Improving water use in crop production

Morison, J I L and Baker, N R and Mullineaux, P M and Davies, W J (2008) Improving water use in crop production. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363 (1491). pp. 639-658. ISSN 0962-8436

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Abstract

Globally, agriculture accounts for 80-90% of all freshwater used by humans, and most of that is in crop production. In many areas, this water use is unsustainable; water supplies are also under pressure from other users and are being affected by climate change. Much effort is being made to reduce water use by crops and produce 'more crop per drop'. This paper examines water use by crops, taking particularly a physiological viewpoint, examining the underlying relationships between carbon uptake, growth and water loss. Key examples of recent progress in both assessing and improving crop water productivity are described. It is clear that improvements in both agronomic and physiological understanding have led to recent increases in water productivity in some crops. We believe that there is substantial potential for further improvements owing to the progress in understanding the physiological responses of plants to water supply, and there is considerable promise within the latest molecular genetic approaches, if linked to the appropriate environmental physiology. We conclude that the interactions between plant and environment require a team approach looking across the disciplines from genes to plants to crops in their particular environments to deliver improved water productivity and contribute to sustainability.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/ge
Subjects:
?? WATER CROP PRODUCTIVITY WATER USE EFFICIENCY IRRIGATION CROP PHYSIOLOGY DROUGHTSUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREAGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES(ALL)BIOCHEMISTRY, GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY(ALL)GE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ??
ID Code:
55717
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
12 Jul 2012 14:29
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Sep 2023 04:03