Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain
Drip irrigation is widely promoted in Spain to increase agricultural production and to save water. In the Cànyoles watershed, Valencia, we analysed the consequences of change from surface irrigation to drip irrigation over the past 25 years. There were a number of transformations resulting from, or...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Water Alternatives Association
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Water Alternatives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol10/v10issue1/343-a10-1-5/file |
| _version_ | 1830162806836559872 |
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| author | Saioa Sese-Minguez Harm Boesveld Sabina Asins-Velis Saskia van der Kooij Jerry Maroulis |
| author_facet | Saioa Sese-Minguez Harm Boesveld Sabina Asins-Velis Saskia van der Kooij Jerry Maroulis |
| author_sort | Saioa Sese-Minguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drip irrigation is widely promoted in Spain to increase agricultural production and to save water. In the Cànyoles watershed, Valencia, we analysed the consequences of change from surface irrigation to drip irrigation over the past 25 years. There were a number of transformations resulting from, or accelerated by, this change including the 1) intensification of well construction causing a redistribution in access to groundwater, water shortages and a lowering of the groundwater table; 2) expansion of irrigation into former rain-dependent uphill areas resulting in increased water use; 3) shift to higher- value monoculture fruit crops, but with associated higher crop water requirements; 4) increased electrical energy consumption and higher costs due to groundwater pumping; and 5) loss of cultural heritage as wells have replaced traditional surface irrigation infrastructure that originated in the Middle Ages. Consequently, the authors argue that transitioning from surface irrigation to drip irrigation should critically look beyond the obvious short-term benefits that are intended by the introduction of the technology, and consider possible unforeseen side effects, that may have serious long-term impacts on the environment and the community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T15:27:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7ca627be90f42739549f818f9b631be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1965-0175 1965-0175 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T15:27:09Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | Water Alternatives Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Alternatives |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7ca627be90f42739549f818f9b631be2022-12-21T21:43:16ZengWater Alternatives AssociationWater Alternatives1965-01751965-01752017-02-011018199Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, SpainSaioa Sese-Minguez0Harm Boesveld1Sabina Asins-Velis2Saskia van der Kooij3Jerry Maroulis4Wageningen UniversityWageningen UniversityUniversitat de València, Valencia, SpainWageningen UniversityWageningen UniversityDrip irrigation is widely promoted in Spain to increase agricultural production and to save water. In the Cànyoles watershed, Valencia, we analysed the consequences of change from surface irrigation to drip irrigation over the past 25 years. There were a number of transformations resulting from, or accelerated by, this change including the 1) intensification of well construction causing a redistribution in access to groundwater, water shortages and a lowering of the groundwater table; 2) expansion of irrigation into former rain-dependent uphill areas resulting in increased water use; 3) shift to higher- value monoculture fruit crops, but with associated higher crop water requirements; 4) increased electrical energy consumption and higher costs due to groundwater pumping; and 5) loss of cultural heritage as wells have replaced traditional surface irrigation infrastructure that originated in the Middle Ages. Consequently, the authors argue that transitioning from surface irrigation to drip irrigation should critically look beyond the obvious short-term benefits that are intended by the introduction of the technology, and consider possible unforeseen side effects, that may have serious long-term impacts on the environment and the community.http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol10/v10issue1/343-a10-1-5/fileDrip irrigationwater savingenergy consumptionagricultural land use/expansioncultural heritage lossCànyoles watershedSpain |
| spellingShingle | Saioa Sese-Minguez Harm Boesveld Sabina Asins-Velis Saskia van der Kooij Jerry Maroulis Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain Water Alternatives Drip irrigation water saving energy consumption agricultural land use/expansion cultural heritage loss Cànyoles watershed Spain |
| title | Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain |
| title_full | Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain |
| title_short | Transformations Accompanying a Shift from Surface to Drip Irrigation in the Cànyoles Watershed, Valencia, Spain |
| title_sort | transformations accompanying a shift from surface to drip irrigation in the canyoles watershed valencia spain |
| topic | Drip irrigation water saving energy consumption agricultural land use/expansion cultural heritage loss Cànyoles watershed Spain |
| url | http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol10/v10issue1/343-a10-1-5/file |
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