Tensiometers for Rice Water Footprints

Bhatt, Rajan

doi:10.9734/cjast/2020/v39i3030966

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(61 reference statements)

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“…Irrigation scheduling in rice based on soil matric potential (SMP) using a tensiometer has been reported as an effective technique (Kukal et al 2005a ; Bhatt 2020a ; Bhatt et al 2020 ). Tensiometer-guided irrigation scheduling leads to a considerable reduction of irrigation water with almost comparable or even increased yields than traditional flood irrigation (Bhatt 2020b ; Bhatt et al 2020 ). Irrigation scheduling of rice as guided by tensiometer helped decrease water consumption by 538,179 L acre −1 and electricity consumption by 101 kWh acre −1 in the Indian Punjab (Vitta et al 2014 ; Table 3 ).…”

Section: Smart Technologies To Address Challenges In the Rice–wheat Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Rice–wheat system in the northwest Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia: issues and technological interventions for increasing productivity and sustainability

Bhatt

Singh

Hossain

et al. 2021

Paddy Water Environ

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122

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Puddled transplanted rice ( Oryza sativa L.) followed by intensively tilled wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) (R–W) is the most predominant cropping system and the lifeline for billions of people in South Asia. The cultivation of R–W system requires high amounts of water, nutrients and energy, resulting in increased production costs and increased emissions of greenhouse gases. There are also increasing concerns of yield stagnation or decline in the R–W system, with increasing environmental footprints. Hence, the sustainability of the R–W system in South Asia, particularly in the northwest Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGPs), has been questioned and heavily debated. Based on the findings from peer-reviewed literature, this review aims to identify unsustainability issues and research gaps in the R–W system and propose possible solutions to mitigate those issues and technological interventions to close the research gaps. Among the unsustainability issues that the review has identified are declining crop, water and land productivity, deterioration of soil health, emissions of greenhouse gases due to intensive tillage and residue burning, deepening of groundwater levels and shift in weed flora and development of herbicidal resistance in crops. Potential solutions or technological interventions to mitigate the unsustainability issues include resource conservation technologies (RCTs) such as rice residue management, reduced tillage, laser land leveling, soil matric potential based irrigation scheduling, delayed rice transplanting, cultivation on permanent raised beds, direct-seeded rice (DSR), mechanical transplanting of rice and crop diversification with legumes. These interventions have the potential to reduce energy, water and carbon (C) footprints from the R–W system. Rice residue retention with Happy Seeder and adoption of zero tillage (ZT) for wheat establishment have significantly lowered the environmental footprints, with increased soil C sequestration due to additions of large amounts of plant-mediated C input. Residue mulching has helped increase root length of wheat by ~25% and root length density by ~40% below 15 cm depth, compared to no mulching. The Happy Seeder saved ~30% of irrigation water due to reduction of soil evaporation by ~42–48 mm through residue mulching. Crop cultivation on permanent raised beds is less energy-intensive and results in ~7.8–22.7% higher water use efficiency yet crop productivity in long run could be affected due to reduced root growth on beds. The puddled transplanted rice (PTR) established under wet tillage, however, can decrease the water percolation losses by 14–16% and crop water demand by ~10–25%, and it forms hard pan in soil plough (7–10 cm) layer due to increased soil bulk density. Water stagnation under continuously flooded PTR is the major source of methane emissions with serious environmental implications. Methane emissions from flooded rice can increase global warming potential by 18.1–27.6% compared to intermittently flooded ...

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Section: Smart Technologies To Address Challenges In the Rice–wheat Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Rice–wheat system in the northwest Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia: issues and technological interventions for increasing productivity and sustainability

Bhatt

Singh

Hossain

et al. 2021

Paddy Water Environ

Self Cite

122

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Tensiometers were recommended by Bhatt [22] as a means of reducing the water footprint of rice. Rice uses more water than cereals in Punjab, 992 billion m3y-1.…”

Section: Use Of Tensiometersmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Drop to Delta: Optimizing Water Footprint for Food Security

Anand,

Kaur,

Kaur

et al. 2024

JSRR

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Due to population growth and decreasing freshwater resources, many countries may face a decline in their ability to be self-sufficient in food production. The issue of freshwater contamination and scarcity needs to be addressed globally because a sizeable majority of the world's population lives in areas where water scarcity occurs for at least one month every year. The world economy plays a role in localized water contamination and depletion, especially as water is increasingly used for exporting goods. The idea of water footprints is a practical way to gauge how much water is needed to produce goods and services and to promote sustainability in industrial and food production. The use of water for various reasons can result in the appropriation of valuable data that can be used to examine the environmental, social, and economic effects and advance conversations about fair and sustainable water use. The idea of a water footprint ultimately aims to encourage wise and effective water use.

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