Enhancing water management in agriculture for sustainable growth

Irrigated agriculture accounts for around 70% of global water use, however, an estimated 60% of irrigated cropland remains highly water-stressed.

In the face of escalating climate change, water scarcity and the pressing need for sustainable agricultural practices, improving water management in agriculture has become a critical priority.

Effective water management practices that can both optimise water use and enhance soil health are absolutely essential if the agricultural sector is to transition to a more sustainable method of farming and food production.

A new book – Improving water management in agriculture: Irrigation and food production – highlights key areas where innovation is required to ensure that water use is optimised and better managed by farmers and other key stakeholders across the agri-food supply chain.

“We cannot continue to produce and consume food in the same way that we have done in the past,” says Professor Jerry W. Knox from Cranfield University, UK and editor of this new book.

“Reconciling the water needs for food, the environment, energy and society remains a significant but surmountable challenge, as well as an opportunity for change,” he adds.

Much alike many other sub-sectors of agriculture, modern water management has been revolutionised by the advent of technology, with farmers and growers now opting to invest in precision irrigation technologies to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their farms.

Technologies such as variable rate irrigation systems and remote sensing platforms can be used by farmers to apply water more efficiently, which in turn reduces waste and environmental impact.

However, whilst innovations in irrigation systems are important, innovations in drainage design and management are equally as important, particularly in regions prone to waterlogging and soil salinity.

“Around 14% of the arable and permanently cropped area worldwide are irrigated,” says Dr Henk Ritzema, former Associate Professor at Wageningen University, The Netherlands and contributor to this new book.

“However, despite the importance of drainage as a component of agricultural water management, only about 22% of these irrigated lands are drained,” he adds.

So, why is drainage seemingly overlooked?

For Professor Ritzema, it’s the positioning of drainage at the end of the pipeline:

“Drainage systems clean up the ‘mess’ other activities leave behind, like salts brought in by irrigation water and residues of fertilisers and pesticides.”

Drainage is largely forgotten about – people don’t like to talk about it. However, if water use in agriculture is to be truly optimised, modern drainage systems must undergo a series of improvements which target increased control, reduced environmental impact, reuse of drainage water and safe disposal of the drainage effluent.

“The book does exceptionally well in linking the myriad of issues which are relevant to agricultural water management,” says Professor Elías Fereres, University of Cordoba and IAS-CSIC, Spain.

“In doing this, the editor and the book’s contributing authors have presented an excellent state of the art analysis of irrigation and food production on an international level,” he adds.

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