Perspectives of water efficient and saline agriculture. November 25th, Greet Blom-Zandstra

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1 Perspectives of water efficient and saline agriculture November 25th, Greet Blom-Zandstra

2 Outline Current and future problems Effects of drought or salinity on plants Plant responses Anticipation in agricultural approach The way forward

3 Water scarcity International Water Management Institute (IWMI) stated in 2007: There are sufficient water resources to produce for the growing population, but trends in consumption, production and environmental patterns will lead to future water crises in many parts of the world Continuation Business as usual in 2050: water needed for crop growth will be doubled THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE!! Urgency to act now: More Crop Per Drop

patterns will lead to future water crises in many parts of the world Continuation Business as usual in

4 Salinity Salinity serious threat to agriculture Irrigated land > 40% total food production > 30 % irrigated land suffer from salinity Salinity problems are increasing Estimated salinization rate: Mha/year (For comparison: Total agricultural land worldwide: 1.5 Gha) Urgency to act now!

problems are increasing Estimated salinization rate: 0.25 0.

5 Situation in Spain Area of irrigated land: 3.5 Million hectares Water scarcity risks in water resource systems (White Paper on Water in Spain, MMA, 2000) Ca 18% severely affected or at serious risk of soil salinization (EU commission, 2002)

systems (White Paper on Water in Spain, MMA, 2000) Ca 18%

6 Urgency to act now Paradigm shift Formally: Fighting against drought and salinity Nowadays: Live with it and look for the opportunities IWMI recommends a fresh look on approaches that: Combine different elements Adapt irrigation to new needs Enhance water productivity Use non-conventional water resources Promote the use of low quality water in agriculture

approaches that: Combine different elements Adapt irrigation to new needs Enhance water

7 Effects drought and salinity on plants Drought: impedement water uptake Salinity: 1. high salt content soil impedes water uptake 2. high salt content in plants inhibits photosynthesis Decrease plant yield Similar effect

8 Plant responses / recovery mechanisms Rapid response (hormone regulated) by closure stomata Reduction transpiration reduced salt uptake Medium term response (detoxification) Exclusion or internal accumulation in vacuoles Long term adaptation process to increase resistance Increased uptake soil solutes (like potassium) de novo synthesis organic compounds (sugars, amino acids, organic acids,..)

internal accumulation in vacuoles Long term adaptation process to increase resistance Increased

9 Salt tolerance parameters in agriculture Tolerance during germination Canopy volume Resistance to leaf damage Yield Tuber quality

10 Salt tolerance categories of field and horticultural crops Salt-tolerance category Sensitive Moderately sensitive Moderately tolerant Tolerant Almond Broad bean Beet Asparagus Amaryllis Cabbage Broccoli Barley Apple Capsicum Carnation Beet Apricot Cucumber Chrysanthemum Cotton Avocado Gladiolus Croton Date Bean Grape Marigold Geranium Carrot Lettuce Safflower Iceplant Citrus Lucerne Sorghum Lavender Onion Maize Olive Oleander Peach Peanut Wheat Petunia Plum Strawberry Potato Spinach Tamarix Statice Sugar Cane Sugar Beet Tomato

Chrysanthemum Cotton Avocado Gladiolus Croton Date Bean Grape Marigold Geranium Carrot Lettuce Safflower Iceplant Citrus Lucerne

11 Anticipation in agricultural approach Adequate crop selection Farm management strategies Breeding Integration aqua- and agri farming systems

12 Farm management strategies Triggering plant response (adaptation) by: stepwise raising salinity irrigation water so-called alternating partial root zone irrigation Increased fertilization with K or foliar application (supplemental P and K will suppress Na-uptake) Drip irrigation in stead of sprinklers Advantages: reduction leaf damage and water saving Disadvantage: high (labour) costs Mulching with straw Advantages: reduction soil temperature, saving water Disadvantage: sensitivity to fungi Salt leaching (many studies on when and how ) Precision techniques (monitoring and control with sensor technology) Exhancement recirculation systems

Advantages: reduction leaf damage and water saving Disadvantage: high (labour) costs Mulching with straw Advantages: reduction soil temperature, saving water

13 Potato - interesting case Valuable worldwide cash crop Number 6 in ranking on production area Upcoming commodity in developing countries Low water foot print

Potato - Sensitivity to drought and salt Leaves are very sensitive and damaged by overhead irrigation Reduction of proportion large tubers in favour of small ones But.

14 Potato - Sensitivity to drought and salt Leaves are very sensitive and damaged by overhead irrigation Reduction of proportion large tubers in favour of small ones But... Tuber number is not affected Preferential supply of assimilates to tubers in favour of higher dry matter yield Treatments 1. Non-saline 2. Slightly saline 3. Rather saline 4. Temporal drought 5. Long drought

.. Tuber number is not affected Preferential supply of assimilates to tubers in favour of

15 Differences in salt leaching with different irrigation strategies

16 Integration farming systems Water saving by drainage water re-use Integration aquaculture and crop farming -> Effluent/waste as nutrient source Integration dairy and feed production for reuse nutrients an valorization salt tolerant crops

Effluent/waste as nutrient source Integration dairy and

17 Currently on-going research projects Pilot on combination Sea bass Salicornia in Egypt Cultivar selection BG1 (breeding) and DSS development for potato farming in brackish water under drip irrigation Quinoa cultivation under different water regimes Integration aquaculture and agriculture in brackish water CROPS Salicor Atriplex Tamarix Quinoa Sugar Date Jojoba Garlic Peas Broccoli Tomato Potato Salinity (g/l = ppm/1000) 35

under different water regimes Integration aquaculture and agriculture in brackish water CROPS Salicor

18 Slide 17 BG1 Decision Support System Blom-Zandstra, Greet;

19 The way forward We consider the Golden Triangle (Government, Research and Business) as highly useful in advancing the more crop per drop opportunities Government Taking away legal, institutional and trade hurdles Providing seed money Incentives Business Inserting and implementing research findings into real-life business opportunities Access to venture capital Research Expanding knowledge Integration current advances Development sustainable hands-on solutions

money Incentives Business Inserting and implementing research findings into real-life business opportunities Access

20 The way forward Agenda Smart rotations Smart sustainable integrated agricultural systems with optimal water use and re-use Attention to effects on the environment Smart technologies to prevent pollution of water resources

optimal water use and re-use Attention to effects on

21 Thank you for your attention

22 Saline crops with added value Feed: Suaeda, Atriplex, Juncus Food: Salicornia, Sarcocornia, Red Beet Oil-containing crops: Ornamentals: Moringa, Jojoba Rosa, Frankenia Energy crops, shadow and wind breaks: Tamarix, Mangrove, Acacia

23 Expected water saving from smart practices Initiative Water saving Improvement of the conveyance of water to the field Use of waste water for irrigation 22% 10% Better irrigation scheduling 10% Use of drip irrigation in row crops 10% Calculated for Europe (Jacobsen et al., 2012)

CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL WATER USE: KEY BACKGROUND INFORMATION

NEED TO KNOW CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL WATER USE: KEY BACKGROUND INFORMATION Author: Heather Cooley INTRODUCTION Water plays a substantial and vital role in California s agricultural sector. Given the long-term