As Central Asia is a region with wide spread water scarcity as a result of excessive irrigation of agriculture, land use changes deserve research about potential impacts on the already strained water resources. Poplars have a long tradition as agroforestry tree across Central Asia, while paulownia is new to the region, but has been gaining extreme attention as a potential plantation and/or agroforestry tree. Therefore, the water productivity of those two tree species is investigated here on 3-year-old trees, in order to provide insights in how far the newly introduced Paulownia could put additional strain on water resources compared to paulownia. Poplar (P. deltoides × nigra) increased the stem biomass by 5.4 kg at an average water consumption of 4.18 l/d (water productivity 6.79 g/l). Paulownia’s (Paulownia tomentosa × fortunei) stem biomass grew by 4.81 kg at 2.36 l/d in average (water productivity 11.9 g/l). Expanding paulownia would not exert more pressure on Central Asia’s water resources than an expansion of poplar.
Tag: water management
A systemic approach to landscape management for productive rainfed systems in Latin America, East and South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
Rainfed farming is the world’s most dominant food production system. While opportunities for expansion of irrigation infrastructure are limited, investment is needed to maintain and improve crop water availability in rainfed agricultural production. Investment in improving rainfed agriculture through green water management holds the most significant potential for increasing crop yields, with the outcome of increased food security, income generation and resilient livelihoods. We recommend increased investment in the development of water infrastructure and adoption and adaptation of water-optimizing technologies and strategies. This will support production in rainfed systems and optimize available water for use by crops and livestock.
Water and sectoral policies in agriculture–forest frontiers: An expanded interdisciplinary research approach
Major land use changes such as deforestation and restoration influence water resources in agriculture–forest landscapes. Changes are observed in water flows, groundwater infiltration, water quality and rainfall. Interdisciplinary water–forest research has unravelled biophysical parts of the interplay that influences forest and water resources. In this Perspective paper, we propose an expanded interdisciplinary research approach to study water and policies in agriculture–forest frontiers. The approach differs in four important aspects from previous ones: (i) a conceptual ‘frontier’ understanding; an analytical focus on (ii) agriculture and (iii) policy–water linkages; (iv) empirical attention to northern and southern countries. The approach is put into practice with the “Pendulum” framework, with interventions and the agriculture–forest frontier oscillating over time between exploitation and restoration. Through the approach, a better understanding will be provided on the dynamic interplay of water and policies in oscillating agriculture–forest frontiers, with changing outcomes for people and environment.
A Context Analysis On status of water, trees and wood fuel systems in Kibwezi East and Mbooni East sub-counties, Makueni County
Over 80% of the landmass in Kenya is Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs)[1] covering 29 counties and home to about 36% of the population, 70% of the national livestock, and 90% of wildlife . ASALs are the main sources of wood charcoal which is a key livelihood strategy and over 80% of the producers source wood from trees on farm. Makueni is among the top three charcoal producer counties[2]. The annual rainfall in arid areas ranges between 150 mm and 550 mm, and semi-arid between 550 mm and 850 mm per year, while temperatures are high throughout the year, with high rates of evapotranspiration. Climate change, increasing frequency and severity of droughts, flooding and low investment in sustainable and resilient agriculture have exacerbated these challenges.
Assessment of Design and Constraints of Physical Soil and Water Conservation Structures in respect to the standard in the case of Gidabo sub-basin, Ethiopia
In Ethiopia institutional and extensive soil and water conservation (SWC) started in the 1970s. Due to several factors, most SWC works have not fully achieved the intended objectives. The disparity between dimensions of the implemented SWC work and the standard is the main factor. Therefore, this research work aimed to assess the design and constraints of SWC in the Gidabo sub-basin, of the Ethiopian rift valley. Data were generated through field observation, field measurements, household survey, interview, group discussion, and Arc GIS. According to the result, about 47.3% of the physical design of the implemented SWC structures failed to meet the standard dimension. In addition, the SWC lacks the standard supportive activities, such as the cut of the drain, check dam, biological work, and frequent maintenance. FGD and KII showed about 71.3% of the farmers accepted SWC technologies, but they have constraints for SWC. These were small land size, food insecurity, lack of resources, technical skill, field guidance, poor maintenance, as well as young migration. The researchers used the chi-square test for the significant variation of constraints along with different agro ecology. According to the chi-square result, significant association was observed between land size, access to fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, construction materials, technical skill, and maintenance of the structures versus agro ecology. Therefore, the implementation of SWC practices should be focused on the way to avoid/lower the observed mismatch of the structures against the standard. Also the constraints in different agro ecology should be solved through full community participation in order to follow the standard SWC measures for sustainable socio-economic and environmental development.
Building climate resilience in degraded agricultural landscapes through water management: A case study of Bundelkhand region, Central India
Rainfall variability and water scarcity continue to hamper the food and income security of smallholder farming systems in poverty-affected regions. Innovations in soil and water management, especially in the drylands, are critical for meeting food security and water productivity targets of Agenda 2030. This study analyzes how rainfed agriculture can be intensified with marginal impact on the landscape water balance. The impact of rainwater harvesting structures on landscape hydrology and associated agricultural services was analyzed in the semi-arid Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region in central India. The Parasai-Sindh pilot watershed was subjected to a 5-year (2012–2016) monitoring of rainfed system improvements in water availability and crop intensification due to surface water storage (haveli system), check dams, and field infiltration structures. Hydrological processes were monitored intensively to analyze the landscape’s water balance components. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures altered the landscape’s hydrology, limiting average surface runoff from 250 mm/year to 150 mm/year over the study period. Groundwater levels increased by 2–5 m (m), alleviating water scarcity issues of the communities in recurring dry years. Nearly 20% of fallow lands were brought under cultivation. Crop yields increased by 10–70% and average household income increased from US$ 960/year to US$ 2700/year compared to that in the non-intervention landscape. The combined soil–water–vegetation efforts strengthened water resilience and environmental systems in agricultural landscape.
Climate change awareness and adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
Agricultural production, food, nutrition and income security of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are threatened by extreme weather events, such as increased frequency of mid-season dry spells and increased temperatures. Their impacts are exacerbated by the prevalence of sandy soils, characterized by limited water and nutrient retention capacity leading to low crop productivity. In this study, we aimed at assessing farmers’ awareness of extreme weather events, identify adaptation strategies and evaluate maize yield from different soil fertility and water management practices. A household survey including 245 smallholder farmers in Marange, Zimbabwe was carried out. The results revealed that farmers were aware of and had experienced extreme weather events. Among adaptation strategies used were soil water-harvesting, use of improved varieties, mulching and planting trees. Maize yield remains significantly low, averaging 0.62 t ha−1 among farmers using some forms of soil fertility and water management strategies. To further understand the reason for low maize yields and improve climate change related adaptation strategies, more research is needed to quantify and confirm management practices applied by farmers, such as fertilizer use and rates, water and nutrient management, use of improved varieties as well as socio-economic factors.
Pastoral farming in the ili delta, kazakhstan, under decreasing water inflow: An economic assessment
River deltas provide the most productive pastures in Central Asia. Simultaneously they are highly vulnerable to water inflow changes. The aim of this study was to conduct an economic assessment of the short-and medium-term effect of reduced water inflow on farmers’ performance within the Ili Delta. Primary data were collected through 35 interviews with farmers and additional experts in 2015. Production parameters for three types of individual farms were estimated and entered into a full cost accounting. Contribution margins were calculated for three scenarios: (I) sufficient water inflow (normal situation), (II) decreasing water inflow, and (III) significantly reduced water inflow (worst case). Farmers purchase hay to adapt to pasture production loss due to decreasing water inflow. This more than doubled the variable costs of worst case in comparison to normal situation for small-, medium-, and large-scale type of individual farm. Monte Carlo simulation indicates a risk of 74% (small-scale farm) and 3% (medium-scale farm) that already variable costs will exceed revenues. Despite their high fixed costs, only large-scale individual farms generate positive net farm income from operations in the worst case due to government payments from participation in elite bull program that account for one-third of total revenue. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
A Farmer-led Programme to Enhance Water Management, Food Security, and Rural Economy Development in the Drylands of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya: Final Report
Rural populations living in the drylands of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa face many biophysical and socio-economic challenges including important water stress exacerbated by climate change, declining soil fertility, increased deforestation and degradation due to agricultural expansion, rapid population increase, charcoal production and poverty.
Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Through the Lens of Community Preferences
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) practices are people-centered, nature-based solutions which aim to ensure that communities can cope with the adverse effects of climate change. These practices utilize biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of the wider adaptation strategies. In recent years, communities across the globe have embraced different EbA pathways as part of their adaptation option. This necessitated a comprehensive feasibility assessment to establish the most practical options in different context in The Gambia. This technical brief looks at EbA practices based on community preferences, gender choices, values and incentives, potential enablers and barriers, as well as policy and institutional frameworks based on findings from the EbA project in The Gambia