Rainwater Smart Agriculture In Arid And Semi Arid Areas

This book introduces state-of-the-art approaches, methods and research, focusing on smart management of rainwater. In addition, it provides an overview of projects from across the world, illustrating how rainwater-smart management has been implemented in drylands. Focusing on the scientific perspective it demonstrates how rural dryland agriculture can be improved. It also documents the wealth of rainwater-smart know-how available today, and replicates and transfers results to other countries and regions, to encourage cross-sector interactions among various stakeholders, such as practitioners from governmental and public organisations, policy- and decision-makers, and teaching staff from academic scientific institutions. The contributors showcase vital lessons learned from research, field projects and best-practice examples. They address the integrated use of rainwater harvesting management with landscape restoration practices and water-, and climate-smart agriculture for food security and poverty alleviation in arid and semi-arid areas. Original research, combined with the contributors’ synthetic approach, lays a foundation for new concepts and ideas. Through case studies and research reports, the book discusses all the relevant issues necessary for the comprehensive analysis and successful implementation of the technologies in rainwater management. Highlighting the working principles and technical recommendations with regard to cost-efficient rainwater-smart solutions, it is of interest to practitioners. It is also a valuable resource for academic specialists, professionals and students, since many development agencies are funding rainwater harvesting for irrigation purposes.

Water harvesting for dryland and floodwater farming on the Navajo Indian Reservvation; Evaluation of materials for inducing runoff and use of these materials in runoff farming; Establishment of NaCl-harvesting catchments; Surface storage for water-harvesting agrisystems; Deciduous tree and vine fruit production using water harvesting techniques; Production of annual crops on microcatchments; Research methodologies for in situ rain harvesting in rain-fed agriculture; Designing farm machinery for rainfed agriculture; Rainfall collection and utilization in the semiarid tropics; Rainfall cololection in Australia; A buried membrane cololector for harvesting rainfall in sandy areas; Rain harvesting for human and livestock consumption in the semidesert high plains ofMexico; Wather for animals, man, and agriculture by water harvesting; Water-catchment practices for range seeding in the arid and semiarid areas of northern Mexico; The soil and water conservation office's rain-harvesting program.

This book highlights the approaches for achieving trans-disciplinary research integration for “semi-arid dryland agriculture systems” under changing climates, while also identifying the elements of a collaborative research agenda that are needed to advance global food security. The book emphasizes climate change being a reality and how drylands are bearing the brunt in diverse ways. The major impact of dryland agriculture is on communities that need to: avoid the short- and long-term impacts of the changing climate; adapt strategies that can minimize these impacts; and be able to mitigate climate change, for which they need climate smart interventions. These interventions are only realized through knowledge and experience sharing among stakeholders from different sectors and backgrounds. It is in this context that the publication was seen as a necessity in order to bring together ideas that will transform lives and build adaptation capacities, thereby providing the much-needed products in communities leading to development

Global climate change has resulted in significant changes in local weather conditions in many countries. Changes in rainfall and temperature threaten agricultural production and increase the vulnerability of individuals who are dependent on agriculture. In particular, water shortages in arid and semi-arid regions will become more prominent. In such regions, irregularly distributed rainfall will result in increased droughts as well as extreme rainfall events. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that aims to transform and reorient agricultural systems to adapt to the effects of climate change. The present reprint, "Water Management for Climate-Smart Agriculture", gathers the latest knowledge on water management practices to guide and support stakeholders, researchers, and students in adopting CSA in arid and semiarid regions to achieve sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. This Special Issue consists of a range of topics, e.g., rainwater harvesting, drought, efficient farming practices, irrigation, and groundwater recharge, and presents real-world case studies, practical examples, and applicable recommendations to be considered and applied. We hope that the knowledge provided in this reprint can be of help for the adoption of climate-smart water management practices not only in Iraq but also in other arid and semi-arid regions.

Groundwater for Sustainable Livelihoods and Equitable Growth explores how groundwater, often invisibly, improves peoples’ lives and livelihoods. This unique collection of 19 studies captures experiences of groundwater making a difference in 16 countries in Africa, South America and Asia. Such studies are rarely documented and this book provides a rich new collection of interdisciplinary analysis. The book is published in colour and includes many original diagrams and photographs. Spring water, wells or boreholes have provided safe drinking water and reliable water for irrigation or industry for millennia. However, the hidden nature of groundwater often means that it’s important role both historically and in the present is overlooked. This collection helps fill this knowledge gap, providing a diverse set of new studies encompassing different perspectives and geographies. Different interdisciplinary methodologies are described that can help understand linkages between groundwater, livelihoods and growth, and how these links can be threatened by over-use, contamination, and ignorance. Written for a worldwide audience of practitioners, academics and students with backgrounds in geology, engineering or environmental sciences; Groundwater for Sustainable Livelihoods and Equitable Growth is essential reading for those involved in groundwater and international development.

Dry areas suffer not only from limited rainfall but also ‘natural leakage’—90% of rainwater is lost directly or indirectly, and is unavailable for agriculture or domestic use. Water harvesting is a low-cost, easy-to-use, environmentally-friendly way to recover a large part of this lost water. How does water harvesting work? Which sites or areas are best suited and how can these areas be identified? How to design, build and maintain a water harvesting system tailored to local needs? How can water harvesting contribute to combating land degradation, enhancing food security and adapting to climate change? This book provides the answers. The book is based on many years of research, training and development by three of the world’s leading experts in water management and agriculture. It is authoritative, comprehensive, and easy to read, containing practical examples, many illustrations and little jargon. This volume will be of great interest to researchers, development workers, farmers, policymakers, students of the natural sciences—in fact, anyone interested in efficient, sustainable management of water resources and agriculture.

This book, which contains 14 chapters, covers all aspects of rainfed agriculture, starting with its potential, current status, rainwater harvesting and supplementary irrigation, to policies, approaches, institutions for upscaling, and impacts of integrated water management programmes in rainfed areas.