IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i22p10050-d1523483.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transforming Irrigated Agriculture in Semi-Arid and Dry Subhumid Mediterranean Conditions: A Case of Protected Cucumber Cultivation

Author

Listed:
  • Talal Darwish

    (National Council for Scientific Research, Beirut 11072260, Lebanon)

  • Amin Shaban

    (National Council for Scientific Research, Beirut 11072260, Lebanon)

  • Ghaleb Faour

    (National Council for Scientific Research, Beirut 11072260, Lebanon)

  • Ihab Jomaa

    (Lebanese Agronomic Research Institute, Rayak 901965, Lebanon)

  • Peter Moubarak

    (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy)

  • Roula Khadra

    (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

Pressure from population growth and climate change stress the limited water resources in the Mediterranean region and threaten food security and social stability. Enhancing food production requires the transformation of irrigation systems and enhancement of local capacity for sustainable water and soil management in irrigated agriculture. The aim of this work is the conversion of traditional irrigation practices, by introducing the practice of optimal irrigation scheduling based on local ET estimation and soil moisture monitoring, and the use of continuous feeding by fertigation to enhance both water and nutrient use efficiency. For this, two trials were established between August and November 2023 in two different pedoclimatic zones (Serein and Sultan Yacoub) of the inner Bekaa Plain of Lebanon, characterized by semi-arid and dry subhumid conditions and different soil types. Greenhouse cucumber was tested to compare the prevailing traditional farmers’ practices with the advanced, technology-based, methods of water management. Results showed a significantly higher amount of water applied by the farmers to the protected cucumber, with a potential for average saving of 105 mm of water applied in each season by improved practices. Water input in the traditional practices revealed potential stress to plants. With more than 20% increase in cucumber yield by the transformed practices, a general trend was observed in the fertilization approach and amounts, resulting in lower nutrient recovery in the farmer’s plots. The science-based practices of water and nutrient management showed higher application and agronomic water use efficiency of full fertigation, exceeding 60%, associated with double and triple higher nitrogen use efficiency, compared to those results obtained by the traditional water and fertilizer application methods. The monitored factors can contribute to severe economic and environmental consequences from nutrient buildup or leaching in the soil–groundwater system in the Mediterranean region.

Suggested Citation

  • Talal Darwish & Amin Shaban & Ghaleb Faour & Ihab Jomaa & Peter Moubarak & Roula Khadra, 2024. "Transforming Irrigated Agriculture in Semi-Arid and Dry Subhumid Mediterranean Conditions: A Case of Protected Cucumber Cultivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:10050-:d:1523483
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/10050/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/10050/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wei Xie & Anfeng Zhu & Tariq Ali & Zhengtao Zhang & Xiaoguang Chen & Feng Wu & Jikun Huang & Kyle Frankel Davis, 2023. "Crop switching can enhance environmental sustainability and farmer incomes in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 616(7956), pages 300-305, April.
    2. Darwish, T.M. & Atallah, T.W. & Hajhasan, S. & Haidar, A., 2006. "Nitrogen and water use efficiency of fertigated processing potato," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 85(1-2), pages 95-104, September.
    3. Giovanna Dragonetti & Roula Khadra, 2023. "Assessing Soil Dynamics and Improving Long-Standing Irrigation Management with Treated Wastewater: A Case Study on Citrus Trees in Palestine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Guo, Yanhong & Wang, Zhen & Li, Jiusheng, 2023. "Coupling effects of phosphate fertilizer type and drip fertigation strategy on soil nutrient distribution, maize yield and nutrient uptake," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Lijun & Liu, Jingze & Guo, Fukang & Jing, Song & Chu, Boyu & Qu, Yuncan & Li, Wen & Zhang, Jiyu, 2024. "The impact of drip irrigation and phosphorus fertilizer on enhancing dimorphic seed production of Lespedeza potaninii in Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    2. Xiuju Feng & Yunchen Zheng & Woraphon Yamaka & Jianxu Liu, 2024. "How Does Agricultural Green Transformation Improve Residents’ Health? Empirical Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Badr, M.A. & El-Tohamy, W.A. & Salman, S.R. & Gruda, N., 2022. "Yield and water use relationships of potato under different timing and severity of water stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    4. Xiaolin Yang & Jinran Xiong & Taisheng Du & Xiaotang Ju & Yantai Gan & Sien Li & Longlong Xia & Yanjun Shen & Steven Pacenka & Tammo S. Steenhuis & Kadambot H. M. Siddique & Shaozhong Kang & Klaus But, 2024. "Diversifying crop rotation increases food production, reduces net greenhouse gas emissions and improves soil health," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Kathrin Hasler & Hans-Werner Olfs & Onno Omta & Stefanie Bröring, 2016. "Drivers for the Adoption of Eco-Innovations in the German Fertilizer Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Zeyu Tang & Xiaoyu Zhang & Ruxin Chen & Chaomin Ge & Jianjun Tang & Yanqiang Du & Peikun Jiang & Xiaobo Fang & Huabao Zheng & Cheng Zhang, 2024. "A Comprehensive Assessment of Rice Straw Returning in China Based on Life Cycle Assessment Method: Implications on Soil, Crops, and Environment," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, June.
    7. Ahmadi, Seyed Hamid & Andersen, Mathias N. & Plauborg, Finn & Poulsen, Rolf T. & Jensen, Christian R. & Sepaskhah, Ali Reza & Hansen, Søren, 2010. "Effects of irrigation strategies and soils on field grown potatoes: Yield and water productivity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(11), pages 1923-1930, November.
    8. Ierna, Anita & Pandino, Gaetano & Lombardo, Sara & Mauromicale, Giovanni, 2011. "Tuber yield, water and fertilizer productivity in early potato as affected by a combination of irrigation and fertilization," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 101(1), pages 35-41.
    9. Maria Sabbagh & Luciano Gutierrez, 2022. "Micro-Irrigation Technology Adoption in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon: A Behavioural Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    10. Tang, Jianzhao & Xiao, Dengpan & Wang, Jing & Fang, Quanxiao & Zhang, Jun & Bai, Huizi, 2021. "Optimizing water and nitrogen managements for potato production in the agro-pastoral ecotone in North China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    11. Fandika, Isaac R. & Kemp, Peter D. & Millner, James P. & Horne, David & Roskruge, Nick, 2016. "Irrigation and nitrogen effects on tuber yield and water use efficiency of heritage and modern potato cultivars," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 148-157.
    12. Wang, Haidong & Cheng, Minghui & Zhang, Shaohui & Fan, Junliang & Feng, Hao & Zhang, Fucang & Wang, Xiukang & Sun, Lijun & Xiang, Youzhen, 2021. "Optimization of irrigation amount and fertilization rate of drip-fertigated potato based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation methods," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    13. Ying Pan & Ke Shi & Zhongxu Zhao & Yao Li & Junxi Wu, 2024. "The effects of China’s poverty eradication program on sustainability and inequality," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    14. Yuhan Zhang & Xu Zhang & Wangyue Zhou & Jianfu Li & Zhenlin Weng & Xueping Gao, 2024. "The Impact of and Mechanism behind High-Standard Farmland Construction in Farmland Abandonment: A Moderated Mediating Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Woli, Prem & Hoogenboom, Gerrit & Alva, Ashok, 2016. "Simulation of potato yield, nitrate leaching, and profit margins as influenced by irrigation and nitrogen management in different soils and production regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 120-130.
    16. Cabello, M.J. & Castellanos, M.T. & Romojaro, F. & Martnez-Madrid, C. & Ribas, F., 2009. "Yield and quality of melon grown under different irrigation and nitrogen rates," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(5), pages 866-874, May.
    17. Deshuo Zhang & Qingning Lin & Shiping Mao, 2024. "Addressing Rural Decline: China’s Practices in Rural Transformation and Farmers’ Income Growth," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    18. Sun, Xutong & Lv, Aimin & Chen, Dandan & Zhang, Zili & Wang, Xuming & Zhou, Aicun & Xu, Xiaowei & Shao, Qingsong & Zheng, Ying, 2023. "Exogenous spermidine enhanced the water deficit tolerance of Anoectochilus roxburghii by modulating plant antioxidant enzymes and polyamine metabolism," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    19. Yuzhu Zou & Zhenshan Liu & Yan Chen & Yin Wang & Shijing Feng, 2024. "Crop Rotation and Diversification in China: Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture and Resilience," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-14, August.
    20. Ierna, Anita & Mauromicale, Giovanni, 2012. "Tuber yield and irrigation water productivity in early potatoes as affected by irrigation regime," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 276-284.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:10050-:d:1523483. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.