In 2021-23, northern Italy suffered a severe drought due to the absence of rainfall, which strongly affected the pre-alpine lake levels, affecting energy production, agriculture and sustainable river flows. This led to harsh consequences on agriculture, which in the Lombardy region almost completely relied on flooding irrigation methods using water from lakes through Ticino and Adda rivers. As part of the INTERREG Central- Europe project “MAURICE”, which focuses on Integrated Water Resources Management, the winter irrigation practice is proposed as a climate change adaptation strategy.

A cycle of research is under way to investigate sustainable farming practices and business development on emerging farms in the lowveld of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. One of the main limiting factors for intensive agricultural production in this region is water availability. The objectives of this study were: i) to determine the spatial extent of occurrence of shallow groundwater (<20 m deep), in particular along dry river beds; and ii) to determine the sustainability of shallow groundwater abstraction for irrigation on emerging farms.

 Seyler, H; Vahrmeijer, JT; Wiegmans FE

The use of specific-depth sampling technique to demonstrate groundwater quality variation different groundwater units of unconfined aquifers has not been widely published. To demonstrate the feasibility of such technique, the unconfined Cape Flats Aquifer (CFA) in Cape Town of South Africa was studied. The aquifer underlies an urbanised area which is vulnerable to contamination from industrial and agricultural activities, waste disposal sites, landfill sites, and formal and informal settlements.

With increasing population growth and a subsequently increased demand for food production, the agricultural sector has had to grow and develop continuously despite drought-stricken water resources in recent years. The expansion in this sector requires increasingly efficient water use management and increases in water supplies, which are often met through groundwater utilization. In the past several years the use of groundwater in the Western Cape has increased exponentially and thus has forced the sharing of resources.

Estimating pumping rates for the purpose of equipping boreholes with suitable pumps that will not over abstract either the boreholes or the aquifer(s) that are intersected is often assessed through test pumping of the boreholes prior to pump selection.

Precision agriculture continuously seeks improved methods to enhance productivity whether it is for greater crop yields or economic viability regarding labour inputs and satisfying the demand in a shorter time span. Soil moisture is one important factor that drives the agricultural industry and is therefore of utmost importance to manage it correctly. A shortage of water may result in reductions in yield, while excess irrigation water is a waste of water resources and can also have a negative impact on plant growth.