The effect of climate change on the sustainability of irrigated agricultural systems w ill be different from area to area depending from some factors as: (i) w ater availability, (ii) crop w ater demand (iii) soil hydrological behavior and (iv) irrigation management strategy. The adaptation of irrigated crop systems to future climate change can be evaluated by means of physically based model w hich simulate the soil-w ater-plant and atmosphere system. In the irrigated areas, the irrigation strategy determines w hether and how climate signal is observed. When w ater availability is not limited, and crop w ater requirements can be fully met by irrigation, the influence of a (moderately) w armer and drier climate on production can be offset by irrigation. Therefore climate signal translates into higher w ater consumption. The interaction betw een climate change, soil spatial variability, irrigation strategies and crop responses to w ater availability (maize, fennel) at local scale w as examined in the present w ork. Simulation studies w ere performed in an area of 183 ha of Sele plain (Southern Italy), characterized by an high soil spatial variability (17 representative soils w as described), by means of agrohydrological model CropSyst (crop grow th, w ater and nitrate soil balance w ere calibrated and validated). Tw o scenarios were considered, current climate (1961-1990) and future climate (2021-2050), the latter from a statistical dow nscaling technique applied to GCMs. Different irrigation schedules, optimal (realized by the model) and local irrigation management (fixed irrigation), w ere simulated. Crop production and nitrogen leaching determined by different climatic scenarios, soil and irrigation management w ere analyzed.
The future of environmental sustainability in irrigated areas: soil variability and climate change. A Italian case study at local scale
Bonfante A;Basile A;De Mascellis R;Manna P;Orefice N;
2012
Abstract
The effect of climate change on the sustainability of irrigated agricultural systems w ill be different from area to area depending from some factors as: (i) w ater availability, (ii) crop w ater demand (iii) soil hydrological behavior and (iv) irrigation management strategy. The adaptation of irrigated crop systems to future climate change can be evaluated by means of physically based model w hich simulate the soil-w ater-plant and atmosphere system. In the irrigated areas, the irrigation strategy determines w hether and how climate signal is observed. When w ater availability is not limited, and crop w ater requirements can be fully met by irrigation, the influence of a (moderately) w armer and drier climate on production can be offset by irrigation. Therefore climate signal translates into higher w ater consumption. The interaction betw een climate change, soil spatial variability, irrigation strategies and crop responses to w ater availability (maize, fennel) at local scale w as examined in the present w ork. Simulation studies w ere performed in an area of 183 ha of Sele plain (Southern Italy), characterized by an high soil spatial variability (17 representative soils w as described), by means of agrohydrological model CropSyst (crop grow th, w ater and nitrate soil balance w ere calibrated and validated). Tw o scenarios were considered, current climate (1961-1990) and future climate (2021-2050), the latter from a statistical dow nscaling technique applied to GCMs. Different irrigation schedules, optimal (realized by the model) and local irrigation management (fixed irrigation), w ere simulated. Crop production and nitrogen leaching determined by different climatic scenarios, soil and irrigation management w ere analyzed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
