Improving water management in irrigated agriculture
Date
2004-10
Authors
Ayars, James E., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
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Abstract
Increasing demand for food, fiber, and clean water resulting from the increase in world population is putting significant stress on irrigated agriculture. Currently, irrigated agriculture supplies nearly 40% of the world food products and is expected to contribute more in the future with less water and the same cultivated land area. Analysis of the global water supply and existing irrigation management reveals many alternatives for irrigated agriculture to meet the production challenges with the same water supply while minimizing the environmental impact of irrigated agriculture. These alternatives include: improving existing water management practices for surface irrigation, switching to alternative irrigation systems, improved management to include fertilizer management and the use of alternative water supplies including saline drainage water and treated effluent. In addition to water application, sustaining irrigated agriculture depends on managing the salt in the soil profile and the salt load emanating from the irrigated area. This can be accomplished by improving drainage system management and changing the drainage design criteria. Data from the U.S. and Australia will be used to demonstrate the effect of changes in irrigation system management on water use efficiency and drainage system design and management on the salt load from irrigated agriculture.
Description
Presented during the USCID water management conference held on October 13-16, 2004 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme of the conference was "Water rights and related water supply issues."