|
Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
ISSN: 1119-8362
Vol. 20, No. 2, 2016, pp. 424-433
|
Bioline Code: ja16051
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
|
|
Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2016, pp. 424-433
en |
Effects of Temperature and Growing Seasons on Crop Water Requirement: Implications on Water Savings
ABBAS, ABDULLAH & CHOWDHURY, SHAKHAWAT
Abstract
Water savings can be improved through reducing agricultural water
consumption. The crop water requirement (CWR) depends on several factors including
temperature and growing seasons. This study investigated the effects of temperature and
growing seasons on CWR in Saudi Arabia. Increase in temperature by 1°C increased the CWR
by 1.9 - 2.9%, 1.9 – 3.0% and 2.2 – 3.8% for dates, alfalfa and wheat respectively. Total CWR
was estimated to be 8713 million cubic meters in 2011, which showed an increase of 1.8 – 2.9%
for 1°C increase in temperature. CWR for wheat was more sensitive to growing seasons than
dates and alfalfa. Empirical relationship was developed to predict the effects of growing seasons
on CWR for wheat while changes in CWR for dates and alfalfa were not significant. Through
shifting growing seasons and minimizing the effects of temperature for the major crops,
significant amount of groundwater may be saved, which can reduce the production of costly
desalinated water.
Keywords
Water resources; conservation; crop water requirement; temperature; growing seasons; policy
|
|
© Copyright 2016 - Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
|
|