Village level identification of sugarcane in Sangali, Maharashtra using open source data

Agriculture and crop monitoring are very important for an agrarian country like India. This study is done in June Khed village in the Sangli district of Maharashtra, India to assessing the efficiency of an open source cloud-based remote sensing platform Google Earth Engine (GEE), in the village-scale identification of sugarcane. The ground-truth data was collected and the efficiency of Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellite data was assessed in driving GEE’s inbuilt Machine Learning classifiers: Classification and Regression Tree (CART), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF). Results were validated with the ground truth data and the official data. Of the methods used, SVM outperformed RF and CART with the lowest relative deviation (+9.2%), highest F1-score (0.8) and overall accuracy (78%), using the Sentinel-2 data. Results also indicated the in-situ use of observation data with high spatio-temporal resolution data. The validated model was then up-scaled for the Walwa Taluka level, to map sugarcane area that can be used for further agriculture tasks such as crop monitoring and yield prediction, leading to better management of crop and better formulating of sugarcane farmer policy

Status of waste management in the East African cities : understanding the drivers of waste generation, collection and disposal and their impacts on Kampala City's sustainability

The factors that influence waste generation and management vary with country but there is a gap in the availability of waste data in Africa limiting the assessment of these factors for sustainability. Hence, this study was aimed at evaluating the drivers of waste generation, collection and disposal, and their impact on sustainability of Kampala as compared to the East African Community (EAC). Waste generation in Kampala was calculated using recorded waste collection efficiencies while data for Nairobi and Dar es Salaam was obtained from existing literature. Waste quantities for disposal were recorded daily at Kiteezi landfill from 2011 to 2017. Results showed that the major drivers of waste generation, collection and disposal in the EAC are population growth, vehicle capacity and the need for disposal respectively. Waste generation rate in Kampala increased from 0.26 to 0.47 kg/capita/day and the annual waste quantity increased significantly (p < 0.5) by 48% from 227,916 to 481,081 tons corresponding to a 54% population increase. Waste collection efficiency increased from 30% to 64% and hence waste for disposal increased significantly (p < 0.5), with a mean of 15,823 tons/month; but varied significantly (p < 0.5) with the city division. The most (5120 tons) and least (3472 tons) waste per month was collected from the Central and Nakawa divisions respectively. Additionally, Kampala Capital City Authority collected significantly more waste than private collectors for all study years. Waste is disposed of at the Kiteezi landfill despite exhausted capacity. Future projections showed that by 2030, annual waste would increase by approximately 60% for Kampala and Nairobi and by 74% for Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam generated the highest amount of waste, five times more than Kampala. More investment needs to be made towards the reduction of waste disposal and strategies developed for the reuse and recycling of waste

The impact of irrigation with treated wastewaters on soil and kikuyu grass nutrient compositions

A lysimeter study was conducted for 1 year to examine how the source of wastewater for irrigation impacted soil physicochemical properties and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) nutrient composition. The wastewater used included treated wastewater produced by a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and intermittently decanted aerated lagoon (IDAL) treatment systems. No significant differences were observed between the treatments regarding total nitrogen and total phosphorus across the depths of the columns. However, highly significant differences were observed for Na content of the soils at various depths. Remarkable differences were recorded for soil exchangeable K and Na at different depths. In contrast, soil exchangeable Ca and Mg experienced no significant differences concerning the depth of the columns. For kikuyu grass, sodium contents of the grasses irrigated with MBR and IDAL treated wastewaters increased more than 200% and 100%, respectively, when compared with the grass irrigated with tap water. Over the period of monitoring considered in this study, there was no sign of excessive soil salinity/sodicity issues. The MBR treated wastewater has the potential to supply the grass with a constant dosage of valuable nutrients such as N and P without the requirement of using chemical fertilizers. This reduces the risk of contamination of receiving waters and groundwater and enhances the recycling of the nutrients in the wastewater to achieve a circular economy of nutrients

Managed aquifer recharge at a farm level : evaluating the performance of direct well recharge structures

A field study evaluated the performance of direct well recharge structures (DWRS) in order to harvest and filter farm runoff and its discharge into open dug wells to augment groundwater recharge. This was undertaken between 2016 and 2018 using a total of 11 wells in the Dharta watershed, situated in a semi-arid hardrock region of Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. The depth to water level in each DWRS well was monitored weekly for 1 to 3 years before and after the DWRS was established, and water samples were taken for water quality analysis (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, fluoride, and Escherichia coli) before and during the monsoon period. For each DWRS well, two control wells in close proximity were also monitored and sampled. Five of the DWRS established in 2018 also had flow meters installed in order to measure discharge from the filter to the well. The volume of water recharged through DWRS into individual wells during the 2018 monsoon ranged from 2 to 176 m3 per well. Although the mean rise in water levels over the monsoon was higher in DWRS wells than in nearby control wells, the difference was not significant. Values of pH, EC, TDS, and F decreased in DWRS and control wells as each monsoon progressed, whereas the turbidity of wells with DWRS increased slightly. There was no significant difference between DWRS and control wells for pH, EC/TDS, turbidity, or fluoride. The presence of E. coli in DWRS wells was higher than in control wells, however, E. coli exceeded drinking water guidelines in all sampled wells. On the basis of this study, it is recommended that rural runoff should not be admitted to wells that are used for, or close to, wells used for drinking water supplies, even though salinity and fluoride concentrations may be reduced. For this study, none of the 11 DWRS wells produced sufficient additional recharge to potentially increase dry season irrigation supplies to justify expenditure on DWRS. This even applies to the DWRS well adjacent to a small ephemeral stream that had a significantly larger catchment area than those drawing on farmers’ fields alone. An important and unexpected finding of this study was that no sampled open dug well met drinking water standards. This has led to a shift in local priorities to implement well-head water quality protection measures for wells used for drinking water supplies. It is recommended that parapet walls be built around the perimeter of such dug wells, as well as having covers be installed

Impact of recycled water irrigation on soil salinity and its remediation

Continuous use of recycled water (treated wastewater) over a long period of time may lead to the accumulation of salt in the root zone of the soil. This is due to the relatively higher levels of salt contained in the recycled water compared to a town water supply. The increase in salt concentration in the soil can adversely influence the amount of water a plant can uptake from the soil due to the osmotic effect. Despite significant benefits, recycled water may deteriorate soil health in terms of increased salinity and sodicity. Although several studies in the past have highlighted the increase of soil salinity due to recycled water irrigation, the phenomenon depends on the variability of soil characteristics. In this study, the impact of using three different types of irrigation water (with electrical conductivity 0.2, 0.8, and 2.0 dS/m) on the mechanism of salt accumulation in the soil was investigated. To contribute to the addition of the existing knowledge of soil salinisation, soil from two paddocks (i.e., D33 and Yarramundi) in Western Sydney, Australia were analysed, and relationships among parameters associated with salt accumulation were evaluated using the results from continuous column studies. Results show that if the irrigation is conducted with high saline water, there is a possibility for salinisation of soil to occur. To prevent this from occurring, one of the solutions could be to use a normal town water supply for irrigation at some intervals. This will allow for the leaching of excess salt accumulated in the soil to deeper layers

Hydrologic and cost-benefit analysis of multiple check dams in catchments of ephemeral streams, Rajasthan, India

Investment in the small-scale enhancement of groundwater recharge through check dams and other recharge structures in rural India is on the order of USD 1 billion/year. However, for any catchment, the optimal capacity of check dams is unknown, and the impacts on downstream flows are rarely determined. This paper describes a method that can be applied to plan recharge augmentation in catchments that have at least one monitored check dam. It was applied in the Dharta catchment of the Aravalli Hills in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India, where four check dams in an ephemeral stream were monitored by farmers over seven years. For the last three years of this study, the hydrology of two of these check dams was affected by 19 new check dams established upstream. A basic hydrologic model, WaterCress, was calibrated on monitored check-dam storages and used to assess the impacts of the new structures on recharge from those downstream. Then, the model was rerun with a range of capacities of upstream check dams to determine the effects of check-dam capacity on (1) the recharge from the downstream check dam, (2) the total recharge from all check dams, and (3) the frequency of spill from the downstream check dam. Using the available economic information, the benefit–cost ratio was calculated for a range of check-dam capacities. This showed a decline in economic efficiency with each new check dam and defined the optimal capacity. Monsoon size was found to be consequential to results, and longer hydrological records yield more reliable results. The study showed that monitoring check dams, rainfall, and groundwater levels is key to deciding whether additional check dams are economically beneficial

Teaching Resource on Flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley: Assessing the Impact on Student Learning

This report details the findings of research conducted for Infrastructure NSW assessing the impact of teaching curriculum resource about Hawkesbury‑Nepean Valley on students’ understanding of natural hazards, community preparedness and responses to flooding. The research comprised pre and post surveys of students’ understanding and awareness of natural hazards and emergency services and planning before and after the resource was delivered. This quantitative survey data has been analysed in the findings. A focus group to identify teacher’s perspectives and experiences of using the resource was conducted. Qualitative evidence from the focus group interviews is presented. Survey participants included a sample of 332 students from a range of schools including government, catholic and independent schools. The participants were stage 4 students (aged between 12 and 14 years) studying geography at school in NSW Stage 4 classrooms from diverse backgrounds. Focus group participants were teachers from schools who had implemented the resource within their classrooms throughout 2019. The focus group participants came from government, Catholic and independent schools and had a range of experience in teaching geography

Training young water professionals in leadership and transdisciplinary competencies for sustainable water management in India

Young water professionals (YWPs) have a critical role in ensuring how water resources will be managed to contribute towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To address the challenges of climate change, population growth, and urbanization, YWPs require leadership skills, transdisciplinary competencies, technical knowledge, and practical experience. This article presents the India YWP training program, led by Western Sydney University and the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC), aimed at developing a cohort of skilled YWPs and nurturing the next generation of water leaders in support of India’s water reform agenda and the National Water Mission. The program engaged 20 YWPs, consisting of an equal gender representation, selected by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from various water management agencies and departments across India. The 11-month training program was designed to be transformative and interactive, and it used an online platform comprising online lectures, mentoring, and project-based learning facilitated by the AIWC team. The training methodology focused on engaged learning, incorporating online workshops, Situation Understanding and Improvement Projects (SUIPs), online group discussions, and mentoring. The SUIPs provided a platform for YWPs to work in pairs, receiving guidance from AIWC members, enabling them to develop practical skills and knowledge in realworld contexts. The program effectively enhanced participants’ capacities in project planning, design, implementation, and management, while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills by adopting transdisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, participants demonstrated improved leadership, project management, time management, and communication skills. The training helped YWPs to equip them with a holistic perspective and stakeholder-focused mindset to address diverse water challenges from a holistic and long-term standpoint

Developing a multimedia package for university teaching and learning : lessons learnt

A team of staff at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) were involved in developing a multimedia package, called Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture (SWAG), to assist the first and second year students to learn about the use, management and conservation of water in agriculture. A range of media techniques including text, sound, diagrams, pictures, video clips and animation were used to present the subject matter in an interesting, interactive and effective format. It also contained activities that students can undertake interactively to reinforce and test their learning. An important lesson from this project is that developing a multi-media package is a complex task and requires considerable time, effort and budget to develop an effective student learning package. It also requires a multitude of skills that are not always available in university lecturers who are more likely to be content experts than programmers of such packages. The effort, time and budget required for developing a multimedia package is another important consideration and should not be taken lightly. Further, to ensure success, due consideration must be given to make up and size of the project team and issues of compatibility of the package with the future hardware and software. Overall, the lessons learnt provide a starting point for academics who intend to develop similar packages for the first time. It may also help to handle some key issues and challenges that could occur in developing such packages more effectively

Water conservation around homes : the role of audit in improving irrigation system performance

A methodology for an audit of irrigation systems, originally developed for public open spaces and commercial landscape irrigation systems was used in this study of residential irrigation systems at 50 home sites in the Sydney Metropolitan area, Australia. The audit aimed to evaluate the influence of the irrigation system on water use efficiency, rather than the management or operation of the system. The audit identified design, installation and maintenance issues, evaluated system performance and identified opportunities for improving water use efficiency. The study highlighted that there are relatively few well-designed systems in operation, that a typical homeowner has limited knowledge of how to design and manage an irrigation system, and that the maintenance of systems is usually forgotten. Overall, the irrigation system audit can be a useful tool in identifying irrigation system faults and issues that impact on the effectiveness of outdoor home watering. A modified audit process, involving a checklist of the systems,would yield useful information for homeowners, particularly if it contained information on what was working, what was not working and recommendations on what needed to be fixed up or improved