scholarly journals Irrigation of World Agricultural Lands: Evolution through the Millennia

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas N. Angelakιs ◽  
Daniele Zaccaria ◽  
Jens Krasilnikoff ◽  
Miquel Salgot ◽  
Mohamed Bazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Bronze Age ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Ancient Egypt ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Agricultural Water Management ◽  
Production Areas ◽  
Perennial Springs ◽  
Irrigation Practices

Many agricultural production areas worldwide are characterized by high variability of water supply conditions, or simply lack of water, creating a dependence on irrigation since Neolithic times. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the evolution of irrigation of agricultural lands worldwide, based on bibliographical research focusing on ancient water management techniques and ingenious irrigation practices and their associated land management practices. In ancient Egypt, regular flooding by the Nile River meant that early agriculture probably consisted of planting seeds in soils that had been recently covered and fertilized with floodwater and silt deposits. On the other hand, in arid and semi-arid regions farmers made use of perennial springs and seasonal runoff under circumstances altogether different from the river civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and early dynasties in China. We review irrigation practices in all major irrigation regions through the centuries. Emphasis is given to the Bronze Age civilizations (Minoans, Egyptians, and Indus valley), pre-Columbian, civilizations from the historic times (e.g., Chinese, Hellenic, and Roman), late-Columbians (e.g., Aztecs and Incas) and Byzantines, as well as to Ottomans and Arabs. The implications and impacts of irrigation techniques on modern management of water resources, as well as on irrigated agriculture, are also considered and discussed. Finally, some current major agricultural water management challenges are outlined, concluding that ancient practices could be adapted to cope with present challenges in irrigated agriculture for increasing productivity and sustainability.

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.

Exploring nature-based adaptation options for improved water security in the deglaciating Andes of Peru

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Drenkhan ◽  
Boris F. Ochoa-Tocachi ◽  
Pedro Rau ◽  
Walescka Cachay ◽  
Nilton Montoya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Low Flows ◽  
Natural Grasslands

<p>In the tropical Andes, mountain communities and coastal livelihoods downstream strongly depend on glaciers and Andean ecosystems for their water security. Year-round streamflow from glaciers, high-altitude peat bogs and hydraulic infrastructure buffer water scarcity and discharge variability in many areas. Nonetheless, climatic and non-climatic stressors are altering the hydrological regime and exacerbating human vulnerabilities. In the Vilcanota-Urubamba basin (VUB) in Southern Peru, the overall glacier area has substantially decreased by 37% between 1988 and 2016. At the same time, water demand from growing population, irrigated agriculture and hydropower is considerably increasing. This development bears threats to local water security and several challenges to long-term water management and governance in a context of data scarcity and social conflicts arising from socioenvironmental grievances, and highlights the need for interdisciplinary and interlinked water resource research and management.</p><p>In this context, the two projects <em>Water security and climate change adaptation in Peruvian glacier-fed river basins</em> (RAHU) and <em>Natural Infrastructure for Water Security</em> (NIWS) are collaborating at developing adaptation strategies to increase long-term water security in deglaciating basins in Peru. In the face of global environmental change, natural infrastructure – including forests, wetlands, and nature-based solutions – has been promoted as a buffer to attenuate the loss of hydrological ecosystem services caused by accelerated glacier shrinkage. Furthermore, natural infrastructure can provide a complement to man-made ‘grey’ infrastructure enhancing its performance, lifespan, and adaptability and provide multiple defense lines against natural disasters and other climate risks.</p><p>Here, we implemented hydrological data collection using participatory monitoring approaches and integrated ancestral and contemporary nature-based solutions. Conservation of natural grasslands can avoid streamflow variability and flashiness caused by common land-use activities such as cultivation and grazing. Flow duration curves show that median flows in cultivated catchments are approximately half those of natural catchments, whereas low flows are up to five times lower but high flows remain virtually the same. Despite being highly promoted, afforestation interventions reduce water yield significantly. High and mean daily flows in afforested catchments are approximately four times lower than in natural grasslands, whilst low flows are between seven to ten times lower. Most catchment management practices, however, are more complex, and involve a combination of interventions. An example of this are pre-Inca infiltration enhancement systems, which divert water from headwater streams onto mountain slopes to increase the yield and longevity of downslope natural springs. Tracer experiments in another study site reveal that water residence times range between 2 weeks and 8 months, with a mean of 45 days, which might be able to increase dry season flow downstream by up to 33%.</p><p>Currently, a first Water Management Plan is being implemented in the VUB and part of its headwaters have just been declared a Regional Conservation Area. This progress in local policy and headwater conservation offers new opportunities for the project consortium to provide scientific evidence to stakeholders. Our first findings have particular implications for the implementation of robust adaptation measures for future water management planning embedded into local-national policies in close collaboration with science and society.</p>

scholarly journals Irrigated Agriculture in Malaysia and Vietnam: A Comparative Analysis of Water Governance Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-61
Author(s):  
Hanna Andrea Sand
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Freshwater Resources ◽  
Governance Strategies ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractIrrigated agriculture has the potential to ensure food security, contribute to sustainable management, and preserve freshwater resources. At the same time, it is connected to problems such as water scarcity, environmental degradation and pollution, and poverty. This so-called “wicked” nature is addressed by comparatively analysing the strategies used for water governance in irrigated agriculture. To highlight its cross-sectoral nature, the concept of cross-sectoral alignment is introduced based on three governance criteria. The Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia and Vietnam are used to compare strategies as their differing political systems may lead to varying strategies and can thus offer greater insight into regional water management practices. The analysis suggests that the governance strategies used for irrigated agriculture have many similarities but also distinct differences. In particular, the influence of ODA in Vietnam as well as the way farmers are included in water management stand out in regards to the differences. Similar, however, are organisational set-ups, sectoral fragmentation, and insufficient supply of participatory mechanisms as well as generally low alignment across all categories. In consideration of the global importance of water management practices, only the aligned management of freshwater resources can increase environmental health and food security in the long term.

Concepts and Practices for Improving Nitrogen Management for Vegetables

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Hochmuth
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Nitrogen Management ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Production Practices ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
N Management

Efficient N management practices usually involve many potential strategies, but always involve choosing the correct amount of N and the coupling of N management to efficient water management. Nitrogen management strategies are integral parts of improved production practices recommended by land-grant universities such as the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida. This paper, which draws heavily on research and experience in Florida, outlines the concepts and technologies for managing vegetable N fertilization to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

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