informal or smallholder and large-scale commercial irrigation. Over the years, irrigation development in the country has been faced with a number of challenges, which necessitated the development of the National Irrigation Policy, Strategies and Regulatory Measures and the Ghana Agricultural Water Management Pre-Investment Reform Action Framework. A number of factors affecting irrigation development in the country include lack of capital, commitment by successive governments, cost of energy, access to land and credit, lack of technical know-how and encroachment, among others. Analysis of budget provided by government for public irrigation development was carried out using simple linear regression. Results indicate a bright prospect of irrigation development, with reforms under implementation. A minimum of GHS 633.43 million is required for release into the sub-sector by government together with investments from private sector in the next ten years to shift the balance towards positive growth. To solve the problem of inadequate funding of the sub-sector activities, it is recommended that the GIDA collaborates with Development Partners to fund projects and activities in line with their objectives. GIDA should develop effective programmes for building capacity of contractors involved in development of infrastructure. GIDA should deepen its collaboration with private investors under PPPs and convert electric and diesel/petrol powered irrigation pumps to solar powered ones.

Weidebevloeiing in de Brabantse Scheeken

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-14
Author(s):  
HANS BLEUMINK
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Surface Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Agricultural Water Management ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Water Boards

Historical surface irrigation of pastures in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant: visible traces of a failed experiment In the second half of the 19th century, some major changes occurred in the water management of the eastern and southern provinces of the Netherlands. Unlike the low-lying western parts of the Netherlands which were characterised by polders and had a long history of formal water boards, the higher eastern and southern parts of the Netherlands were characterized by brook systems and sandy soils, and had no centralised water boards until 1850. From the 1850s onward, water boards were introduced in these higher regions as well, and agronomical scientists and organisations like the Nederlandse Heidemaatschappij endeavoured for the modernisation of agricultural water management. One of their priorities was the introduction of modern forms of surface irrigation of pastures, in order to increase crop yields. In various places modern irrigation systems were constructed. From the 1900s onward, these systems were abandoned due to the introduction of new chemical fertilizers, among others. This article describes the construction and abandonment of one of these modern irrigation systems that was located in Liempde, in the province of Noord-Brabant. The local farmers were not interested in the new technique, and within a few years the system was transformed in a poplar plantation. Nowadays, the area is part of a nature reserve. Nonetheless, the global layout of the irrigation system is still visible.

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