Runoff Water Harvesting for Sustaining Agricultural Productivity and Increasing Food Security

Dear Colleagues,

In water-limited environments, soil moisture is the major limiting factor for primary productivity. Many times, irrigation of crops in such environments encompasses a major on-farm agronomic input, with the corresponding high ecological, environmental, and economic impacts. In order to reduce these impacts, and considering the prevailing physical conditions, harvesting of runoff water may provide crops with at least some of the required water for allowing successful yield production. Such a strategy is of particular importance given the increase in human populations around the world, with the associated aggravated water scarcity. Moreover, this challenge is further exacerbated if global climatic change is taken into account, with anticipated long, warmer and dryer episodes in extensive parts of the world. The concept of this Special Issue is, therefore, to demonstrate judicious techniques for water runoff harvesting in agricultural systems. Of particular interest are those techniques that combine old and indigenous knowledge, with innovative and modern practices. It is expected that such systems could operate in an environmentally-friendly mode, simultanously providing water for crops, and sustaining ecosystem services.

Prof. Dr. Manuel Pulido Fernández
Prof. Dr. Ilan Stavi
Prof. Dr. Javier Lozano Parra
Prof. Dr. Valdemir Antoneli
Guest Editors

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