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Evaluation of Different Irrigation Treatments with Saline Water in a Future Climate in Tunisia

Selim, Tarek ; Karlsson, Linus ; Bouksila, Fethi LU ; Ben Slimane, Abir and Persson, Magnus LU (2019) In Irrigation and Drainage 68(2). p.281-296
Abstract

Water scarcity and salinization of arable land in Tunisia are forcing the largest water user, the irrigation sector, to modernize and increase its efficiency. This study evaluated the impact of deficit irrigation with saline water in a sandy loam soil cultivated with potatoes in northern Tunisia. The evaluation considered soil salinization and irrigation water productivity in a changing climate by feeding a calibrated model in HYDRUS-2D/3D with season-long weather scenarios from one current and two future climate periods. Future weather scenarios were produced by statistically downscaling results from a regional climate model run with two greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). Results showed an increase in salt... (More)

Water scarcity and salinization of arable land in Tunisia are forcing the largest water user, the irrigation sector, to modernize and increase its efficiency. This study evaluated the impact of deficit irrigation with saline water in a sandy loam soil cultivated with potatoes in northern Tunisia. The evaluation considered soil salinization and irrigation water productivity in a changing climate by feeding a calibrated model in HYDRUS-2D/3D with season-long weather scenarios from one current and two future climate periods. Future weather scenarios were produced by statistically downscaling results from a regional climate model run with two greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). Results showed an increase in salt accumulation over the growing season and a potential decrease in crop yield for RCP8.5. RCP2.6 did not, however, result in any significant changes in salt accumulation or crop yield. Even with saline irrigation water, the use of drip technology resulted in a general leaching of salts from the root zone. This was slightly less apparent during deficit irrigation. However, irrigation water productivity was still higher during deficit irrigation than during full irrigation. Deficit irrigation could thus be profitable but long-term effects should be addressed before making final recommendations.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
climate scenarios, drip irrigation, HYDRUS-2D/3D, irrigation water productivity, regional climate downscaling, soil salinity
in
Irrigation and Drainage
volume
68
issue
2
pages
281 - 296
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85056864759
ISSN
1531-0353
DOI
10.1002/ird.2307
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f3d6fe77-c065-4b0c-9886-bb0e59a835b1
date added to LUP
2018-11-30 08:38:40
date last changed
2022-03-25 06:20:15
@article{f3d6fe77-c065-4b0c-9886-bb0e59a835b1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Water scarcity and salinization of arable land in Tunisia are forcing the largest water user, the irrigation sector, to modernize and increase its efficiency. This study evaluated the impact of deficit irrigation with saline water in a sandy loam soil cultivated with potatoes in northern Tunisia. The evaluation considered soil salinization and irrigation water productivity in a changing climate by feeding a calibrated model in HYDRUS-2D/3D with season-long weather scenarios from one current and two future climate periods. Future weather scenarios were produced by statistically downscaling results from a regional climate model run with two greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). Results showed an increase in salt accumulation over the growing season and a potential decrease in crop yield for RCP8.5. RCP2.6 did not, however, result in any significant changes in salt accumulation or crop yield. Even with saline irrigation water, the use of drip technology resulted in a general leaching of salts from the root zone. This was slightly less apparent during deficit irrigation. However, irrigation water productivity was still higher during deficit irrigation than during full irrigation. Deficit irrigation could thus be profitable but long-term effects should be addressed before making final recommendations.</p>}},
  author       = {{Selim, Tarek and Karlsson, Linus and Bouksila, Fethi and Ben Slimane, Abir and Persson, Magnus}},
  issn         = {{1531-0353}},
  keywords     = {{climate scenarios; drip irrigation; HYDRUS-2D/3D; irrigation water productivity; regional climate downscaling; soil salinity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{281--296}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Irrigation and Drainage}},
  title        = {{Evaluation of Different Irrigation Treatments with Saline Water in a Future Climate in Tunisia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ird.2307}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/ird.2307}},
  volume       = {{68}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}