Study on Entropy Weight Coefficient Method and Application for Water Quality Evaluation

In order to evaluate the quality of water environment, the conception of entropy is applied in information science, and the entropy weight model is built to evaluate comprehensively water quality. The indexes weights of water quality are determined by value of entropy. This kind of method is applied on evaluating water quality in the new water to be built. The result shows that the water quality in it which supply water is between grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ, and the result is similar to that of gray related method.     

Effects of Plastic Film Mulching of Millet on Soil Moisture and Temperature in Semi-Arid Areas in South Ningxia of China

The effects of film mulching of millet on soil water content were studied in semi-arid areas in the Loess Plateau of South Ningxia, China. Different mulching methods including water micro-collecting farming （WF）, water micro-collecting farming in winter fallow （WW）, hole seeding on film （HF）, hole seeding on film in winter fallow （HW） were compared to determine the effects of mulching methods on soil water collecting and conservation during millet growth periods of 2003-2004, as well as the variation tendency of water content after rainfall, output of millet and water use efficiency （WUE）. The experimental results in the two successive years indicated that water micro-collecting farming had a better function of collecting water after rainfall, and side infiltrated water was stored under the ridges and the top layer 0-40 cm soil water changes were great. WF had obvious role in water collection and preservation of soil moisture. It effectively improved the water supply capacity by about 19.05% in the end of growth seasons. The storage of HW and WW increased by 24.9 and 7.1 mm compared with CK, and output of yield were obviously increased. Film mulching increased the yield of millet and enhanced water use efficiency （WUE）. During different growth periods, WF exhibited better water storage function with lower water consumption, and demonstrated optimal social and ecological benefits.     

Relationship between the Water Body Chlorophylla and Water Quality Factors of Wetlands Baiguishan Reservoir

[Objective] The aim was to explore the relationship between water body Chlorophyll-a and water quality factors of wetlands Baiguishan reservoir.[Method] Chlorophyll-a and water quality factors of water quality of Wetlands BaiGuishan Reservoir was studied,the analysis of the relationship on water quality of Wetlands Baiguishan Reservoir was made by use of trophic status indices and SPSS17.0 statistical analysis.[Result] Total phosphorus was an important factor of influence Chlorophyll-a in reservoir,water body had slight eutrophication phenomenon in reservoir of July to October in 2010.[Conclusion] Comprehensive management should be strengthened so as to improve the water quality of Baiguishan wetland.     

Advances and Developing Tendency of Water Use Efficiency in Plant Biology

Biological water saving is one of the major fields of water saving agriculture in the future and has an enormous potential in agricultural production. In this paper, the necessity and urgency of developing high water use efficiency in plant biology were dissertated firstly, and the research progresses at home and abroad were reviewed as following aspects： mechanisms of drought resistance and high water use efficiency, criterions for identifying and evaluating drought resistance and water use efficiency, genetic improvement for drought resistance and water use efficiency, water saving irrigation technology based on the physiological regulation and control in crop plants. Major problems in the research field at present were put forward, and development tendency of water use efficiency in plant biology in the future were also discussed.     

WATER POLLUTION AND AGRICULTURE:MULTI-POLLUTANT PERSPECTIVES

Agriculture is an important cause of multiple pollutants in water. With population growth and increasing food demand, more nutrients, plastics,pesticides, pathogens and antibiotics are expected to enter water systems in the 21st century. As a result, water science has been shifting from singlepollutant to multi-pollutant perspectives for large-scale water quality assessments. This perspective paper summarizes and discusses four main highlights related to water pollution and agriculture from the ...     

Analysis of Water Resources Supply and Demand and Security of Water Resources Development in Irrigation Regions of the Middle Reaches of the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China

Based on the data for meteorology, hydrology, soil, planting, vegetation, and socio-economic development of the irrigation region in the middle reaches of the Heihe River basin, Northwest China, the model of balance of water supply and demand in the region was established, and the security of water resource was assessed, from which the results that the effects of unified management of water resources in the Heihe River basin between Gansu Province and Inner Mongolia on regional hydrology are significant with a decrease in water supply diverted from Heihe River and an increase in groundwater extracted. In addition, it was found that the groundwater level has been steadily decreasing due to over pumping and decrease in recharges. In present year （2003）, the volume of potential groundwater in the irrigation districts is far small because of the groundwater overdraft; even in the particular regions, there is no availability of groundwater resources for use. By 2003, water supply is not sufficient to meet the water demand in the different irrigation districts, the sustainable development and utilization of water resources are not secured, and the water supply crisis occurs in Pingchuan irrigation district. Achieving water security for the sustainable development of society, agriculture, economy, industry, and livelihoods while maintaining or improving the abilities of the management and planning of water resources, determining of the reasonable percentage between water supply and groundwater utilization and water saving in agricultural irrigation are taken into account. If this does not occur, it is feared that the present performance of water development and planning may further aggravate the problem of scarcities of water resources and further damage the fragile ecological system.     

Water Consumption and Use Efficiency of Main Crops on Semi-drought Area of Western Liaoning Province

The laws of water consumption in corn,peanuts and millet on the semi-drought area of western Liaoning Province were studied through the FAO-Penman Monteith method and the water balance method.Among three corps,the amount of the day water demand,the whole growth period water demand and the soil water deficit of corn were all the largest.At the same time,its degree of agreement between the water demand and the level of precipitation was the worst,and its average in crop coefficient was larger.The amount of th...     

Crisis of Water Resources on the Ulan Buh Desert Oases, Inner Mongolia, China-A Case Study of Dengkou County

Hetao Plain, composed of hundreds of oases, is one of the most important grain-producing areas in China. Most crops, especially wheat and corn, depend on irrigation, thus water availability is a key issue for grain productivity on this land. The Yellow River is the main water source for irrigation and a crisis of water resources for agricultural use occurs because of increasingly reduced river flows and water-using competition with industry and human residential use. In order to understand the current situation and distribution of water resources on these oases, we collected 20-yr’s data of river runoff, irrigation volumes, infiltration and precipitation to examine the relationships between water resources distribution and its agricultural use. We found that the oasis in Dengkou county was short of water resources with a water deficit rate of 5.14% in 2010. Based on the trend of the data, water deficit will continue to increase as the population grows in the future. Water resource is a limiting factor to agricultural development in this region and proper management of water use and strategies for water resource conservation are urgently needed. Especially, based on our results we suggest that current irrigation methods need to be greatly improved to save the water that was lost from evaporation.     

Effects of Carboxymethylcelluloses （CMC） on Some Hydraulic Properties of Sandy Soil

The property of hydrophilic polymers capable absorbing huge volumes of water led to many practical applications of these new materials in arid regions for improving the water retention in sandy soils. Effects of four carboxymethylcelluloses (CMC), mixed at various rates with the sandy soil, on the water-holding capacity and hydraulic conductivity (KS ) when leached with distilled water (simulating rain), tap water, and saline water were evaluated. The maximum water absorption of CMCs ranged between 80 and 100 kg ? kg-1 of polymer; however, the absorbent swelling capacity decreased significantly with increasing the salt concentration in the solution. The water absorption capacity of CMCs decreased significantly when incorporated in the sandy soil compared to that of the absorbent alone. Application of CMC increased significantly the available water content up to 3 ± 0.5 times. All soils treated with CMCs showed a significant lower in KS compared to the control soil. Meanwhile, KS was found increased with increasing the salt concentration in the leaching solution. This understanding of characteristics of the absorbents and the interactions among absorbents, soil, and irrigation water quality would be of help in water management of sandy soil.     

Irrigation water salinity and N fertilization:Effects on ammonia oxidizer abundance,enzyme activity and cotton growth in a drip irrigated cotton field

Use of saline water in irrigated agriculture has become an important means for alleviating water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions. The objective of this field experiment was to evaluate the effects of irrigation water salinity and N fertilization on soil physicochemical and biological properties related to nitrification and denitrification. A 3×2 factorial design was used with three levels of irrigation water salinity(0.35, 4.61 and 8.04 d S m–1) and two N rates(0 and 360 kg N ha~(–1)). The results indicated that irrigation water salinity and N fertilization had significant effects on many soil physicochemical properties including water content, salinity, p H, NH_4-N concentration, and NO_3-N concentration. The abundance(i.e., gene copy number) of ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA) was greater than that of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB) in all treatments. Irrigation water salinity had no significant effect on the abundance of AOA or AOB in unfertilized plots. However, saline irrigation water(i.e., the 4.61 and 8.04 d S m–1 treatments) reduced AOA abundance, AOB abundance and potential nitrification rate in N fertilized plots. Regardless of N application rate, saline irrigation water increased urease activity but reduced the activities of both nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. Irrigation with saline irrigation water significantly reduced cotton biomass, N uptake and yield. Nitrogen application exacerbated the negative effect of saline water. These results suggest that brackish water and saline water irrigation could significantly reduce both the abundance of ammonia oxidizers and potential nitrification rates. The AOA may play a more important role than AOB in nitrification in desert soil.     

Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Farmers and Its Determinants： Evidence from a Survey in Northwestern China

Irrigation water shortage is becoming an increasingly serious problem in agricultural production. In this case, it is very important for policy makers to take measures to improve irrigation water use efficiency, especially in the water-scarce areas. In this paper, the data envelopment analysis （DEA） techniques, based on the concept of input-specific technical efficiency were used to develop farm-level technical efficiency measures and sub-vector efficiencies for irrigation water use. The Tobit regression technique was then adopted to identify the factors that influence irrigation water efficiency differentials under the shortage of water resources. Based on a sample data of 432 wheat farmers in northwestern China, our experimental results of the DEA analysis showed the average technical efficiency of 0.6151. It suggested that wheat farmers could increase their production by as much as 38.49% by using inputs more efficiently. Further, the mean irrigation water efficiency of 0.3065, suggested that wheat farmers could produce the same quantity of wheat using the same quantity of inputs but with 69.35% less water. The results of the Tobit regression analysis showed that the farmer＇s age, income, education level, and the farm size tended to affect the degree of irrigation water efficiency positively, and the channel conditions and different irrigation methods made a significant impact on irrigation water use efficiency. Furthermore, the arrangements of exclusive water property rights and competitive water price mechanism have effectively encouraged the water saving behavior of farmers. These results are valuable for policy makers since it could help to guide policies towards high irrigation water use efficiency.     

Carrying Capacity and Utilization Potential Analysis of Groundwater Resources in Semiarid District in Heilongjiang Province

Irrigation water became the limiting factor to the persistent improvement of grain production. Based on the data from Gannan County, a semiarid area in the west of Heilongjiang Province, the present situation of the development and utilization of water resources and the suitable water saving irrigation mode were analyzed by using SPA model, which was significant to the efficient and rational utilization of water resources and the improvement of agriculture productivity. The result showed that the model could be applied well to the assessment of development and utilization of water resources and the multi-project optimal selection. Through calculation, it could be found that the utilization of water resources in Gannan County was still in the primary stage, and the integration technology of the optimized water saving irrigation should be combined to support the sustainable development of agriculture in the semiarid area.     

Spatial and Temporal Variation in Water Productivity and Grain Water Utilization Assessment of Heilongjiang Province,Northeast China

Improving crop water productivity is necessary for ensuring food security. To quantify the water utilization in grain production from multiple perspectives, gross inflow water productivity (WPg), generalized agricultural water productivity (WPa), evapotranspiration water productivity (WPET) and irrigation water productivity (WPI) were examined in this study. This paper calculated and analyzed the temporal and spatial variation in these water productivity (WP)indices in the irrigated land of Heilongjiang Province.The results showed that almost all of the municipal WP indices increased from 2007 to 2015.The four indices showed large differences in scientific connotation and numerical performance, and their degrees of spatial variation were ranked as WPI>WPa>WPg>WPET.The spatial patterns of WP indices in different years were similar;the central and southern regions on the Songnen Plain and the eastern region had high WP values,while those of the northern region were low.Each WP index was used to evaluate the relationship between the input of water resources and the output of grain between different regions. Most cities had the potential to improve WP by reducing the input of irrigation water.Furthermore,the results provided recommendations to decision makers to plan for efficient use of water resources in different cities.     

Growth and Eco-Physiological Performance of Cotton Under Water Stress Conditions

A cotton cultivar Xinluzao 8 was grown under four levels of water stress treatments （normal irrigation, slight, mild and severe water stress） from the initial reproductive growth stage in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China, in 2002, to evaluate the growth and eco-physiological performances. Under water stress conditions, the transpiration ability decreased while the leaf temperature increased. Although the relative leaf water content decreased as water stress increased, the differences among the treatments were small, indicating that cotton has high ability in maintaining water in leaf. The stomatal density increased as water stress increased, while the maximum stomatal aperture reduced only in the severest stressed plants. The time of the maximum stomatal aperture was delayed in the mild and severe stressed plants. When severe stress occurred, the stomata were kept open until the transpiration decreased to nearly zero, suggesting that the stomata might not be the main factor in adjusting transpiration in cotton. Cotton plant has high adaptation ability to water stress conditions because of decrease in both stomatal conductance and hydraulic conductance from soil-to-leaf pathway. The actual quantum yield of photosystem Ⅱ （PS Ⅱ） decreased under water stress conditions, while the maximum quantum yield of PS Ⅱ did not vary among treatments, suggesting that PS II would not be damaged by water stress. The total dry weight reduced as water stress increased.     

Long Term Effects of Farming System on Soil Water Content and Dry Soil Layer in Deep Loess Proifle of Loess Tableland in China

Soil water is strongly affected by land use/cover in the Loess Plateau in China. Water stored in thick loessal soils is one of the most important resources regulating vegetation growth. However, soil water in the deep loess proifle, which is critical for maintaining the function of the“soil water pool”is rarely studied because deep proifle soil samples are dififcult to collect. In this study, four experimental plots were established in 2005 to represent different farming systems on the Changwu Tableland：fallow land, fertilized cropland, unfertilized cropland, and continuous alfalfa. The soil water content in the 15-m-deep loess proifles was monitored continuously from 2007 to 2012 with the neutron probe technique. The results showed that temporal variations in soil water proifles differed among the four farming systems. Under fallow land, the soil water content increased gradually over time, ifrst in the surface layers and later in the deep soil layers. In contrast, the soil water content decreased gradually under continuous alfalfa. The distributions of soil water in deep soil layers under both fertilized and unfertilized cropland were relatively stable over time. Thus farming system signiifcantly affected soil water content. Seven years after the start of the experiment, the soil water contents in the 15-m-deep proifles averaged 23.4%under fallow land, 20.3%under fertilized cropland, 21.6%under unfertilized cropland, and 16.0%under continuous alfalfa. Compared to measurements at the start of the experiment, both fallow land and unfertilized cropland increased soil water storage in the 15-m loess proifles. In contrast, continuous alfalfa reduced soil water storage. Fertilized cropland has no signiifcant effect on soil water storage. These results suggest that deep soil water can be replenished under the fallow and unfertilized farming systems. Dry soil layers （i.e., those which have soil water content less than the stable ifeld water capacity） in the subsoil of the Changwu Tableland region can be classiifed as either temporary dry soil layers or persistent dry soil layers. Temporary dry soil layers, which typically form under annual crops, often disappear during wet years. Persistent dry soil layers generally develop under perennial vegetation. Even after removing the vegetation, persistent dry soil layers remain for several decades. This study provides information useful for the conservation and utilization of soil water resources in the Loess Tableland.     

Assessing Crop Water Demand and Deficit for the Growth of Spring Highland Barley in Tibet, China

The aim of this study was to assess the crop water demand and deficit of spring highland barley and discuss suitable irrigation systems for different regions in Tibet, China. Long-term trends in reference crop evapotranspiration and crop water demand were analyzed in different regions, together with crop water demand and deficit of spring highland barley under different precipitation frequencies. Results showed that precipitation trends during growth stages did not benefit the growth of spring highland barley. The crop coefficient of spring highland barley in Tibet was 0.87 and crop water demand was 389.0 mm. In general, a water deficit was found in Tibet, because precipitation was lower than water consumption of spring highland barley. The most severe water deficit were in the jointing to heading stage and the heading to wax ripeness stage, which are the most important growth stages for spring highland barley; water deficit in these two stages would be harmful to the yield. Water deficit showed different characteristics in different regions. In conclusion, irrigation systems may be more successful if based on an analysis of water deficit within different growth stages and in different regions.     

Monthly Water Budget of Small Basin in Northern of Loess Plateau, China

The objective of this study was to analyze the water budget of a small basin in the northern of Loess Plateau. A small basin, Liudaogou in the northern Loess Plateau was chosen as the study area. The numerical calculation of surface runoff was applied to results of the field survey, and components of monthly water budget were estimated. The unit area of 1 km2 was selected as the index area for the estimation. A component of habitant water consumption was added to the water budget to consider the contribution of human activity. Results indicated that the water storage was negative in May, June and July while the annual amount was approximately 0.0. Evaportanspiration attained maximum in August and its annual total accounted for 74.2% of annual precipitation. Results of this study are significant for the sustainable water conservation and utilization in the northern of Loess Plateau where annual water resources are relatively deficient.     

Advances in Research on the Approaches of Improving Water Utilization Efficiency in Rice

Water shortage is increasingly an important factor limiting the sustainable development of global economy, posing a huge threat to social security and human existence. Water usage in agriculture accounts for about 70% of total water consumption in the world, and rice cultivation is in turn the largest water user, which accounts for about 50% of total water usage in agriculture. Therefore, it is quite important to improve water utilization efficiency to reduce water consumption in rice. Water stress causes severe inhibition of plant growth and development as well as yield reduction, however the extent of inhibition or reduction varies greatly with the growth stages, duration and severity of stress, and plant genotypes. In rice, drought resistance and water utilization efficiency might be improved by developing stress resistant cultivars and conducting proper agronomic practices. It is hence imperative to determine the suitable criteria in morphological and physiological traits for drought resistance and water utilization efficiency in conventional breeding of rice. At present, leaf rolling, leaf water potential and carbon isotope discrimination are commonly used criteria for the evaluation and identification of germplasm with high drought resistance or water utilization efficiency. With rapid development of molecular biology, marker-assisted selection has been used in rice breeding against water stress. In this review, therefore, the agronomic aspect of water saving techniques such as selection of suitable rice cultivars, planting pattern, mulching, deficit irrigation and alternative drying and moist irrigation are discussed and effective approaches are also recommended.     

General Nexus Between Water and Electricity Use and Its Implication for Urban Agricultural Sustainability:A Case Study of Shenzhen, South China

Although water and energy resources are well-recognized concerns regarding economic and social development sustainability, little specific research has focused on both water and energy problems at the same time. This study analyzed the water and electricity-use patterns in Shenzhen, South China during 2001-2009. A curve regression method was used to examine the relationship between water and electricity use per gross domestic product (GDP) in Shenzhen and its three sectors, i.e., agriculture, industry & construction, and residential life & services. Results showed that agriculture only covered less than 10% of water and electricity use in Shenzhen, while industry & construction and residential life & services accounted for more than 90% of water and electricity use in Shenzhen, which coincided with the city’s industrial structure. The water and electricity use per GDP in agriculture was the biggest among three sectors in Shenzhen during 2001-2009, which means inefficiency of water and electricity use in agriculture. Due to transitioning to advanced materials and manufacturing, both water and electricity use per GDP in industry & construction decreased during 2001-2009 and their utilization efficiencies gradually increased over time. The same held true for those in residential life & services transformed toward modern business, creative culture, finance services, etc. Derived from the survival of the fittest in competing for limited water and electricity resources, agriculture in Shenzhen has been gradually substituted by industry & construction and residential life & services, with much higher efficiencies of water and electricity use. And traditional agriculture will not be sustainable in the process of urbanization and industrialization, except high-tech intensive agriculture with low water and energy cost. Furthermore, by means of curve regression, we found that there was a significant quadratic relationship between water use per GDP and electricity use per GDP in the entire city and its three sectors. Suitable industrial transformation and advancement was a very effective way to save water and energy for modern cities. This can provide some reference for systematic planning and design of water and electricity allocation and use in agriculture, industry & construction and residential life & services in a city.     

Water Resources Development and Water Utilization in the Gavkhuni River Basin,Iran

Analysis of water supplies and demand over the past 50 years in the Gavkhuni River Basin（GRB） indicate that despite large investments in water resources development the basin remains just as vulnerable to drought as it always has been. During the period of analysis two transbasin diversions and a storage reservoir have been constructed which have more or less doubled the annual supply to water to the basin. But with each water resource development extractive capacity for irrigation, urban and industrial use has increased by the same amount, so that all new water is allocated as soon as it is available. The most recent developments, since 1980, have actually increased vulnerability to drought because extractive capacity is greater than average flow into the basin. Whenever demand exceeds supply all water is extracted from the basin and the tail end dries up. During the past 50 years flows into the salt pan at the downstream end of the basin have been negligible for more than half the time. Prospects for the future are bleak because once the current phase of water resources development is completed no further water supplies are likely, but demand continues to rise at a steady rate. Ultimately agriculture will have to concede water to urban, industrial and environmental demands.