[EBOOK] WATER QUALITY, SOIL AND MANAGING IRRIGATION OF CROPS, Edited by Teang Shui Lee, Published by INTECHOPEN

This book, Water Quality, Soil and Managing Irrigation of Crops, consists of twelve chapters written by experts in various disciplines covering topics regarding quality of water for re-use in agriculture, plant agronomy, soils and its properties, health issues pertaining to soil pollution, infiltration, as well as irrigation systems. Chemical and biochemical properties of water in water bodies are indeed important for water ecosystems management. Guidelines for quality of water for re-use in irrigated agriculture are important not only for the short-term measure of replenishing much needed water resources for plants, but suffice to say, that the long term use of such waters, if not carefully handled, can lead to permanent destruction of good agricultural land and may further aggravate water conditions of water bodies and wetlands downstream, where an environmental disaster is waiting to accumulate and recovery may be too difficult thereafter. Thus, for those involved with irrigation and drainage engineering practices, the totality of provision of prudent water resources and soil management is the order of the day if no detrimental after-effects are to surface. Development of appropriate irrigation management strategies in order to produce crops of high quality without wastage of water is the way forward in our future world wherein global warming is a foregone conclusion. Consequent to it may be floods and droughts that seemingly do not follow historical patterns and thus are difficult to cope with. With more than 70% of the water resources going to agriculture and where more than 40% of global food is produced on irrigated soils, it would be a disastrous scenario where too much water unexpectedly washes away much needed crops whilst the onset of unexpected droughts will play havoc with no way out. Another aspect that has been the focus of many researches is the introduction of salt-tolerant varieties of crops. This is particularly so in areas where the accumulation of salts in precious soils is beginning to take its toll on crops. This incremental accumulation of salt concentration through use and re-use of saline waters is building up salinity levels to the extent of eventually rendering the land irrevocable. This is also evident in many areas where seawater saline intrusion occurs and the fresh saline interface keeps encroaching higher up the water table. But such use and re-use of saline waters is the only way that crops can be irrigated, and thus a vicious cycle repeats. Although the growing of crops out of thin air and with irrigation (aeroponics) is possible and hydroponics technology has been established, these technologies are reserved for growing expensive crops as well as in small scale production in view of the high energy costs involved. Therefore, to grow stable food crops in tonnage appropriate to the demands for the masses, we may have to develop drought-resistant crops that can grow with high productivity in poorer soils and environment and less water, but also having the taste and texture that at least is considered passable by the populace.

Water problems in many parts of the world are chronic and without a crackdown on waste, will ultimately worsen as demand for food rises and the vagaries of climate change intensify. Many daunting challenges lie ahead, including providing clean water and sanitation, feeding a world population that is set to rise from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050 and coping with the impacts of global warming. Pressure for freshwater is rising, from the expanding needs of agriculture, food production and energy consumption to pollution and the weaknesses of water management. Climate change is a real and growing threat and unless humankind can deal with the onslaught or have timely controls of the emissions of global warming gases in place, this phenomenon will not self-diminish but will rather aggravate into a potentially harder one to cope with, temporarily or spatially. Without the benefits of good planning and adaptation, hundreds of millions of people are at risk of hunger, diseases, energy shortages, etc. The spotlight is on the competition for water between cities, farmers and ecosystems, and between countries as well. The water rights issue is set to trouble many adjacent countries. It is estimated that 148 countries have international water basins within their territory and 21 countries actually lie entirely within them. The challenges in accessing water are therefore real and could probably make or break a country. With temperatures arising in almost all the continents over the last decades, the demand and competition for water will be greater, not only for potable water, overcoming droughts in agriculture, but also needed for other demands like firefighting etc. With global warming, it is not impossible that droughts and floods occurring within a short time span of each other or within short distance apart, like what had happened recently in Australia where it has been recorded as getting hotter by the year, and like the unusual big floods that inundated rice fields and the city of Bangkok at the end of 2011. Thus, for the agricultural engineer engaged with irrigation and drainage, the task is ever more daunting and the need to grasp knowledge to deal with all the possible water scenarios is never more demanding. From seeking more efficient and energy effective systems to nurture crops, to seeking solutions with water re-use, the irrigation scientist and specialist will really have a lot at hand.

[EBOOK] WATER QUALITY, SOIL AND MANAGING IRRIGATION OF CROPS, Edited by Teang Shui Lee, Published by INTECHOPEN

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