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The Monongahela River in western Pennsylvania, one of three rivers that meet at the Golden Triangle in Pittsburgh, has a rich history associated with the westward expansion of the nation during the colonial era and with the development of America as an industrial power beginning in the nineteenth century. It is a river that has seen many phases of human use. Given its present-day spelling by George Washington, the Monongahela became the "river of dreams" for pioneers who trekked over the Allegh...

History of irrigation reforms in India dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. A number of studies have addressed to the need and process of reforms but these largely ended with two rhythmic suggestions involving pricing of irrigation water and participatory management of the sources of irrigation. It is startling to note that most of these solutions are a century old. The authors have provided evidence that these reform solutions began from the very First Irrigation Commission Report o...

Qanat is a gently sloping subterranean canal, which taps a water-bearing zone at a higher elevation than cultivated lands. A qanat consist of a series of vertical shafts in sloping ground, interconnected at the bottom by a tunnel with a gradient flatter than that of the ground. From the air, this system looks like a line of anthills leading from the foothills across the desert to the greenery of an irrigated settlement. Qanat engages a variety of knowledge and its studying entails an interdiscip...

Irrigated agriculture remains the dominant use of freshwater in the United States, although its share of use is declining. Irrigated cropland area has expanded over 40 percent since 1969, while water application rates have declined about 20 percent. The total quantity of irrigation water applied increased about 10 percent since 1969. Nationally, the average variable cost of supplying water for irrigation was about $50 per acre in 2003; however, that amount does not reflect the full value of wate...

The Bio-Integrated Farm is a twenty-first-century manual for managing nature’s resources. This groundbreaking book brings “system farming” and permaculture to a whole new level. Author Shawn Jadrnicek presents new insights into permaculture, moving beyond the philosophical foundation to practical advanced designs based on a functional analysis. Holding his designs to a higher standard, Jadrnicek’s components serve at least seven functions (classical permaculture theory only seeks at least two fu...

This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on proximal sensors in agriculture. The first chapter addresses the use of proximal sensors to evaluate crop health and performance throughout the growing season. The chapter reviews the evolution of crop sensors, as well as the issues and limitations facing further development, including the need to develop sensors equipped with the ability to detect stresses other than nitrogen. The second chapter reviews recent advances in using proximal s...

Initially associated with hi-tech irrigated agriculture, drip irrigation is now being used by a much wider range of farmers in emerging and developing countries. This book documents the enthusiasm, spread and use of drip irrigation systems by smallholders but also some disappointments and disillusion faced in the global South. It explores and explains under which conditions it works, for whom and with what effects. The book deals with drip irrigation 'behind the scenes', showcasing what largely...

This book bridges the gap between users of drip irrigation systems and soil physicists, agronomists, horticulturists, hydraulic engineers, designers and manufacturers. Emphasis is placed on the practical aspects of drip irrigation and the principles of drip system design from the choice of emitters and laterals to the design of the main lines, with sections on filtration, fertigation and subsurface drip design, with a special chapter on the monitoring and management of these systems.

The Mapping Systems and Services for Multiple Uses of Water Services (MASSMUS) methodology is a special module that addresses multiple uses of water. It is part of Mapping Systems and Services for Canal Operation Techniques (MASSCOTE), developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it has been in use since 2000 for the auditing of medium to large irrigation systems, and for planning modernisation of their operation and management