Drought and salinity in crop production. February 14 th 2017, Greet Blom-Zandstra

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1 Drought and salinity in crop production February 14 th 2017, Greet Blom-Zandstra

2 Outline Drought and salinity Plant responses Farm management strategies WUR projects in cooperation with public and private sector

3 Drought & Salinity Drought: Dams, competition between uses, changes in rainfall patterns (climate change) Salinity: Sea level rise (climate change), dams, changes in rainfall patterns

4 Increase water scarcity worldwide Increase water gap More crop per drop Global: agenda setting Local: urgent actions

5 Salinity worldwide Serious threat to agriculture Irrigated land > 40% total food production > 30 % suffer from salinity Salinity problems are increasing Estimated salinization rate: Mha/year (From FAOSTAT)

6 Risks of water stress or salinity in the NL Water stress Salinity

7 Effects drought and salinity on plants Drought: inhibition water uptake Salinity: 1. high salt content soil ihibits water uptake 2. high salt content in plants inhibits photosynthesis Similar effect Decrease plant yield

8 Plant responses / recovery mechanisms Rapid response (hormone regulated) Reduction transpiration -> reduced salt uptake Medium term response Exclusion or internal detoxification salt Long term adaptation process Increased uptake soil solutes (like potassium) de novo synthesis organic compounds (sugars, amino acids, organic acids,..)

9 Salt and drought tolerance parameters Tolerance during germination Canopy volume Resistance to leaf damage Yield Tuber quality

10 Salt and drought tolerance categories of different crops Sensitive Moderately sensitive Moderately tolerant Tolerant beans Black pepper jute rubber mungbean cabbage soybean dragon fruit rice cassava tomato cotton apples cauliflower coconut banana corn jack fruit citrus cucumber lemon mandarins groundnut mango orange kohlrabi pineapple rambutan sweet potato litchi, longan sugarcane watermelon grapes papaya plums

11 Anticipation in agricultural approach Salt tolerant crop selection Smart farm management strategies Combination of farming systems Breeding (drought and salt tolerance, WUE)

12 On-farm water conservation strategies (1) More crop per drop approach Partial root zone drying (trigger to increase Water Use Efficiency, WUE) Irrigation scheduling (slight water deficit increases carbohydrate loading fruits and seeds >> higher yield) Basic water conservation strategies (mulching and reduction soil tillage >> increase WUE) Introduction alternative (drought tolerant) crops, which means: shifting the farming system (f.e. grains > trees)

13 On-farm water conservation strategies (2) Drip irrigation in stead of sprinklers Advantages: reduction leaf damage and water saving Disadvantage: high (labour) costs Precision techniques (monitoring and control) Sensor technology High-tech greenhouse farming systems Enhancement recirculation systems -> Integration farming systems, like integration of dairy and crop production for reuse nutrients and valorisation drought tolerant crops

14 Expected water saving from smart practices Initiative Water saving Improvement of the conveyance 22% of water to the field Use of waste water for irrigation 10% Better irrigation scheduling 10% Use of drip irrigation in row crops 10% Calculated for Europe (Jacobsen et al., 2012)

15 Other benefits Saving high quality water for human consumption Use low quality water in agriculture Re-use water and nutrients Decreased need for purification of water Less costs Less pollution Extension of agriculture in dry and saline areas Hydroponic: >50% less water use, 20% more production High investments: high value crops: ornamentals, vegetables

16 Liters water per kg tomato Tomato water use: Spain and the Netherlands (From: Dr. C Stanghellini) 60 Spain The Netherlands Open field Unheated Climate Closed plastic controlled system parral + regulated ventilation CO2 enriched glasshouse + Reuse of drain water

17 Integration farming systems Water saving by drainage water re-use Integration aquaculture and crop farming Closing cycles Effluent/waste as nutrient source Integration dairy and feed production for reuse nutrients an valorization salt tolerant crops

18 Potato - interesting case Valuable worldwide cash crop Number 6 in ranking on production area Upcoming commodity in developing countries Low water foot print

19 Potato - Sensitivity to drought and salt Leaves are very sensitive and damaged by overhead irrigation Reduction of proportion large tubers in favour of small ones But... Tuber number is not affected by drought and salinity up until EC 7,5 (Heuer et al., 1995) Preferential supply of assimilates to tubers in favour of higher dry matter yield Treatments 1. Non-saline 2. Slightly saline 3. Rather saline 4. Temporal drought 5. Long drought

20 Research projects at WUR Development of a farming system for saline agriculture in the Dutch coastal zone Pilot on combination Sea bass Salicornia in Egypt Cultivar selection (breeding) and DSS development for potato farming in brackish water under drip irrigation Quinoa cultivation under different water regimes Integration aquaculture and agriculture in brackish water CROPS Salicor Atriplex Tamarix Quinoa Sugar Date Jojoba Garlic Peas Broccoli Tomato Potato Salinity (g/l = ppm/1000) 35

21 Cooperation with public and private sector We consider the Golden Triangle (Government, Research and Business) as highly useful in advancing the more crop per drop opportunities Government Taking away legal, institutional and trade hurdles Providing seed money Incentives Business Inserting and implementing research findings into real-life business opportunities Access to venture capital Research Expanding knowledge Integration current advances Development sustainable hands-on solutions

22 Cooperation with public and private sector Public sector Ministries of Economic affairs; Infrastructure and Environment Provinces Waterboards Research Universities Institutes Experimental farms,.. Private secor Companies (technical equipment, high value products,... Breeders Farmers

23 The way forward Experiments: plot & farm Smart rotations Smart sustainable integrated agricultural systems with optimal water use and re-use Attention to effects on the environment Smart technologies to prevent pollution of water resources Location specific solutions, which includes linking to skills of farmers. Capacity building Implementation (technically and regulatory)

24 Thank you... for your attention!