Impact of irrigation for Sustainable Food Production on Climate change

Abstract

The area of Serbia and Montenegro, but also Balkan Peninsula as a wider region, has favourable climatic conditions for crop production. However, the distribution of rainfall is often a limiting factor for high yields and stabilized crop production. The sum of rainfall varies from one year to another and variability is practically pronounced during the growing season. Droughts could be with short or long periods with insufficient rainfall occurring practically every year. Rainfall quantity and distribution rarely meet needs of plants for water grown under natural conditions. Water needs of plants vary and depend on the type and variety of plants, the age of the plants during the growing season, and the weather conditions. Therefore, irrigation plays a significant role in supplying plants with water to achieve high and stable yields of adequate quality. Irrigation also regulates out of water, the air, thermal, microbiological and mineral regime of soil, which ensures optimal conditions for plant growth and development in different periods of plant growth. Irrigation changes the direction and intensity of the natural processes of the environment and is decreasing the temperature and relative humidity of the ground layer of the atmosphere. As a result, the ecosystem gets more favourable properties. Soil moisture contributes to an increase in air humidity, especially in the summer when irrigation is most intense and humidity is very low. Irrigation can also be used as a means of protecting the fruit from frost in the autumn and spring, forming ice sheath around the buds or the fruits formed, thereby releasing heat. In the new conditions of climate change, primarily by rising air temperatures and long droughts, irrigation will play a very important role in the production of food needed for the world's rapidly growing population. It is estimated that by 2050 the population will grow close to 10 billion. Production of food should be increased by more than 50%, compared to the current level of production. As a result of the increase in air temperature, there will be changes in the amount of precipitation and their distribution throughout the year, which will greatly affect food production. Snow cover and an increase in the length of the vegetation period are expected, leading to a decrease in water reserves in the soil. In addition, more frequent flooding is expected with catastrophic consequences. The expected changes in climatic conditions will lead to a lack of fresh drinking water and for irrigation. Food production is thought to depend on genetics and irrigation.