Water Conservation for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Abstract Agriculture not only consumes 70% of global freshwater and 90% of global groundwater but also causes a lot of environmental problems, such as drying up of rivers, groundwater depletion and pollution. Thus, water conservation is considered a necessary requirement if we are to feed the booming global population by supporting sustainable agriculture. Generally, increasing water supply (e.g. interbasin water transfer, artificial precipitation) and enhancing water use efficiency via water-saving technologies (e.g. dripping irrigation, mulching, deficit irrigation, and water-saving cultivars) are the main ways to solve water resources shortage in agriculture. In practice, water use efficiency in different scales is measured to help people to realize the importance of the process of water consumption and to enhance water productivity. Water transfer and other human actions also aim to sustain the water demand of human society. However, overuse of water resources is still threatening human lives in most countries globally, and we need to employ water-saving technologies, increase reuse of water continually, and also mind the risks from agricultural intensification (irrigation and fertilization) and climate change on food production.