Water Shortage Research Articles

Enhancing Water Productivity under Climate Change Scenarios: Indian Perspective

The scarcity of water has grown into a significant obstacle to ecosystem preservation, food production for the expanding population, and social security and health maintenance. Our ecology is also threatened by water logging and salinity in numerous canal commands, seawater intrusion along the coast, wetland drying up, low stream flows, etc. Water supplies have suffered as a result of climate change. The issue of water shortage and agricultural production are made worse by the regular occurrence of catastrophic events like drought and floods. The problems facing a large nation like India include the temporal and geographical variability of floods and droughts as well as the stark spatial differences in the growing irrigated area. The irrigated agro-ecosystem faces several obstacles. The new challenges confronting the country include geographic variations in groundwater development, low usage and filtration of wastewater for irrigation, poor irrigation efficiency, particularly for canal irrigation, and spatial disparities in the country's growing irrigated area. One of the best ways to establish a favorable water regime for improved crop development and production in a rainfed argo-ecosystem is to save rainwater in various land forms and use it effectively. The most difficult places to manage are those that are prone to flooding and waterlogging. However, a number of technologies are available to help with the difficulties. In broadest sense, water productivity reflects the objectives of producing more food, income, livelihoods and ecological benefits at less social and environmental cost per unit of water.

Water quality classification using self-organizing maps and cluster analysis: Case of Meknes-El Hajeb Springs, Morocco.

The Ouislane sub-watershed is currently experiencing severe water shortages and is highly dependent on its water supply. The sub-watershed spans two communes: Meknes to the north and El Hajeb to the south. It serves as the primary water source for irrigation and drinking purposes for the local population. Consequently, it is crucial to assess the spatio-temporal variations of water quality to identify and address potential gaps; these focused on effective monitoring systems to detect contaminants, pollutants and health risks. This research project aims on the application of self-organizing map (SOM) techniques combined with cluster analysis to classify water quality in springs for drinking and irrigation purposes. The present study evaluates the water quality variations using physicochemical parameters of twelve water springs, collected during the wet and dry seasons of 2022. For this purpose, the water quality index (WQI), self-organizing map (SOM), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA) are used as evaluation and classification methods. As a result, the SOM algorithm with a size of 5 × 5 units identified as the most suitable, based on the minimum quantization error (QE) and topographic error (TE), yielding a QE of 0.379 and a TE of 0.000. It grouped the water quality data into five distinct clusters, Cluster I represented 37.5% of the total samples, while cluster II represented 25%. Cluster III and IV each accounted for 8.33% of the samples, while 20.83% of the sampling water are classified in cluster V. Clusters I, II, and IV indicate good water suitable for drinking. However, cluster V had the highest WQI, suggesting very high contamination due to increased levels of the 10 studied physicochemical parameters. The water quality in this region (cluster V) is influenced by natural processes, such as precipitation intensity, weathering and vegetation cover, as well as anthropogenic factors like agriculture and urban concentration. PCA confirmed the clustering results obtained by SOM. However, SOM provides a more detailed classification and additional insights into the dominant variables influencing the classification processes. The results of this study suggest that SOM was an effective tool for gaining a better understanding of the patterns and processes driving water quality in the Ouislane sub-watershed and provides valuable avenues for further research to establish and monitor water quality for effective management of water resources.

Climate Change-Driven Hydrological Shifts in the Kon-Ha Thanh River Basin

Climate change is projected to bring substantial changes to hydroclimatic extremes, which will affect natural river regimes and have wide-ranging impacts on human health and ecosystems, particularly in Central Highland Vietnam. This study focuses on understanding and quantifying the projected impacts of climate change on streamflow in the Kon-Ha Thanh River basin, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) between 2016 and 2099. The study examined projected changes in streamflow across three time periods (2016–2035, 2046–2065, and 2080–2029) under two scenarios, Representative Conversion Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. The model was developed and validated on a daily scale with the model performance, yielding good performance scores, including Coefficient of Determination (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values of 0.79, 0.77, and 50.96 m3/s, respectively. Our findings are (1) streamflow during the wet season is projected to increase by up to 150%, particularly in December, under RCP 8.5; (2) dry season flows are expected to decrease by over 10%, beginning in May, heightening the risk of water shortages during critical agricultural periods; and (3) shifts in the timing of flood and dry seasons are found toward 2099 that will require adaptive measures for water resource management. These findings provide a scientific foundation for incorporating climate change impacts into regional water management strategies and enhancing the resilience of local communities to future hydroclimatic challenges.

RECYCLING OF DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER USING VERMIFILTRATION TECHNOLOGY

One of the biggest problems of our time is the growing shortage of fresh water. According to the World Health Organization, by the middle of the 21st century, half of the planet's inhabitants will experience an acute shortage of fresh water. Simultaneously with the growing consumption of clean water, the annual volume of wastewater from municipal, agricultural and industrial enterprises also increases. At the same time, the volume of water used annually is more than an order of magnitude higher than the volume of treated wastewater. Untreated wastewater is characterized by a high content of organic impurities and pathogenic microorganisms capable of causing diseases that are dangerous for human life. In connection with the outlined extremely urgent task is to ensure effective purification of wastewater from pollution with subsequent recycling of purified effluents - their reuse for other purposes: in the circulating system of industrial enterprises, agricultural and landscape irrigation systems. From this point of view, the process of vermifiltration - wastewater treatment using earthworms - is of great interest. The technology is based on the ability of worms to work as "biofilters". Worms absorb organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater, digest them and release them in the form of their excrement (coprolites) into the environment. With such processing, wastewater is cleaned, disinfected, and detoxified; treated effluents are suitable for reuse. There is also a transformation of organic and inorganic components into organo-mineral fertilizer - vermicompost and biomass of earthworms, which can serve as raw materials for the fodder and pharmaceutical industry.

Evaluating Drought Tolerance and Yield Stability of Sorghum Genotypes for Sustainable Agriculture in Sohag, Egypt

ABSTRACTThe major problem in the cultivation of sorghum in the Egyptian agricultural system includes arid climate and water shortage. Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of drought conditions on the productivity of 21 different sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) genotypes at Sohag, Egypt. A set of drought tolerance metrics employed in the present study were Tolerance Index (TOL); Mean Production (MP); Sensitivity to Drought Index (SSI); Stress Tolerance Index (STI); Geometric mean performance (GMP) and Harmonic mean of yield (HARM). A field‐controlled experiment was conducted on the two growth seasons (2021 and 2022) concerning the impact of different drought levels on (ET0 = 0.8, 0.6 and 0.4) Grain Yields (GY) and Water Use Efficiency (WUE) for the various studied sorghum genotypes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was also conducted on the obtained data of the different yield parameters with the aim of identifying the most effective tolerance indices related to the different genotypes of sorghum under both conditions, optimal and stressed. Drought tolerance varies among different sorghum varieties, which, by their genetic and physiological nature, possess efficient stomatal regulation and deep‐rooted systems, enhancing water conservation and physiological functions and hence higher WUE. These are mainly influenced by environmental conditions, such as soil type and moisture levels in the region of Sohag, where such genotypes may exhibit different performances regarding drought stress. It was observed that Giza‐15 and Hybrid Sh1 were among the high performers under well‐irrigated conditions, and L38 was outstanding during a severe drought in terms of WUE. Therefore, proper genotype selection depends on the irrigation strategy. Hence, the Sohag region presents a good opportunity for further improvement of drought tolerance through designed selection and hybridization activities in sorghum breeders, and this contributes to climate‐resilient cultivars by addressing the present agricultural challenges and food security for the present world. Emphasis will be placed by breeders on the development of arid‐condition‐adapted genotypes and the development of models that can be applied within comparable climates to boost productivity and sustainability for those farmers dependent on this vital crop.

Historical Analysis of Environmental Degradation in Pakistan: A Narrative Review

The degradation of the environment in Pakistan has become worse through historical, socio-economic, and geopolitical interactions. This narrative review considers burning issues like deforestation, water shortage, and soil and water pollution, which can be linked to colonialism, industrial change, and urbanization. The review is an analysis that takes into consideration the political ecology approach, which demonstrates how political power has led to resource capture and environmental unfairness. This approach enhances the aspect of sustainability, stating measures be drawn from other nations to avoid further harm to ecology. While policy compliance is weak, promoting industrial development has brought negative impacts, according to the review of policy solutions such as afforestation programs, integrated management, and sustainable policies. The recommendations include reinforcing and promoting environmental legislation, improving intersectoral cooperation, and finding sustainable development that would help strengthen Pakistan's ecological base.

Climate resilience action to policy: embodied community-based climate risk resilience (CBCRR) in drought prone community in Thailand’s economic corridor

ABSTRACT Climate change exacerbates drought and water scarcity in Thailand, particularly in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a key geoeconomic strategy corridor. Climate risk, coupled with industrialization and urbanization, has accelerated water shortages in this area. Despite adaptation efforts such as shifting to drought-tolerant crops, rural communities face an increasing threat of water scarcity. Thailand's 2018 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) aims to increase adaptive capacity and enhance resilience. However, while national and provincial plans are underway, district, subdistrict, municipal, and community-level plans are still under development. This participatory action research applied the Community-Based Climate Risk Resilience (CBCRR) approach to communities at risk of drought in the EEC of Thailand. The demonstrated CBCRR approach and empirical evidence for the actual process, practice, and intervention were observed and documented. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized, including questionnaire surveys, interviews, gaming simulations, mapping workshops, field surveys, and brainstorming meetings. The key findings of this research are as follows: (1) Community-household-level climate action: This case study identified empirical climate resilience actions that can be generalized to other vulnerable local communities. These actions highlight the importance of addressing climate change at the community and household levels, alongside national/provincial plans and policies. (2) Three-tier resilience strategies: This research identifies three levels of resilience strategies that can be applied to local practices and policies in other communities. (3) CBCRR is an alternative approach: the concept of the CBCRR and its four key elements can be utilized to build climate resilience. Key policy insights Promote Climate Resilience at All Levels: Climate risk resilience practices should be prioritized at all levels of governance, from national to local. Investing in Local Capacity Building: Investing in capacity building at the local level is crucial for achieving tangible results that reinforce broader national climate initiatives. Integrate Resilience into Local Planning: A resilience approach should be embedded in local plans, policies, budget allocations, and evaluation systems. Institutionalize CBCRR: Community-Based Climate Risk Resilience (CBCRR) should be institutionalized, especially in high-risk and vulnerable communities. Data-Driven Decision Making: Prioritize the collection and utilization of risk and vulnerability data at the community and household levels.

Optimization of A Dynamic Program for Water Resources Utilization in the Mambal Irrigation Area

The Irrigation Area (D. I.) Mambal, which passes through Badung Regency, Denpasar City, and Tabanan Regency, is the largest irrigation water supplied by the Ayung River, covering an area of 5.963 Ha. Despite the Ayung River’s substantial water potential, the D. I. Mambal experiences water shortages during certain months. This research aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of irrigation water use based on the Global Planting Management Plan (RTTG) using simulation methods and dynamic program optimization. Simulations were carried out under low conditions, normal and sufficient dependable discharges, using both existing and alternative RTTG. The objective function of the dynamic optimization seeks to maximize revenue gain from the applied RTTG. The existing cropping pattern at the beginning of planting in October showed an average proportion of fulfillment of water irrigation needs at 85%. Under the Alternative I condition, with planting beginning in November, the average proportion of fulfillment of irrigation water needs was 89%. In Alternative II conditions, with planting beginning in December, the average proportion of fulfillment of irrigation water needs was 87%. By optimizing the water discharge using the dynamic program, the irrigation profit for the existing cropping pattern (October) amounted to IDR 491,816,154,938. The highest profit was obtained using the Alternative II cropping pattern (December), totaling IDR 606,675,369,830. Meanwhile, the lowest profit was obtained in the Alternative I cropping pattern (November), which was IDR 360,767,292,361. The analysis showed that the Alternative II cropping pattern, starting with the first rice planting period in December, yields the most optimal results. The analysis considers the optimized air allocation and irrigation benefits obtained from the third cropping pattern.

The Use of Nanotechnology in Improving Irrigation Efficiency

Nanotechnology is becoming a major force in agriculture, especially when it comes to making watering more efficient. This essay looks into how nanomaterials and nanotechnology can be used to improve the way water is used in irrigation systems. This could help solve the serious problems of water shortage and low crop yields. With 9.7 billion people expected to live on Earth by 2050, there has never been a bigger need for efficient farming methods. A lot of water is lost through evaporation, deep percolation, and flow when people use traditional ways to water their plants. Nanotechnology can help with these problems in new and creative ways. One interesting use is making nanoparticles that can be mixed into soil or irrigation systems to help water stay in the soil longer and evaporate less quickly. Nanoparticles can improve the structure and ventilation of soil, which lets more water soak in and less water run off. Nanosensors can also be used to measure the amount of water in the soil in real time. This lets farmers use precise watering to get the best food growth with the least amount of water. These monitors can collect information that can be used to plan watering and automate systems so that water is only used when it's needed. Nanotechnology can also be used to make hydrogels and materials that take a lot of water. This could change the way water is managed in dry areas. These materials can hold a lot of water and slowly give it to plants, so they don't need to be watered as often.

Root-Zone Salinity in Irrigated Arid Farmland: Revealing Driving Mechanisms of Dynamic Changes in China’s Manas River Basin over 20 Years

The risk of soil salinization is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions, posing a critical challenge to sustainable agriculture. This study addresses the need for accurate assessment of regional root-zone soil salt content (SSC) and understanding of underlying driving mechanisms, which are essential for developing effective salinization mitigation and water management strategies. A remote sensing inversion technique, initially proposed to estimate root-zone SSC in cotton fields, was adapted and validated more widely to non-cotton farmlands. Validation results (with a coefficient of determination R2 > 0.53) were obtained using data from a three-year (2020–2022) regional survey conducted in the arid Manas River Basin (MRB), Xinjiang, China. Based on this adapted technique, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distributions of root-zone SSC across all farmlands in MRB from 2001 to 2022. Findings showed that root-zone SSC decreased significantly from 5.47 to 3.77 g kg−1 over the past 20 years but experienced a slight increase of 0.15 g kg−1 in recent five years (2017–2022), attributed to cultivated area expansion and reduced irrigation quotas due to local water shortages. The driving mechanisms behind root-zone SSC distributions were analyzed using an approach combined with two machine learning algorithms, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP), to identify influential factors and quantify their impacts. The approach demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R2 = 0.96 ± 0.01, root mean squared error RMSE = 0.19 ± 0.03 g kg−1, maximum absolute error MAE = 0.14 ± 0.02 g kg−1) in evaluating SSC drivers. Factors such as initial SSC, crop type distribution, duration of film mulched drip irrigation implementation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), irrigation amount, and actual evapotranspiration (ETa), with mean (SHAP value) ≥ 0.02 g kg−1, were found to be more closely correlated with root-zone SSC variations than other factors. Decreased irrigation amount appeared as the primary driver for recent increased root-zone SSC, especially in the mid- and down-stream sections of MRB. Recommendations for secondary soil salinization risk reduction include regulation of the planting structure (crop choice and extent of planting area) and maintenance of a sufficient irrigation amount.

Reasons behind the Water Crisis and Its Potential Health Outcomes

Globally, the water crisis has become a significant problem that affects developing and industrialized nations. Water shortage can harm public health by increasing the chance of contracting water-borne diseases, dehydration, and malnutrition. This study aims to examine the causes of the water problem and its likely effects on human health. The study scrutinizes the reasons behind the water crisis, including population increase, climate change, and inefficient water management techniques. The results of a lack of water on human health, such as the spread of infectious diseases, a higher risk of starvation and dehydration, and psychological stress, are also concealed in the study. The research further suggests several ways to deal with the water situation and lessen its potential outcomes on human health. These remedies include enhanced sanitation and hygiene procedures, water management, and conservation techniques like rainwater gathering and wastewater recycling.

A Multi-Objective Optimization Framework for Coupled Grey–Green Infrastructure of Areas with Contamination-Induced Water Shortages Under Future Multi-Dimensional Scenarios

Stormwater resource utilization is an important function of coupled grey–green infrastructure (CGGI) that has received little research focus, especially in multi-objective optimization studies. Given the complex water problems in areas with contamination-induced water shortages, it is important to incorporate more objectives into optimization systems. Therefore, this study integrated economic performance, hydrological recovery, water quality protection, and stormwater resource utilization into an optimization framework based on the non-dominant sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III). A sponge city pilot area with contamination-induced water shortages in the Yangtze River Delta was considered, optimizing four objectives under different future multi-dimensional scenarios. The results showed a time series and scenarios composed of shared socioeconomic pathways and representative concentration pathways (SSP-RCP scenarios) which, together, affected future climate change and the benefits of a CGGI. In the near and middle periods, the SSP126 scenario had the greatest influence on stormwater management, whereas, in the far period, the SSP585 scenario had the greatest influence. The far period had the greatest influence under three SSP-RCP scenarios. Under the combined influence of SSP-RCP scenarios and a time series, the SSP585-F scenario had the greatest impact. Specific costs could be used to achieve different and no stormwater-resource utilization effects through different configurations of the CGGI. This provided various construction ideas regarding CGGIs for areas with contamination-induced water shortages.

Improving the regional economy's innovative development mechanism: The Republic of Tajikistan case study

Subject. The article discusses the problems of modernization of agriculture in the Republic of Tajikistan. Objectives. The article aims to analyze the impact of new technologies on production processes in agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan. Methods. For the study, I used the general scientific research methods. Results. The article finds that in a hot climate and water shortage, drip irrigation technologies are the main factors in increasing yields. Conclusions. The article concludes that land restrictions should be considered as a threat to economic freedom and national security.

Seawater Desalination System Driven by Sustainable Energy: A Comprehensive Review

Seawater desalination is one of the most widely used technologies for freshwater production; however, its high energy consumption remains a pressing global challenge. Both the development and utilization of sustainable energy sources are anticipated to mitigate the energy shortages associated with seawater desalination while also effectively addressing the environmental issues linked to fossil fuel usage. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the classification and evolution of traditional desalination technologies, emphasizing the advancements, progress, and challenges associated with integrating various sustainable energy sources into the desalination process. Then, the cost, efficiency, and energy consumption of desalination systems driven by sustainable energy are discussed, and it is found that even the most widely used reverse osmosis (RO) technology driven by fossil fuels has CO2 emissions of 0.3–1.7 kgCO2/m3 and the lowest cost of desalinated water as high as 0.01 USD/m3, suggesting the necessity and urgency of applying sustainable energy. A comparison of different seawater desalination systems driven by different sustainable energy sources is also carried out. The results reveal that although the seawater desalination system driven by sustainable energy has a lower efficiency and a higher cost than the traditional system, it has more potential from the perspective of environmental protection and sustainable development. Furthermore, the efficiency and cost of desalination technology driven by a single sustainable energy source is lower than that driven by multi-sustainable energy sources, while the efficiency of desalination systems driven by multi-sustainable energy is lower than that driven by hybrid energy, and its cost is higher than that of desalination systems driven by hybrid energy. Considering factors such as cost, efficiency, consumption, economic scale, and environmental impact, the integration of various seawater desalination technologies and various energy sources is still the most effective strategy to solve water shortage, the energy crisis, and environmental pollution at present and in the future.

Feed Resources for Livestock and Improved Forage Production Status in Enor Woreda, Gurage Zone of Ethiopia

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing feed resources for livestock and improved forage production status in Enor woreda. Three kebeles were selected purposively based on livestock potential, 90 forage producer farmers, 30 from each kebele were selected using systematic random sampling from forage participant lists. SPSS (version 20) were used for analyzing the data. Mean land holdings of the area were 2.98 (SD=0.2), 2.86 (SD=0.19) and 2.93 (SD=0.21) in enset, cereal and mixed based farming system, respectively. Cereal dominate system has higher TLU than other two farming system. Feed shortage was the primary challenge in enset-based (Index=0.26), cereal-based (Index=0.32) and mixed (Index=0.32) farming system followed by water shortage problem in both enset and cerealbased system. Natural pasture (28%), crop residues (straw) (23%), hay (17%), improved forages (13%) enset (12%) and by-products from industries (7%) were observed to be the major feed resources in the area. In all the three agro-ecologies, Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were the dominant forage species, whereas Sesbania (Sesbaina sesban) was the dominant in cereal-based system adopted in the area.

Atmospheric water harvesting as a sustainable and resilient resource in arid climates: gaining insights from ancient techniques

ABSTRACT Fog and dew, or atmospheric moisture, are valuable complementary resources. Ancient civilisations exploited these resources in harmony with the environment, though information on their techniques is fragmented. This review provides insights into the efficiency, evolution, and relevance of ancient atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) techniques from 5000 B.C. to the 1900s, alongside modern techniques. An analytical framework and assessment are presented to deduce their viability for replication, revival, restoration, or redevelopment. Modern fog collectors yield an average value of 3–10 L/m2/day and dew collectors 0.3–0.6 L/m2/day. Ancient fog collectors from Mexico and Chile resembled modern collectors, while fog drip from trees offers a natural alternative, collecting 70 L/m2/day. The stone drip method shows potential in urban areas with extensive concrete surfaces. Ancient dew collection techniques include alchemists' dew collectors, lithic mulching for soil water conservation, dew ponds for water retention, and stone-pile condensers, which collected up to 360 L/day. Air wells, however, were less effective. Ancient AWH techniques offer valuable insights and can effectively supplement modern collectors, enhancing resilience and water security, especially in arid regions. Implementing AWH techniques provides sustainable, decentralised, nature-based strategies on a micro and macro scale for mitigating contemporary water shortages amidst increasing climate challenges.

The protein transition—environmental footprints of farmed fish, microalgae and chicken for food, a case study in Kenya

AbstractChallenges of land scarcity, climate change and water shortage are contributing to escalating the shortage of protein rich food in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya a total of 27.8% of the population was undernourished, and a total of 72.3% were categorised as moderately or severe food insecure in 2021–2022. The need to investigate alternative protein sources with less impacts on land, water and climate change, which potentially could replace, at least some of the current production of livestock as the main protein source, is getting increasingly urgent. The main aim of this study is therefore to conduct an environmental footprint analysis of favourable protein production systems in Kenya to evaluate environmental impacts on land, water, and climate. The methodological approach used in this study is referred to as environmental footprint analysis, which is applied to assess; (1) farmed fish in ponds, (2) farmed fish in solar based affordable recirculation aquaculture systems (A-RAS), (3) dried spirulina (Arthrospira Platensis), and (4) chicken from semi-intensive farms. The results show that the most promising alternatives to cattle production are dried spirulina produced in ponds, followed by fish produced in affordable recirculation systems (A-RAS) run on solar energy. Spirulina fully replacing beef production would reduce water usage with 34.7 billion m3/year, land/water surface area with 34.8 thousand km2/year, and GHG emission with 28.2 megaton CO2eq/year. For fish farmed in A-RAS, such replacement would reduce water, land and emissions with 30.7 billion m3/year, 32.0 thousand km2/ year and 23.0 megaton CO2eq/year, respectively. This study illustrates that it is possible to tackle urgent challenges of food and nutrition security for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide with a sustainable protein transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive production system of small-scale farmers, if making use of alternative protein sources, such as from solar based A-RAS and microalgae.

Examining the Barriers to Redesigning Smallholder Production Practices for Water-Use Efficiency in Numbi, Mbombela Local Municipality, South Africa

Smallholder farmers in South Africa face issues related to water shortages and poor irrigation water management. This study investigated barriers to improving water-use efficiency (WUE) in smallholder production practices in Numbi, South Africa. The objectives were to identify barriers in redesigning production practices for higher agricultural productivity and analyze the relationship between irrigation water supply and the adoption of WUE methods. From a population of 7696 people, 141 smallholder farmers were sampled using a simple random sampling technique through Taro Yamane’s sample size formula. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics. Unreliable water supply (M = 3.78, SD = 0.85), poor soil water retention (M = 3.78, SD = 0.85), lack of water-efficient irrigation systems (M = 3.91, SD = 0.71), lack of water storage facilities (M = 3.85, SD = 0.93), limited access to credit (M = 4.09, SD = 0.85), income instability due to market fluctuations (M = 3.96, SD = 0.91), inadequate knowledge of irrigation management (M = 4.00, SD = 0.84), and harsh climatic factors were identified. A positive correlation (r = 0.339, n = 141, p < 0.001) between irrigation water source and WUE techniques was evident, indicating that irrigation water source had an insignificant impact on WUE methods. Resolving these barriers requires a holistic approach focusing on investments in irrigation infrastructure and targeted education initiatives by extension agents and other stakeholders, as this can enhance agricultural productivity.

Salicylic acid altered the fatty acids compositions and nutrient status of shallot (Allium hirtifolium) grown under drought stress

In arid and semi-arid regions, water shortage is a persistent challenge, significantly affecting plant growth and productivity. To mitigate the detrimental effects of drought, the use of plant growth regulators, such as salicylic acid (SA), has proven to be an effective strategy for enhancing plant resilience, as well as improving yield and quality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SA on the nutrient composition, yield, and overall quality of shallot plants over three cropping seasons (2020, 2021, and 2022) under drought stress conditions. A split-plot design with four replicates was employed, where irrigation levels (0 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of the plant's water requirements) were the main factor, and varying concentrations of SA (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mM) were the secondary factor. The results revealed that drought stress increased the concentrations of key micronutrients—iron, copper, sodium, potassium, manganese, and zinc—while reducing magnesium content, ash content, and overall yield. However, the application of SA counteracted these effects by significantly enhancing magnesium content, ash content, and yield in shallot plants. In addition, drought stress increased the levels of palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids while reducing the levels of stearic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The highest concentrations of linoleic acid (ω6, 110.1 mg) and linolenic acid (ω3, 24.242 mg) were recorded under full irrigation and 75 % water requirement treatments, respectively. SA application further enhanced the levels of stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids, improving the overall nutritional quality of shallot plants. In conclusion, the application of optimal concentrations of SA significantly improves the yield, quality, and nutritional value of shallot plants under drought stress, making it a valuable approach for managing water stress in agriculture.

Underestimation of meteorological drought intensity due to lengthening of the drought season with climate change

Abstract Meteorological drought may lead to water shortages, which has negative impacts on water-dependent sectors. Whilst there is a wealth of studies on changing drought intensity or frequency due to climate change, much less is known regarding potential shifts in the timing of drought. The purpose of this study is to analyze the timing of the drought season in the Netherlands and climatic changes therein, with a special focus on the onset of the drought season. Based on an analysis of meteorological observations in the Netherlands over the period 1965–2023, we conclude that the Dutch meteorological drought season has extended forward in time. On average, the drought season starts 16 d earlier in the period 1994–2023 compared to 1965–1993. This is mostly the result of an increase in potential evapotranspiration, while the amount of precipitation does not show a clear change at the start of the growing season. Using three climate model ensembles, we show that a forced climate change signal exists, but that natural variability also plays a role. Following this assessment of trends in meteorological variables, we analyze the consequences for the operational monitoring of meteorological drought. In the Netherlands, this is done by means of the ‘precipitation deficit’-indicator, based on a fixed-in-time starting point (1 April) of the drought season. The combination of this fixed starting point and the observed earlier onset of the drought season, means that in some years the indicator underestimates drought intensity, and that climatic trends are underestimated. We therefore advocate for an update of the operational drought indicator, such that meteorological drought occurring before 1 April will not be missed.