Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture—Circular Economy Approach

Abstract

Irrigation is one of the most important sustainable applications in agriculture. Nutrient-rich soil and adequate soil moisture are the most essential requirements for agricultural productivity. Some areas are rain fed while others have the provision of irrigation either through canals or ground water. Innovation for reducing the freshwater footprint in agriculture such as the adoption of low-cost and energy-saving suitable irrigation techniques like solar, drip, sprinkler, controlled tube irrigation, and fertigation will reduce the water wastage in agriculture. Constructed ponds will facilitate groundwater recharge by rainwater harvesting. Soils represent an important part of the ecosystem. They control the water flow, the recharge of ground water, the nutrient supply of the plants, and can reduce the number of pollutants or protect the ground and drinking water from them. Pesticides from agricultural industry, greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and wastewater from contaminated sites are reflected with many other parameters in the chemical and microbiological situation of soils which is of primary importance for the plant quality. Therefore, the knowledge of the situation below the soil surface is an important task for the agricultural and industrial researches. Lysimeters represent a practical tool to get a view in the deeper soils. The level of the lysimeter vessel surface flushes with the surface of the surrounding area. They simulate the natural relation between soil, atmosphere, and plants. The dimension of the soil monoliths can vary from small (less than 0,5 m2 surface and not deeper than 1 m) to big types (2 m2 surface and up to 3.5 m depth). An overview of the various requirements for sustainable water uses in agriculture that contributes to cross-discipline discussions and understanding are reviewed in this chapter. Irrigation water use trends for sustainable agriculture in selected parts of the globe are cited as examples.