Irrigation water is one of the important inputs for agriculture, particularly for dry season cropping. However, rational use of water to achieve maximum productivity is essential. What are the various options to achieve the optimum benefit and sustainable use.
Nice question, it's call of the day, whether annual crops or perennial crops. Micro irrigation , including drip irrigation / fertigatiin has already started making deep inroads , need to be transformed into subsurface drip irrigation with deficit irrigation as method of regulating irrigation as number one priority area of research.
The strategic use to maximize irrigation water is a critical factor this would include the use of mulches and the integration with drip irrigation especially subsurface application.
The use of programs which will conserve and increase soil organic matter are note worthy as the percolation retention and transfer of water into crop species is very soil matter dependent.
The use of cover crops which foster the healthy root systems and use of effective strategic composts and manures.
Integrated of agricultural systems are all important approaches.
Other issues are avoiding and mitigating salinity issues maximizing the soil pH and nutrient levels
The sustainable ways to use water for agriculture.
Here are just a few.
Apart from irrigation water, the thing that plays the major role are: implementation of various water conservation technologies like: Mulching, Cover cropping, cultivation of water efficient crops,etc.
As water becomes one of the most critical inputs in agricultural production, the different options available for production should take into account the total amount of water availability and the Market price which would drive the final option of the crop to be produced. As well as other constrain in your production system like the type of soil and soil availability, temperatures, access to markets, etc. The theoretical optimal point would be hard to achieve due to many factors involved in this field. I would suggest that one approach could be select the most efficient plant in terms of water use with high value for markets. Indeed, there are huge opportunities in this way to support and developt crops. Nonetheless, there is not only one crop that would solve this issue. Since monocultures are highly associated with unsustainable agricultural practices. I would support a set of crops with efficient use of water and high market value, adding irrigation technologies to support the sustainable use of water.
Quality water supplied with high-frequency localized irrigation yields crops with good productivity.
You can consult these article and book----
Sustainable Agricultural Water Management: The need of the ...
https://www.smsfoundation.org › Blog
05-Jul-2021
Sustainable irrigation is the rational practice of all activities related with the irrigation of plants, whether in the areas of agriculture, landscape and ornamentals, so that it helps satisfying the respective survival and welfare needs of the present without compromising those of future generations. These systems are more efficient and can reduce water lost to run-off. Combined with other sustainable agriculture techniques, like the use of mulch, alternative water sources and eco-friendly ag-tech, these irrigation systems can significantly reduce the environmental impact of any farm. Inter-sectoral water re-allocations and significant shifts of water away from agriculture will also need to be accompanied by improvements in water use efficiency and improvements in water delivery systems. Improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture will also depend on matching of improvements main system (off-farm) with appropriate incentives for on-farm investments aiming to improve soil and water management. Such options will require improved water delivery systems to provide adequate on-demand service as well as use of advanced technologies to improve efficiency and productivity of water in agriculture.
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