Climate-Smart Water Management: Strategies for a Changing Environment

This textbook focuses on the scientific and practical aspects of water management under changing climatic conditions. It covers:Basics of irrigation – importance, history, sources of water (rainfall, reservoirs, tanks, groundwater), and key terminologies like field capacity, wilting point, and irrigation efficiency.Soil-water relations – how soil texture, structure, and porosity influence water retention, movement, and availability to crops.Measurement and dynamics – methods to measure soil moisture, infiltration, permeability, evapotranspiration, and factors affecting them.Irrigation scheduling and techniques – criteria for when and how to irrigate using methods such as check basin, furrow, ring basin, and border strip systems.Drainage and efficiency – types of surface and subsurface drainage systems, their design, advantages, and suitability for different soils.Water use efficiency (WUE) – how climatic, genetic, and management factors affect crop water productivity, and strategies to enhance irrigation efficiency at the farm and project level.OverallIt promotes climate-smart, sustainable, and efficient irrigation practices to ensure food security and water conservation.