Water Productivity
Fiaz Hussain; Amir Iqbal
Abstract
The impacts of water variation differ in their magnitude in different canal irrigation systems, mainly due to variations in water availability (timings and amounts), crop types and soil fertility status. These necessitates conducting site-specific research and studies to evaluate the impact of variations ...
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The impacts of water variation differ in their magnitude in different canal irrigation systems, mainly due to variations in water availability (timings and amounts), crop types and soil fertility status. These necessitates conducting site-specific research and studies to evaluate the impact of variations in water availability at the farm level for specific crops. The findings of such studies will then be utilized to rationalize the irrigation supplies at the farm level keeping in view the level of variation. Accordingly, this study was undertaken for the assessment of inequality in canal water distribution and its impacts on the yield and water productivity of maize in the command area of the Khikhi distributary, Pakistan. For this purpose, three water courses at the head, middle and tail reaches of the distributary were selected. On each of the selected watercourse, three maize fields at the head, middle and tail were chosen. Discharges measurements were taken and the yield of the maize crop was recorded. A significant variation in design and measured discharges were observed in the head reaches (inlet point) of watercourses off taking from the head, middle and tail of distributary that was 13.79%, 12.0% and 7.30% reduction in the flow against the allocated discharges, respectively. The discharge variation along the distributary varies from 0 to 38% from head to tail end, similarly, the variation in discharge for the watercourse located at the head of the distributary was from (100 %) 2.90 cfs to (85.86 %) 2.49 cfs i.e. 0.41 cfs (14.14%) reduction in discharge from head to tail end and for the watercourses located at the middle (WCM) and tail (WCT) the discharge reduction was (31.72%) 1.02 cfs and (37.08 %) 0.66 cfs, respectively. These variations in discharge ultimately reduced the maize crop yield and production from 11 to 54%. The percentage gap in yield from head to tail was up to 54% and the water productivity decreased up to 26% for tail end section of watercourses. These results clearly showed the inconsistency in canal water distribution at tertiary level (watercourse) as well as secondary (distributary) irrigation system leading to reduce the crop production of tail end farmers.
Irrigation Efficiency
Never Mujere; Dominic Mazvimavi
Abstract
This study determines the effects of variations in relative water supply (RWS) on bean and wheat crop water productivity (WP) under irrigation in Block C at Nyanyadzi irrigation scheme in Zimbabwe. Water supply, bean and wheat crop yield data spanning 17 cropping seasons from 1970 to 2003 were obtained ...
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This study determines the effects of variations in relative water supply (RWS) on bean and wheat crop water productivity (WP) under irrigation in Block C at Nyanyadzi irrigation scheme in Zimbabwe. Water supply, bean and wheat crop yield data spanning 17 cropping seasons from 1970 to 2003 were obtained from the irrigation scheme files. Research findings show a weak and significant (R2=0.448, p = 0.006) quadratic relationshipbetween bean WP and RWS. Whereas, for the wheat crop, the relationship WP and RWS is a linear and significant (R2 = 0.438, p = 0.004). Based on the research findings, the study recommends the measures to improve water supply and therefore, crop production. These include among others, switching to more drought tolerant crop varieties that require less water, rainfall harvesting, water conservation measures to retain soil water and, use of more efficient water application methods.
Water Reuse
PRABAL BARUA; Maitri BARUA
Abstract
Coastal aquaculture is the most productive export earning sectors of Bangladesh. South-Eastern coast of Bangladesh is the most productive region of coastal aquauculture and millions of people depend on this sectors for livelihood. Three categories of tidal water exchange system based ponds of canal connected, ...
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Coastal aquaculture is the most productive export earning sectors of Bangladesh. South-Eastern coast of Bangladesh is the most productive region of coastal aquauculture and millions of people depend on this sectors for livelihood. Three categories of tidal water exchange system based ponds of canal connected, river connected and pond connected pond were selected to study the nutrient loading and existing health management in the shrimp ponds. The aims of the study were quantified the hydrology of ponds, health evaluation test with the gut content investigation of shrimp body and nutrient loading from the shrimp ponds. It was found that higher nutrient load in the river connected pond also carried the higher growth and survival rate, feed conversion ratio and the highest production of shrimp. Although unplanned expansion and slightly improved traditional system of shrimp culture exists there is still no risk of environmental degradation in the aquatic environment of shrimp farming in Cox’s bazaar region. It was concluded that reuse water or connected pond system for coastal shrimp ponds should not be practiced anywhere in Bangladesh, due to the uncertainity associated with water productivity in such regions.
Water Harvesting
Negin Zamani; Mousa Maleki; Faezeh Eslamian
Abstract
In view of high population growth and water resources deficit in arid and semiarid area and groundwater resources shortage in mountainous area, there is an urgent need to identify the alternative sources of potable water. Fog is one of such sources of water. Although fog water yielding potential is largely ...
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In view of high population growth and water resources deficit in arid and semiarid area and groundwater resources shortage in mountainous area, there is an urgent need to identify the alternative sources of potable water. Fog is one of such sources of water. Although fog water yielding potential is largely ignored by water authorities, it was used extensively in ancient times and promoted the water productivity. The objective of this research is to review the fog collection in Yemen and South Africa. In El Tofo Mountain in Chagungo (Chile), 75 fog collectors were erected. According to the reports, production rates vary from zero on a clear day to maximum of 100000 liter per day. With this arrangement, each of the 330 villagers received about 33 liter of clean water per person per day. Geographical and climate characteristics, droplets distribution, and fog density need to be evaluated and are crucial factors for success of fog water harvesting project. Chemical and microbial studies of fog water harvesting show that the water quality is safe for human consumption. Thus, it can be considered as an alternative source of water in arid and semi-arid regions that dense fog could be available.
Water Productivity
Josephine Treacy
Abstract
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have predicted from the years 2000 to 2050 the industrial demand for water will increase by 400 %. This manuscript will discuss water stewardship as an aid to water productivity. The benefits of the integration of water stewardship and ...
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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have predicted from the years 2000 to 2050 the industrial demand for water will increase by 400 %. This manuscript will discuss water stewardship as an aid to water productivity. The benefits of the integration of water stewardship and water productivity will be portrayed in this paper. The fundamentals of water productivity will be outlined. The stages of water stewardship namely operational, context, strategy and engagement will be introduced. The concept of the green economy and ecolabel products will be discussed. Other synergies including the life cycle analysis, water footprint assessment, multibarrier designs, citizen science and policy development as core needs within the integration will be outlined. The bigger goal of aiding the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to achieve clean water and water security as the main reason for society and corporate business to move in the direction of this integration will be highlighted. Water hydrology and catchment understanding are also the core benefits of the integration of water stewardship with water productivity. Improving water productivity by integrating water stewardship into its practices can improve business practices, environmental water flows, supply chain sourcing, policies, and water-efficient technologies. This manuscript highlights the range of different synergies that can strengthen the integration of water stewardship and water productivity. Water stewardship as an aid to water productivity can place water as a game changer for more eco-economical and environmental practices.
Groundwater Productivity
Abdullah Karim; Iftekhar Ahmed
Abstract
Texas ranks third in the United States in both agricultural acres irrigated and irrigation water applied. Significant advances have been made in irrigation efficiency and water productivity.; however, some challenges remain. The agricultural sector responds to change, and farmers and ranchers have demonstrated ...
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Texas ranks third in the United States in both agricultural acres irrigated and irrigation water applied. Significant advances have been made in irrigation efficiency and water productivity.; however, some challenges remain. The agricultural sector responds to change, and farmers and ranchers have demonstrated resiliency by adapting to the changes in water supply, cost, and regulations. Projections in the 1970s suggested that the Ogallala Aquifer would be exhausted by the early 2000s, but the farmers responded by using newly developed efficient technologies, and the projection did not come true. Opportunities remain for continued improvements in water use efficiency, including: 1) Improving irrigation scheduling, 2) Adopting drought tolerant crop varieties, 3) Developing Improved Irrigation Water Management Technologies, 4) Continued Adoption of Conservation Practices and 5) Improving Irrigation Conveyance Systems. The sustainability of the Southern High Plains (SHP) region in Texas is heavily dependent on the groundwater production from Ogallala Aquifer for crop production. The case study presented here illuminates the existing potential for alternative groundwater sourcing from brackish form. The major aquifer, Ogallala Formation, overlies the minor Dockum Hydrostratigraphic Unit (Dockum-HSU) in much of the Texas Panhandle and West Texas. The brackish groundwater resources from Dockum-HSU can serve as an important alternative source of water to the rapidly depleting Ogallala aquifer. However, water quality and the aquifer physical properties can limit the direct use from the deep Dockum-HSU.
Climate Change
Mannava V. K. SIVAKUMAR
Abstract
Over the last three decades, climate change has emerged as one of the most crucial issues for humankind, with serious implications for sustainable development. In recent decades, changes in climate have caused the impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans. Human ...
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Over the last three decades, climate change has emerged as one of the most crucial issues for humankind, with serious implications for sustainable development. In recent decades, changes in climate have caused the impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans. Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, with a likely range of 0.8°C to 1.2°C. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate. Climate change increases variability in the water cycle, inducing extreme weather events such as droughts and more erratic storms, reducing the predictability of water availability, affecting water quality and threatening sustainable development and biodiversity worldwide. Agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to climate change due to its high dependence on climate and weather. It is important to determine the impacts of climate change on water resources in order to develop possible adaptation strategies to improve water productivity. This paper discusses the observed climate change over the past few decades; the climate change-induced impacts, such as rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, increased droughts, and more erratic storms; the future climate change; the climate change impacts on water productivity; and the strategies to improve the water productivity such as improved policies, emphasis on sustainability, improving water resource management and use of appropriate models.
Ecohydrology
Svetlana Dvinskikh; Olga Larchenko
Abstract
The total area of the water surfaces in the Perm is 60.4 km2. Among the surface water resources, lakes and swamps play an important role. They are reservoirs of available water that form the ecological state of the territory. The Lasvinsky lakes (that have a total area of around 1247 hectares) are wetlands ...
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The total area of the water surfaces in the Perm is 60.4 km2. Among the surface water resources, lakes and swamps play an important role. They are reservoirs of available water that form the ecological state of the territory. The Lasvinsky lakes (that have a total area of around 1247 hectares) are wetlands that can be classified as specially protected areas, which are of particular importance for the conservation, restoration and maintenance of wetland communities, waterfowl resources and their habitats. These water bodies are located in Perm. This million city with a developed engineering infrastructure and powerful industrial enterprises inevitably has a negative impact on the environment, including the water bodies. The Lasvinsky lakes experience significant anthropogenic impact, which affects the current ecological situation. It has been established that the Lasvinsky lakes are of natural origin, their main source is groundwater, the level of which is determined by the regulation of the Votkinsk reservoir. The lakes have different self-cleaning abilities and different conditions for the hydro-chemical regime formation and it helps water productivity.
Urban Water
Adebayo Oluwole Eludoyin
Abstract
Water is an important part of the human life. Sustainable management of water is a major component of the Sustainable Delopment Goal 6, United Nations. Many residents of the middle and low economic countries are not adequately supplied with this important commodity, however, but information is scanty ...
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Water is an important part of the human life. Sustainable management of water is a major component of the Sustainable Delopment Goal 6, United Nations. Many residents of the middle and low economic countries are not adequately supplied with this important commodity, however, but information is scanty about the specifics of the state of drinking water in many relatively small urban areas. This paper is focused on one of the countries within the sub-Saharan Africa such that the selected locations are four important states (Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti) in the southwest region of Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the water supply for drinking purposes and assess the quality of samples from sources of household drinking water in the region. The results showed the comparable differences in water accessibility due to socio-economic structure of the selected areas. Also, there is an extensively poor household drinking water quality in the region, and a support from the public facilities is either inadequate or non-existent. The study recommends the improved and sustainable household water schemes across the region to meet a higher water productivity.
Crop Water Modeling
Mojgan Ahmadi
Abstract
Remote sensing (RS) technology can be effective in many agricultural activities due to the associated valuable features such as the ability to take multi-time and multi-spectral images, the ability to distinguish between time and radiometry, and a wide and integrated view of the area. The RS technology ...
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Remote sensing (RS) technology can be effective in many agricultural activities due to the associated valuable features such as the ability to take multi-time and multi-spectral images, the ability to distinguish between time and radiometry, and a wide and integrated view of the area. The RS technology also could help to estimate the actual evapotranspiration and to investigate the crop water productivity. In this study, the effect of precipitation, temperature and potential evapotranspiration of the GLDAS model on the outputs of Aqua Crop model in Qazvin synoptic station for two wheat and maize products from 1979 to 2013 have been investigated. Also, the parameters of GLDAS model, the precipitation during 1979-2015 and the evapotranspiration during 1979-2013 were examined. The Penman Monteith method was used to compute the potential evapotranspiration of Qazvin station. The results of the GLDAS model, the precipitation model data and station data, R2 = 0.97 and NRMSE = 0.38 show that there is a high determination coefficient between these two data sets. The statistical results show R2 = 0.99 and NRMSE = 0.10 between the evapotranspiration data obtained from the GLDAS model and station data. The results of the statistical evaluation of the outputs of Aqua Crop model, Qazvin station data and the GLDAS model for maize and wheat products showed that the model is more accurate in biomass and yield according to the RMSE and NRMSE indices.
Hydroinformatic
João Miguel Santos; José Jasnau Caeiro; João Carlos Martins; João Filipe Santos; Patrícia Palma
Abstract
The paper presents a study of Internet of Things (IoT) systems used on physical and chemical water quality and resources sensing. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, declaring a commitment to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation ...
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The paper presents a study of Internet of Things (IoT) systems used on physical and chemical water quality and resources sensing. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, declaring a commitment to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all", is taken as a reference for the ensuing analysis of the literature. The IoT is changing the landscape of environmental resources monitoring and the case of water quality and quantity is no exception. A comparison among IoT based sensing systems is presented. It is focused on: the sensors; data communication hardware and the software protocols and processing devices. The most measured parameters are selected according to a scientific literature sample encompassing the last few years and including over 30 papers. The sample consists of the most relevant papers on the subject. . A general architecture for the collection and processing of water quality data is discussed. This data assists to water productivity investigations. The architecture integrates the sensing of physical and chemical parameters, data communication and processing.
Climate Change
Samir A. Al-Gamal
Abstract
The water resources in Africa is very sensitive to climate changes and climate variability. Over 95 percent of Africa’s agriculture is rain-fed and rural populations depend on agriculture and other natural resources for their livelihoods, and their crops are sensitive to the small changes in temperature ...
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The water resources in Africa is very sensitive to climate changes and climate variability. Over 95 percent of Africa’s agriculture is rain-fed and rural populations depend on agriculture and other natural resources for their livelihoods, and their crops are sensitive to the small changes in temperature and rainfall regimes. Climate change is expected to alter not only the hydrological cycle, temperature balance, and the rainfall patterns across Africa but also has the potential to add to existing pressure on basin biodiversity, basin biological and water productivity. Africa has experienced at least one major drought each decade over the past 30 years. Climatologists have underlined the high year-to-year inconstancy of precipitation sums and the related dry season time frames and warmth waves. It is expected that worldwide there will be a 40 percent increase in demand for water by 2030. Major concerns for the water sector in Africa include the limited access to water, including groundwater, and limited governance capacity. Excessive pumping of shallow aquifers in Africa may bring about saltwater intrusion only as contamination of groundwater, lakes, and decrease in hydropower vitality as an immediate outcome to climatic changes and may prompts genuine water disputes. Water management is a pressing challenge, which, if not improved now, could see its problems greatly exacerbated in a future, warmer climate.
Evaporation Reduction
Jamshid Piri; Anurag Malik; Ozgur Kisi
Abstract
The knowledge about soil evaporation is essential for improving water productivity (WP) in water-limited regions. Evaporation front (EF) depth and intensity (EI) are the most important components of agricultural activities and environmental issues, the physical characteristics of soil play a significant ...
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The knowledge about soil evaporation is essential for improving water productivity (WP) in water-limited regions. Evaporation front (EF) depth and intensity (EI) are the most important components of agricultural activities and environmental issues, the physical characteristics of soil play a significant role in these fields. One of the key elements in physical soil properties is the relationship between the depth of the static surface and evaporation from the soil surface, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In these regions, due to over-irrigation, the water level is very close to the ground surface which leads to salinization of the soil. The same situation may also be observed on the banks of lakes and rivers. In the present study, the EF depth and the EI of three different types of soil textures including sandy loam, loam, and clay loam are simulated in 30 cm, 40 cm, 70 cm static levels by using Gardener model. The findings of the study reveal that after 77 days, the EF depths were 6.14, 7.85, and 13.86 cm for sandy loam soil, 5.23, 7.27, and 12.2 cm for loam soil, and 5.4, 7.2, and 10.9 cm for clay loam soil in three static levels (i.e. 30, 40, and 70 cm), respectively. The deeper the static level, the deeper the depth of EF. Simulation of EF depth for sandy loam soil regarding loam and clay loam soils have more correspondence with the measured depth of the evaporation front. The measured and simulated amounts of EF depth and EI in three soil textures with three water levels were stabilized and compared by the F-statistical test models. Comparing the evaluated data of EF with the simulated figures of the evaporation front in textures and diverse static levels using the statistical test showed that a one to one line at a significant level of 5% is suitable for sandy loam soil.
Hydroinformatic
Amir Parnian; James Nicholas Furze; Amin Parnian
Abstract
Oil and gas drilling produce saline brine, posing a threat and great risk to the environment. Desalination is a pathway to freshwater production and brine removal, however, the energy required for processing and highly concentrated brines curtail the approach. Solar desalination humidification dehumidification ...
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Oil and gas drilling produce saline brine, posing a threat and great risk to the environment. Desalination is a pathway to freshwater production and brine removal, however, the energy required for processing and highly concentrated brines curtail the approach. Solar desalination humidification dehumidification (SDHDH) systems are a low energy and economical response that solves the problems. The current study aims to demonstrate saltwater solar-desalination, an innovative SDHDH design, used to process the waste materials. The method was successfully tested at full scale as follows: In a 400 m2 application containing 600 m3 saline-water, the total dissolved solids (TDS) were equal to 141 g l-1, requiring an input of 196.2 kW electrical energy. As a result of SDHDH 266 m3 of freshwater was obtained, with TDS equal to 210 mg l-1. The water-recovery percentage achieved was 44%. The salt removal efficiency was near 100%. Surface-time efficiency varied, between 8 to 30 l m-2day-1. SDHDH use is an effective mechanism to elute freshwater from concentrated brines, maximizing productivity, and lowering hazardous impact to the environment providing benefits to ecosystem and human services alike.
Climate Change
Noureddine Gaaloul; Saeid Eslamian; Rim Katlance
Abstract
This study seeks to assess the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector across a number of Southern Mediterranean countries and evaluate relevant policy measures addressing these challenges for the region. Agriculture is dependent on land and water use, and key activity for rural populations ...
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This study seeks to assess the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector across a number of Southern Mediterranean countries and evaluate relevant policy measures addressing these challenges for the region. Agriculture is dependent on land and water use, and key activity for rural populations over large areas in Southern Mediterranean Countries. Water resources are essential to a stable agricultural production, but also to the supply of growing cities. In this region, it is likely that the stress imposed by climate change to agriculture has contributed to the reduction water availability. Adaptation is a key factor that will shape the future severity of climate change impacts on food production. Food and nutrition security presents a significant challenge for these Southern Mediterranean countries. Agriculture, which accounts for 70 percent of all water uses, is increasingly required to ‘make its case’ for its share of water to enable food production and ensure food security. At the same time, the sustainability of agricultural water use is under increasing scrutiny. In recent decades, attempts to solve the growing water issues have focused on management issues without considering the governance dimension, and mostly on a sectoral basis. While successful in many ways, this approach seems to have reached its limits. This paper describes the first comprehensive assessments of climate change and its impacts in Eastern and Western Mediterranean Countries, covering different sectors, ranging from physical climate drivers as temperature and precipitation, to agriculture, forests, and from water resources to social impacts and policy evaluation. The evidence provided suggests the need for more effective adaptation measures for the agriculture sector across Eastern (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine) and Western (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) of south Mediterranean countries. Southern Mediterranean Countries are affected by climate change. This is associated with increases in the frequency and intensity of droughts and hot weather conditions. Since the region is diverse and extreme climate conditions are already common, the impacts are disproportional. The impacts of climate change on Southern Mediterranean Countries water resources are significant. Climate induced changes in precipitation and air temperature lead to earlier timing of peak flows, greater frequency of flooding, and more extreme drought conditions. Rainfall in these countries is even expected to increase in winter, while decreasing in spring and summer, with a substantial increase of the number of days without rainfall. Anticipated regional impacts of climate change include heat stress, associated with poor air quality in the urban environment, combined with increasing scarcity of fresh water and decreasing water productivity in arid regions.This study seeks to assess the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector across a number of southern Mediterranean countries and evaluate relevant policy measures addressing these challenges for the region.
Irrigation Network
Hamid Darabi; Sohrab Asadi; Mahdi Sarai Tabrizi; Amin Esmaeilzadeh hanjani
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the quantitative effect of management of public institutions in promoting optimal water consumption and reducing operating and maintenance costs. For this purpose, two farms with of 48 and 49 (ha) area, which cultivated with an approved cultivation pattern (40% ...
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The purpose of this study was to determine the quantitative effect of management of public institutions in promoting optimal water consumption and reducing operating and maintenance costs. For this purpose, two farms with of 48 and 49 (ha) area, which cultivated with an approved cultivation pattern (40% autumn + 60% spring) were selected in two separate canals. The selected farms are irrigated by a rotating sprinkler irrigation system (center pivot). The water requirement of the mentioned systems was estimated using Netwat software and the operation of these machines was done in accordance to the relevant instructions and network design principles. The legal organization (Rural Production Cooperative) in charge of the farm #1 (48 ha) complied with the management and technical rules in relation to the second organization (in charge of the farm #2 with 49 ha) with a regular structure. Necessary calculations of irrigation efficiency were carried out according to the values recorded in the input meters of both devices and the cost of operation, maintenance, repairs and protection. Finally, the irrigation efficiency of the first and second farms were obtained 75% and 55%, respectively. Operating and maintenance costs were also reduced by 30%. The results indicated that the human and structural management have an important role in the irrigation and drainage sub-network planning.
