Alternative Techniques of Irrigation Water Management for Improving Crop Water Productivity

The pressure on water resources is due to different factors that affect agricultural development for food security. Large agricultural lands are not irrigated because of limited water resources and poor irrigation water management. This results in poor crop water productivity. Therefore, this paper focused on finding alternative techniques of irrigation water management to solve the problems of poor irrigation water management for crop water productivity for diverse crop species. Although there are different options for saving and managing irrigation water to improve crop water productivity, deficit irrigation in different mechanisms, drip irrigation, pitcher irrigation and surface mulch were some of the innovative techniques of irrigation water management. Accordingly, stage-wise deficit irrigation was better than deficit irrigation throughout the growing season for improving yield productivity. Considering the furrow irrigation system, alternate furrow irrigation is better to save water and improve crop water productivity than fixed furrow irrigation. On the other hand, drip irrigation is better performed to improve crop water productivity than conventional irrigation systems. Furthermore, pitcher irrigation system and deficit irrigation with mulch had better performance than conventional furrow irrigation to save irrigation water and improve crop water productivity. Therefore, the alternative techniques of irrigation water management to improve crop water productivity are the best option for food security in areas of water scarcity. Particularly, deficit irrigation, alternate irrigation, drip irrigation with mulching and pitcher irrigation are alternatively recommended for implementation in the areas of water scarcity for sustainable development.