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 remain 'untold stories'. Most research on drip irrigation use plot-level studies to demonstrate the technology’s ability to save water or improve efficiencies and use a narrow and rather prescriptive engineering or economic language. They tend to be grounded in a firm belief in the technology and focus on the identification of ways to improve or better realize its potential. The technology also figures prominently in poverty alleviation or agricultural modernization narratives, figuring as a tool to help smallholders become more innovative, entrepreneurial and business minded. Instead of focusing on its potential, this book looks at drip irrigation-in-use, making sense of what it does from the perspectives of the farmers who use it, and of the development workers and agencies, policymakers, private companies, local craftsmen, engineers, extension agents or researchers who engage with it for a diversity of reasons and to realize a multiplicity of objectives. While anchored in a sound engineering understanding of the design and operating principles of the technology, the book extends the analysis beyond engineering and hydraulics to understand drip irrigation as a sociotechnical phenomenon that not only changes the way water is supplied to crops but also transforms agricultural farming systems and even how society is organized. The book provides field evidence from a diversity of interdisciplinary case studies in sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean, Latin America, and South Asia, thus revealing some of the untold stories of drip irrigation.

North American Agroforestry Explore the many benefits of alternative land-use systems with this incisive resource Humanity has become a victim of its own success. While we’ve managed to meet the needs—to one extent or another—of a large portion of the human population, we’ve often done so by ignoring the health of the natural environment we rely on to sustain our planet. And by deteriorating the quality of our air, water, and land, we’ve put into motion consequences we’ll be dealing with for generations. In the newly revised Third Edition of North American Agroforestry, an expert team of researchers delivers an authoritative and insightful exploration of an alternative land-use system that exploits the positive interactions between trees and crops when they are grown together and bridges the gap between production agriculture and natural resource management. This latest edition includes new material on urban food forests, as well as the air and soil quality benefits of agroforestry, agroforestry’s relevance in the Mexican context, and agroforestry training and education. The book also offers: A thorough introduction to the development of agroforestry as an integrated land use management strategy Comprehensive explorations of agroforestry nomenclature, concepts, and practices, as well as an agroecological foundation for temperate agroforestry Practical discussions of tree-crop interactions in temperate agroforestry, including in systems such as windbreak practices, silvopasture practices, and alley cropping practices In-depth examinations of vegetative environmental buffers for air and water quality benefits, agroforestry for wildlife habitat, agroforestry at the landscape level, and the impact of agroforestry on soil health Perfect for environmental scientists, natural resource professionals and ecologists, North American Agroforestry will also earn a place in the libraries of students and scholars of agricultural sciences interested in the potential benefits of agroforestry.

"Pillar of Sand points the way toward protecting rivers and vital ecosystems even as we aim to produce enough food for a projected 8 billion people by the year 2030. Postel shows how innovative irrigation technologies and strategies can alleviate hunger and environmental stress at the same time. And she calls for a new ethic of sufficiency and sharing in response to impending water limits."--BOOK JACKET.

This second book in the Grape Production Series follows on from the very successful Diseases and Pests now widely used in Australia and overseas.The soil sections describe vineyard soil types and explain how to make better decisions on soil management treatments, cover crops and herbicides. The irrigation sections cover water quality, irrigation systems and ways to optimise water use efficiency and grape quality. The nutrition sections describe nutrient deficiencies and toxicities and how to manage the nutritional requirements of the vineyard.

The Second Edition of this best-selling academic guide toirrigation design has been completely rewritten so you canunderstand it easily. Created for the irrigation designer andinstaller, as well as students, Simplified Irrigation Designclearly explains irrigation design and related hydraulics, withoutthe need for interpretation by teachers. Each chapter builds on theother, presenting all the fundamentals of irrigation design beforegetting into the more complicated aspects of irrigation, suchas: * basic hydraulics * pipe sizing * friction loss calculations * determining water pressure. Photos and illustrations show exactly how every concept and pieceof equipment works. In addition, you'll learn how to estimate costsand write specifications. Pipe sizes are described according toASTM to help you fully understand the limits of irrigation pipeuse. The expanded Second Edition of this popular guide to landscapeirrigation includes all the latest equipment and techniques. Just afew of the new features include: * Methods of conserving water to help you anticipate your clients'environmental concerns * Computerized methods for managing labor and irrigation systemsthat will help you save money on labor and water costs * Metric values for every Imperial (U.S.) measurement, enabling youto meet federal metric guidelines and better communicate with aninternational audience. Another bonus: the author has combed the minds of irrigationdesigners, contractors, and equipment manufacturers to help youavoid costly mistakes that even veterans make. Whether you're justlearning or brushing up on the latest technology, you'll want toread the Second Edition of Simplified Irrigation Design from coverto cover.