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Research & Innovationfor Improving Water Use

EfficiencyLaurie Tollefson

Vice PresidentInternational Commission onIrrigation & Drainage (ICID)www.icid.org

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IntroductionAgricultural Water Use Efficiency

• Water is critical to sustainable agricultural production

• To increase agricultural production with existing land and water resources will require increased water use efficiency (more crop/drop)

• Requires integrated engineering, agronomic & institutional approaches

• Research and Innovation Key

International Commission On Irrigation And Drainage

www.icid.org

- Established 1950- Head Office – New Delhi, India- 110 member country NGO- Numerous affiliated International Organizations (FAO, UN

Water, IWMI, World Bank)- National Committee in each member country.- Leading scientific, technical, professional and international

NGO in the field of irrigation, drainage and flood control. - Conducts work through 35 working groups, tasks forces

and committees.

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Global Irrigated and Rainfed Cropland Statistics

• 1,500 million ha of global cropland• 300 m ha irrigated (20%)• Irrigated lands produce 40% of world’s food• Utilize 70% water withdrawn from global river systems• 1,200 m ha of rainfed lands producing 60% of the

world’s food

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High variant

Medium variant

Low variant

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

Year

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6

8

10

12

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2

billionsGLOBAL POPULATION

Pressure For1960 -2050

Most growth in the less developed countries. Africa & Asia have largest growth rate & most acute water shortage.

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FOOD PRODUCTION NEEDS TO DOUBLE OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS TO MEET POPULATION DEMANDS

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Water Scarcity PressureEvolution of Water Shortages in 100 Years

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Water use by sector

- Agriculture largest consumer of freshwater - Irrigation largest consumer of agricultural water

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(FAO 2009)

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Climate Change• Effects unknown and unpredictable• Variability and fluctuation • Water shortage and drought in some regions• Excess water in others• Global agriculture must produce more food to feed a growing

population while adapting to climate change

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• Remarkable development in irrigation and agriculture over the last 50 years.

• World population grew from 2.5 to 6.5 Billion, irrigated land doubled and water withdrawl tripled.

• Agriculture productivity increased with new crop varieties, fertilizer, irrigation (2.5 – 3 times).

• World food production outstripped population growth.• Despite these facts, 850 million people are food insecure (60% in South

Asia and Sub Sahara Africa).• Environmental concern greatly increased.• Great Challenge for Agriculture in 21st Century: achieving food security,

adapting to climate change, mitigating climate change with resources: water, energy and land becoming increasingly scarce.1

1Achieving Food Scarcity in the Face of Climate Change (2012)

Managing Irrigation Systems in Today’s Environment

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Despite these successes – We have UNPRECEDENTED and RISING hunger and

malnutrition

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Increase Land and Water Productivity

How do we maximize biological and economic productivity per unit of Ag land and water while increasing environmental performance?

How do we maximize biological and economic productivity per unit of Ag land and water while increasing environmental performance?

Research and Innovation Needs to Improve Water Use Efficiency

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(National Agricultural Biotechnology Group)

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Improving Water Use Efficiency

1) Improved Infrastructureo Improved water use efficiency must focus on the whole systemo Improved storage, diversion, distribution & on-farm water useo Canal linings, pipeline conveyance & increased supplies to tail

end.

Water Storage

Canal Lining

Pipeline

Engineering

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Upgrading of conveyance networkConveyance losses of 40-50%

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Conventional and Modern Control Structures in Conveyance Network Conventional and Modern Control Structures in Conveyance Network and SCADAand SCADA

- Remote control of structures and monitoring of flow

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On-Farm Irrigation

Upgrading of inefficient surface irrigation methods

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Improvements to application efficiency of irrigated systems can improve water use efficiency

Irmak et al. 2011. Irrigation Efficiency and uniformity, and crop water use efficiency. University of Nebraska, Lincoln. EC732. USDA. 2005. Irrigation System (Chapter 6) 210-vi-NEH 652, IG Amend. NJ1, AARD. 2013. Alberta Irrigation Manual:

System Type Application Efficiency Range (%)Surface Irrigation  Furrow (conventional) 45-64Furrow (surge) 55-75Furrow (with tailwater reuse) 60-80Basin (with or without furrows) 60-75Sprinkler Irrigation  LEPA (low energy precision application) 80-90Linear move 75-85Centre Pivot (low pressure drop-tube) 75-88Traveling Gun 65-75 Side Roll 65-85 Hand Move 65-85Solid Set 70-85Micro-irrigation  Bubbler (low head) 80-90Microspray 85-90Micro-point source 85-90Micro-line source 85-90Subsurface Drip >95Surface Drip 85-95

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On-Farm IrrigationSurface

Drip

Center Pivot

Side-Roll Sprinkler Solar

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Irrigation Application Change

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· On-farm irrigation efficiency has increased from 36% in 1965 to 74% in 2000.     

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(Alberta Agriculture)

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Genetics and Agronomy

More crop/drop through improved varieties, fertility, irrigation scheduling, etc.

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Drought Tolerant Crops

- CspB gene in corn improves water use efficiency- Industry will market this corn and evaluate soybeans, wheat and cottom- Conversion C3 photosynthesis crops (wheat, rice) to C4 (corn and sorgum) through genetic and chemical research

Breeding

Irrigation ManagementEffect of Irrigation on Water Use Efficiency

Practice Increase in WUE %

Irrigation Scheduling 5 – 38

Method of Irrigation 7 – 48

Timing of Irrigation 25 - 57Raza et all 2012

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Raza et al Improved Water Use Efficiency for Sustainable Agriculture, In Agroecology & Strategies for Climate Change. Springer 2012

Evaporation Pan

WaterMark Sensor

Tensiometer

Infrared Thermometer

WaterMark Sensor

Evaporation Pan Neutron Probe

Precision Irrigation

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Precision drip and trickle emitters or pressure regulated nozzles to allow irrigation on undulating land

Variable Rate Irrigation• Soils and crops vary within field• VRI is precision agriculture applied to irrigation• Application different irrigation amounts to match crop water

demand at small scale in field

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Solar powered two-tower miniature centre-pivot (1.5 hectares), first in Canada, CSIDC farm Outlook Sk.

Solar Irrigation

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Solar Irrigation - Egypt

Reduced Evaporation• Evaporative losses open water bodies (2 m/year) in hot

climates• Mulches in conjunction with drip irrigation

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Drip Line

Plastic Mulch

Plastic MulchApplicator

1) Water Harvesting - small reservoirs designed to catch flood water for later use

2) Conjunctive use of Surface & Ground Water - combining use of surface & ground water to optimize the water demand/supply and minimize environmental impact

3) Wastewater Irrigation - re-use of saline drainage water, human and industrial effluent water savings, reduced treatment cost, less pollution

4) Conservation Tillage - enhanced infiltration and reduced run-off

5) Controlled drainage & sub-irrigation

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Other Innovative Approaches

Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse GasesEnvironment

• Originated Copenhagen Summit, Launched in 2009• Ensure Ag emissions understood and that GHG emissions decline for every unit of food produced• 32 member countries work in livestock, cropping, paddy rice

- Improved water use efficiency included under Global Research Alliance- Quantifying greenhouse gases under irrigation and drained conditions- Developing BMP’s to mitigate them

Environment- Improved Water Use Efficiency helps mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, reduces seepage and salinity, leaching

Irrigated systems generate more CO2 emissions per hectare than dryland systems. However, on a per crop weight basis CO2 emissions are similar.

Emissions per hectare per growing season

Emissions per tonne of cropper growing season

Kulshrehtha , Sobool. 2006. Comparative GHG emissions intensities from irrigated and dryland agricultural activities. Can. Water Res. J 31:157

Institutional Needs

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ii) Water Pricing - Governments have traditionally built and operated irrigation systems with minimal charge for their service.

- Water often allocated to irrigation districts which does not reflect market value. Here

reluctance to adopt efficiency measures.- When prices reflect scarcity or government regulates the use, producers will

use it more efficiently.- Institutional structure and rules required

i) Institutions - Institutions dealing with water management are often complex.

- Water resource planning, assessment and construction of water schemes responsibility of National Water Resource Institutes staffed by engineers.

- On-farm management and extension handled by Ministry of Agriculture. - Lack of co-ordination and co-operation resulted in poor water use efficiency- Better co-ordination required.

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iii) Water User Associations - High correlation to irrigation project sustainability - Farmer involvement in planning, construction and management - Farmers contribute to O & M costs - Improper institutional support and training - Lower standards of O & M and service delivery.

iv) Education and Training - Crucial to improved water use efficiency. - Complex subject but often limited training for irrigation project operation and maintenance staff - Best design, installation and equipment does not ensure success - Farmer must understand production of crop but also operation and maintenance of systems - Inadequate extension and training for producers - Education and extension must be government priorities.

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v) Participatory Research - Farmers participating with researchers and extensionists in setting research direction - Better communication is essential - Multidisciplinary approach

Future Challenges for Research and Innovation• Improved multidisciplinary team approach (plant, soil, hydrology, socio-economic,

environment, policy)• Identifying research needs - Participatory approach• Policy relevant research• Dissemination and utilization of appropriate information to end users• Capacity building and training of scientists and extension personnel• Climate change

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