Projects / Programmes
Accuracy od Irrigation Forecast - TriN
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.03 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Water, rural space, environment |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B006 |
Biomedical sciences |
Agronomics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
Irrigation, irrigation forecast, deficit irrigation
Researchers (17)
Organisations (6)
Abstract
Water is an essential resource for crop production. Climate change is causing changed precipitation patterns and, consequently, cause for reflection about the possibilities of crop production in the changed conditions.
The world consumption of water for irrigation is increasing and represents 70% of all water abstracted from aquifers and rivers. It is estimated that that climate change, causing the reduction and redistribution of rainfall and the increasing needs of plants for water (evapotranspiration, due to higher temperatures, will increase need for irrigation in most regions around the world. For developing countries, the FAO provided 14% increase in water consumption for irrigation by 2030. Climate change does not mean a rise in average temperatures only, but will be changing weather and climate patterns and the frequency and intensity of extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts and heavy rains. In the last 15 years we have met in Slovenia with the couple of drought years: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013. The most affected of this natural disaster are especially food producers, because without technical support (service a proper irrigation) can not timely and efficiently respond primarily to the lack of rainfall. The result is a lower yield per hectare, more difficult conditions for economic survival of growers and lower local self-sufficiency.
Data show that Slovenia has enough rainfall, but because of their uneven distribution, Slovenian area is increasingly vulnerable to drought. In the last 25 years, on average, every third year, we have faced with drought. Projections of climate change and the potential impacts on evapotranspiration and frequency of agricultural droughts are not promising, neither. The lack of rainfall or their irregular timing, already present problem of risk and great drought threat in Slovenia, where the water resources for irrigation of agricultural land are generally limited.
Fruit growing, an important agricultural industry in the era of globalization, is increasingly exposed to new challenges. Weather conditions and growing importance of natural resources constantly put it on the threshold of economic viability. Technologies based on the rationalization of water consumption for irrigation of apple varieties are therefore increasingly importan, but in Slovenian conditions still completely unexplored. Apple orchards are mostly equipped with anti-hail nets and it is known that the climatic conditions under this type of protection are different as outside this. Need for irrigation and differences between the crops, where we have anti-hail nets and crops, without them, are different, hypotheticaly smaller. It is necessary to examine the impact of anti-heil nets on the need for irrigation and to verify the hypothesis that in the plantation, covered with an anti-heil nets, conditions for irrigation are not the same as outside the net. Inefficient water use could try to be solved by investing in technology to save water.
Technology of cherries has completely changed with the introduction of weaker rootstocks. Producers now have available a variety of rootstocks. We expect that different rootstocks and different needs for water, which is still unexplored. Weaker rootstocks for cherry trees give smaller trees, which can be covered with foil or fabric in different phenological stages and for different purposes in order to prevent yield losses.
Potatoes and corn are among the most interesting crops in Slovenia, and it is expected to be required further examination about adapting irrigation to Slovenian conditions. Irrigating potatoes, we have to be very careful with the technology of irrigation as it can lead to increased risk from infection by potato blight. Potatoes require more water when tubers grow i.e. of flowering on. Possible deficit irrigation of potatoes should take into account this fact and look for reserves in the savings of water especially in the first part
Significance for science
As is evident from the presented starting points of the proposed project (paragraph 13 of the application) and a literature review (paragraph 14 of the application), there is still a lack of knowledge and relevant information on the field of forecasted irrigation and professionally correct, and especially in the area of deficit irrigation in Slovenia and elsewhere.
The proposed project will contribute to the development of science and profession in accordance with the plan of dissemination of the project results, as presented in the paragraph 16, which covers both scientific as well as professional level. Any new content that will apear during the project implementation as the new challenge of science and proffesional level, we will propose as a content of the new research and development projects in Slovenia and on European level.
Significance for the country
Statistics from the years 1994 to 2008 for Slovenia indicates that the drought has caused 200 million loss, or 26% of the damage of natural disasters. The main victims of this natural disaster are primarily food producers, because without technical support can not timely and efficiently respond primarily to the lack of water. The result is a lower yield per hectare, consequently, more difficult conditions for the survival of small local grower and self-sufficiency.
The amount of reimbursement of water use for irrigation of agricultural land in Slovenia compared with other uses is unparalleled low and in accordance with the River Basin Management plan II it is expected its significant increase, which could have adverse effects on the economic outcome of irrigation.
Rational use of water is one of Slovenia's development priorities, which is in accordance with the strategy for the implementation of the resolution on the strategic orientations of development of Slovenian agriculture and food industry in 2020, and it is followed by agriculture in Slovenia in general, which follows the requirements of the WFD, as wll. In line with this, one of the conditions for the reconstruction of irrigation systems in the context of the Rural Development Plan also requreas 15% more efficient use of water. If a water body condition is ir rated with less than a good 50% more efficient use of water is required. The basis of rational use of water is the appropriate input data, on the basis of which the current model projections of irrigation can be developed. There must be a network of measuring devices for the purpose of rational irrigation of each culture. In Slovena, we do have little experiances on proffesional correct implementation of irrigation and on irrigation forecast.
The proposed content of the project will provide a basis to address these challenges and thus have an impact on the economics of individual farms and agriculture as a whole.
Project results will serve as a model calculation for other areas of Slovenia, because similar problems occurring elsewhere. They will serve farmers, agricultural advisers and experts and the Ministry for agricultzre, forestry and food for the creation of agricultural and nature conservation policies and agri-environmental programs. Reducing water consumption, given the anticipated increase in the amount of reimbursement water for irrigation of agricultural land will have a positive economic impact. The possibility of transferring knowledge into practice will be direct, since it is expected that the project will be designed on the basis of the actual needs and the situation in practice. Acquired knowledge and recommendations will serve to users of irrigation systems in support of economically efficient agricultural production.
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report
