When there is excess water in various agricultural areas, there are high chances for nutrient runoffs. On the other hand, a shortage of water can create a devastating impact on the yield of crops. Effective practices are required to manage water movement so that water will be retained and nutrients will be absorbed, providing areas for the passage of flood water and water storage for irrigation purposes. They also help in climatic adaptations by avoiding huge variations between water scarcity and excess water.
Sustainable Water Management
Agriculture should not experience too much water and scarcity of water. Excess water will affect the functions of soil, affect plant growth, and cause nutrient runoffs. On the other hand, lack of enough water will badly affect the crops and their capacity to absorb nutrients from the soil.
Water movement has a big role to play in the storage of nutrients for agriculture. Snowmelt and rain cause nutrients to run off from the soil or they ooze through the upper area, even penetrating the groundwater. Along with maintaining the health of the soil and preventing soil erosion, steps must be taken to manage water movement. The water quantity in agricultural land is a critical solution to help in retaining nutrients and water.
The objectives and practices of water management are diverse. Several practices like leading surplus water away from agricultural fields, using natural stream beds to slow down the excess water flow, creating buffer areas to manage flood water, and storing water for agricultural purposes are widely popular. These water management practices also help in climatic adaptation by avoiding huge variations in the amount of water in surplus and dry times.
Sustainable Water Management Techniques
Here are some practices that will help in sustainable water management.
- Building Wetlands
Wetlands are natural growth beds rich in fauna, providing habitat and food for different species. They help in absorbing nutrients such as sponges, used to fight eutrophication. Wetlands can be constructed in agricultural areas to absorb the nutrients in the water running off from the fields. The arrival of water will be slowed down by wetlands inducing the disposition and settling of suspended particles. Microbes and plants help in breaking down organic matter and nutrients, which are then blended and cycled in the wetland.
- Water Management
Good water management measures provide good yields, balanced nutrients, and protect water. Various techniques like managed subsurface drainage, irrigational water storage, natural stream beds, flood meadows, two-stage ditches, etc allow solids to settle on the sides of streams or ditches, slowing down the flow of water at the peak times. It also allows for developing space for settling water, avoids over-flooding, and raises the availability when it is dry. This effect will be further increased through vegetation, reducing soil erosion in the river or stream banks.
Various measures are being studied and experimented in different parts of the world to ensure the availability of water for agriculture and to avoid wastage of water. Water conservation is important to ensure that the coming generation also receives water they require for their needs.