Use Of Water Research Articles

Technological Innovations for Agricultural Production from an Environmental Perspective: A Review

Information and communication technology (ICT) in developing countries is a key element for growth and economic development. This work conducted an evaluation regarding the use of ICT to reduce the socioeconomic gaps of rural populations and promote its inclusion in development plans, considering its use to guarantee a sustainable development model. For this, a systematic review of 280 articles was carried out using the Scopus, Latindex, Scielo, Dialnet, Redalyc, and Google Scholar databases during the period from 2018 to 2023, of which 40 articles were selected that address the use of ICTs and the agricultural digitalization for the management of soil, water, and the application of fertilizers and agrochemicals, which guarantee sustainable agricultural development. The results show that there are numerous digital tools available based on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), drones, apps, and the Internet of Things, which aid in soil and water management and make use of agrochemicals and water, thus improving efficiency and reducing pollution problems. However, there is a large gap at the international level in acquiring state-of-the-art technological equipment that takes advantage of the potential that exists in terms of new technologies and their efficient use. Much of the research on the use of ICTs in the agricultural field comes from countries with medium or high levels of technological development, especially from Asia, Europe, or North America. As a result, Latin America lags behind in this regard.

Evaluation of drinking and irrigation water quality, and potential risks indices in the Dera Ismail Khan district, Pakistan

This study sought to asses drinking and irrigation water quality in the Dera Ismail (DI) Khan District, Pakistan with the aid of using drinking water quality index (WQI) and irrigation water quality indices (IWQI). Seventy two water samples were collected from various water sources such as tube wells, dug wells, hand pumps, streams, and springs throughout the DI Khan district. The investigated physicochemical parameters include pH, TDS, EC, turbidity, total hardness, major cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg), anions (Cl, HCO3, SO4), and heavy metals (Fe, Mo, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn). IWQI used in the study includes Kelly's ratio (KR), permeability index (PI), sodium percent (Na%), Magnesium Hazard (MH), potential salinity (PS), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). With the mean value of 63, WQI revealed that most samples are placed in the good category, with a smaller fraction in the excellent and poor classes. On the other hand, a health risk assessment of the data pointed out that the molybdenum (Mo) and chromium (Cr) concentrations in drinking water could pose health risks to children of the concerned population. Rock weathering appears to be the dominant hydro-geochemical pathway controlling water chemistry, Ca–Mg–HCO3 being the dominant facies, followed by Na–HCO3. Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium percent (Na%), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) had values higher than the recommended threshold. The use of water for irrigation of agricultural fields may raise relevant ecological concerns in the studied district.

Fine-root morphology of woody and herbaceous plants responds differently to altered precipitation: A meta-analysis

The growth of plant roots and their acquisition of resources are significantly impacted by changes in precipitation patterns. Although numerous studies have examined the impact of precipitation on fine root systems, the rooting strategies of woody and herbaceous plants under different precipitation patterns remain to be comparatively evaluated. Accordingly, in the current study, we conducted a meta-analysis of 64 peer-reviewed articles to explore the response of 17 biomass and fine-root traits of woody and herbaceous plants to precipitation changes. Our findings demonstrate that woody and herbaceous plants have developed different root strategies to cope with altered precipitation. Specifically, when precipitation increased, the fine roots of woody plants had a larger surface area and significantly increased shallow root growth. In contrast, the fine-root morphological traits of herbaceous plants showed a stronger response to increased precipitation, in which fine-root length, volume, and tissue density increased. This may result in more effective use of available water by herbaceous than woody plants. When precipitation decreased, woody plants displayed more active fine-root morphological alterations, presenting a conservative fine-root phenotype of resource acquisition, with lower specific root length and higher fine-root tissue density. Moreover, woody plants transfer absorptive fine-root structures to deep soil layers, whereas herbaceous plants are less drought-tolerant. Furthermore, woody plants may allocate biomass more optimally than herbaceous plants in precipitation-reduction scenarios. Increased precipitation may boost soil carbon sequestration and stability in woody plant-dominated forest ecosystems under future climate change scenarios, while drought may considerably reduce soil carbon storage in grassland ecosystems. In more arid environments, where woody and herbaceous plants coexist, drought may lead to the expansion of woody plants and subsequent predominance of woody plants vegetation change. our findings will fill knowledge gaps in the literature regarding the effects of precipitation changes on the fine-root dynamics of various functional plants and will improve predictions of the vegetation dynamics of forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems vegetation dynamics under changing precipitation patterns.

Geophysical assessment of seawater intrusion: the Volturno Coastal Plain case study

In coastal alluvial plains, the variability of sedimentary inputs, tectonic and eustatism causes a complex subsurface geology which influences the position of fresh/saltwater interface. Furthermore, in these areas densely populated, the over-pumping of freshwater, coupled with the climate change events, promotes the landward migration of freshwater/saltwater boundary. This research illustrates the ability of geophysical tools to recognize the presence of salt/brackish water at Volturno Coastal Plain, Southern Italy. This area is characterized by a peculiar geological setting, due to the proximity at Somma–Vesuvio and Campi Flegrei volcanic areas, which profoundly influences the circulation of groundwater. The subsurface is mainly characterized by: (i) two denser layers located at − 10 m and − 20 m depth which in part prevents the vertical migration of groundwater, (ii) facies heteropy that facilitates the hydraulic connection between the different geological bodies, (iii) a discontinuous Campanian Ignimbrite deposits which favor the hydraulic connection between deeper and shallower aquifers. In this geological framework, 2D-ERT and 3D-ERT integrated with Downhole, Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves and boreholes made possible to recognize the presence of two main zones with salt and brackish waters, respectively. The first zone, characterized by very low resistivity (≤ 1 Ωm) typical of salt water, stretches 1.5 km inland from the coast. The second zone, with a resistivity between 2 and 5 Ωm typical of brackish water, continues for other 3 km inland. This knowledge is useful for the engagement of all stakeholders (farmers, ranchers and policy makers) in the sustainable use of fresh water and for making water management plan operational tools.

The water tap design for ablution activities considering cultural influences: a design for sustainability

Water is a vital resource that should be utilized effectively. However, it is overused and squandered on a daily need, including the unrestrained use of water for ablution purposes. This condition can be due to a lack of awareness and the influences of peer cultural values. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a water-tap design that takes into consideration the influences of cultural value. Accordingly, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) approach the significant correlation between cultural influences and user preferences on water-tap design by referring at the critical threshold output of each attribute. The result showed that collectivism and uncertainty avoidance dimensions were identified as the influencing cultural dimensions and the automatic water level-control float valve, mechanical water-taps with auto-stop function, and transparent water tanks are the most important considerations for water tap technical specification. Through the assessment of its applicability, the use of the prototype can reduce water usage by 54.6% compared to regular water-taps. Correspondingly, the approach of cultural value in the designing process is expected to give more insights to practices such as product designers when determining design specification while for knowledge, it extends the applicability of Hofstede cultural theory for product design and development.

Water-smart farming: review of strategies, technologies, and practices for sustainable agricultural water management in a changing climate in West Africa

The global temperature increase of 1.1°C over the past decade and human population growth are already escalating competition for water in locations where water is scarce, adversely affecting agriculture. Water-smart farming was developed to address challenges associated with the availability, access and use of agricultural water. It complements practices and goals related to agricultural water in climate-smart agriculture. It encompasses several climate-responsive food cropping systems, water-saving methods, tools, and technologies to grow food sustainably. Effective implementation of water-smart farming can ameliorate the pressing burden of agricultural water competition. Therefore, the conceptual framework of water-smart farming and its principal elements or ideology are introduced in this review. The major pillars of water-smart cropping, which include conditioning and improving the soil’s capacity to capture and hold moisture, basic infrastructure for water harvesting, storage and use as nature-based cropping solutions were elaborated. Further examples of technologies and best practices in water-smart crop farming, such as breeding for drought-tolerant crop varieties, promoting dryland cropping systems, alternate wetting and drying technology, water drainage and control structures, rainwater harvesting, utilization of irrigation reservoirs, cover cropping and intercropping for enhancing soil moisture conservation were presented. The review also briefly shows the contribution of some of these best practices and adaptive technologies of water-smart cropping toward promoting water-saving methods used for growing rice, maize, legumes, cassava and peri-urban vegetables.

Subcritical Water Extraction to Valorize Grape Biomass-A Step Closer to Circular Economy.

With the increase in the world population, the overexploitation of the planet's natural resources is becoming a worldwide concern. Changes in the way humankind thinks about production and consumption must be undertaken to protect our planet and our way of living. For this change to occur, sustainable development together with a circular economic approach and responsible consumption are key points. Agriculture activities are responsible for more than 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions; moreover, by 2050, it is expected that food production will increase by 60%. The valorization of food waste is therefore of high importance to decrease the environmental footprint of agricultural activities. Fruits and vegetables are wildly consumed worldwide, and grapes are one of the main producers of greenhouse gases. Grape biomass is rich in bioactive compounds that can be used for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and their extraction from this food residue has been the target of several studies. Among the extraction techniques used for the recovery of bioactive compounds from food waste, subcritical water extraction (SWE) has been the least explored. SWE has several advantages over other extraction techniques such as microwave and ultrasound extraction, allowing high yields with the use of only water as the solvent. Therefore, it can be considered a green extraction method following two of the principles of green chemistry: the use of less hazardous synthesis (principle number 3) and the use of safer solvents and auxiliaries (principle number 5). In addition, two of the green extraction principles for natural products are also followed: the use of alternative solvents or water (principle number 2) and the use of a reduced, robust, controlled and safe unit operation (principle number 5). This review is an overview of the extraction process using the SWE of grape biomass in a perspective of the circular economy through valorization of the bioactive compounds extracted. Future perspectives applied to the SWE are also discussed, as well as its ability to be a green extraction technique.

Fuzzy Modeling Development for Lettuce Plants Irrigated with Magnetically Treated Water.

Due to the worldwide water supply crisis, sustainable strategies are required for a better use of this resource. The use of magnetic water has been shown to have potential for improving irrigation efficacy. However, a lack of modelling methods that correspond to the experimental results and minimize error is observed. This study aimed to estimate the replacement rates of magnetic water provided by irrigation for lettuce production using a mathematical model based on fuzzy logic and to compare multiple polynomial regression analysis and the fuzzy model. A greenhouse study was conducted with lettuce using two types of water, magnetic water (MW) and conventional water (CW), and five irrigation levels (25, 50, 75, 100 and 125%) of crop evapotranspiration. Plant samples for biometric lettuce were taken at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after transplanting. The data were analyzed via multiple polynomial regression and fuzzy mathematical modeling, followed by an inference of the models and a comparison between the methods. The highest biometric values for lettuce were observed when irrigated with MW during the different phenological stage evaluated. The fuzzy model provided a more exact adjustment when compared to the multiple polynomial regressions.

Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Subsurface Irrigation on Crop Yield and Water Productivity

Problems such as population growth and climate change have led to a reduction in the use of water for irrigated agriculture, constraining the growth of crops. Subsurface irrigation, as a widely used and efficient water-saving irrigation technology, varies in its effect on increasing yields and saving water under different environmental, management, and other conditions. To investigate the effects of subsurface irrigation on yield, water productivity (WP), and irrigation water productivity (IWP) of three typical crops (wheat, maize, and cotton), this paper conducted a meta-analysis of 528 pairs of studies from 64 papers worldwide to quantify the response of crop yield, WP, and IWP to subsurface irrigation. Overall, the yield, WP and IWP increased by 5.96%, 21.62%, and 27.72%, respectively, with subsurface irrigation compared with surface irrigation. Compared with other conditions, the greatest rate of change was observed at around 200–500 m above sea level, 10–15 °C average annual temperature, 1.45–1.55 g/cm3 soil bulk density, alkaline soil, and when the crops were planted with equal row spacing. Meanwhile, the amount of irrigation water, as well as the subsurface pipeline arrangement and burial depth, had significant effects on crop yield, WP, and IWP. The maximum increase in crop yield, WP, and IWP was favored when the irrigation volume of the subsurface irrigation was reduced by 50–100% compared with surface irrigation or when both had the same volume of irrigation but a mild water deficit. In addition, the yield, WP, and IWP were also affected by fertilization factors. The recommended fertilizer application rates were ≤90 kg P ha–1 (phosphorus) and <150 kg N ha–1 (nitrogen). Compared with surface irrigation, subsurface irrigation showed the greatest yield increase when fertilizer was applied in a one-time application, and the WP and IWP increased significantly when the number of fertilizer applications was <3.

Additive-Free Method for Enhancing the Volume Phase Transition Rate in Light-Responsive Hydrogels: A Study of Micro-Nano Bubble Water on PNIPAM-co-AAc Hydrogels.

Light-responsive hydrogels containing light-thermal convertible pigments have received interest for their possible applications in light-responsive shutters, valves, drug delivery systems, etc. However, their utility is limited by the slow response time. In this study, we investigated the use of micro-nano bubble water as a preparation solvent to accelerate the volume phase transition kinetics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNIPAM-co-AAc) hydrogels. The hydrogels were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements. The mechanical properties, surface morphology, and chemical composition of the hydrogels were analyzed by Young's modulus measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, respectively. The results showed that hydrogels prepared with bubble water changed the volume transition rate by more than two orders of magnitude by simply changing the standing time of the bubble water for only a few hours. The cooperative diffusion coefficients obtained from the light-induced volume transition kinetics correlated linearly with Young's modulus and metastable state swelling ratio. Our results suggest that bubbles act as efficient water channels, thereby modulating the response rate and providing a simple, additive-free method for preparing hydrogels with a wide range of response rates.

Evapotranspiration and Yield Impact Tools for More Water-Use Efficient Alfalfa Production in Desert Environments

Drought and climate change have decreased water availability for agriculture, especially in the desert of southwestern USA. Efficiency enhancements in irrigation management aimed at conserving water are key to adjust to limits in water supply, improve profitability and sustainability of alfalfa production in arid and semiarid areas. This study intended to conduct a field-scale analysis to develop yield and ET estimation tools for the effective use of irrigation water in a desert alfalfa production system. Extensive data collection and trials were carried out over three years in nine fully irrigated commercial alfalfa fields in the low deserts of California. The seasonal crop water consumption measured using the residual of energy balance method varied from 1381 mm to 1596 mm across the experimental sites and crop seasons. Variable seasonal dry mater (DM) yields ranged from 23.01 Mg ha−1 to 29.90 Mg ha−1. The results indicated that the first five cuttings each year were the most productive cuttings with a mean DM value ranged between 3.29 (cut 1) and 4.21 (cut 4) Mg ha−1 but declined in later cuttings. An average annual water productivity (WP) value of 17.0 kg ha−1 mm−1 was determined across the sites varying from 15.5 to 18.9 kg ha−1 mm−1. The findings suggested that one may lose up to 1.44 Mg ha−1 alfalfa yields with moderate summer deficit irrigation strategies, using 40% less water applied than full irrigation practices over the summer period of July–September. A more severe summer water deficit, with no irrigation event over the summer period of July–September may result in a potential water savings of 0.234–0.246 (ha·m) ha−1 and 19–21% seasonal yield losses in the desert environment. This study describes the seasonal yield pattern, the crop water use-production function, and the crop coefficient values for various harvest cycles over the crop season. These tools may assist farmers to quantify water savings and estimate yield losses for more accurate and effective irrigation management strategies to meet water conservation objectives and for the resiliency of alfalfa production in the desert region.

Mimetic-Pragmatic Analysis of U.B. Aparece’s Three Select Poems

The realm of literary studies extends far beyond mere academic exploration; it serves as a multifaceted conduit that not only instructs and entertains but also provides a platform for individuals to express their thoughts and emotions through critical analysis. In this qualitative study, we delve into the intricate world of mimetic and pragmatic transactions within a selection of poems authored by Ulysses B. Aparece, specifically "Calling," "Hermit," and "Ritual."These poetic creations shed light on the inherent mimetic textualities found within persona-vision-addressee imaginary transactions and reader-response dynamics. This exploration reveals the immediate and profound interaction occurring between the text and the reader, enriching the understanding of the intricate dance between mimesis and pragmatics within our lived realities. The findings of this study are not only captivating but also offer profound insights. In "Calling," the symbolic use of water represents the rejuvenating power of nature, while "Hermit" artfully weaves the persona's narrative back to their ancestral origins through familiar landscapes. "Ritual" uncovers forgotten wisdom and practices within alternative medicine. On a pragmatic level, the poems demonstrate how skepticism can be effectively countered by the genuineness of "Calling," how a steadfast comprehension of one's roots can pave the way for success, as illustrated in "Hermit," and how doubts and uncertainties can dissipate in the light of newfound understanding, as exemplified by "Ritual."The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the understanding of how literature, through these poems, enriches our comprehension of the world and ourselves. It invites both readers and scholars to explore the rich tapestry of literary texts and to embrace the transformative power they wield in enhancing our knowledge and insight.

Proposal of a Model for Water Usage: Revenue Estimation in Brazil Hydrographic Basin

In order to improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems, a water collection instrument was established in the National Water Resources Policy (PNRH), with the purpose of collecting and allocating resources to the management of water systems, as well as stimulating the conscious and efficient use of water, with the direct finality of reducing the rates of waste and pollution of water sources. This instrument guided the definition of the objective from the present research, which is to estimate the collection of the Pianco-Piranhas-Açu Basin, located between the State of Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte, to be calculated with a mathematical model of collection by the multiple water uses that consider volumes consumed, captured and for the discharge of effluents. To do so, it was analysed the main collection models adopted in Brazil to finally define the best algorithmic basis. Analysing the results, it was observed that the planned resources still do not provide a sustainable application of the real situation of the analysed basin, requiring further research to better understand the peculiarities of the region, given that the estimated collection is insufficient to provide the necessary infrastructure for Pianco-Piranhas-Açu (Brazil) river’s basin management system. Therefore, this situation serves to alert public water management bodies about the modelling to be used and the urgency of implementing the charging instrument, given that it could improve the quality of the hydrographic basin studied.

Response of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Uptake of Primary Nutrients by Maize

A field experiment was accomplished from November 2018 to April 2019 at the site for agricultural research of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh to assess the effect of irrigation and nitrogen application on uptaking of primary nutrients by maize plant. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications was used to execute the experiment. Four irrigation treatments (I1, I2, I3 and I4: irrigation concerning 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of soil available water, respectively) as factor A and three nitrogen doses [N1, N2 and N3: Nitrogen application at 75%, 100% and 125% of prescribed dose (PD) as per fertilizer recommendation guide (FRG)] as factor B was implemented. The crop responded significantly in uptaking N, P, K to different levels of irrigation and nitrogen. The uptake of N at its highest level (141.66 Kg ha-1) was observed in treatment I3N3 but the maximum uptake of P (49.17 Kg ha-1) and K (159.39 Kg ha-1) were found under the treatment I4N2. The addition of irrigation and nitrogenous fertilizer also enhanced the N (0.08%), P (8.75 ppm) and K (0.18 meq/ 100g) content of post-harvest soils. The maximum total consumptive use of water of the crop was found to be 446 mm in I4 treatment regardless N levels. Irrigation at 80% of soil available water using 100% N on prescribed dose (I4N2), appeared to be the most acceptable combination for optimal nutrient absorption by maize in the specified region.

Age-dependent Radiological Risk Assessment of Radon (222Rn) in Samples of Commercial Bottled Water from Benin City, Nigeria

Radon inhalation as well as ingestion through the use of water has a high potential of causing serious harm to sensitive cells and organs of the body when absorbed into the bloodstream. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the radiological health damage caused by radon in drinking bottled water available in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Radon concentration was measured using a RAD7 electronic radon detector. The mean activity concentration radon is 137.18 ± 0.25 mBq/L. This mean value is slightly higher than 0.1 Bq/L recommended by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria but lower than the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 11.1 Bq/L set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and 100 Bq/L set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for consumption of radon in drinking water. The mean total annual effective dose is 1.07±1.91 (\(\mu\)Sv/y) for infants, 0.61±1.09 (\(\mu\)Sv/y) for children, and 0.70±1.24 (\(\mu\)Sv/y) for adults. The computed annual effective dose to the public by inhalation and ingestion radon through the use of bottled water in the study areas are lower than the 0.1 mSv/y limit recommended by WHO. The estimated average for the age group excess lifetime cancer risk are 3.21 ± 5.71, 1.836 ± 3.26, 2.086 ± 3.71 (x 10-6) for infants, children and adults respectively. These values are below the world average permissible levels. Hence, consumption of the water examined poses no serious health risk to consumers.

Intermittence in irrigation management and nitrogen optimize yield and water use efficiency in baby lettuce

Aim of the study: To evaluate the influence of irrigation management strategies and nitrogen (N) on baby lettuce growth, yield, and water use efficiency in a protected environment. Area of study: Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Material and methods: The experiments were conducted in two consecutive cycles, and the treatments corresponded to the combination of irrigation management strategies with N doses. Irrigation strategies comprised 3 possibilities: continuous irrigation (Cont); intermittent irrigation with three irrigation pulses at one-hour intervals (Int1); and intermittent irrigation with irrigation depth split and applied at 7:00, 11:00, and 15:00 h (Int2). Two N doses were evaluated, 100 and 130 kg/ha of N, applied in daily fertigation according to the irrigation management strategies. Main results: Intermittent irrigation strategies (Int1 and Int2) promoted the highest vegetative growth, increased leaf water content, and increased total yield (49.55 and 55.30; 46.83 and 49.50 t/ha) and marketable yield (46.77 and 52.44; 45.11 and 47.17 t/ha) in the first and second cycles, respectively, in addition to optimizing water use efficiency. The N dose of 130 kg/ha increased the total yield (51.61 t/ha), marketable yield (48.98 t/ha), and water use efficiencies of total yield (53.60 kg/m³) and marketable yield (50.88 kg/m³) only in the first crop cycle. Research highlights: The use of intermittence in irrigation management proved to be more efficient in obtaining high yields and maximized the efficiency of use of water as a factor of production.

Use of nickel-electroplating wastewater to synthesize Ni-doped TiO2 and NiTiO3 coatings by plasma electrolytic oxidation to treat hexavalent chromium in real electroplating wastewater

The use of residual water from nickel plating for the synthesis of Ni/TiO2 coatings using the PEO technique was carried out in this work. Evaluation by response surface methodology (RSM) for the studied coatings in the reduction of Cr(VI) present in chrome-plating wastewater is presented. Duty cycle variations between 2 % and 50 % on Ti substrates of 20 × 20 × 1 mm was employed to obtain the studied coatings. The coatings were characterized by XRD, AFM, SEM/EDS, XPS, and DRS, and computational analysis using DFT was performed. A strong dependence of the duty cycle on the anatase/rutile relation, surface roughness, and Ni incorporation in the coatings is showed. The sample obtained at 50 % of the duty cycle, in addition to the anatase and rutile phase, showed the formation of NiTiO3. Additionally, the incorporation of Ni in Ti sites in TiO2 as a consequence of the d orbitals of Ni, which generated a shift of the absorption band towards the visible and a decrease in the bandgap, is observed. The response surfaces obtained for the reduction of Cr(VI) in the samples of 2 % and 50 % of duty cycle, indicating that the voltage and the concentration of Cr(VI) are the variables with the greatest influence in the process, being the 2 % sample the one that presented the best performance in the photoelectrocatalysis process. In this sense, the optimal conditions for the 2 % sample were determined. Furthermore, the kinetic study to a pseudo-first order kinetic model was adjusted, and the efficiency of the material after 16 cycles of reuse is greater than ∼ 99.4 % in 10 min. Taking advantage of industrial wastewater as a resource using the PEO technique has potential applications in contributing to environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Water in Mining? The Importance of Traditional Owner Involvement in Commercial Water Use and Management in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia

AbstractThe mining industry is a significant water user, an issue that gains a particular prominence in arid zone mining regions, such as the Pilbara region in Western Australia (WA). Mining companies extract vast amounts of water from the groundwater aquifers to access orebodies and to dewater the mine pits. Much of this water is dumped in creeks, injected back into the aquifer downstream or used in mining processing. There is increased awareness from community members for sustainable water use in mining beyond life of mine, and the emergence of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles in the mining and metals sector signals a shift towards recognizing the importance of water stewardship. Much of the land subject to dewatering in the Pilbara is also subject to native title determinations. For Traditional Owners, important cultural values are associated with water. However, water is not adequately covered in native title, especially in relation to commercial use. We argue that Traditional Owner involvement in design and management of the use of excess water from a mining proponent's water licence (dewatering) can assist in sustainable use of groundwater, as well as provide opportunities in social and economic enterprises. As a provocation style piece, this paper is based on secondary literature, rather than ethnographic data. It explores the political and regulatory landscape of mine dewatering and outlines the limitations that have existed historically and currently and which inhibit Traditional Owners to participate in water management or commercial water interests. We also provide a high‐level analysis of several mining proponents' public policy commitments to water stewardship to assess the sustainable use of water which involves stakeholders such as Traditional Owners in water decision‐making. Finally, we identify possible opportunities and provide some recommendations, for water futures in this dry region where iron ore mining and gas extraction, already massive, are expanding further.

Banana Cultivation under Drip and Conventional Irrigation Methods in Karnataka : An Economic Analysis

The present study was carried out to analyze the comparative economics of banana cultivation under drip and conventional irrigation methods. The data needed for the study were collected from the 60 banana producing farmers using random sampling technique in the North eastern region of Karnataka state. The finding of the study revealed that total cost of establishment of the Drip Irrigation System (DIS) for irrigating the banana crop was ₹1,31,182/ha and G-9 was the most popular variety being cultivated among the samples banana farmers. The result also showed that the average yield per hectare was found significantly higher (18.93 %) on drip irrigated farm by over conventionally irrigated banana, which indicated that productivity of banana was higher under drip system than conventional irrigation method. Further, net return per hectare realised was ₹328537 in Drip irrigated banana and ₹227888 conventional banana farms and it was higher by 44 % in Drip irrigated banana farms as against conventional banana farms. The returns realised per rupee of expenditure (BC ratio) in drip and conventional banana farm was 3.14 and 2.37 respectively. Since banana is a water intensive crop, drip irrigation is an appropriate water saving technology for banana for efficient use of water.

Differential utilization of surface and arboreal water bodies by birds and mammals in a seasonally dry Neotropical forest in southern Mexico.

Water availability significantly influences bird and mammal ecology in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of the role of water as a limiting resource for birds and mammals remains partial because most of the studies have focused on surface water bodies in desert and semi-desert ecosystems. This study assessed the use of two types of surface water bodies (waterholes and epikarst rock pools) and one arboreal (water-filled tree holes) by birds and mammals in the seasonally dry tropical forests of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in southern Mexico. We deployed camera traps in 23 waterholes, 22 rock pools, and 19 water-filled tree holes in this karstic region to record visits by small, medium, and large-bodied birds and mammals during the dry and rainy seasons. These cameras were set up for recording videos documenting when animals were making use of water for drinking, bathing, or both. We compared the species diversity and composition of bird and mammal assemblages using the different types of water bodies by calculating Hill numbers and conducting nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), indicator species, and contingency table analyses. There was a greater species richness of birds and mammals using surface water bodies than tree holes during both seasons. There were significant differences in species composition among bird assemblages using the different water bodies, but dominant species and diversity remained the same. Terrestrial and larger mammalian species preferentially used surface water bodies, whereas arboreal and scansorial small and medium mammals were more common in arboreal water bodies. These findings suggest that differences in water body characteristics might favor segregation in mammal activity. The different water bodies may act as alternative water sources for birds and complementary sources for mammals, potentially favoring species coexistence and increasing community resilience to environmental variation (e.g., fluctuations in water availability). Understanding how differences in water bodies favor species coexistence and community resilience is of great relevance from a basic ecological perspective but is also crucial for anticipating the effects that the increased demand for water by humans and climate change can have on wildlife viability.