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25 - Water reuse for irrigated agriculture in Jordan: soil sustainability, perceptions and management

from Part VI - Society, economy and water today

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2011

By
Gemma Carr
Edited by
Steven Mithen  and
Emily Black
Gemma Carr
Affiliation:
Vienna University of Technology
Steven Mithen
Affiliation:
University of Reading
Emily Black
Affiliation:
University of Reading
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Treated domestic wastewater offers a valuable contribution to Jordan's water balance. Water reuse is particularly well-suited to irrigated agriculture, for which water is in constant demand. The Jordanian reclaimed water generally has a high concentration of both plant-beneficial ions (nutrients) and potentially plant-toxic ions. Suitable soil management strategies such as periodic leaching and nutrient management are therefore required to maintain productivity. In this research the effect of water reuse on soil sustainability has been investigated by means of soil analysis combined with interviews with farmers and organisations working with reclaimed water. The soil analysis results suggest that irrigation does lead to the accumulation of plant-toxic solutes, but soil analysis from farms which have been irrigated with reclaimed water for several decades reveals that solute accumulations have been avoided through water management strategies on the farm. Interviews with farmers have shown that on-farm water management is influenced by a range of factors, which include the decisions taken by organisations with regards to water allocation and management. Interviews with organisations have shown that the priorities of decision-makers are often different from those of farmers and that they have a limited awareness of the challenges faced by farmers. Maintaining soil sustainability is imperative and can be achievable through water management both on and off the farm.

Type
Chapter
Information
Water, Life and Civilisation
Climate, Environment and Society in the Jordan Valley
 , pp. 415 - 428
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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