Drainwater Management for Salinity Mitigation in Irrigated Agriculture

Abstract

Salinity and drainage management options include source control, reuse, and evaporation ponds. This article identifies efficient strategies to maintain hydrologic balance in closed drainage basins and evaluates their impact on regional agricultural profits. Theoretical analysis suggests that economic efficiency requires acknowledgment of the nonseparability between water use and land value. Empirically, our solution involves a modest amount of source control, a substantial amount of reuse, and the elimination of evaporation ponds often associated with large environmental damages, while maintaining grower income. Various policy instruments and options are introduced and discussed, including a system of drainwater charges, marketable permits, and land retirement.

Effect of salt stress on some morphological and biochemical characteristics of sunflower (Samsung-600)

“…Different physiological trades such as selectivity for potassium, exclusion of Na+ and Cl-ions, osmotic adjustment by accumulation of organic solutes have all been related to salt tolerance of crop plants [19]. There is also possibility that NaCl treated plants utilize energy for the osmotic adjustment processes at the expense of growth [20]. Plant subjected to abiotic stresses underwent impairment of electron transport systems of membranes that caused increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [21].…”

Impact of Salinity Stress on Proline Reaction, Peroxide Activity, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…In the current global climate change scenario one expected threat is the increase in land salinization [3]. Over 6% of the world's land is affected by salinity and its extent is increasing regularly throughout the world [4].…”

Irrigation to meet growing food demand with climate change, salinity and water trade

“…An important environmental concern in the River Murray case study considered here and many other major irrigated agricultural regions is salinity. As noted in Schwabe et al [4], nearly one-third of the irrigated land worldwide is affected by salinization. Salinization inhibits the ability to intensify and expand irrigated lands through reducing crop yields.…”

“…First, the crop-water production function was updated with a formulation that accounts for the effects of both water stress and salinity on yield, and is consistent with agronomic science and previous research into the economics of salinity management analysing these relationships (Kan et al [11]; Schwabe et al [4]). Second, the profit function formulation was extended to include a third stage which involves a weekly choice of how much water to apply based on yield response given weekly varying salinity levels.…”