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More ‘crop per drop’: constraints and opportunities for precision irrigation in European agriculture
Author(s) -
Monaghan James M,
Daccache Andre,
Vickers Laura H,
Hess Tim M,
Weatherhead E Keith,
Grove Ivan G,
Knox Jerry W
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.6051
Subject(s) - irrigation , agriculture , environmental science , precision agriculture , agricultural engineering , drop (telecommunication) , crop , irrigation management , climate change , agroforestry , water resource management , agronomy , engineering , geography , biology , ecology , telecommunications , archaeology
Dwindling water supplies, increasing drought frequency and uncertainties associated with a changing climate mean Europe's irrigated agriculture sector needs to improve water efficiency and produce more 'crop per drop'. This paper summarizes the drivers for change, and the constraints and opportunities for improving agricultural water management through uptake of precision irrigation technologies. A multi‐disciplinary and integrated approach involving irrigation engineers, soil scientists, agronomists and plant physiologists will be needed if the potential for precision irrigation within the field crop sector is to be realized. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry