Agrotechnology as Key Factor in Effective Use of Water on Arable Land

Abstract

It is indisputable that water is necessary for the food production. Demand for good-quality food puts pressure on the agricultural production. On the other hand, a lack of fresh water has become a serious problem. Southern Europe faces this problem in particular nowadays. One-third of water is consumed in the agricultural sector in Europe (plant production in particular). Agriculture influences the amount of water available, and the quality of water is tightly connected with the intensity of farming and use of crop protection agents and fertilizers. Such a bad fresh water situation in the agriculture will improve or stabilize, if water is used more efficiently (e.g. irrigation) or it is retained in the agricultural land. Suitable agricultural interventions must be made. Climate change has also provoked worse availability and accessibility of water. Water development scenarios, distribution and frequency of precipitation predict the amount of fresh water to be reduced in Europe, and they also predict changes in freshwater distribution from the place and time points of view. If suitable agrotechnological techniques are adopted, and socio-political solutions are supported, water situation will improve significantly, and it will be used more efficiently in the agriculture. More water will be available for the agricultural production, and more water will be kept for the whole agroecosystem.