Good agricultural practices: Efficient use of irrigation water
Water can be considered as the natural resource most important. It is the most abundant liquid on Earth and represents a fundamental and irreplaceable element not only as basis of all life, but also for the normal operation from many sectors, including farming.
Water can be considered as a renewable resource when carefully controlled its use, treatment, release and circulation. However, water is a scarce and vulnerable resource. Protecting them involves encouraging savings and limiting and, subsequently, eliminating irrational uses. For example, the bad habit of confusing the toilet with the trash can leads to unnecessary water use, causing some waste to end up directly in waterways.
El water use in agriculture It must therefore be done in the most Racional possible. The conversion of flood irrigation systems into more efficient systems such as drip irrigation, or good irrigation system design by sprinkling, when dripping is not possible, are essential measures to ensure the sustainability and efficient use of water in agriculture.
Last year, Cultifort joined the initiative to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). “Ensure the availability and sustainable management of water, as well as sanitation for all” It is the sixth of the seventeen SDGs established by the United Nations. Related to this objective, at Cultifort we want to make a short and simple recommendation to improve “Water Use Efficiency” based on 3 key aspects for good irrigation:
1. Water at the right times.
Watering should preferably be done early or late in the day, since during the middle of the day or during peak solar radiation, some water is lost through evaporation when it comes into contact with the warm substrate. By watering during the coolest hours of the day, we ensure that the roots receive and assimilate most of the water we use.
2. Regulate the frequency of irrigation.
Watering should be regular and gradual so that water infiltrates slowly and is retained as much as possible. If the soil surface were to dry out between waterings, it would become somewhat "impermeable," which would prevent water from infiltrating properly when watered, increasing surface runoff.
3. Let the water rest.
Unretained chlorinated water can negatively affect beneficial soil microorganisms and may also contain suspended solids that can clog some irrigation system components. If adequate filters are unavailable, a good management alternative would be to store the water in drums, tanks, or ponds for at least 24 hours before using it for irrigation. With this technique, some or all of the chlorine in the water will evaporate, and the larger suspended solids will settle out, thus avoiding the negative effects of water on soil microbiota and helping to maintain the irrigation system.
Furthermore, Cultifort nutritional solutions optimize water consumption, thus reducing its consumption while providing what the plant needs.
