Agrometeorology, Agricultural Water Management and Impacts of Extreme Events (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Biometeorology and Bioclimatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2025 | Viewed by 7501

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Technology and Policy of Energy and Environment, School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, Greece
2. Department of Technology Products and Services, NEURPUBLIC S.A., 18545 Piraeus, Greece
Interests: integrated water resources management; drought management; contingency planning; drought vulnerability; desertification vulnerability; composite index; water and land degradation
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Guest Editor
Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med), 10556 Athens, Greece
Interests: integrated water resources management; non-conventional water resources; water treatment; wastewater treatment; composite index; water scarcity; water stress; resilience; vulnerability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a follow-up to the first Special Issue entitled “Agrometeorology, Agricultural Water Management and Impacts of Extreme Events” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere/special_issues/P0TI085GJR) published in Atmosphere in 2023.

Water is a crucial resource as its availability can affect all aspects of society, the economy and the environment. Today, more than ever, the effects of water availability-related events are becoming more and more visible. The recent drought event that took place in Europe (summer 2022) serves as a significant example and an important lesson, a lesson towards adopting more water-friendly and water-saving practices in our everyday activities. Agriculture is one such activity, and as the greatest water-consuming activity, it requires the attention of scientists, decision makers, producers and end-users. Every individual group has a role to play towards adapting to best agricultural practices while setting the milestones for a water- and food-secure future. One agriculture-related factor that threatens water and food security is the loss of water that takes place in the distribution systems of agricultural water. A second factor is the use of more water than is actually required by the plants.

Such factors can be addressed, and the impacts of agriculture on the environment as well as the impact of water-related events on agriculture and the economy can be minimized through the use of an arsenal of readily available options. The science of agrometeorology; the instruments and methods for the measurement of the actual agriculture water demand; satellite technology; water leakage detectors; precision irrigation (smart farming); decision-making systems; as well as other tools, methods and practices are already here to assist in moving towards this adaptation.

In this regard, this Special Issue focuses on agrometeorology, the management of agricultural water and the impacts of extreme climatic events on agricultural production. It also encompasses the adaptation of agricultural practices towards climate change resilience and a water- and food-secure future.  

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • Evapotranspiration and other mass (carbon, water, etc.) and energy fluxes;
  • Evapotranspiration models and evaluation;
  • Droughts and impacts on plants;
  • Water stress;
  • Agricultural water management;
  • Irrigation management;
  • Precision irrigation (smart farming);
  • Water losses;
  • Water recycling and reuse in irrigation;
  • Water and food security;
  • Hydrological processes;
  • Weather factors' effect on phytopathology and plant diseases;
  • Effects of temperature and water availability on plants;
  • Impacts of climate and climate change on agricultural crops;
  • Agroclimatology;
  • Remote sensing and crop modeling;
  • Future projections in agricultural productivity;
  • Aridity and changes in climate;
  • Impacts of vegetation on rural microclimates.

Dr. Demetrios E. Tsesmelis
Dr. Nikolaos Skondras
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • agricultural water
  • agricultural production
  • climate change
  • resilience
  • agricultural practices
  • water losses
  • forest ecosystems
  • droughts
  • drought impacts
  • water security
  • food security
  • irrigation management
  • decision making
  • plant growth
  • plant–weather relations

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 6445 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies for Rainfed Barley Production in the Almería Province, Spain
by Francesco Saretto, Bishwajit Roy, Ricardo Encarnação Coelho, Alfredo Reder, Giusy Fedele, Robert Oakes, Luigia Brandimarte and Tiago Capela Lourenço
Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050606 - 16 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
Mediterranean water-stressed areas face significant challenges from higher temperatures and increasingly severe droughts. We assess the effect of climate change on rainfed barley production in the aridity-prone province of Almería, Spain, using the FAO AquaCrop model. We focus on rainfed barley growth by [...] Read more.
Mediterranean water-stressed areas face significant challenges from higher temperatures and increasingly severe droughts. We assess the effect of climate change on rainfed barley production in the aridity-prone province of Almería, Spain, using the FAO AquaCrop model. We focus on rainfed barley growth by the mid-century (2041–2070) and end-century (2071–2100) time periods, using three Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP)-based scenarios: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5. Using the paired t-test, Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficient, Root Mean Squared Error, and relative Root Mean Squared Error, we verified AquaCrop’s ability to capture local multi-year trends (9 or more years) using standard barley crop parameters, without local recalibration. Starting with a reference Initial Soil Water Content (ISWC), different soil water contents within barley rooting depth were modelled to account for decreases in soil water availability. We then evaluated the efficiency of different climate adaptation strategies: irrigation, mulching, and changing sowing dates. We show average yield changes of +14% to −44.8% (mid-century) and +12% to −55.1% (end-century), with ISWC being the main factor determining yields. Irrigation increases yields by 21.1%, utilizing just 3% of Almería’s superficial water resources. Mulches improve irrigated yield performances by 6.9% while reducing irrigation needs by 40%. Changing sowing dates does not consistently improve yields. We demonstrate that regardless of the scenario used, climate adaptation of field barley production in Almería should prioritize limiting soil water loss by combining irrigation with mulching. This would enable farmers in Almería’s northern communities to maintain their livelihoods, reducing the province’s reliance on horticulture while continuing to contribute to food security goals. Full article
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19 pages, 9531 KiB  
Article
Irrigation Schedule Optimization for Wheat and Sunflower Intercropping under Water Supply Restrictions in Inner Mongolia, China
by Hexiang Zheng, Hongfei Hou, Jiabin Wu, Delong Tian and Ping Miao
Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050566 - 3 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1213
Abstract
Precise water management is essential for the efficient development of irrigated agricultural crops in the Hetao Irrigation Area of Inner Mongolia. Given the severe water scarcity in the region and the significant use of intercropping as a cropping method, the development of rational [...] Read more.
Precise water management is essential for the efficient development of irrigated agricultural crops in the Hetao Irrigation Area of Inner Mongolia. Given the severe water scarcity in the region and the significant use of intercropping as a cropping method, the development of rational irrigation scheduling is crucial. The objective of this work was to combine the ISAREG model with wheat–sunflower intercropping crops in order to enhance the effectiveness of irrigation scheduling in intercropping systems. This was achieved by changing and verifying crucial parameters for simulating irrigation patterns in intercropping. We conducted an assessment of nine irrigation schedules for a wheat–sunflower intercropping system in order to provide a range of irrigation scenarios that effectively fulfill the water requirements of the system. In light of this, we suggested implementing restrictions on the dates and volumes of irrigation based on the demand for agricultural irrigation. This approach aimed to establish irrigation schedules that are highly efficient and tailored to the specific crops in the area. As a result, we achieved a water use efficiency rate of 100%, saved 28.78% of water resources, optimized crop irrigation schedules, and enhanced crop economics by 6.7%. This study presents a novel and efficient method to optimize agricultural irrigation schedules, boost agricultural water use efficiency, and maximize crop yields in order to promote sustainable agricultural development. Full article
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24 pages, 4446 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Extreme Rainfall and Meteorological Drought Events over the Angat Watershed, Philippines
by Allan T. Tejada, Jr., Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, Francis John F. Faderogao, Catherine B. Gigantone and Roger A. Luyun, Jr.
Atmosphere 2023, 14(12), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14121790 - 5 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3022
Abstract
Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme rainfall and meteorological drought on a watershed scale could be beneficial for local management of any water resources system that supports dam operation and river conservation. This study considered the watershed of Angat as a case, given [...] Read more.
Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme rainfall and meteorological drought on a watershed scale could be beneficial for local management of any water resources system that supports dam operation and river conservation. This study considered the watershed of Angat as a case, given its economic importance in the Philippines. A series of homogeneity tests were initially conducted on each rainfall dataset from monitoring stations in and near the watershed, followed by trend analysis to determine the rate and direction of change in the annual and seasonal rainfall extreme indices in terms of intensity, duration, and frequency. Three indices, using the rainfall deviation method (%DEV), percent of normal rainfall index (PNRI), and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), were also used to identify meteorological drought events. Generally, rainfall in the watershed has an increasing annual PCPTOT (4–32 mm/year), with increasing frequency and intensity in heavy rainfall and wet days. A significant increasing trend (α = 5%) in the seasonal PCPTOT (7–65 mm/year) and R10mm (1.7–10.0 days/decade) was particularly observed in all stations during the Amihan Monsoon Season (Dec–Feb). The observed increasing rainfall intensity and frequency, if it continues in the future, could have an implication both for the water resources operation to satisfy the multiple objectives of Angat Reservoir and for the flood operation that prevents damage in the downstream areas. The effect of each ENSO (El Niño- Southern Oscillation) phase on the rainfall is unique in magnitude, intensity, and duration. The seasonal reversal of the ENSO in the extreme rainfall and meteorological drought signals in Angat Watershed was also evident. The identified meteorological drought events in the watershed based on SPI-12 persisted up to 12–33 months, could reduce more than 60% (PNRI < 40%) of the normal rainfall. Insights from the study have implications for the hydrology of the watershed that should be considered for the water resources management of the Angat Reservoir. Full article
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