scholarly journals Water–food–energy nexus with changing agricultural scenarios in India during recent decades

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 3041-3060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beas Barik ◽  
Subimal Ghosh ◽  
A. Saheer Sahana ◽  
Amey Pathak ◽  
Muddu Sekhar
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Central India ◽  
Recent Decade ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Western India ◽  
Groundwater Storage ◽  
Ganga Basin ◽  
Strong Negative Correlation ◽  
Food Energy

Abstract. Meeting the growing water and food demands in a densely populated country like India is a major challenge. It requires an extensive investigation into the changing patterns of the checks and balances behind the maintenance of food security at the expense of depleting groundwater, along with high energy consumption. Here we present a comprehensive set of analyses which assess the present status of the water–food–energy nexus in India, along with its changing pattern, in the last few decades. We find that with the growth of population and consequent increase in the food demands, the food production has also increased, and this has been made possible with the intensification of irrigation. However, during the recent decade (after 1996), the increase in food production has not been sufficient to meet its growing demands, precipitating a decline in the per-capita food availability. We also find a statistically significant declining trend of groundwater storage in India during the last decade, as derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite datasets. Regional studies reveal contrasting trends between northern and western–central India. North-western India and the middle Ganga basin show a decrease in the groundwater storage as opposed to an increasing storage over western–central India. Comparison with well data reveals that the highest consistency of GRACE-derived storage data with available well measurements is in the middle Ganga basin. After analysing the data for the last 2 decades, we further showcase that, after a drought, the groundwater storage drops but is unable to recover to its original condition even after good monsoon years. The groundwater storage reveals a very strong negative correlation with the electricity consumption for agricultural usage, which may also be considered as a proxy for groundwater pumped for irrigation in a region. The electricity usage for agricultural purposes has an increasing trend and, interestingly, it does not have any correlation with the monsoon rainfall as computed with the original or de-trended variables. This reveals an important finding that the irrigation has been intensified irrespective of rainfall. This also resulted in a decreasing correlation between the food production and monsoon rainfall, revealing the increasing dependency of agricultural activities on irrigation. We conclude that irrigation has now become essential for agriculture to meet the food demand; however, it should be judiciously regulated and controlled, based on the water availability from monsoon rainfall, specifically after the drought years, as it is essential to recover from the deficits suffered previously.

scholarly journals Water Food Energy Nexus: Changing Scenarios in India during recent Decades

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beas Barik ◽  
Subimal Ghosh ◽  
A. Saheer Sahana ◽  
Amey Pathak ◽  
Muddu Sekhar
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Central India ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Western India ◽  
Groundwater Storage ◽  
Ganga Basin ◽  
Strong Negative Correlation ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
West Central

Abstract. Meeting the growing water and food demands in a densely populated country like India is a major challenge, requiring extensive investigations into the changing patterns of the checks and balances behind the maintenance of food security at the expense of depleting groundwater, along with high energy consumption. Here we present a comprehensive set of analyses which assess the present status of the water-food-energy nexus in India, along with its changing pattern, in the last few decades. We find that with the growth of population and consequent increase in the food demands, the food production has also increased and this has been made possible with the intensification of irrigation. However, during the recent decade (after 1996), the increase in food production has not been sufficient to meet its growing demands precipitating a decline in the per-capita food availability. We also find a statistically significant declining trend of ground water storage in India during the last decade, as derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite datasets. Regional studies reveal contrasting trends between Northern and West-Central India. North-Western India and the Middle Ganga Basin shows a decrease in the groundwater storage as opposed to an increasing storage over West-Central India. Comparison with well-data reveals that the highest consistency of GRACE derived storage data with available well measurements, are in the Middle-Ganga basin. After analysing the data for the last two decades, we further showcase that after a drought, the groundwater storage drops but is unable to recover to its original condition even after good monsoon years. The groundwater storage reveals a very strong negative correlation with the electricity consumption for agricultural usage, which may also be considered as a proxy for groundwater pumped for irrigation in a region. The electricity usage for agricultural purposes has an increasing trend and interestingly, it does not have any correlation with the monsoon rainfall as computed with the original or de-trended variables. This reveals an important finding that the irrigation has been intensified irrespective of rainfall. This also resulted in a decreasing correlation between the food production and monsoon rainfall revealing the increasing dependency of agricultural activities on irrigation. We conclude that irrigation has now become essential for agriculture to meet the food demand; however, it should be judiciously regulated and controlled, based on the water availability from monsoon rainfall, specifically after the drought years, as it is essential to recover from the deficits suffered previously.

Testing the numerical models for boulder transport through high energy marine wave event: An example from southern Saurashtra, western India

2017 ◽  
Vol 444 ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drasti Gandhi ◽  
K.A. Chavare ◽  
S.P. Prizomwala ◽  
Nilesh Bhatt ◽  
N.Y. Bhatt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Models ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Western India ◽  
Wave Event

scholarly journals Pyrite Textures, Trace Elements and Sulfur Isotope Chemistry of Bijaigarh Shales, Vindhyan Basin, India and Their Implications

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 588
Author(s):  
Indrani Mukherjee ◽  
Mihir Deb ◽  
Ross R. Large ◽  
Jacqueline Halpin ◽  
Sebastien Meffre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Sulfur Isotope ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Central India ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Vindhyan Basin ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Sedimentary Pyrite

The Vindhyan Basin in central India preserves a thick (~5 km) sequence of sedimentary and lesser volcanic rocks that provide a valuable archive of a part of the Proterozoic (~1800–900 Ma) in India. Here, we present an analysis of key sedimentary pyrite textures and their trace element and sulfur isotope compositions in the Bijaigarh Shale (1210 ± 52 Ma) in the Vindhyan Supergroup, using reflected light microscopy, LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP-SI, respectively. A variety of sedimentary pyrite textures (fine-grained disseminated to aggregates, framboids, lags, and possibly microbial pyrite textures) are observed reflecting quiet and strongly anoxic water column conditions punctuated by occasional high-energy events (storm incursions). Key redox sensitive or sensitive to oxidative weathering trace elements (Co, Ni, Zn, Mo, Se) and ratios of (Se/Co, Mo/Co, Zn/Co) measured in sedimentary pyrites from the Bijaigarh Shale are used to infer atmospheric redox conditions during its deposition. Most trace elements are depleted relative to Proterozoic mean values. Sulfur isotope compositions of pyrite, measured using SHRIMP-SI, show an increase in δ34S as we move up stratigraphy with positive δ34S values ranging from 5.9‰ (lower) to 26.08‰ (upper). We propose limited sulphate supply caused the pyrites to incorporate the heavier isotope. Overall, we interpret these low trace element signatures and heavy sulfur isotope compositions to indicate relatively suppressed oxidative weathering on land during the deposition of the Bijaigarh Shale.

Emulsion Formation by Homogenization: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Håkansson
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
High Volume ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Fundamental Understanding ◽  
Food Applications

Emulsion formation by homogenization is commonly used in food production and research to increase product stability and to design colloidal structures. High-energy methods such as high-pressure homogenizers and rotor–stator mixers are the two most common techniques. However, to what extent does the research community understand the emulsion formation taking place in these devices? This contribution attempts to answer this question through critically reviewing the scientific literature, starting with the hydrodynamics of homogenizers and continuing by reviewing drop breakup and coalescence. It is concluded that although research in this field has been ongoing for a century and has provided a substantial amount of empirical correlations and scaling laws, the fundamental understanding is still limited, especially in the case of emulsions with a high-volume fraction of the disperse phase, as seen in many food applications. These limitations in the current understanding are also used to provide future perspectives and suggest directions for further investigation.

scholarly journals Resilience by industrial symbiosis? A discussion on risk, opportunities and challenges for food production in the perspective of the food-energy-water nexus

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Parker ◽  
Maria Svantemark
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Industrial Symbiosis ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Recirculating Aquaculture ◽  
Production Policy ◽  
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Abstract Background Growing population and affluence coupled with climate change puts pressure on the supply of food, water and energy. The three are interconnected, conceptualised in the food-energy-water nexus. In this article, two innovative proposals for food production based on recirculating, multiloop systems are analysed in terms of risk and resilience to illuminate how such industrial symbiotic systems might contribute to food supply resilience, within nexus constraints. Method The proposals encompass greenhouses using waste heat and carbon dioxide combined with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with water, nutrient and energy loops between the two. The two cases are discussed in comparison with the existing major alternatives for production of the respective foodstuffs, using an inventory of global risks as a structure for the discussion. The analysis is relevant to understanding current and emerging risks posed by the unsustainable and interlinked supply of food, energy and water, particularly in the perspective of continued climate change. Results Based on the cases, the concept of distributed, symbiotic food production is discussed in comparison with centralization, i.e. the economies of symbiosis vs economies of scale, focusing especially on how these different economies affect risk and resilience. The discussion centres on a comparative risk analysis between food production in industrial symbiosis and conventional forms. Conclusions The results indicate that distributed symbiotic food production can contribute to resilience to the most threatening of the relevant risks identified and that, therefore, more in depth investigations of how symbiotic systems can contribute to resilience are merited. These, in turn, would warrant an informed discussion on food-production policy.

Trend analysis and ARIMA modelling of pre-monsoon rainfall data for western India

2013 ◽  
Vol 345 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Narayanan ◽  
Ashoke Basistha ◽  
Sumana Sarkar ◽  
Sachdeva Kamna
Keyword(s):  
Trend Analysis ◽  
Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Data ◽  
Western India

Intraseasonal and Seasonally Persisting Patterns of Indian Monsoon Rainfall

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Krishnamurthy ◽  
J. Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Indian Monsoon ◽  
Singular Spectrum Analysis ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Central India ◽  
North India ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Rainfall Analysis ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillations ◽  
Rainfall Anomalies

Abstract The space–time structure of the active and break periods of the Indian monsoon has been studied using 70-yr-long high-resolution gridded daily rainfall data over India. The analysis of lagged composites of rainfall anomalies based on an objective categorization of active and break phases shows that the active (break) cycle, with an average life of 16 days, starts with positive (negative) rainfall anomalies over the Western Ghats and eastern part of central India and intensifies and expands to a region covering central India and parts of north India during the peak phase, while negative (positive) anomalies cover the sub-Himalayan region and southeast India. During the final stage of the active (break) period, the positive (negative) rainfall anomalies move toward the foothills of the Himalayas while peninsular India is covered with opposite sign anomalies. The number of days on which lows and depressions are present in the region during active and break periods is consistent with the rainfall analysis. The number of depressions during the active phase is about 7 times that during the break phase. Using multichannel singular spectrum analysis of the daily rainfall anomalies, the seasonal monsoon rainfall is found to consist of two dominant intraseasonal oscillations with periods of 45 and 20 days and three seasonally persisting components. The 45- and 20-day oscillations are manifestations of the active and break periods but contribute very little to the seasonal mean rainfall. The seasonally persisting components with anomalies of the same sign, and covering all of India, have a very high interannual correlation with the total seasonal mean rainfall. These results support a conceptual model of the interannual variability of the monsoon rainfall consisting of seasonal mean components and a statistical average of the intraseasonal variations. The success in the prediction of seasonal mean rainfall depends on the relative strengths of the seasonally persisting components and intraseasonal oscillations.

scholarly journals Downscaling flows in the water-food-energy Nexus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan C. Dekker ◽  
Maria J. Santos ◽  
Hanneke Van 'tVeen ◽  
Detlef P. van Vuuren
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Assessment ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Integrated Assessment Model ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Reference Scenario ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Tropical Areas

<p>The variabilities in both time and space of the flows between the components of the water-food-energy are dependent on many driving factors. In this study we use global scenarios from the Integrated Assessment Model IMAGE to analyse future changes in flows in the water, food and energy nexus. With Sankey diagrams we show how flows between energy and food production will likely increase by 60% and water consumption by 20% in 2050 by using a reference scenario. The inclusion of climate action policies, combined with dietary changes, increased yield efficiency and food waste reduction leads to similar resources uses of water and land, and much lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2010.</p><p>We found that based on data, spatial scales are an important but complicating factor in nexus analysis. This is because different resources have their own physical and spatial scale characteristics within the nexus. To examine the effect of scaling on future nexus development, we analyse how local decisions and local resource availability of the use of biomass as energy source impacts other resources. Biomass use potentially impacts forest systems and might compete with land for food and water resources within the nexus. The use of biomass and more specifically charcoal will likely further increase mainly due to urbanization in developing countries. We have examined how different shared socio economic pathway (SSP) scenarios result in (i) future demand for biomass for energy and compare those to measured (with remote sensing) and modelled net primary productivity values of forested systems, (ii) estimate the amount of land needed for biomass production that might compete with food production, and (iii) estimate the water amount needed to produce biomass to meet the different biomass demands. We found that current productivity of non-protected forests is globally higher than the demand, but regionally it closely meets the demand for tropical areas in Central America and Africa. This while tropical areas in South America and Indonesia show decreasing biomass demands for energy for the SSP1-SSP3 scenarios. From this analysis we clearly see differences at regional scales in the competition between the resources land and water are found. </p><p>We conclude that a nexus framework analysis which estimates flows between the different components across scales is fundamental to understand system sustainability. Such approach benefits from combining global scenarios of Integrated Assessment models with local conditions to understand the sustainability in the nexus in time and space.</p>

scholarly journals SUSTAINABLE TRANSBOUNDARY HYDROPOWER SYSTEM ON DRINA RIVER AS SYNERGY OF WATER -FOOD-ENERGY-CLIMATE NEXUS

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Stevović
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Flood Control ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Hydropower Potential ◽  
Holistic Research ◽  
The Impact

The Drina River has always been a source of drinking water and irrigation for food production, with all its tributaries and branching catchment area across the territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. It has connected peoples and cultures for centuries with its bridges. At the same time, with its great head, the Drina has always represented a significant hydropower potential. Throughout history, numerous watermills have been built on it. Currently, there are several constructed hydro-technical facilities on the Drina and in its catchment area. Among them, the most important are dams, with roads over them, associated hydroelectric power plants and belonging structures for flood control, water intakes for drinking water or irrigation. Due to multiple possible, almost always conflicting purposes, as well as several states, entities and other stakeholders, the management of Drina River water resources from the angle of the water-food-energy and climate nexus is an extremely complex problem. In addition to the impact on hydropower, agriculture, forestry, transport, irrigation and drainage, tourism and socio-cultural events, the construction of such strategic structures has also an impact on the climate of the Western Balkans. The issue of optimization within the nexus of the water-food-energy-climate requires holistic research to find synergistic solutions. These solutions are certainly a compromise. But inevitably, they must meet the criteria of sustainable development and the requirements of reducing global warming, according to the set conditions of the adopted European Green Plan for the Western Balkans. This paper proposes a methodology for finding optimal/compromise hydropower solutions, which synergistically include all parameters of influence. Holistic research of sustainable hydropower systems on the Drina River, from the angle of the water-food-energyclimate nexus, is presented. Particularly detailed analyses of the course of the river between the towns of Foča and Goražde, as well as the downstream part between Zvornik and mouth, known as the Lower Drina. In these sections, the most pronounced conflict is whether water will be used for drinking and/or food production and/or energy production and what impact possible solutions have on the climate of the region.

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