Defining Spatial Priorities for Irrigation Development Using the Soil Conservation and Water Use Efficiency Criteria

This paper presents a methodology for defining spatial priorities for irrigation development in Vojvodina Province (Serbia). The purpose of the methodology is to take into account several UN Sustainable Development Goals and to try to minimize land degradation, while maximizing water use efficiency. In the first step, areas that can be irrigated over long-term periods with minimal risk of soil degradation were selected in the geographic information system (GIS) environment. Then, three experts used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to define the weights of four criteria related to water use efficiency. After that, the consensus model was used to obtain group weights of the criteria. These criteria were standardized and presented as GIS layers. Finally, cell values in all the layers were multiplied by corresponding consensus weights of the criteria. The weighted layers are summarized in the final map representing spatial priorities for irrigation development.

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Analysis of Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation in Xinjiang, China

Water ◽

10.3390/w12113266 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3266

Author(s):

Peibing Song ◽

Xiaoying Wang ◽

Chao Wang ◽

Mengtian Lu ◽

Lei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Evaluation Model ◽

Fuzzy Evaluation ◽

Agricultural Water ◽

Analytic Hierarchy ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Hierarchy Process

Improving agricultural water use efficiency (WUE) and reducing the proportion of agricultural water consumption are of great significance for coping with the water crisis in the world, particularly in northwest China. However, considering the lack of WUE indicators for the selection and an evaluation of system construction in Xinjiang, the implementation of the strictest water resources management system in this province has been seriously restricted. In order to evaluate the agricultural water utilization situation of 14 administrative regions in Xinjiang, a synthetical evaluation model is proposed combining the analytic hierarchy process method and the fuzzy evaluation method. Firstly, an evaluation system composed of the target layer (i.e., water use efficiency), the criterion layer (i.e., water use situation, engineering measure, planting structure) and the index layer (e.g., utilization coefficient of irrigation water, weighting irrigation quota, grain production per cubic meter of irrigation water, etc.) is constructed. Secondly, a classification standard of evaluation indicators is put forward and a fuzzy evaluation model is introduced into calculate agricultural WUE. Finally, key evaluation indicators that lead to these administrative regions with very low WUE are identified, and discussions on improving agricultural WUE in Kashgar are made. The evaluation results of this study are beneficial for providing support for reforming agricultural water use and promoting sustainable agricultural development in Xinjiang.

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Overexpression of MdATG8i improves water use efficiency in transgenic apple by modulating photosynthesis, osmotic balance, and autophagic activity under moderate water deficit

Horticulture Research ◽

10.1038/s41438-021-00521-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xin Jia ◽

Ke Mao ◽

Ping Wang ◽

Yu Wang ◽

Xumei Jia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Water Use ◽

Photosynthetic Capacity ◽

Critical Role ◽

Drought Conditions ◽

Moderate Drought ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Autophagic Activity

AbstractWater deficit is one of the major limiting factors for apple (Malus domestica) production on the Loess Plateau, a major apple cultivation area in China. The identification of genes related to the regulation of water use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial aspect of crop breeding programs. As a conserved degradation and recycling mechanism in eukaryotes, autophagy has been reported to participate in various stress responses. However, the relationship between autophagy and WUE regulation has not been explored. We have shown that a crucial autophagy protein in apple, MdATG8i, plays a role in improving salt tolerance. Here, we explored its biological function in response to long-term moderate drought stress. The results showed that MdATG8i-overexpressing (MdATG8i-OE) apple plants exhibited higher WUE than wild-type (WT) plants under long-term moderate drought conditions. Plant WUE can be increased by improving photosynthetic efficiency. Osmoregulation plays a critical role in plant stress resistance and adaptation. Under long-term drought conditions, the photosynthetic capacity and accumulation of sugar and amino acids were higher in MdATG8i-OE plants than in WT plants. The increased photosynthetic capacity in the OE plants could be attributed to their ability to maintain optimal stomatal aperture, organized chloroplasts, and strong antioxidant activity. MdATG8i overexpression also promoted autophagic activity, which was likely related to the changes described above. In summary, our results demonstrate that MdATG8i-OE apple lines exhibited higher WUE than WT under long-term moderate drought conditions because they maintained robust photosynthesis, effective osmotic adjustment processes, and strong autophagic activity.

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Effects of climate change and local environmental factors on long-term tree water-use efficiency and growth of Pseudolarix amabilis and Cryptomeria japonica in subtropical China

Journal of Soils and Sediments ◽

10.1007/s11368-020-02829-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tengjiao Liu ◽

Yan Xu ◽

Zhihong Xu ◽

Hongbing Deng

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Cryptomeria Japonica ◽

Subtropical China ◽

Tree Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency

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Long-term yield and water use efficiency under various tillage systems in Mediterranean rainfed conditions

Annals of Applied Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1744-7348.2007.00142.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 150 (3) ◽

pp. 293-305 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

C. Cantero-Martínez ◽

P. Angás ◽

J. Lampurlanés

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Tillage Systems ◽

Rainfed Conditions ◽

Use Efficiency

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Soil water cycle and crop water use efficiency after long-term nitrogen fertilization in Loess Plateau

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/207/2012-pse ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. Wang ◽

W. Liu ◽

Q. Xue ◽

T. Dang ◽

C. Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Cycle ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Water Recharge ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Management

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) management on soil water recharge, available soil water at sowing (ASWS), soil water depletion, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and water use efficiency (WUE) after long-term fertilization. We collected data from 2 experiments in 2 growing seasons. Treatments varied from no fertilization (CK), single N or phosphorus (P), N and P (NP), to NP plus manure (NPM). Comparing to CK and single N or P treatments, NP and NPM reduced rainfall infiltration depth by 20–60 cm, increased water recharge by 16–21 mm, and decreased ASWS by 89–133 mm in 0–300 cm profile. However, crop yield and WUE continuously increased in NP and NPM treatments after 22 years of fertilization. Yield ranged from 3458 to 3782 kg/ha in NP or NPM but was 1246–1531 kg/ha in CK and single N or P. WUE in CK and single N or P treatments was < 6 kg/ha/mm but increased to 12.1 kg/ha/mm in a NP treatment. The NP and NPM fertilization provided benefits for increased yield and WUE but resulted in lower ASWS. Increasing ASWS may be important for sustainable yield after long-term fertilization.

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