Yield Response to Water

Abstract

Abstracting from the scientific understanding and technological advances achieved over the last few decades, and relying on a network of several scientific institutions, FAO has packaged a set of tools in this Irrigation and Drainage Paper to better appraise and enhance crop yield response to water. These tools provide the means to sharpen assessment and management capacities required to: compare the result of several water allocations plans: improve soil-moisture control-practices under rainfed conditions; optimize irrigation scheduling (either full, deficit or supplementary); sustainably intensify crop production; close the yield and water-productivity gaps; quantify the impact of climate variability and change on cropping systems; enhance strategies for increased water productivity and water savings; minimize the negative impact on the environment caused by agriculture. These tools are invaluable to various agricultural practitioners including, but not limited to: water managers and planners; extension services; irrigation districts; consulting engineers; governmental agencies; non-governmental organizations and farmers´associations; agricultural economists and research scientists