Integrating rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation for water use efficiency improvements in apple orchards of northwest China

WenTai, Zhang; Sheng, Jiandong; Zheng, Li; Weindorf, David C.; Hu, Guiqing; Xuan, Junwei; Zhao, Hongmei

doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109728

Cited by 21 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Many studies recognize the importance of careful consideration of ecosystem services in urban planning, but they are limited in the details provided for how to expand UA to address urban food insecurity without affecting urban water resources. In our findings, a limited number of studies show that sustainable urban agriculture can be designed to both provide provisional ecosystem services, such as food supply, and regulate water supply and urban stream water quality [23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Enhancement Of Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…In addition, converting impervious areas to urban gardens reduces surface runoff and flooding [2]. Finally, rainwater harvesting can be used to supplement urban irrigation water demand [24][25][26]. Due to this ecological benefit, urban agriculture is expanding and is considered to be a form of green infrastructure [27,28].…”

Section: Urban Agriculture In a Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Australia, rainwater harvesting can satisfy up to 100% of toilet flushing and laundry use [60] and 97% of drinking water demands [61]. In China, the integration of rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation can increase apple fruit production by 54% [25]. In the State of Florida, rainwater harvesting can reduce flooding by 20% [26].…”

Section: Stormwater Management In a Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrating Urban Agriculture and Stormwater Management in a Circular Economy to Enhance Ecosystem Services: Connecting the Dots

et al. 2021

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Due to the rapid urbanization in the context of the conventional linear economy, the vulnerability of the urban ecosystem to climate change has increased. As a result, connecting urban ecosystem services of different urban land uses is imperative for urban sustainability and resilience. In conventional land use planning, urban agriculture (UA) and urban stormwater management are treated as separate economic sectors with different-disconnected-ecosystem services. Furthermore, few studies have synthesized knowledge regarding the potential impacts of integration of UA and stormwater green infrastructures (GIs) on the quantity and quality of urban ecosystem services of both economic sectors. This study provides a detailed analysis of the imperative question—how should a city integrate the developments of both urban agriculture and stormwater green infrastructure to overcome barriers while enhancing the ecosystem services? To answer this question, we conducted an extensive literature review. The results show that integrating UA with GIs can enhance urban food production while protecting urban water quality. This paper provides an initial context and mechanisms for future researchers and city planners regarding the manner in which the synergies between UA and stormwater GIs can create greater value for the wellbeing of urban ecosystems and resilience in the circular economy.

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Section: Enhancement Of Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Urban Agriculture In a Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stormwater Management In a Circular Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrating Urban Agriculture and Stormwater Management in a Circular Economy to Enhance Ecosystem Services: Connecting the Dots

et al. 2021

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“…Reasonable regulation of soil water and nutrients will increase apple yield, improve apple quality, and obtain maximum benefits for a limited amount of water and fertilizer input. Water shortage is a disadvantage in the Loess Plateau when it comes to developing the apple industry; thus, scholars have proposed water collection and irrigation techniques, such as sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, and root irrigation to replenish the lack of water in the main stages of apple growth (bud burst to leafing, flowering to fruit set, and fruit growth) [12,15,16]. However, most of the research overlooks the impact of relative elevation on apples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Relative Elevation on Soil Nutrients and Apple Quality in the Hilly-Gully Region of the Loess Plateau, China

et al. 2021

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Relative elevation, as one of the decisive factors to the redistribution of soil water, nutrients, sunshine, and temperature in a region influences apple yield and quality by adjusting soil water and nutrients. To explore the impact of relative elevation on apple quality, this research investigated the conditions of soil moisture and nutrients at different elevations of terrace apple orchards in the hilly-gully region of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that soil water content decreases when the elevation increased, whereas soil nutrients fluctuated significantly at different elevations of terrace orchards and the contents were lower than the standard level of the Loess Plateau, especially soil organic matter, but total potassium was higher. The apple firmness increased when the elevation increased and had a good linear relationship with elevation. Apple vitamin C content in weed-covered orchards was higher than in the ploughing and weeding management orchards. The impact of soil nutrients, including soil water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on apple quality were concentrated in soluble solid and total acid. Irrational irrigation or partial use of nutrients, such as more use of nitrogen and less use of phosphorus and potassium, may deteriorate the apple quality. Therefore, we suggested that the amount of irrigation be increased appropriately with the raising of elevation. Moreover, part of the weed should be kept to cover the orchard, as well as mowing regularly and covering the surface. This would not only improve water use efficiency and increase soil organic matter content, it would also maintain apple quality and ensure sustainable development of the apple orchards.

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“…In this regard, localized irrigation techniques (such as furrow, spray, and drip irrigation) have become increasingly popular methods to save water in intensive orchards because they more efficiently reduce deep percolation and evaporation [18]. Previous studies have demonstrated that drip irrigation systems can improve water use efficiencies by 17.2% in apple orchards and 17.6-24.6% in pear orchards of the Loess Plateau, respectively [19,20]. Although water-saving irrigation technologies could increase water use efficiency and yields, the water consumption and environmental costs during the material construction process for irrigation systems cannot be overlooked [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Assessment of Furrow vs. Drip Irrigated Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) Production Systems in Loess Plateau (China)

et al. 2021

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Irrigation systems increase fruit yield of water shortage orchards in semiarid and arid lands, but their environmental impacts remain unclear. This study carries out a comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of the furrow and drip irrigated pear production systems in the Loess Plateau of China based on 2009–2018 inventory data from integrated experimental stations. The water depletion (WD), water footprint (WF), global warming (GWP), acidification (AP), and eutrophication (EP) potentials of the furrow and drip irrigated pear production systems were calculated and compared, including the orchard installation phase (phase I), primary growing phase (phase II), low production phase (phase III), and full production phase (phase IV). Results indicated that the cumulative WD, GWP, AP, and EP of the drip irrigated system were 148.3 m3, 130.1 kg CO2-eq, 0.9 kg SO2-eq, and 0.6 kg PO4-eq per ton of pear fruit harvest, respectively, which were 37.3–73.5% lower than those of the furrow irrigated system. The GWP, AP, EP, and WD of phase I to III contributed 39.3–46.1% in the drip irrigated system vs. 27.8–38.6% in the furrow irrigated system of the total amount, which should not be neglected in perennial orchard systems. The annual WFs were 0.9, 0.2, and 0.2 m3 kg−1 year−1 in phases II, III, and IV of the drip system, respectively, which were 50–71.4% lower than that of the furrow system. Green WF of furrow and drip irrigated systems were approximately the same, but the blue WF and grey WF of drip irrigation systems were 35.7–62.1% and 66.0–73.2% lower than those of the furrow irrigated system. The drip irrigated pear production system significantly mitigated environmental impacts and WFs, mainly due to reduced fertilizer application, water consumption, electricity, and diesel demand. Irrigation that changed from a furrow to a drip system was responsible for most environmental reductions, but 8% decreases of yields in phase IV. The outcomes from assessing the furrow and drip irrigated pear production systems could provide useful information for decision-making by the pear orchardists in the Loess Plateau.

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Integrating rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation for water use efficiency improvements in apple orchards of northwest China

Cited by 21 publications

References 13 publications

Integrating Urban Agriculture and Stormwater Management in a Circular Economy to Enhance Ecosystem Services: Connecting the Dots

Integrating Urban Agriculture and Stormwater Management in a Circular Economy to Enhance Ecosystem Services: Connecting the Dots

Impacts of Relative Elevation on Soil Nutrients and Apple Quality in the Hilly-Gully Region of the Loess Plateau, China

Environmental Assessment of Furrow vs. Drip Irrigated Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) Production Systems in Loess Plateau (China)

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