Water in agriculture

Some of the best agricultural lands can be found in the Netherlands due to the abundant water availability and fertile
soil. As modernized water systems are so extensively organized (as polders, ditches, etc.), water availability can be
regulated very precisely. In winter the water levels are usually quite high, while in spring the water levels can be
lowered to make tillage possible. In the case of a dry summer extra water can be allowed in the ditches from the river.
In the lower parts of the Netherlands water levels are sometimes dammed up to overcome dry periods. In the higher
parts of the Netherlands, water is sometimes pumped from ditches and used with sprinkling systems. Since water
from rainfall and groundwater is normally enough, hardly any supplemental water is needed to cultivate crops.

This abundance of water however, is a rare phenomenon worldwide. In most areas supplemental water is used in
agriculture and this is called irrigation. Irrigation is the movement of water, by people, to plants, and to vary crops and
crop productivity. The importance of irrigation can be clearly seen in the following figures: irrigation makes up 20% of
the total arable area in developing countries, but produces 40% of all crops. In general the yield of most crops can be
increased 100-400% with the help of irrigation.

Other mind-boggling figures:

Irrigation supports the production of:

 30% of all food crops (grains, pulses, root crops, oilseeds, fruit, vegetables, narcotics, beverages, medical
supplies…)

 45% of all food grains (rice, wheat, maize, sorghum)

 55% of rice and wheat (soon 65%)

Although the Dutch don’t irrigate that much in their own country, several Dutch NGOs have a strong interest in
irrigation. This is perhaps a colonial legacy from the excessive irrigation systems in Indonesia. Examples of Dutch
NGOs working with irrigation are: the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI), whose
stated mission is to facilitate sustainable land and water management in developing countries through applied
research, training, and technical support; and SNV, a Dutch organization that finances development projects and sends
professionals to work with local NGOs.

How does irrigation work?

As we have seen irrigation is:
…the movement of water -> water has to move from one place to another to accommodate agricultural production.
The water source for irrigation may be a nearby or distant body of liquid or frozen water such as a river, spring, lake,
aquifer, well, or snowpack. Depending on the distance of the source and the seasonality of rainfall, the water may be
channeled directly to the agricultural fields or stored in reservoirs or cisterns for later use. An irrigation system is
usually made up of canals, which require control technologies to ensure that the right amount of water arrives at the
right place at the right time. The methods of delivering water to the land can vary widely.
…by people -> irrigation involves people — usually there farmers, system operators, engineers, decision makers and
managers, all of whom have distinct interests in the distribution of water. The way people are involved in irrigation
shapes their property rights, all of which control access to water sources.
…to plants -> different types of crops require different amounts of water at different intervals.
…to vary crops and crop productivity -> farmers can adjust their cultivation pattern and get higher economic
returns when their water supplies are reliable.
Various types of irrigation are differentiated in the way water is obtained from its source and is distributed throughout
a field and among farmers. In general, the goal is to supply every field uniformly with water so that each plant has the
precise amount of water it needs—no more and no less. A few examples:

 Ditch (furrow) irrigation The plants are grown in somewhat raised beds or listed rows and the water is
distributed throughout the field via unlined ditches, or furrows, between the rows or beds. This is a popular
method because not much extra equipment is needed to irrigate. However it is not the most efficient
method. Depending on heat, wind, and soil permeability, much water may be lost before it can benefit the
crop.

 Terracing Large steps are cut into hillsides to achieve the leveling of land. The leveled sections are used as
garden plots or small fields, most commonly rice fields. As water flows down the hillside it is channeled to
each plot. Terracing is often very labor-intensive, since the fields are small and difficult to access thus
presenting great challenge to mechanizing the work. In addition, the step walls need constant maintenance,
especially in rainy climates to prevent landslides. However, terracing does allow steep mountainsides to be
used to raise crops.

 Overhead (sprinkler) irrigation With overhead irrigation, water is piped to one or more centralized
locations within the field and is distributed by high-pressure sprinklers, guns, or lower-pressure sprays
overhead. This type of system mounted overhead on permanently installed risers is often referred to as a
solid-set irrigation system. A drawback of overhead irrigation is that much water can be lost because of high
winds or evaporation, and irrigating the field uniformly can be a problem if the system is not properly
designed. Also, water remaining on the leaves of plants may promote fungal growth and other crop diseases.
 Center pivot irrigation This is a form of overhead irrigation consisting of several segments of pipe joined
together and supported by trusses, mounted on wheeled towers with sprinklers positioned along its length.
The system moves in a circular pattern and is fed with water from the pivot point at the center of the arc.
These systems are common in parts of the United States where terrain is flat. Center pivot equipment can
also be configured to move in a straight line, where the water is pulled from a central ditch. In this case, the
system is called a linear move irrigation system.

 Drip, or trickle, irrigation Drip irrigation is delivered at or near the root zone of plants, drop by drop. This
type of system can be the most water-efficient method of irrigation if managed properly, since evaporation
and runoff are minimized. Drip irrigation methods range from very high-tech and computerized to low-tech
and relatively labor-intensive systems.

 Sub-irrigation In sub-irrigation systems, water is delivered from below, absorbed upwards, and the excess
is collected for recycling. This method is most often used in commercial greenhouse production, usually with
potted plants. Sub-irrigation requires fairly sophisticated, expensive equipment and management.
Advantages of sub-irrigation include the conservation of water and nutrients; and even more importantly,
because it is automated and requires less system maintenance, it involves less labor. It is similar in principle
and operation to subsurface drip irrigation.
An integrated approach
Reducing the impact of water stress in the agrifood sector most of the time starts with sensible management of
water flows focusing on a river's entire catchment area. But sustainable water management is not only a case
of using the available water more efficiently. Working on sustainable solutions for Water & Agrifood means
ensuring a coherent, mutually balanced combination of suitable soil, not too much and not too little water and
the amount of nutrients actually required by the soil. New and easy accessible technologies can improve water
use efficiency and at the same time increase yields. Innovative solutions, such as direct crop monitoring and
geo-information, will give farmers better insight in their water resources. Measuring soil quality and moisture
levels will enable farmers to take the right measures when it comes to irrigation and appropriate fertilization.
Difficult environmental conditions also demand new crop varieties that are resistant to drought and salinity.

Combining techniques and information on soil fertility, soil moisture, water buffering capacity and irrigation is
what we Dutch call an integrated approach on Water & Agrifood. Innovative information technologies can play a
crucial role.

Our integrated approach means not being satisfied with part-solutions to part-problems but always looking
beyond the boundaries of one's own discipline. And improving existing solutions because we can always do
things better. In our portfolio on Water & Agrifood we are demonstrating solutions with a broader perspective
than water alone; soil quality, nutrient balance, salinity, yield quality and quantity, crop variety and smart
information solutions play an equally important role. Let us inspire you to join us in our efforts.

World wide partner for Water & Agrifood

Due to its fertile soil and smart solutions, The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of agri-food products
in the world, after the United States. Living below sea level made us experts in dealing with water related
challenges and made us an innovative world wide partner for water.

In the Dutch Water & AgriFood Platform the strengths of both the water an agrifood sectors are combined. The
platform gathers the expertise of the business community, knowledge institutes, and public partners, as the
basis for identifying complete and practical solutions for farmers to use in their day-to-day routine. Dutch
companies and organisations are always keen to bring together available expertise to create strong goal-
oriented partnerships, working together with local partners to bring about effective and sustainable solutions to
today's issues and to those of the future