scholarly journals Assessing Suitability of Sorghum to Alleviate Sub-Saharan Nutritional Deficiencies through the Nutritional Water Productivity Index in Semi-Arid Regions

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 385
Author(s):  
Sandile T. Hadebe ◽  
Albert T. Modi ◽  
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sorghum Genotypes ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
Semi Arid

Lack of cereal nutritional water productivity (NWP) information disadvantages linkages of nutrition to water–food nexus as staple food crops in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study determined the suitability of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) genotypes to alleviate protein, Zn and Fe deficiency under water-scarce dryland conditions through evaluation of NWP. Sorghum genotypes (Macia, Ujiba, PAN8816, IsiZulu) NWP was quantified from three planting seasons for various sorghum seed nutrients under dryland semi-arid conditions. Seasons by genotypes interaction highly and significantly affected NWPStarch, Ca, Cu, Fe, and significantly affected NWPMg, K, Na, P, Zn. Genotypic variations highly and significantly affected sorghum NWPProtein, Mn. Macia exhibited statistically superior NWPprotein (13.2–14.6 kg·m−3) and NWPZn (2.0–2.6 g·m−3) compared to other tested genotypes, while Macia NWPFe (2.6–2.7 g·m−3) was considerably inferior to that of Ujiba and IsiZulu landraces under increased water scarcity. Excellent overall NWPprotein, Fe and Zn under water scarcity make Macia a well-rounded genotype suitable to alleviating food and nutritional insecurity challenges in semi-arid SSA; however, landraces are viable alternatives with limited NWPprotein and Zn penalty under water-limited conditions. These results underline genotype selection as a vital tool in improving “nutrition per drop” in semi-arid regions.

scholarly journals Harnessing benefits from improved livestock water productivity in crop–livestock systems of sub-Saharan Africa: synthesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tilahun Amede ◽  
Katrien Descheemaeker ◽  
Don Peden ◽  
Andre van Rooyen
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Feed Water ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Veterinary Services ◽  
Sub Saharan

The threat of water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa is real, due to the expanding agricultural needs, climate variability and inappropriate land use. Livestock keeping is the fastest growing agricultural sector, partly because of increasing and changing demands for adequate, quality and diverse food for people, driven by growing incomes and demographic transitions. Besides the economic benefits, rising livestock production could also deplete water and aggravate water scarcity at local and global scales. The insufficient understanding of livestock–water interactions also led to low livestock productivity, impeded sound decision on resources management and undermined achieving positive returns on investments in agricultural water across sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative and integrated measures are required to improve water productivity and reverse the growing trends of water scarcity. Livestock water productivity (LWP), which is defined as the ratio of livestock outputs to the amount of water depleted, could be improved through: (i) raising the efficiency of the water inputs by integrating livestock with crop, water and landscape management policies and practices. Improving feed water productivity by maximising transpiration and minimising evaporation and other losses is critical; (ii) increasing livestock outputs through improved feed management, veterinary services and introducing system-compatible breeds; and (iii) because livestock innovation is a social process, it is not possible to gain LWP improvements unless close attention is paid to policies, institutions and their associated processes. Policies targeting infrastructure development would help livestock keepers secure access to markets, veterinary services and knowledge. This paper extracts highlights from various papers presented in the special issue of The Rangeland Journal on technologies and practices that would enable improving water productivity at various scales and the premises required to reverse the negative trends of water depletion and land degradation.

scholarly journals Global agricultural economic water scarcity

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (18) ◽  
pp. eaaz6031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Rosa ◽  
Davide Danilo Chiarelli ◽  
Maria Cristina Rulli ◽  
Jampel Dell’Angelo ◽  
Paolo D’Odorico
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Economic ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Productivity Potential ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
Sustainable Irrigation ◽  
Agricultural Regions ◽  
Economic Capacity

Water scarcity raises major concerns on the sustainable future of humanity and the conservation of important ecosystem functions. To meet the increasing food demand without expanding cultivated areas, agriculture will likely need to introduce irrigation in croplands that are currently rain-fed but where enough water would be available for irrigation. “Agricultural economic water scarcity” is, here, defined as lack of irrigation due to limited institutional and economic capacity instead of hydrologic constraints. To date, the location and productivity potential of economically water scarce croplands remain unknown. We develop a monthly agrohydrological analysis to map agricultural regions affected by agricultural economic water scarcity. We find these regions account for up to 25% of the global croplands, mostly across Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Sustainable irrigation of economically water scarce croplands could feed an additional 840 million people while preventing further aggravation of blue water scarcity.

scholarly journals Deficit irrigation as a sustainable option for improving water productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Ethiopia. A Critical Review 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desale Asmamaw ◽  
Mekete Desse ◽  
Seifu Tilahun ◽  
Enyew Adgo ◽  
Jan Nyssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Sub Saharan

<p>Water scarcity is a major limiting factor for crop production by irrigation in sub-Saharan countries. Improved irrigation scheduling that can ensure the optimal use of the allocated water and enhance water productivity (WP) is required to address future water scarcity in the region. Maximizing WP by exposing the crop to a certain level of water stress using deficit irrigation (DI) is considered a promising strategy. To adopt DI strategies, a shred of comprehensive evidence concerning DI for different crops is required. This review aims to provide adequate information about the effect of DI on WP. We reviewed 90 research papers from Ethiopia and summarize the effect of DI on WP and yield. It is shown that DI considerably increased WP compared to full irrigation. Despite higher WP, reduced biomass yield was obtained in some of the studied DI practices compared to full irrigation. It was also found that yield reduction may be low compared to the benefits gained by diverting the saved water to irrigate extra arable land. From this review, we understood that growers must recognize specific soil management and crops before applying DI strategies. Maize revealed the highest (2.65 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) and lowest (0.50 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) WP when irrigated at only the initial stage compared with being fully irrigated in all growth stages, respectively. Also, onion showed a decreasing WP with increased irrigation water from 60% crop water requirement (ETc) (1.84 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) to 100% ETc (1.34 kg m<sup>-3</sup>). Increasing water deficit from 100 to 30% ETc led to an increase of wheat WP by 72.2%. For tomato, the highest WP (7.02 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) was found at 70% ETc followed by 50% ETc (6.98 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) and 85% ETc (6.92 kg m<sup>-3</sup>), while the water application of 100% ETc (or full irrigation) showed the least WP (6.79 kg m<sup>-3</sup>). Teff showed the lowest WP (1.72 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) under optimal irrigation, while it was highest (2.96 kg m<sup>-3</sup>) under 75% ETc throughout the growing season. The regression analysis (R<sup>2</sup>) for WP increment and yield reduction versus saved water showed higher values, indicating that DI could be an option for WP increment and increasing overall yield by expanding irrigated area and applying the saved water in water-scarce regions. In conclusion, in areas where drought stress is the limiting factor for crop production, the application of DI is feasible.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Keywords: Overall yield increase, water productivity, water saved, yield reduction</p>

scholarly journals Nutritional yield and nutritional water productivity of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) under varying irrigation water regimes

Water SA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (3 July) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Kimutai Kanda ◽  
Aidan Senzanje ◽  
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi ◽  
Shadrack Chisenga Mubanga
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Water Regimes ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Subsurface Drip ◽  
Water Scarce

There is a need to mainstream traditional crops in sub-Saharan Africa, in order to tackle food and nutritional insecurity through incorporating nutritional quality into crop water productivity, in the wider context of the water–food–nutrition–health nexus.  The objective of the study was to determine the effect of irrigation water regimes on the nutritional yield (NY) and nutritional water productivity (NWP) of cowpea under Moistube irrigation (MTI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). We hypothesized that NY and NWP of cowpea were not different under MTI and SDI and that deficit irrigation improved NWP. The experiment was laid as a split-plot design arranged in randomized complete blocks, replicated 3 times, with 3 irrigation water regimes: 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), 70% of ETc, and 40% of ETc. Irrigation type and water regime did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the nutritional quality of cowpea.  Similarly, NWP of crude fat (28.20–39.20 g∙m-3), ash (47.20–50.70 g∙m-3) and crude fibre (30.70–48.10 g∙m-3) did not vary significantly. However, protein and carbohydrate NWP showed significant (p < 0.05) differences across irrigation water regimes and irrigation type. The highest protein NWP (276.20 g∙m-3) was attained under MTI at 100% ETc, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than SDI (237.1 g∙m-3) and MTI (189.8 g∙m-3) at 40% ETc. Cowpea is suited for production in water-scarce environments; however, there are trade-offs with carbohydrate NWP. This should not be of concern as often diets are already energy-dense but lacking in other micronutrients.

The current bioenergy production potential of semi-arid and arid regions in sub-Saharan Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 2773-2786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birka Wicke ◽  
Edward Smeets ◽  
Helen Watson ◽  
André Faaij
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Semi Arid

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 A Strategy for Technology Development for Semi-Arid Sub-Saharan Africa

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-161
Author(s):  
John H. Sanders ◽  
Barry I. Shapiro ◽  
Sunder Ramaswamy
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Strategy Evaluation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Semi Arid

This article proposes a strategy for agricultural technology development for semi-arid West Africa. The strategy evaluation consists of two aspects: a) a review of the successes in the region; and b) analysis with mathematical programming of the potential impacts and constraints to various new technologies tested in the region. The technology development strategy indicates how further productivity gains can be made by responding to the two principal constraints of water availability and soil fertility. These constraints must be simultaneously resolved but the strategy needs to be adapted for different soil characteristics and economic environments. The major emphasis is on the importance of the rapid introduction of inorganic fertilizers combined with techniques to increase water availability; organic and inorganic fertilizers need to be considered complements in the semi-arid regions. Farmers are already introducing labour intensive variations of these techniques in the most degraded regions. The policy concern is to encourage government policymakers to put a high priority on fertilizer and increase the availability of inorganic fertilizer while research efforts continue to develop improved methods for complementary use of organic fertilizer.

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