Use Of Water Resources Research Articles

Water-land-energy efficiency and nexus within global agricultural trade during 1995–2019

Agricultural product demand driven by population and economic growth poses challenges to water, land, and energy utilization, and this increasing local demand is largely met through trade. However, the efficiency and nexus pattern of the water, land, and energy embodied in agricultural trade are not well understood. This study uses the multi-regional input–output framework to analyze agricultural water, land, and energy utilization efficiency of resource footprints per unit economic output as well as their transfer and nexus pattern in global agricultural trade for 1995–2019. The results show that many international agricultural trade paths are inefficient in the water, land, and energy resource use because the agricultural products in these paths are exported from relatively low- to high-efficiency economies/regions. However, these inefficient transfer paths show an increasing trend over the study period. Regarding the water-land-energy nexus, conflicts are prevalent in land-energy and water-energy couplings. Most trade paths are conducted to alleviate the pressure on a specific resource, inadvertently increasing the pressure on other resources. Although agricultural trade is important for meeting global food demands, it is not consistently beneficial to the local environment when considering agricultural resources use efficiency. This study is expected to improve our understanding of agricultural trade impacts to the agricultural resources and support the sustainable development of global agriculture.

Climate change induced salinization and quality deterioration of groundwater resources in Pakistan; Current scenario and future prospects

Climate change has triggered various catastrophic events including groundwater salinization resulted in quality deterioration worldwide leading to the environmental degradation and posed threat to natural ecosystems. Pakistan is among the countries severely affected by the climate change. Most of the Pakistani depends on groundwater resources for drinking and irrigation purposes but no clear policy exists regarding judicious extraction and usage of groundwater. Over extraction and exploitation of groundwater along with climate change events have deteriorated the quality of groundwater in Pakistan and most of the part is salinized and has excess of soluble salts and other chemical, physical and biological contaminants. This paper reviews the impacts of climate change on salinization and groundwater quality and possible remedies and solution for this problem especially with the perspective of Pakistan. It is the need of the hour of the time to introduce climate smart agricultural practices at farmer level to stop overexploitation of natural resources and to reduce the agriculture share to climate change. Policies should be developed and existing policies should be strictly implemented for the judicious use of surface water and ground water resources to avoid the risks of water scarcity in near future.

КЫРГЫЗСТАНДЫН ТҮШТҮГҮНДӨГҮ АЙРЫМ СУУ САКТАГЫЧТАРДЫН ФИТОПЛАНКТОН БОЮНЧА ЭКОЛОГИЯЛЫК АБАЛЫ

The Papan and Naiman reservoirs are artificial reservoirs created to supply drinking water to the city of Osh and the settlements of the Nookat and Aravan regions. The object of study of ecology, including aquatic ecology (hydroecology, hydrobiology), is an aquatic ecosystem, which is an interconnected system of living organisms and their natural environment (water, sediments and adjacent land), in which substances and energy are formed, and there is a cyclic exchange of minerals and organic matter. Aquatic ecosystems are a complex type of artificially created reservoirs with a regulated water regime, as a result of which the level and speed of flow change, thereby determining the nature of the hydrobiological regime. The process of formation of a reservoir ecosystem depends on its specific conditions, initial biological resources, water exchange, anthropogenic loads, etc. Effective and environmentally safe use of water and biological resources of reservoirs can only be realized on the basis of a deep and comprehensive study of the structure and functioning of their ecosystems. The object of the study was the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton of the Papan and Naiman reservoirs, located in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The relevance of the study is determined by the importance of these reservoirs in the national economy and in providing the population with clean water.

Impact of land use/land cover change on surface water hydrology in Akaki river catchment, Awash basin, Ethiopia

Watershed reactions to environmental changes is critical for water resource use and management planning. The change in land use/land cover (LUCC) alters surface water hydrology and water balance, subsequently it affects the availability of water resources. This study examined Akaki River catchment surface hydrological responses to future land use scenarios. The future LULC simulated using Cellular Automata-Markov Chain (CA-Markov) model in IDRISI software for 2031, 2041, and 2051 under Business as Usual (BAU) and Forest Patch Protection (FPP) scenarios. Water yield (WY), sediment export (SE), and soil loss (SL) were simulated using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. The findings indicate that under BAU, forest and settlement areas increased 42.64% and 31.47%, whereas water body, grass land, and agriculture dropped 31.99%, 25.72%, and 10.4%, respectively, from 2021 to 2051. The FPP scenario shows a 66.42% increase in forest coverage and a 31.97% decrease in cultivated land between 2021 and 2051. Overall settlement expansion will expand by 31.44%, while water body and grassland will decline by 11.12% and 24.9%. As a result of LULC changes in BAU scenario, the proportions of WY (4.36%), SE (26%), and SL (22.45%) increased. The hydrological components exhibited more gradual variations of 0.55%, 18.8%, and 14.24% for the WY, SE, and SL, respectively, under the FPP scenario. Therefore, the alteration has resulted in a concerning state within the area, necessitating the implementation of comprehensive management techniques to restore the hydrology of the catchment.

Benefit Distribution Mechanism of a Cooperative Alliance for Basin Water Resources from the Perspective of Cooperative Game Theory

At present, global water resource security is facing serious threats, and the construction of a cooperative, open, and mutually beneficial water resource community is a potential solution to the global water resource crisis and water resource hegemony. Previous studies on the formation and beneficial distribution of water resources in cooperative alliances have more often focused on the idea that participants take all of their water resources when they join a cooperative alliance (i.e., a crisp cooperative alliance), while fewer studies have focused on participants including different proportions of their water resources and joining multiple cooperative alliances (i.e., fuzzy cooperative alliances), and even fewer comparative studies concern the use of different benefit-sharing mechanisms. In this paper, in order to improve the efficiency of water use, allocate water resources more optimally, and generate higher returns for water users in a given basin, we propose the establishment of a traditional crisp and improved fuzzy cooperative alliance for water resources in the basin from the perspective of cooperative game theory; we examine the water resource allocation mechanism within the alliance based on the principle of priority; we construct a benefit allocation mechanism for the cooperative alliance based on the core, least core, weak least core, and Shapley value method; and we carry out empirical research using the example of the Tarim River Basin. Our findings are as follows: (1) A cooperative alliance based on the perspective of cooperative game theory can effectively improve overall benefits and individual benefits, and a fuzzy cooperative alliance is more effective than a crisp cooperative alliance in improving the overall water benefits of the region. (2) The participants in the fuzzy cooperative alliance can obtain more benefits than in the crisp cooperative alliance, and the benefit distribution mechanism of the cooperative alliance helps the participants to determine the object of cooperation while maintaining the sustainable existence of the alliance. (3) The different methods of benefit distribution within the cooperative alliance directly affect the overall water benefits of the region. (4) The different methods of benefit distribution directly affect the stability of the alliance, and the players in the game have heterogeneous preferences for different distribution schemes. The resource-sharing mechanism and benefit distribution mechanism of a water resource cooperative alliance have good applicability as solutions to the problem of water resource optimization and allocation in river basins, and they may provide policy references for the efficient use of water resources and optimization of water resource allocation and management in areas with a shortage of water resources, such as arid and semi-arid zones.

Research of ultrasonic sensors for measuring water flow in hydromelioration objects

Abstract Currently, many countries are experiencing water shortages, which requires efficient use of available water resources. Therefore, there is an increasing need for simple, reliable and inexpensive water flow measurement devices with high measurement accuracy. This article researched an ultrasonic device for measuring water flow, operating on the basis of the time-pulse method. The device was based on an STM32 microcontroller, and a high-precision TDC-GP22 converter was used to generate ultrasonic signals and subsequently collect the difference in their propagation time. The main advantages of the proposed device are ease of use and low power consumption. The experiment’s findings indicate that the water flow meter being examined can be effectively utilized at hydromelioration sites.

Farmland hydrological cycle under agroforestry systems and efficient use of water resources in the karst desertification environment

In karst desertification (KD) regions, surface water (SW) easily enters underground through pore fissures and sinkholes despite the presence of abundant precipitation. Such regions have a typical distribution of “soil above and water below”, and, thus, the unique “karst drought” occurs. Hence, an urgent and primary problem in combating KD is to reach highly efficient utilization of water resources in these regions. We selected three karst research areas with different levels of karst desertification and different geomorphic types. By monitoring the storage and transformation of five types of water in the agroforestry system—precipitation, SW, groundwater (GW), soil water (SoW), plant water (PW), the following results were obtained: (1) In KD regions, a positive correlation was found among available precipitation, rainfall, and land evapotranspiration (LE), and LE was approximately equivalent to soil evaporation. (2) To varying degrees, agroforestry brings ecological benefits, including reducing surface runoff, increasing soil infiltration, lowering the transpiration rate, and reducing soil evaporation, thus achieving efficient use of water resources. (3) From 100 % rainfall, the transformation rates of SW, GW, PW, and SoW reached 0.14–12.71 %, 9.43–30.20 %, 9.79–49.97 %, and 40.72–82.58 %, respectively, and SoW showed a larger reserve than the other three types. (4) Drought stress contributes to the improvement of water use efficiency (WUE). Affected by drought stress, WUE was found to be the highest in a medium-intensity karst desertification environment. The transformation mechanisms of the five types of water observed in the agroforestry system provide a reference for efficient utilization of water resources in KD regions as well as theoretical support for addressing karst drought. They are also essential in helping to advance the ecological derivative industry, boosting the economy in karst mountainous areas, and controlling karst desertification.

Identifying managed aquifer recharge and rain water harvesting sites and structures for storing non-conventional water using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis approach

In arid climates, conventional water resources are severely limited and stressed in the face of rapid population growth and future climate change. So, it is necessary to find alternative non-conventional water resources for use in drought situations. Additionally, the non-conventional water resources in these areas are not sufficient to meet future water demand. Therefore, non-conventional water resources can be adopted as a strategic reserve to bridge the gap between water supply and demand in case of emergency and drought events. These resources might include rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater, and desalinated seawater. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can be applied to store these resources in the hydrogeological system using Geo information System—Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (GIS-MCDA) approach for determining the suitable MAR location for storage. North-west Kingdom of Saudi Arabia area was chosen for this study because it is extremely arid, has high potential for social and economic development, and it has newly constructed non-conventional water infrastructures distributed throughout the area including water desalination plants, Tertiary Sewage Effluent (TSE) waste water plants, and flash-flood storage dams. To identify the suitable MAR site location and structure, different data related to aquifer hydrogeology, surface hydrology, hydrometeorology, and water quality were applied. Then, GIS-MCDA holistic approach was applied with aid of ordered weighting average (OWA) technique. Finally, two maps were created to show the MAR location and structure type. Potential map indicates that ~ 18.85% of the area is suitable for MAR installations. About 0.17% of the total area exhibited very high potential, where infiltration ponds can be applied, 1.86% had high potential for construction of check dams with diversion channels, and 16.82% had moderate potential for installation of recharge wells. Additionally, 56 MAR structures were proposed and a map showing their locations has been created. Thus, results indicated that the study area is promising for MAR installation. These maps could aid the decision makers to propose a sustainable development plan for the future water resources of the area.

The effect of irrigation with magnetized wastewater on soil heavy metals, water productivity and heavy metals in aerial parts and grains of maize

Rising population strains food resources; reusing wastewater increases but brings microbial and heavy metal pollution, impacting nature and human health. Among environmental pollutants, heavy metals in wastewater are a major concern. Using magnetized water is a method to improve water and soil quality. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of using treated magnetized wastewater on the chemical properties and tracking of heavy metals in the soil, performance and yield components, water efficiency, and absorption of heavy metals by maize plant. Irrigation treatments consisted of various water and wastewater blending ratios under both magnetic and non-magnetic field application conditions. The results showed that the effect of irrigation water and mixing of water and wastewater on electrical conductivity, soil salts and heavy metals in different depths were significant at 1% probability level. On average, irrigation with magnetized wastewater caused a significant increase in grain yield (9.8%) and biological yield of maize (10.63%) compared to non-magnetized wastewater treatment. Irrigation with magnetized wastewater caused a significant increase in biological (10.92%) and physical (10.13%) productivities compared to non-magnetized wastewater treatment. With applying a magnetic field resulted in a reduction of 17.99%, 23.25%, 17.86%, and 17.12% in the concentration of lead, cadmium, zinc, and nickel in the aerial parts of the plant, respectively, compared to the non-magnetized water treatment. Magnetized water increases the water use efficiency of maize and irrigation management with this technology can be useful in more effective and economical use of limited water resources.

Effect of different deficit irrigation regimes on vine performance, grape composition and wine quality of the “Primitivo” variety under mediterranean conditions

Climate change represents one of the current major challenges and the improper use of water resources is an impeding threat. Agricultural research can play a crucial role by developing innovative strategies and techniques to reduce water use without affecting crop productivity and quality, particularly in grapevine growing in Mediterranean areas, as both productivity and wine quality are quintessential for the economic and ecologic sustainability of this crop. The present study aimed to define a deficit irrigation strategy for the “Primitivo” grapevine cultivar, taking into account the overall pathway of the vineyard performance in terms of leaf functionality, starch reserves, vine productivity, and wine quality. The trial was carried out in Southern-Italy on a three year-old, drip irrigated vineyard, imposing four deficit irrigation regimes for two consecutive seasons, consisting of 29 (T29), 55 (T55), 85 (T85) and 100% (T100) of crop evapotranspiration (ETC). Mild water restriction (T85) did not affect vegetative nor reproductive vine performance. Deficit irrigation at 55% ETC lowered leaf functionality, starch accumulation, vine vigour and yield, due to a reduction of cluster weight; however, wine acidity and phenolic compounds were increased. T29 further decreased yield, as also the number of clusters was reduced. The most water-stressed treatment revealed a low concentration of malic acid in the must and a consequent increase of the ethanol sensation in the wine. After 9 months ageing, T85 had the highest wine colour intensity suggesting this treatment as the most promising in terms of quality and quantity of wine as well as for water saving.

Hydroecological limitations of the use of water resources of transboundary rivers of the steppe zone (through the example of the Ural and Tobol Rivers, Russia)

To identify the main types of hydroecological restriction on the use of water resources and their spatial patterns in the Ural and Tobol river basins within the steppe zone.A comprehensive assessment of the water‐environmental situation in the regions of the studied basins studied was carried out on the basis of the calculation of water‐environmental stress – the ratio of water intake and free flow (average long‐term flow minus ecological). To assess the environmental restrictions on water use, data from the State reports, “On the State and Protection of the Environment" were used. Exposure to the risk of flooding of settlements was analysed according to information from the registers of settlements at risk of flooding (flooding). Analysis of the dynamics of channel processes was carried out using Landsat satellite images. For the rivers of the Tobol River basin, an approach based on taking into account the nature of channel transformations in the sectors of the state border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan was used.As a result of the research, the main types of hydroecological restriction in the transboundary basins of the Ural and Tobol were identified. In particular, the key factor limiting water use is the availability of a guaranteed volume and adequate quality of water resources. Hydrological restrictions associated with the negative impact of water include the risks of flooding of settlements during the passage of spring or summer floods, as well as intensive riverbed transformations (in the Ural River basin).The Ural and Tobol river basins (within the steppe zone) are characterised by the development of a rather complex hydroecological situation in some areas. Taking into account the long cycle of low water content in these rivers, the general hydroecological situation has aggravated in recent decades, the primary problem being that of guaranteed provision of water resources of standard quality. As a result, an urgent task is to develop an algorithm for a comprehensive assessment of hydroecological restrictions on water use and their consequences for the population and economy of the regions of the steppe zone.

A bibliometric study on sustainable water management research evidence from the Scopus database

The recognition of the importance of sustainable water management has increased due to the emergence and strong focus on the Sustainable Development Goal. Consequently, there has been progress in understanding various disciplines, specifically aimed at addressing concerns related to water consumption and pressure, sustainable water generation, and the sustainable administration of water resources. Therefore, the aim of this article is to bridge this gap by using a bibliometric approach to analyze the number of contributions and their impact on the literature regarding awareness of sustainable water management in the field of management sciences. This study seeks to identify areas of research that can be further explored to improve the literature on this emerging subject through a critical analysis of articles obtained from the Scopus database. It is important to note that sustainable water management and awareness are two interconnected and crucial domains that play a vital role in ensuring the sustainable use of water resources and promoting public health. The uniqueness of this study is of great importance for scholars, researchers, and policymakers in the field of management sciences, as it presents a comprehensive research agenda on the awareness of sustainable water management.

Hydro–Solar Hybrid Plant Operation in a Hydropower Plant Cascade: Optimizing Local and Bulk System Benefits

A hydro–solar hybrid system is an important solution for expanding renewable generation capacity under the percepts of the energy transition. This type of association allows for the coordinated dispatch of solar and hydropower plants, resulting in operational benefits in terms of energy generation and reservoir management, that is, the better use of available water and energy resources. As in this case, the operation of the hydropower plant is associated with the cascade in which it operates, when it is hybridized (for example, by associating with a solar power plant), in addition to local changes, there are impacts on the operating conditions of the other hydropower plants in the same cascade. From such a perspective, this study presents an energy system management model for hybrid power plants composed of hydro and solar sources, aiming to optimize the joint operation and measure the operational consequences at the local level and in the cascade. The results from a case study of a hydro–solar power plant hybridization in the Tietê River (Brazil) revealed increased energy production and improvement in the operating conditions of the cascade’s reservoirs, while the grid capacity was found to be an important constraint that limits the capture of synergies resulting from the generation sources complementarity and thus on the benefits to the cascade.

Multi-Source Remote Sensing Analysis of Yilong Lake’s Surface Water Dynamics (1965–2022): A Temporal and Spatial Investigation

With the acceleration of global warming and the intensification of anthropogenic activities, numerous lakes worldwide are experiencing reductions in their water surface areas. Yilong Lake, a typical shallow plateau lake located on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau in China, serves as a crucial water resource for local human production, daily life, and ecosystem services. Hence, long-term comprehensive monitoring of its dynamic changes is essential for its effective protection. However, previous studies have predominantly utilized remote sensing data with limited temporal resolution, thus failing to reflect the long-term variations in Yilong Lake’s water body. This study employs high temporal resolution monitoring, utilizing multi-source satellite data (e.g., KeyHole, Landsat, HJ-1 A/B) images spanning from 1965 to 2022 to investigate the changes in Yilong Lake’s surface area, analyzing the influencing factors and ecological impacts of these changes. The results indicate that from 1965 to 2022, Yilong Lake’s water surface area decreased by 8.33 km2, with a maximum surface area of 40.49 km2 on January 7, 1986, and a minimum surface area of 10.64 km2 on April 20, 2013. These changes are characterized by three significant phases: (1) a rapid shrinking phase (1965–1979); (2) a fluctuating shrinking period (1986–2016); and (3) an expanding recovery phase (2016–2022). Spatially, the most significant shrinkage was observed along the southern and southwestern shores of the lake. The driving factors varied across different periods: sunshine duration was the dominant influence during the rapid shrinking phase (1965–1979), accounting for 82% of the changes; population and cropland area were the main drive factors during the fluctuating shrinking period (1986–2016), accounting for 56% of the changes; and during the expanding recovery phase (2016–2022), the population accounted for 75% of the changes in the lake’s surface area. Currently, the protection of Yilong Lake depends on water supplementation and strict regulation of outflow, resulting in the lake exhibiting characteristics similar to a reservoir. This long-term investigation provides baseline information for future lake monitoring. Our research findings can also guide decision-makers in urban water resource management and environmental protection, ensuring the scientific and rational use of watershed water resources, effectively curbing the shrinkage of Yilong Lake, and achieving long-term sustainable restoration of the lake’s ecology.

Investigating the impact of irrigation practices on hydrologic fluxes in a highly managed river basin

Irrigation practices and sources can have significant impacts on water resources and the hydrologic fluxes that control these resources. To better manage water resources and future water supply, the influence of irrigation practices and management on these hydrologic fluxes should be quantified in time and space at varying scales, under potential irrigation management practices. To fulfill this objective, a surface-subsurface modeling approach was applied to simulate watershed-scale hydrologic processes in the Cache la Poudre River Basin, Colorado, USA (4824 km2), in which both surface water irrigation and groundwater irrigation are prevalent. The model chosen for this study is the watershed model SWAT+, using the spatially distributed, physically based groundwater module gwflow, in which unconfined groundwater storage, flows, and interaction with land surface features are simulated using a collection of grid cells that represent control volumes of the aquifer. Major groundwater inflows and outflows include pumping, recharge, groundwater-channel exchange, groundwater-lake exchange, and tile drainage outflow. To investigate the impact of irrigation practices, detailed surface and groundwater irrigation routines and canal-aquifer interactions were added to the SWAT+ source code, requiring information of irrigation sources and irrigation canal locations throughout the river basin. Model calibration and testing was performed using monthly stream discharge and groundwater head. The calibrated model is used to quantify the impact of surface water and groundwater irrigation scenarios on water availability and hydrologic fluxes within the river basin. A total of 22 scenarios were conducted and grouped into five main groups: irrigation source, irrigation amount, irrigation type, canal bed thickness, and partial or full sealing of earthen irrigation canals. Using groundwater as the only irrigation source decreases groundwater discharge to streams (by 14 %) due to lowering groundwater levels; converting flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation throughout the basin decreases surface runoff by 22 %; and sealing earthen canals leads to a lowering of groundwater levels, which decreases groundwater discharge to streams by 9 %, leading to an overall decrease in streamflow in the Cache la Poudre River and changes to temporal patterns in streamflow. Overall, irrigation amount and type and canal sealing have a small impact on total groundwater storage, compared to changes in the percent of fields irrigated by groundwater pumping. Results are helpful for informed decision-making in agriculture water management and can lead to sustainable, efficient, and equitable use of water resources, helping to address the challenges posed by water scarcity and environmental conservation.

Exploring the Water-Soil-Crop Dynamic Process and Water Use Efficiency of Typical Irrigation Units in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China.

Groundwater resources serve as the primary source of water in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, where scarcity of water resources constrains the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. As a typical rainfed agricultural area, the agro-pastoral ecotone in Inner Mongolia is entirely dependent on groundwater for agricultural irrigation. Due to the substantial groundwater consumption of irrigated farmland, groundwater levels have been progressively declining. To obtain a sustainable irrigation pattern that significantly conserves water, this study faces the challenge of unclear water transport relationships among water, soil, and crops, undefined water cycle mechanism in typical irrigation units, and water use efficiency, which was not assessed. Therefore, this paper, based on in situ experimental observations and daily meteorological data in 2022-2023, utilized the DSSAT model to explore the growth processes of potato, oat, alfalfa, and sunflower, the soil water dynamics, the water balance, and water use efficiency, analyzed over a typical irrigation area. The results indicated that the simulation accuracy of the DSSAT model was ARE < 10%, nRMSE/% < 10%, and R2 ≥ 0.85. The consumption of the soil moisture during the rapid growth stage for the potatoes, oats, alfalfa, and sunflower was 7-13% more than that during the other periods, and the yield was 67,170, 3345, 6529, and 4020 kg/ha, respectively. The soil evaporation of oat, potato, alfalfa, and sunflower accounted for 18-22%, 78-82%; 57-68%, and 32-43%, and transpiration accounted for 40-44%, 56-60%, 45-47%, and 53-55% of ETa (333.8 mm-369.2 mm, 375.2 mm-414.2 mm, 415.7 mm-453.7 mm, and 355.0 mm-385.6 mm), respectively. It was advised that irrigation water could be appropriately reduced to decrease ineffective water consumption. The water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency for potatoes was at the maximum amount, ranging from 16.22 to 16.62 kg/m3 and 8.61 to 10.81 kg/m3, respectively, followed by alfalfa, sunflowers, and oats. For the perspective of water productivity, it was recommended that potatoes could be extensively cultivated, alfalfa planted appropriately, and oats and sunflowers planted less. The findings of this study provided a theoretical basis for efficient water resource use in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Northern China.

Examining Crop Yield Losses in Iğdır Plain Irrigation Systems in Türkiye Amidst Water Constraints

Water stands as a crucial component of agricultural production. This study aims to propose water efficiency measures in agriculture as an essential element for climate change adaptation. In this study, yield losses in staple crops in agricultural regions are analyzed by using the most suitable methodologies, particularly in agriculture-reliant developing nations. Furthermore, this study seeks to determine the financial consequences of such losses. The methodology applied for this purpose was implemented in Türkiye’s Iğdır Plain, selected as the study site. As the first step, the yields of the first three most cultivated products in each product group were assessed under normal climatic conditions in terms of their crop water requirements and irrigation water requirements. Subsequently, the irrigation water supply was reduced by 10%, and the resulting yield losses were calculated per hectare. Then, the overall crop losses after applying the 10% water constraint were determined in the total cultivation area. Among the crops cultivated in the region, the analysis reveals that clover from the field crops category exhibits the highest water dependence, while apricot demonstrates the least reliance on water resources. As a result, the recommended crop rotation for the Iğdır Plain under water constraints comprises wheat, apricot, watermelon, maize, melon, apple, tomato, peach, and clover. The following measures are proposed to ensure sustainable use of water resources and reduce exposure to climate change: increasing the water transmission efficiency and water use efficiency in irrigation areas, allocating more space to water-stress-resistant crops in the crop pattern in basins, and substituting crops requiring excessive water with less water-dependent crops.

Integrating the land–water–climate nexus approach with spatial-based sustainable agriculture production

CONTEXTA policy on agricultural land zoning, based on land suitability maps, has been introduced to optimize the use of resources for crop production in Thailand. However, the impact of activities occurring during cultivation in different land suitability classes has not been considered. A land–water–climate nexus index (LWCNI) has therefore been introduced as a holistic analysis that integrates three indicators––land-use intensity, water-use intensity, and climate change impact in terms of GHG emissions. This can guide resource allocation by highlighting areas that need improvement. OBJECTIVEWe aimed to assess the land–water–climate nexus in different land-suitability classes for sugarcane and cassava in Thailand in order to compare the nexus performances and improve the planning and management of resources for sustainable production. METHODSThe LWCNI was developed and assessed by combining it with geographic information system–based tools for evaluating the nexus performances of sugarcane and cassava cultivation as per the agricultural zoning policies. The scope of the work was “from cradle to farm-gate”, and the final products considered were sugarcane and fresh cassava. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe results revealed that sugarcane cultivation in moderate-suitability areas is the most effective, with the best LWCNI score being 0.87, suggesting efficient cultivation practices with a minimal use of land and water resources, and a minimal climate change impact. The three indicators of land-use intensity, water-use intensity, and GHG emissions for sugarcane were estimated at 0.010 ha/t, 108 m3/t, and 6.2 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)/t, respectively. Cassava cultivation in the high-suitability area was the most efficient, with the best LWCNI score, at 0.95, and using less land, fewer water resources, and having less of a climate change impact. The land-use intensity, water-use intensity, and GHG emissions of cassava were estimated at 0.030 ha/t, 255 m3/t, and 35.7 kgCO2e/t, respectively. Growing crops in marginal and unsuitable areas presented a risk of a high climate change impact as well as competition for water resources due to limited local resources. We found that, even in the same land-suitability class, the amount of fertilizer used by the farmers varied depending on their knowledge, experience, and finances. Excessive fertilizer application increased GHG emissions, which in turn brought about a decrease in the LWCNI score, leading to a poorer nexus performance. SIGNIFICANCEThe findings emphasize the relationship between land and water use and climate change impact across varying spatial contexts. The LWCNI approach offers valuable insights for supporting agricultural zoning policy.

THE ROLE OF ESG BUSINESS REPORTING IN WATER MANAGEMENT

The rational use of water resources by business structures requires the development of appropriate strategies and their adherence to the chosen policy in terms of management of these objects: drawing up programs and plans, introducing environmental protection actions, displaying the economic effect and documenting all transactions, minimizing negative impacts on the environment and presentation of the positive and negative consequences of the use of natural resources in the format of ESG reporting, which discloses information about the activities of companies in the field of Environmental aspects, Social responsibility and Corporate Governance. This practice positions companies as an active participant in sustainable development and allows them to increase their own ratings, which makes it possible to have advantages in attracting investments and targeted financing, increasing one's own competitiveness due to improved trust in such companies, etc. Improving the quality of information in ESG reporting on water resources management and related processes allows stakeholders to receive complete and reliable information when making management decisions. On the basis of the study of ESG reporting of 8 corporations from Ukraine in terms of the use of water resources during the implementation of the strategy of sustainable development, positive and problematic practices of companies were identified when preparing the necessary data for reporting. During this analysis, the experience and legislative guidelines on the exploitation of water resources and the use of ecological and economic accounting of water in the countries were taken into account. In addition, approaches to applying the level of materiality in ESG reporting were analyzed when reporting in this format. The results of the study made it possible to rank the elements of water resources management of economic entities according to the rule of materiality of data in ESG reporting and to propose an algorithm for compiling ESG reporting in the part of water resources management, taking into account the level of materiality. The article substantiates the directions of providing companies with adequate information on water resources management measures and reflecting such practices in ESG reporting to meet the needs of internal and external users. The directions of further scientific research in the field of reporting on the use of water resources by various business entities are also outlined. A critical analysis of the peculiarities of ESG reporting in the area of water resources management can provide an opportunity for top managers of domestic companies to improve the quality of financial and non-financial information, which, in turn, will contribute to the improvement of the corporate governance system on the one hand, and on the other hand, improve the satisfaction of information users. requests of all stakeholders when making their own management decisions.

REDUCING OF WATER AND ENERGY RESOURCES CONSUMPTION IN IRRIGATION BASED ON RESOURCE OPTIMISATION

The need for further development of irrigation practices on the basis of nature oriented and ecologically efficient solutions is considered primarily regarding the saving of water and energy resources for the adaptation of irrigated agricultural production to the current global challenges and threats, the achievement of sustainable development goals. It is shown that there is an objective need to change methodological approaches to the assessment of overall efficiency and justification of optimal solutions in design, reconstruction, and operation projects of irrigation systems based on the principles of resource optimization. On the basis of the indicator of the level of irrigation sufficiency (introduced by the authors), which reflects the reduction of the studied watering and irrigation rates in relation to their design values, a study of the impact of reducing the use of water and energy resources under different modes of sprinkler irrigation on the corresponding decrease in the level of cultivated crops productivity was carried out. At the same time, it was experimentally determined that the intensity (rate) of the decrease in the cultivated crops productivity, which occurs due to the decrease in the usage of water and energy resources during the application of irrigation, is significantly lower than the intensity (rate) of the decrease in the usage of the resources themselves. The studied options for reducing the consumption on water and energy resources as a whole turned out to be economically profitable when with a decrease in water and electricity usage by 27–48% there is more than two times lower decrease in the costs of gross products by 10,80–18,06% with the achievement of a net income of 11,4 to 5,7 thousand UAH. The influence of various options of reducing water and electricity consumption on the discounted investment payback period shows that several options may be acceptable, for which the investment payback period does not exceed 10 years, and the choice of the optimal solution requires taking into account the conditions of a specific object, limitations of water resources, and the interests of investors and land users. At the same time, the ecological component of the overall efficiency of irrigation practices consists in the decrease in the use of water and energy resources that a priori reflects the decrease in the negative impact of irrigation on the environment. Thus, reducing the usage of water and energy resources is a fully justified decision on the way to adapt irrigated agriculture production to the modern conditions and requirements, and the presented results can be a scientific basis for the implementation of this approach while practically applying irrigation.