"The book does exceptionally well in linking the myriad of issues which are relevant to agricultural water management, covering biophysical and engineering aspects together with socioeconomics. In doing this, the editor and the book's contributing authors have presented an excellent state of the art analysis of irrigation and food production on an international level." (Professor Elías Fereres, University of Cordoba and IAS-CSIC, Spain)
Irrigated agriculture accounts for around 70% of global water use. However, an estimated 60% of irrigated cropland remains highly water-stressed, a problem intensified by the effects of climate change.
Improving water management in agriculture: Irrigation and food production considers ways of addressing this challenge. It reviews advances in monitoring and optimising irrigation efficiency, ways of retaining and re-using water resources as well as how farmers can work collaboratively with other stakeholders to manage watersheds more sustainably.
The book highlights key areas where innovation is required to ensure that water use is optimised at farm and watershed scales. The book also encourages farmers to reassess their current irrigation models and implement alternative practices which improve efficiency with a reduced environmental impact.
With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, the book will be a standard reference for researchers and scientists involved in water and irrigation science, agronomists, as well as government and private sector agencies responsible for agriculture and water resource management.
Dr Jerry Knox is based within the Centre for Water, Environment and Development at Cranfield University, UK. As Professor of Agricultural Water Management, Jerry has an international reputation in the science, engineering and management of water for agriculture, including assessing the relationships between water resources, crop productivity and the environment, and the sustainability of agricultural production in the context of a changing climate. His research interests are in biophysical and water resource modelling, irrigation agronomy, soil and irrigation management, abiotic (drought) impacts on crop productivity and climate impacts and adaptation responses in agriculture. He was previously Editor for Outlook on Agriculture and Associate Editor for Irrigation Science.
