A Tool for the Evaluation of Irrigation Water Quality in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions

In the Mediterranean arid and semi-arid regions, large amounts of low quality waters could be used for crop irrigation, but the adoption of articulated classifications with too rigid quality limits can often reduce the recoverable quantities of water and make the monitoring of water quality too much expensive. Therefore, an evaluation of irrigation water quality based on only a few crucial parameters, which consider the crop species to be irrigated and the type of irrigation system and management adopted, can be an easy and flexible method for maximizing the reuse of wastewater and low-quality water for agricultural purposes. In this view, an irrigation water quality tool (IWQT) was developed to support farmers of arid and semi-arid regions on evaluating the use of low quality water for crop irrigation. The most significant and cheapest parameters of irrigation water quality were identified and clustered in three quality classes according to their effects on crop yield and soil fertility (agronomic quality indicators), human health (hygiene and health quality indicators), and irrigation systems (management quality indicators). According to IWQT parameters, a tool reporting a series of recommendations, including water treatment types, was implemented to guide farmers on the use of low quality irrigation water

Irrigation and water quality

Irrigation ; California ; Agriculture - California ; Water-supply - California

Urban wastewater reuse for crop production in the water-short Guanajuato River Basin, Mexico

Water quality / Waste waters / Water reuse / Water resource management / River basins / Irrigation water / Crop production / Water use / Data collection / Case studies / Mexico / Guanajuato River Basin / Tula Irrigation District

Strategies to mitigate secondary salinization in the Indus Basin of Pakistan: a selective review

Salinity control / Water table / River basins / Irrigation management / Water quality / Irrigation practices / Drainage / Sodic soils / Pakistan

Assessment of performance and impact of irrigation and water resources systems in Taiwan and Sri Lanka

Irrigation systems / Water scarcity / Water allocation / Water supply / Water quality / Water distribution / Decision making / Water management / Regression analysis / Performance evaluation / Sustainability / Irrigated farming / Agricultural development / Farm size / Irrigation management / Farmers' associations / Rain / Paddy cultivation / Crop yield / Costs / Productivity

A DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY POLICIES ON IRRIGATION INVESTMENT AND CROP CHOICE DECISIONS

A dynamic model is developed to analyze farmers' irrigation investment and crop choice decisions under alternative water quality protection policies. The model is applied to an empirical example in the Oklahoma High Plains. The choices of crops and irrigation systems and the resulting levels of irrigation, income, and nitrogen runoff and percolation are simulated over a ten-year period. An effluent tax on nitrogen runoff and percolation is shown to be effective in reducing nitrate pollution. The efficacy of cost sharing in adopting modern irrigation technologies and restrictions on irrigation water use depends on soil type. A tax on nitrogen use is shown to be the least effective policy.Crop selection, Dynamic optimization, Irrigation investment, Water quality, Crop Production/Industries,

The changing face of irrigation in Kenya: opportunities for anticipating changes in Eastern and Southern Africa

Small scale systems / Environmental effects / Government managed irrigation systems / Farmer managed irrigation systems / Health / Waterborne diseases / River basins / Pest control / Social impact / Water policy / Water law / Institutional development / Water allocation / Drip irrigation / Pumps / Technology / GIS / Databases / Irrigation programs / Drainage / Water resource management / Economic aspects / Social aspects / Water scarcity / Conflict / Case studies / Land management / Sedimentation / Flood control / Wetlands / Water quality / Erosion / Grassland management / Livestock / Rain / Drought / Participatory management / Design / Credit / Horticulture / Farmers’ associations / Farmers’ attitudes / Gender / Rice / Legislation / Land tenure / Cooperatives / Income / Southern Africa / Eastern Africa / Kenya / Upper Ewaso Ng’iro North Basin / Lake Victoria Basin / Tana River Basin / Mwea Irrigation Scheme

Irrigation and water resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: challenges and strategies

Latin America and the Caribbean are relatively well endowed with water resources. However, population growth and rapid urbanization are putting considerable pressure on water available for irrigation. Local and regional water scarcity problems are exacerbated by severe water quality problems; and wastewater is frequently used for irrigation. Moreover, prospects for new investments into irrigation development appear limited. This paper examines the factors underlying irrigation development in Latin America and the Caribbean, reviews the water supply situation, and describes trends in water demand and irrigated agriculture. The overall water management in the region is assessed, and recent trends in investments in the water sector, with a focus on large-scale irrigation systems, are analyzed. The paper concludes that in this context of accelerating demand and declining irrigation investments, new water development is not the primary solution to water resource challenges in the region. Much greater attention is needed on water policy and management reform to improve the efficiency and equity of irrigation and water supply systems.Water resources development Caribbean Area., Water-supply., Water use Management., Irrigation farming.,