Irrigation and water management Books

Book SynopsisRainfall levels are rarely optimal, but there are hundreds of things you can do to efficiently conserve and use the water you do have and to reduce the impact of drought on your soil, crops, livestock, and farm or ranch ecosystem. Author Dale Strickler introduces you to the same innovative systems he used to transform his own drought-stricken family farm in Kansas into a thriving, water-wise, and profitable enterprise, maximizing healthy cropland, pasture, and water supply. Ranging from simple, short-term projects such as installing rain-collection ollas to long-term land-management planning strategies, Strickler’s methods show how to get more water into the soil, keep it in the soil, and help plants and livestock access it.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs our society places increasing importance on the management of our natural resources, natural resource managers in both public and private sectors will need to understand the essential elements of soil and water systems.Table of ContentsConservation Management and the Environment. Distance and Area Measurement. Levels and Leveling. Land Surveys and Mapping Systems. Rainfall and Runoff. Soil Erosion by Water. Upland Water Erosion Control. Channel Flow Erosion Control. Wind Erosion and Control Practices. Water Quality and Supply. Surface Water Storage. Surface Drainage and Wetlands. Subsurface Drainage. Soil Water Relations and Evapotranspiration. Irrigation Principles. Surface Irrigation. Sprinkler Irrigation. Microirrigation. Water Measurement. Glossary of Special Terms. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisComplete guidelines to developing and maintaining the most effective, environment-friendly irrigation systems for golf coursesGolf Course Irrigation offers valuable insight on the design, installation, management, and maintenance of irrigation systems-the most important management tool used on today''s golf courses. Without manufacturers'' bias, this useful resource provides hands-on guidance to the highest quality irrigation systems, including specifications and applications of the best pump stations, controllers, sprinkler heads, nozzles, valves, sensors, and other components that make the difference in top-quality irrigation systems.Typically regarded as significant users of water, golf courses are under increasing scrutiny by governmental and environmental groups, making it essential that the up-to-date information found here-on such topics as water supply, plant irrigation requirements, application uniformity, and construction management-be atTable of ContentsPreface vii 1 Plant Irrigation Requirements 1 2 Water Supply: Quantity and Quality 15 3 Pump Stations 29 4 Materials 61 5 Design 129 6 Construction Management 253 7 Installation 305 8 Conservation 413 Glossary 419 Appendix: Tables and Charts 423 Standards 439 Index 441

Read more less

Book SynopsisSet Yourself Up for Better Health!Open this fitness journal and start your journey to a healthy new you! This easy-to-use book will help you record your everyday stats in order to solidify healthy eating and exercise habits. Whether your goal is losing weight, exercising more, or changing your self-care routines, this handy journal will keep you on track as you set out on a healthy new path.Training for a Healthy Life features easy ways to:   • Record important daily stats. Write down your weight, what you ate, how much you exercised, and how well you took care of yourself every day.   • Review your progress. Weekly check-ins help you chart your progress and adjust your habits moving forward.   • Track your goals. Set your goals as you start your journey, record daily goals, and evaluate your success at the end of the book. 

Read more less

Book SynopsisFeatures twenty-five essays by world-renowned acequia scholars and community members that highlight acequia culture, use, and history in New Mexico, northern Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Spain, the Middle East, Nepal, and the Philippines, situating New Mexico’s acequia heritage and its inherent sustainable design within a global framework.Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionJosé A. Rivera and Enrique R. LamadridBendición del aguaOlivia Ramona RomoI. Acequias of Nuevo MéxicoChapter 1. Río Grande Acequias: Historic Working LandscapesLuis Pablo Martínez Sanmartín, Thomas F. Glick, and José A. RiveraChapter 2. A Bird's-Eye View of Northern New Mexico's AcequiasAlejandro LópezChapter 3. Acequia Waters: Community Resource or Commodity?Paula García and Miguel SantistevanChapter 4. Framing the Spring Ritual of la LimpiaDonatella DavanzoChapter 5. The Waterfall Acequias of the Mora ValleyEnrique R. Lamadrid and Juan Estevan ArellanoChapter 6. Transbasin Diversion in the Forest Wilderness: Oral History Testimony Protects the Acequia BordoJosé A. RiveraChapter 7. Valdez: Acequia, Placita, MercedSylvia RodríguezChapter 8. La Bajada Village's Acequia LandscapesArnold ValdezChapter 9. Cultivating a Sensible Food SystemMiguel SantistevanChapter 10. Acequias as a Sustainable Model for Hydro-EcologyQuita OrtizChapter 11. Conservation in the Conservancy District: Keeping the Valley Green with Acequias and AdaptationYasmeen NajmiII. España y México: Patrimonios AncestralesChapter 12. Valencia and New Mexico's Hermanamiento Ceremony: A Personal PerspectiveDon BustosChapter 13. Safeguarding the Global Cultural Heritage of Community AcequiasLuis Pablo Martínez SanmartínChapter 14. Heritage Acequias of Spain: The Millennial Huerta of Murcia and the Río Segura ValleyArmando J. LamadridChapter 15. El Palmeral de Elche: Acequia Management and Oasis Survival in the Twenty-First CenturyCarlos Ortiz Mayordomo and Lina Gracia i VicenteChapter 16. Bounty of the Columbian ExchangeEnrique R. Lamadrid and Armando J. LamadridChapter 17. Tlaxcala and Aranjuez: Keystone Gardens of the Columbian ExchangeEnrique R. Lamadrid and Armando J. LamadridChapter 18. Valle de Allende and Aldama: Roots of Acequia Culture in Northern MéxicoEnrique R. LamadridIII. Nuevo México y el MundoChapter 19. Land and Water in the Middle East: The Yemen ConnectionJuan Estevan Arellano and Enrique R. LamadridChapter 20. Traditional Communal Irrigation: Historical Lineage from Persia to New MexicoR. Jack MeyersChapter 21. Climate Calamity and High-Mountain Glacier Irrigation in Nepal and PerúArmando J. LamadridChapter 22. The Zanjeras: Community Irrigation in the PhilippinesJosé A. RiveraChapter 23. Acequias of Chile: A Permanent Stronghold in Times of ChangeJosé Luis Arumí and Ovidio Alejandro MeloChapter 24. Looking to the Past for Solutions for the Future: A Comparative Study of the Acequias of Two High-Desert CitiesAndrew BernardEpilogue: In Defense of Water, Agriculture, and PeopleEnrique R. Lamadrid and José A. RiveraContributorsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a collection of state-of-the-art reviews on the global problems of diffuse water pollution from agriculture, which affects the water quality of rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the oceans. It includes chapters on eutrophication, phosphorus, nitrogen, manure, heavy metals, carbon/persistent organic pollutants and soil/siltation problems. The book is broken down into three parts and reflects the opinions of the world's experts in these subjects.Table of ContentsPart I: Agriculture: Potential sources of water pollution 1.1: Introduction: Agriculture as a potential source of water pollution 1.2: Nitrogen 1.3: Phosphorus 1.4: Manures 1.5: Pesticides and persistent organic pollutants 1.6: Heavy metals 1.7: Human enteric pathogens 1.8: Sediment 1.9: Nutrient balances Part II: Hydrology: The carrier and transport of water pollution 2.1: Introduction: Modelling hydrological and nutrient transport processes 2.2: Hydrological source management of pollutants at the soil profile scale 2.3: Hydrological mobilization of pollutants at the slope/field scale 2.4: Modelling hydrological mobilization of nutrient pollutants at the catchment scale 2.5: Pollutant-sediment interactions: sorption, reactivity and transport of phosphorus 2.6: Quantifying sediment and nutrient pathways within danish agricultural catchments 2.7: Development of geographical information systems for assessing hydrological aspects of diffuse nutrient and sediment transfer from agriculture 2.8: Wetlands as regulators of pollutant transport Part III: Water Quality: Impacts and case studies from around the world 3.1: Introduction: Impacts of agriculture on water quality around the world 3.2: Solutions to nutrient management problems in the chesapeake bay watershed 3.3: Nutrient and pesticide transfer from agricultural soils to water in New Zealand 3.4: Land, water and people: complex interactions in the murrumbidgee river catchment 3.5: Managing the effects of agriculture on water quality in Northern Ireland 3.6: Conflicts and problems with water quality in the upper catchment of the Manyame River 3.7: Dryland salinisation: a challenge for land and water management in the Australian landscape 3.8: Quantifying nutrient limiting conditions in temperate river systems

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst title in a major new seriesAddresses improving water productivity to relieve problems of scarcity and competition to provide for food and environmental securityDraws from scientists having a multitude of disciplines to approach this important problemIn a large number of developing countries, policy makers and researchers are increasingly aware of the conflicting demands on water, and look at agriculture to be more effective in its use of water. Focusing on both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, this book gives a state of the art review of the limits and opportunities for improving water productivity in crop production. It demonstrates how efficiency of water use can be enhanced to maximize yields. The book represents the first in a new series of volumes resulting from the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, a research program conducted by the CGIAR's Future Harvest Centres, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partners worldwiTable of Contents1: A Water productivity framework for understanding and action, D Molden, H Murray-Rust, ICRISAT, India, R Sakthivadivel, IWMI, India and I Makin, IWMI, Sri Lanka 2: Economics of water productivity in managing water for agriculture, R Barker, D Dawe, IRRI, Philippines and A Inocencio, IWMI, South Africa 3: The concept of efficiency in water resources management and policy, D Seckler, IWMI, USA, D Molden and R Sakthivadivel, IWMI, India 4: Rice production in water-scarce environments, T P Tuong and B A M Bouman, IRRI, Philippines 5: Managing saline and alkaline water for higher productivity, N K Tyagi, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, India 6: Water productivity under saline conditions, J W Kijne 7: Opportunities for increasing water productivity of CGIAR crops through plant breeding and molecular biology, J Bennett, IRRI, Philippines 8: Management of drought in ICRISAT cereal and legume mandate crops, R Serraj, F R Bidinger,Y S Chauhan, ICRISAT, India, N Seetharama, ICAR, India, S N Nigam and N P Saxena, ICRISAT, India 9: Water productivity in rain-fed agriculture: challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers in drought-prone tropical agro-ecosystems, J Rockström, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, J Barron and P Fox, Stockholm University, Sweden 10: World water productivity: current situation and future options, X Cai and M W Rosegrant, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC, USA 11: Improving water productivity in the dry areas of West Africa and North Africa, T Y Oweis and A Y Hachum, ICARDA, Syria 12: Efficient management of rainwater for increased crop productivity and groundwater recharge in Asia, S P Wani, P Pathak, ICRISAT, India, T K Sreedevi, APARD, India, H P Singh, CRIDA, India and P Singh, ICRISAT, India 13: Water productivity in forestry and agroforestry, C K Ong and B M Swallow, ICRAF, Kenya 14: Water productivity and potato cultivation, W T Bowen, International Fertilizer Development Centre, AL, USA 15: Rice-wheat cropping systems in the Indo-Gangetic plains: Issues of water productivity in relation to new resource - conserving technologies, P R Hobbs, Cornell University, USA and R K Gupta, NASC, India 16: Land-and water productivity of wheat in the Western Indo-Gangetic plains of India and Pakistan: A comparative analysis, I Hussain, IWMI, Sri Lanka, R Sakthivadive, IIWMI, India and U Amarasinghe, IWMI, Sri Lanka 17: Reform of the Thai Irrigation Sector: Is there scope for increasing water productivity? F Molle, IWMI, Sri Lanka 18: Upscaling water productivity in irrigated agriculture using remote-sensing and GIS technologies, W G M Bastiaanssen, International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, The Netherlands, M-ud-D Ahmad and Z Tahir, IWMI, Pakistan 19: Improving water productivity through deficit irrigation: examples from Syria, North China Plain and Oregon, USA, H Zhang, CSIRO, Australia

Read more less

Book SynopsisEffective irrigation and drainage systems are essential if growing demands for water resources are to be met. For the use of water for irrigation to be improved we must understand current levels of performance. This book draws together the growing body of knowledge on irrigation and drainage performance assessment that has been gained over the last twenty years. It provides guidelines for practitioners to enable them to design and carry out performance assessment and implement performance-based management. Developed by a working group of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) it provides a generic framework for performance assessment with guidance on the theory and practice of how to audit and assess the performance of irrigation and drainage schemes.Trade Review"This concise book represents a comprehensive source of recent information on the assessment of irrigation and drainage performance, a subject of immense importance as the world's water supplies for new irrigation schemes become increasingly scarce and existing schemes are threatened by managerial difficulties and degradation processes". Brennan D Soane, Experimental Agriculture, 42, 2006"Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Framework for performance assessment 3: Performance indicators for irrigation and drainage 4: Operational strategic performance assessment 5: Diagnosing irrigation performance 6: Data management for performance assessment

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough over two thirds of the Earth''s surface is covered by water, more than 97% is ocean water which is too salty for human use or even for irrigation. Consequently, the freshwater is only 3% and almost 1% of the available freshwater is liquid surface water that can be used directly by humans. The rest is groundwater and iced water. Yet still, freshwater is considered to be one of the most abundant resources on earth. In the agriculture sector only, over two-thirds of the available freshwater is used for irrigation. This book focuses on the technology, management and efficiency of drip irrigation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis new volume in the Innovations and Challenges in Micro Irrigation series covers an array of technologies to estimate evapotranspiration and to evaluate parameters that are needed in the management of micro irrigation, with worldwide applicability to irrigation management in agriculture. Topics include recent evapotranspiration research, performance evaluation of filters and emitters, evaluation of fertigation and ground water with treated wastewater effluent, performance of pulse drip irrigated potato under organic agriculture practices in sandy soils, impact of polyethylene mulch on micro irrigated cabbage, and tree injection irrigation. Table of ContentsPrinciples of Micro Irrigation. Recent Evapotranspiration Research in Puerto Rico. Modeling of Evaporation from Bare Soil. Tree Injection Irrigation: Principles, Perspectives, and Problems. Evaluation of Micro Irrigation. Evaluation of Filters and Emitters under Domestic Treated Sewage Water. Evaluation of Drip Irrigation Systems for Water Management in Orchards. Fertigation and Ground Water Quality with Treated Wastewater Effluent. Micro Irrigation Practices in Agricultural Crops. Performance of Pulse Drip Irrigated Potato under Organic Agriculture Practices in Sandy Soils. Impact of Polyethylene Mulch on Micro Irrigated Cabbage. Performance of Garlic under Different Irrigation Systems. Appendixes. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMicro Irrigation Management: Technological Advances and Their Applications, the fifth book in the Innovations and Challenges in Micro Irrigation book series, is a valuable reference volume on micro irrigation and water management for professional training institutes, technical agricultural centers, irrigation centers, agricultural extension service, and other agencies who work with micro irrigation programs. With an international focus, this new book focuses on applications of solar energy in micro irrigation and other important technological advances. It includes case studies and illustrative examples on drip irrigation design.Table of ContentsEstimations of Evapotranspiration. Reference Evapotranspiration Estimations Using the Penman-Monteith Method: Puerto Rico. Reference Evapotranspiration: Trends and Identification of Its Meteorological Variables in Arid Climate. Evapotranspiration of Woody Landscape Plants. Evaporation and Seepage Losses from Dug-Out Type Farm Ponds. Estimations of Soil Properties. Several Dielectric Mixing Models for Estimating Soil Moisture Content. Inverse Procedure for Estimating Vertically Distributed Soil Hydraulic Parameters Using GPR. Management of Micro Irrigation Systems. The Approach for Translating Meteorological Patterns into Infra-Red Signaling for Variable Dispensation in Crop Irrigation Systems. Solar Photovoltaic Powered Micro Irrigation System in Aerobic Rice Cultivation. Management of Irrigation System: Performance of Egyptian Wheat. Maximizing Profits by Using Different Planting Geometry under Micro Irrigation. Design of Lateral Lines. Field Evaluation of Micro Irrigation Systems. Potential Problems in Drip Irrigation Systems. Emitters: Pressure and Discharge Relationship.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWater protection, food production and ecosystem health are worldwide issues. Changes in the global water cycle are affecting human wellbeing in many places, while widespread land and ecosystem degradation, driven by poor agricultural practices, is seriously limiting food production. Understanding the links between ecosystems, water, and food production is important to the health of all three, and sustainably managing these connections is becoming increasingly necessary. This book shows how sustainable ecosystems, especially agroecosystems, are essential for water management and food production.Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Drivers and Challenges for Food Security 3: Water-related Ecosystem Services and Food Security 4: Challenges to Agroecosystem Management 5: Water Use in Agroecosystems 6: Drylands 7: Wetlands 8: Increasing Water Productivity in Agriculture 9: Managing Agroecosystem Services 10: Water Management for Ecosystem Health and Food Production 11: Management of Water and Agroecosystems in Landscapes for Sustainable Food Security

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn many countries irrigated agriculture consumes a large proportion of the available water resources, often over 70% of the total. There is considerable pressure to release water for other uses, and as a sector irrigated agriculture will have to increase its efficiency and productivity of water use. Drawing on the author's 30 years of experience in some 28 countries, this paperback reprint of a successful book offers knowledge for the management of irrigation and drainage systems, including traditional technical areas of systems operation and maintenance, and expanding managerial, institutional and organizational aspects. Chapters provide guidelines to improve management, operation and maintenance processes, which move management thinking out of traditional public-sector mindsets to a more customer-focussed, performance-oriented service delivery. As a practical guide to improve efficiency and productivity in irrigated agriculture, this book is essential reading for irrigation managers and technicians as well as students and policymakers in water management, agriculture and sustainable development.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Components of Irrigation and Drainage Schemes Chapter 3: Management Chapter 4: Operation of the Main System Chapter 5: Operation of the On-Farm System Chapter 6: Maintenance Chapter 7: Training Chapter 8: Financing Chapter 9: Irrigation Management Transfer and Organizational Restructuring Chapter 10: Performance Assessment

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe global expansion of irrigated lands during the 20th century and beyond continues to contribute to food production, but also degrades the environment significantly. The consequent search for policy remedies has stimulated a vital body of economic research.The issues addressed in this comprehensive collection of previously published articles include the effects of existing government intervention on the environmental impacts of agriculture, the economic costs and benefits of environmental regulations for agriculture, and the economic and environmental merits of alternative mechanisms for water allocation and water quality protection.In this volume the editors present a sampling of economic research on the interface of irrigated agriculture with the environment. The articles included are by leading researchers in this field and span the topics of nonpoint pollution control, salinity management, and the allocation of water.Trade Review'This book is a very useful collection for those interested in the impact of agriculture on water resources, and on the allocation of water resources within the agricultural system. It pulls together most of the important theoretical papers since the early 1980s on the economics of non-point pollution control. The book also shows how interdisciplinary modelling has improved our understanding of water quality and quantity issues, and how better management of water resources generates real economic benefits. It will be of interest to all economists working in this area, whether academic or professional, as well as to water managers.' -- Nick Hanley, University of Glasgow, UKTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Introduction James S. Shortle and Ronald C. Griffin PART I POLLUTION CONTROL INSTRUMENTS FOR IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE 1. Ronald C. Griffin and Daniel W. Bromley (1982), ‘Agricultural Runoff as a Nonpoint Externality: A Theoretical Development’ 2. James S. Shortle and James W. Dunn (1986), ‘The Relative Efficiency of Agricultural Source Water Pollution Control Policies’ 3. Kathleen Segerson (1988), ‘Uncertainty and Incentives for Nonpoint Pollution Control’ 4. Richard D. Horan, James S. Shortle and David G. Abler (1998), ‘Ambient Taxes When Polluters Have Multiple Choices’ 5. Richard Cabe and Joseph A. Herriges (1992), ‘The Regulation of Non-Point-Source Pollution Under Imperfect and Asymmetric Information’ 6. Scott L. Johnson, Richard M. Adams and Gregory M. Perry (1991), ‘The On-Farm Costs of Reducing Groundwater Pollution’ 7. Gloria E. Helfand and Brett W. House (1995), ‘Regulating Nonpoint Source Pollution Under Heterogeneous Conditions’ 8. Erik Lichtenberg, David Zilberman and Kenneth T. Bogen (1989), ‘Regulating Environmental Health Risks Under Uncertainty: Groundwater Contamination in California’ PART II SALINITY AND WATER ALLOCATION 9. Ariel Dinar, Mark B. Campbell and David Zilberman (1992), ‘Adoption of Improved Irrigation and Drainage Reduction Technologies Under Limiting Environmental Conditions’ 10. J.F. Booker and R.A. Young (1994), ‘Modeling Intrastate and Interstate Markets for Colorado River Water Resources’ 11. Donna J. Lee and Richard E. Howitt (1996), ‘Modeling Regional Agricultural Production and Salinity Control Alternatives for Water Quality Policy Analysis’ 12. Marca Weinberg and Catherine L. Kling (1996), ‘Uncoordinated Agricultural Environmental Policy Making: An Application to Irrigated Agriculture in the West’ PART III WATER REALLOCATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT 13. Bonnie G. Colby (1990), ‘Enhancing Instream Flow Benefits in an Era of Water Marketing’ 14. Michael R. Moore, Aimee Mulville and Marca Weinberg (1996), ‘Water Allocation in the American West: Endangered Fish Versus Irrigated Agriculture’ 15. Ronald C. Griffin and Shih-Hsun Hsu (1993), ‘The Potential for Water Market Efficiency When Instream Flows Have Value’ 16. Neal S. Johnson and Richard M. Adams (1988), ‘Benefits of Increased Streamflow: The Case of the John Day River Steelhead Fishery’ 17. David B. Willis, Jose Caldas, Marshall Frasier, Norman K. Whittlesey and Joel R. Hamilton (1998), ‘The Effects of Water Rights and Irrigation Technology on Streamflow Augmentation Cost in the Snake River Basin’ 18. Bruce A. McCarl, Carl R. Dillon, Keith O. Keplinger and R. Lynn Williams (1999), ‘Limiting Pumping from the Edwards Aquifer: An Economic Investigation of Proposals, Water Markets, and Spring Flow Guarantees’ Name Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis guide is designed to help staff who undertake surveillance and monitoring of water supplies in developing countries. It provides simple information on how data may be collected and explains the use of equipment and inspection techniques. It also provides example forms that can be easily photocopied, guidance on how monitoring data can be used to improve water supplies and water handling, and how reporting of information can be used to initiate dialogue with communities.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs human populations expand and demands upon natural resources increase, the need to manage the environments in which people live becomes more important but also more difficult. Land and water management is especially critical as the use of upstream watersheds can drastically affect large numbers of people living in downstream watersheds. An integrated approach that stresses both the importance of participatory planning and the institutional and technical constraints and opportunities is therefore necessary. The institutional and technical context for managing watersheds and river basins, including the involvement of both the public and private sectors, is also examined.Table of Contents1: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 2: LAND USE, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT, AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS 3: INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT 4: PLANNING AND POLICY MAKING 5: HYDROLOGIC PROCESSES AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS 6: MONITORING AND EVALUATION TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE 7: RESEARCH, TRAINING, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER 8: ADAPTIVE, INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS: CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe degradation of land and water resources resulting primarily from agricultural activities has had enormous impact on human society. In order to alleviate this problem an advanced understanding of the state of our resources and the process of degradation is needed. Conserving Land, Protecting Water includes an overview of existing literature focusing on global patterns of land and water degradation and discussions of new insights drawn from successful case studies on reversing soil and water degradation and their impact on food and environmental security.Table of ContentsPart 1: Land and Water Degradation: Assessment and Issues 1.1: Learning from bright spots to enhance food security and to combat degradation of water and land resources. 1.2: Land degradation and water productivity in agricultural landscapes. 1.3: Land Degradation, ecosystem services and resilience of smallholder farmers in Makanya catachment, Tanzania. 1.4: Political ecologies of bright spots 1.5: Large scale fluxes of crop nutrients in food cause environmental problems at the sources and at sinks 1.6: Carbon sequestration, land degradation and water Part 2: Towards Better Land and Water Management 2.1: Local Innovation in ‘Green Water’ Management 2.2: Sustainability and Resilience of the Urban Agricultural Phenomenon in Africa 2.3: Safeguarding water resources by making the land greener: knowledge management through WOCAT 2.4: Bright basins - do many bright spots make a basin shine? 2.5: The influence of plant cover structures on water fluxes in agricultural landscapes 2.6: Investments in collective capacity and social capital Part 3: ‘ Bright Spots’ 3.1: ‘Bright spots’: Pathways to ensuring food security and environmental integrity 3.2: Ecosystem benefits of ‘Bright Spots’

Read more less

Book SynopsisUsing a variety of case studies, this book provides an overview of how societies have gradually developed their water resources and furthers our understanding of how such resources can be managed successfully or unsuccessfully. Discussing how and why particular options are selected, and why a particular course of events eventually prevails, the book stresses the importance of context and a multidisciplinary approach in moving towards sustainable and equitable development.Table of Contents1: Conceptual and Substantive Introduction 2: The Jordan River Basin, Jordan 3: The Olifant River Basin, South Africa 4: The Lerma-Chapala River Basin, Mexico 5: The Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand 6: The Yellow River Basin, China 7: The Merguellil River Basin, Tunisia 8: The Ruaha/Rufiji River Basin, Tanzania 9: The Zayandeh Rud Basin, Iran 10: The Bhavani River Basin, India 11: The Pungwe and Save River Basins, Zimbabwe and Mozambique 12: The Murray-Darling River Basin, Australia 13: Synthesis: Human-environment Interactions in a River Basin Context

Read more less

Book SynopsisOf all the confrontations man has engineered with nature, irrigation systems have had the most widespread and far-reaching impact on the natural environment. Over a quarter of a billion hectares of the planet are irrigated and entire countries depend on irrigation for their survival and existence. Considering the importance of irrigation schemes, it is unfortunate that until recently the technology and principles of design applied to their construction has hardly changed in 4,000 years. Modern thinking on irrigation engineering has benefited from a cross-fertilization of ideas from many other fields including social sciences, control theory, political economics and agriculture. However, these influences have been largely ignored by irrigation engineers. Drawing on almost 40 years of experience of irrigation in the developing world, Laycock introduces new ideas on the design of irrigation systems and combines important issues from the disciplines of social conflict, management, and political thinking.Table of Contents1: Evolution and a Prelude to Change 2: Elements of Irrigation 3: Water Management 4: Canal Operation and Automation 5: Irrigation Water Demands 6: Canal Architecture 7: Canal Control Structures 8: Low-Pressure Pipelines 9: Canal Lining 10: Canal Hydraulic Design 11: Troubleshooting - Feedback from the Field

Read more less

Book SynopsisImproving Irrigation in Asia is based on a longitudinal study over two decades on innovative intervention for sustained performance of irrigation systems. The work identifies key factors that can help explain the performance of interventions, and explicates lessons for resource management and the management of development assistance. In 1985, the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat of Nepal and the International Irrigation Management Institute developed an ingenious intervention program for nineteen irrigation systems located in the middle hills of Nepal in an attempt to overcome the prevailing 'best-practices' traps, in regard to assisting irrigation systems. This book highlights the innovativeness of the project lay in its provision of ample opportunities for farmers to make decisions regarding the operation of the irrigation system based on their local knowledge and creativity. The authors of this work, Elinor Ostrom, Wai Fung Lam, Prachanda Pradhan and Ganesh P. Shivakoti provide detailed analysis of these interventions and support the conclusion that farmers can build on an innovative intervention that not only provides physical improvements but also enhances farmers' problem-solving capacity. They argue that to achieve sustainable improvements in performance, the farmers themselves need to engage in collective action over time and support local entrepreneurs who provide leadership and stimulate adjustments to change. Providing practical policy solutions, this study will prove a fascinating and invaluable read for academics and scholars of development studies, resource management, and irrigation studies, as well as development specialists in international agencies, policy makers in governments and international donor agencies.Trade Review’A unique and significant longitudinal study of irrigation intervention in FMIS in Nepal that revives important debates on how irrigation management evolves and how this can be investigated. This concise and accessible book can inform and challenge agencies and donors to reflect on policies and researchers to argue further the study of collective action and political theory in irrigation management.’ -- Linden Vincent, Wageningen University, The Netherlands‘Improving Irrigation in Asia by Elinor Ostrom and colleagues is grounded in intimate detail on water management experience in Nepal while being informed by broadly-applicable concepts and behavioral theories. It greatly advances our understanding of management options and effects. As the water resources available for agriculture become more limited and unreliable, the efficiency and productivity with which irrigation water is used must be increased. While better technology can assist in this quest, the greatest potential gains lie in the social and organizational domains.’ -- Norman Uphoff, Cornell University’Governance of irrigation systems is complex, needing social, technical and financial actions that support farming. Few people have as much knowledge of self-governing irrigation systems as these authors, and few countries have as many of these systems as Nepal. Lessons from these small irrigation systems can be adapted to much larger units, and to other kinds of activity. External assistance on a modest scale could generate practical benefit, by encouraging self-reliance in communities.’ -- Charles Abernethy, International Irrigation Management Institute, Colombo (1987 - 94) and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (1996 - 99)Table of ContentsContents: Foreword by Gilbert Levine Preface by Robert Yoder 1. The Challenge of Achieving Successful Development Interventions 2. Effects of Different Modes of Assistance on the Performance of Farmer-managed Irrigation Systems in Nepal 3. Processes and Procedures of an Innovative Development Intervention Initiated in 1985 in the Middle Hills of Nepal 4. Evaluating an Innovative Development Intervention a Decade and a Half Later 5. Post-intervention Dynamics in 2008: Focusing on Two Success and Two Failure Cases 6. Synthesis and Conclusion References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn introduction to runoff agriculture - a form of agricultural irrigation - this text describes how the use of surface and subsurface water, often overlooked and wasted, enables both small farmers and commercial agriculturists to improve yields and the security of harvest, even in harsh and remote environments. The text introduces the techniques and strategies, as well as the challenges and the potential of the crucial approach, which can contribute so much to reducing land degradation and improving conservation and sustainability.Trade Review'An essential tool for research and teaching.' Landmark 'This book provides a fascinating ... insight into this most ancient of agricultural practices.' Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 'This excellent and very modestly priced book will serve both as an introduction and a well researched reference text on a much neglected aspect of irrigated agriculture.' Experimental AgricultureTable of ContentsIntroduction * Soil and Water Conservation * Runoff Harvesting and Storage * Ephemeral and Variable Streamflow: Spate, Wetlands and Flood Agriculture * Indigenous Runoff Agriculture: Challenges and Breakdown * Expanding, Upgrading and Rehabilitating Runoff Agriculture * The Future for Runoff Agriculture * Glossary * References * Further Reading * Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis report assesses and maps 184 peer-reviewed, empirical research articles selected for their focus on linkages between water stress and human migration. First and most importantly, this literature asserts that migration is an extremely common social process and is normal in almost every society on earth. Moreover, environment- influenced migration is rarely (if ever) a resource threat to the regions to which people move. The literature does, however, observe that negative social outcomes can result from narratives that stigmatize migrants and/or cast migrants as a security threat - especially when these narratives are used to justify increased surveillance and monitoring of these people.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a text book for agriculture and agricultural engineers and will be very much helpful for the beginning students in irrigation. It is designed to guide students from a basic knowledge of soil, mathematics, hydrologic and hydraulics to the state-of-the-art irrigation system design and management. Since major and medium irrigation projects are too costly and at the same time are not eco-friendly, the major thrust of research is now being imparted on low cost and easy to construct farm irrigation structures. The primary aim of the book is to design an optimum size small scale water harvesting structure which is the farm pond mostly used by the farmers in the farms. My goal is to present the principles and concepts of farm irrigation in a simple manner to maximize the students learning, understanding and motivation. The method and order of presentation have been carefully developed and classroom tested to make this book a useful and effective teaching tool. The book will not only be a helping tool to the students and teachers in agriculture and agricultural engineering but also to all the practicing engineers, agriculturists, soil conservationists and agricultural extension workers who deal directly or indirectly with water management and other associated farm development works. However, the book cannot be used for design of complex hydraulic structures including dams and reservoi The book contains 23 solved problems, 238 short and long type questions, 42 tables, 55 figures and more than 138 references which will be immensely helpful to the students and design engineeSeveral field experimental results have also been incorporated in the book at appropriate sections to make the book interesting for the readers.Table of Contents1. Farm pond irrigation and rainfed agriculture. 2. Types of farm ponds. 3. Location and site selection. 4. Water supply to farm pond. 5. Water demand from farm pond. 65. Dimensions of farm pond. 7. Optimum size of farm pond. 8. Construction of farm pond. 9. Losses of water in farm pond. 10. Efficient use of harvested water of farm pond. 11. Economics of farm pond irrigation systems. 12. Farm pond maintenance. 13. Other sources of irrigation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe book Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation is intended as a text book of micro irrigation design and practices for the students of the agricultural sciences and the professionals and workers in the field of micro irrigation. The book discusses the type and components, hydraulics and design, installation and maintenance of micro irrigation system. It contains good number of numerical as example and task to get the students familiar to the requirements, complicacies, and possible remedies in actual working condition. In addition to conventional broad and short questions in every of the book there are multiple choice questions to assist the students in preparing the competitive examinations.Table of Contents01 Drip Introduction 02 Hydraulics of Flow Regime 03 Drip Design Procedure 04 Design of Pipe Network 05 Distributor 06 Fertilization 07 Low Cost Drip System 08 Sprinkler Irrigation

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less