Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
less water by enhancing WP or WP (Cai et al. 2011), and with less CO
2
emission
through the efficient and economic use of water (Wolff and Stein 1999) and C
sequestration in soils of agroecosystems (Lal 2004a,b). The question, however,
remains about which crop should be chosen and which WP must be enhanced
(Bessembinder et al. 2005). Several technological options of increasing WP and
adapting agroecosystems to changing climate include deficit irrigation, sequencing
of water deficit, surge irrigation management especially in Vertisols, no-till/mulch
farming, water harvesting and recycling, modern microirrigation systems, crops
and cropping systems, and integrated nutrient management (INM) based on the
liberal use of organic amendments (Shah et al. 2006; Rockström et al. 2007; Ali
and Talukder 2008). With reference to INM, reducing nutrient input (from a maxi-
mum to an optimum level) may maintain agronomic production while reducing
the risks of environmental pollution (Good et al. 2004) and reducing emissions of
N
2
O. Although a debatable issue, selective use of genetically modified crops may
benefit the environment while improving WP (Brookes and Barfoot 2011). Mixing
saline water with good water (Sharma and Minhas 2005) and using wastewater
are also important options. A widespread use of such technological innovations is
essential to improve and sustain Asia's groundwater boom (Shah et al. 2003), in an
era of warming Earth characterized by extreme climatic events.
8.9 ASSESSING WATER RESOURCES
In accordance with the dictum “what cannot be credibly measured cannot be ade-
quately managed,” sustainable management of water necessitates credible assess-
ment (available reserves and the demand) of the scarce but precious resource. The
reliable data on water supply are critical to developing programs for sustainable man-
agement. The warning about severe depletion of the groundwater resources (Kerr
2009; Rodell et al. 2009) has to be based on credible assessment. In this regard,
multispectral remote sensing images can be appropriately used to enhance resource
conservation and improve agronomic productivity (Chandna et al. 2012). Similarly,
Lobell et al. (2010) used satellite technology for assessing yield growth opportuni-
ties in northwest India. Gumma et al. (2011) used MODIS 250 m time-series data to
map irrigated areas in the Krishna River basin. The scheme of interlinkage among
major rivers can only be implemented if there exist reliable data on river flow on time
scales encompassing days, seasons, and years (Jian et al. 2009).
8.10 USING SCIENCE, CULTURE, AND SPIRITUALISM
TO RESOLVE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONFLICTS
IN MANAGING WATER RESOURCES
Resource scarcity and other issues create social and political conflicts, which must
be amicably resolved to maintain peace and harmony. India and other countries in
South Asia face water controversies as village-versus-state and community-versus-
state conflicts (Mollinga 2010). The fast economic development in India since its
liberalization in the 1990s has created more diverse interest groups around water
