This paper expounds the great significance of irrigation and water conservancy for the agricultural development. Vigorously developing irrigation and water conservancy can promote high yield and stable yield of grain,...This paper expounds the great significance of irrigation and water conservancy for the agricultural development. Vigorously developing irrigation and water conservancy can promote high yield and stable yield of grain, effectively increase farmers' income, alleviate the impact of drought on agricultural production, be conducive to the adjustment of agricultural production structure, and promote county economic development. The difficulties of developing irrigation and water conservancy in new era are analyzed as follows: the subject of liabilities defaults seriously; it lacks effective input security system; the quality of project degenerates badly; the agricultural technological development is slow. Corresponding policy suggestions are put forward as follows: make the input subject of irrigation and water conservancy clear; form stable investment channels; strengthen the organizing and guiding functions of grass-roots government; reinforce the coordination and management of capital; strengthen the promotion of agricultural technology; quicken the pace of reform of irrigation and water conservancy.展开更多
Saudi Arabia has achieved extensive development and expansion in agriculture sector and achieved self sufficiency in a number of agricultural crops including wheat, fodders, dates, some vegetables and fruits. Consider...Saudi Arabia has achieved extensive development and expansion in agriculture sector and achieved self sufficiency in a number of agricultural crops including wheat, fodders, dates, some vegetables and fruits. Considering the future growing need for food and water, government of Saudi Arabia has formulated and implemented a number of policy reforms for conservation, optimal utilization and sustainable development of natural resources of the Kingdom. The present study focuses on potential future impacts on natural resources conservations and strategic planning due to recent policy reforms （Council of Ministers （CoM） on Water Resources Management and Conservation （Decision No. 335）） issued on September 2008. The modeling of wheat agriculture was performed based on detailed analysis of water application practices in wheat growing regions/districts and future projection of wheat irrigation in context of recent government water resources conservation strategy. The results clearly indicated a significant positive impact will be occurred in terms of huge relief on highly stressed and limited national strategic groundwater resources. The present study estimated a saving and conservation of more than 51.0 billion cubic meters （BCM） of non-renewable groundwater resources during next 11 years.展开更多
The continued decline in the availability of water from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas Panhandle has led to an increased interest in conservation policies designed to extend the life of the aquifer and sustain rura...The continued decline in the availability of water from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas Panhandle has led to an increased interest in conservation policies designed to extend the life of the aquifer and sustain rural economies. Four counties were chosen for evaluation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of five policies in terms of changes in the saturated thickness, crop mix, water use per acre, and the net present value of farm profits over a 60-year planning horizon. The dynamic optimization models were developed using GAMS for the baseline as well as one for all five of the policy alternatives for each county. Results indicate that the policy scenarios of biotechnology adoption and a water use restriction will conserve the most water among the policies analyzed. In terms of economic returns, the biotechnology adoption policy by far provides the greatest benefit to producers due to yield increases that are estimated with current annual growth rates in new seed varieties. The water use restriction policy, on the other hand, has the lowest net present value of returns, indicating that conservation is accompanied with significant costs to producers. The irrigation adoption technology scenario is the next best policy in terms of net present value of returns (following biotechnology);however, it ranks last in terms of reducing aquifer depletion. It is important to note that while the models do not perfectly predict the factors being evaluated, it is the basis for comparison between the policy scenarios which are important. These comparisons will aid policy makers in determining the most effective strategy to conserve water while simultaneously considering the economic costs to producers. In addition, the results of this study can be applied to other areas facing similar conditions, either currently or in the future, throughout the Texas Panhandle.展开更多
Yuma County is the top crop producing County in Colorado that is dependent on groundwater supplies from the High Plains aquifer for irrigation. The Arikaree River, a tributary of the Republican River in eastern Colora...Yuma County is the top crop producing County in Colorado that is dependent on groundwater supplies from the High Plains aquifer for irrigation. The Arikaree River, a tributary of the Republican River in eastern Colorado, is supplied with water from the High Plains aquifer. The Arikaree River alluvium is also a habitat for many terrestrial invertebrates and the threatened Hybognathus hankinsoni (Brassy Minnow). The constant demand on the High Plains aquifer has created declining water levels at the linear rate of 0.183 m/year with the deepest pool in the Arikaree River drying up in 8 to 12 years. In addition to the demands for habitats, the surrounding irrigated agricultural lands require water for crop production. These challenges are currently confronting farmers in eastern Colorado and this research presents possible alternatives to meet these demands. This research presents a combination water balance model, water conservation model, and water conservation survey results from farmers in eastern Colorado to identify alternatives to extend the life of the Arikaree River. The first alternative was to examine the reduction in irrigation water from removing the 18 alluvial irrigation wells that could extend the Arikaree River pools from drying up for 30 years. The other scenario found that water conservation practices with participation of 43%, 57%, and 62% of farmers would extend the drying time to 20, 30, and 40 years, respectively. The final alternative studied was the required participation in conservation practices to stop the decline of the High Plains Aquifer. The analysis found that 77% participation of farmers in all conservation alternatives or reducing pumping by 62.9% would be necessary to stabilize the High Plains Aquifer.展开更多
文摘This paper expounds the great significance of irrigation and water conservancy for the agricultural development. Vigorously developing irrigation and water conservancy can promote high yield and stable yield of grain, effectively increase farmers' income, alleviate the impact of drought on agricultural production, be conducive to the adjustment of agricultural production structure, and promote county economic development. The difficulties of developing irrigation and water conservancy in new era are analyzed as follows: the subject of liabilities defaults seriously; it lacks effective input security system; the quality of project degenerates badly; the agricultural technological development is slow. Corresponding policy suggestions are put forward as follows: make the input subject of irrigation and water conservancy clear; form stable investment channels; strengthen the organizing and guiding functions of grass-roots government; reinforce the coordination and management of capital; strengthen the promotion of agricultural technology; quicken the pace of reform of irrigation and water conservancy.
文摘Saudi Arabia has achieved extensive development and expansion in agriculture sector and achieved self sufficiency in a number of agricultural crops including wheat, fodders, dates, some vegetables and fruits. Considering the future growing need for food and water, government of Saudi Arabia has formulated and implemented a number of policy reforms for conservation, optimal utilization and sustainable development of natural resources of the Kingdom. The present study focuses on potential future impacts on natural resources conservations and strategic planning due to recent policy reforms （Council of Ministers （CoM） on Water Resources Management and Conservation （Decision No. 335）） issued on September 2008. The modeling of wheat agriculture was performed based on detailed analysis of water application practices in wheat growing regions/districts and future projection of wheat irrigation in context of recent government water resources conservation strategy. The results clearly indicated a significant positive impact will be occurred in terms of huge relief on highly stressed and limited national strategic groundwater resources. The present study estimated a saving and conservation of more than 51.0 billion cubic meters （BCM） of non-renewable groundwater resources during next 11 years.
文摘The continued decline in the availability of water from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas Panhandle has led to an increased interest in conservation policies designed to extend the life of the aquifer and sustain rural economies. Four counties were chosen for evaluation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of five policies in terms of changes in the saturated thickness, crop mix, water use per acre, and the net present value of farm profits over a 60-year planning horizon. The dynamic optimization models were developed using GAMS for the baseline as well as one for all five of the policy alternatives for each county. Results indicate that the policy scenarios of biotechnology adoption and a water use restriction will conserve the most water among the policies analyzed. In terms of economic returns, the biotechnology adoption policy by far provides the greatest benefit to producers due to yield increases that are estimated with current annual growth rates in new seed varieties. The water use restriction policy, on the other hand, has the lowest net present value of returns, indicating that conservation is accompanied with significant costs to producers. The irrigation adoption technology scenario is the next best policy in terms of net present value of returns (following biotechnology);however, it ranks last in terms of reducing aquifer depletion. It is important to note that while the models do not perfectly predict the factors being evaluated, it is the basis for comparison between the policy scenarios which are important. These comparisons will aid policy makers in determining the most effective strategy to conserve water while simultaneously considering the economic costs to producers. In addition, the results of this study can be applied to other areas facing similar conditions, either currently or in the future, throughout the Texas Panhandle.
文摘Yuma County is the top crop producing County in Colorado that is dependent on groundwater supplies from the High Plains aquifer for irrigation. The Arikaree River, a tributary of the Republican River in eastern Colorado, is supplied with water from the High Plains aquifer. The Arikaree River alluvium is also a habitat for many terrestrial invertebrates and the threatened Hybognathus hankinsoni (Brassy Minnow). The constant demand on the High Plains aquifer has created declining water levels at the linear rate of 0.183 m/year with the deepest pool in the Arikaree River drying up in 8 to 12 years. In addition to the demands for habitats, the surrounding irrigated agricultural lands require water for crop production. These challenges are currently confronting farmers in eastern Colorado and this research presents possible alternatives to meet these demands. This research presents a combination water balance model, water conservation model, and water conservation survey results from farmers in eastern Colorado to identify alternatives to extend the life of the Arikaree River. The first alternative was to examine the reduction in irrigation water from removing the 18 alluvial irrigation wells that could extend the Arikaree River pools from drying up for 30 years. The other scenario found that water conservation practices with participation of 43%, 57%, and 62% of farmers would extend the drying time to 20, 30, and 40 years, respectively. The final alternative studied was the required participation in conservation practices to stop the decline of the High Plains Aquifer. The analysis found that 77% participation of farmers in all conservation alternatives or reducing pumping by 62.9% would be necessary to stabilize the High Plains Aquifer.
