→ This brief reports the results of a systematic review on the effects of 34 farming practices on water management in agriculture (i.e. water use efficiency, water consumption, soil water retention, water quality and nutrients leaching and run-off).
→ The analysis identifies 10 farming practices that are potentially beneficial to reduce water use quantity and 13 for improving water quality, with a total of 15 farming practices that can enhance water management in agriculture.
→ The following farming practices have at least two positive effects: crop residue management, mulching, cover and catch crops, buffer strips and small wetlands, soil amendment with biochar, water-saving irrigation practices in flooded and non-flooded lands, grassland management, and no tillage and reduced tillage.
BOSCO Simona;
PEREZ-SOBA AGUILAR Marta;
CHEN Mathilde;
MONTERO CASTAÑO Ana;
SCHIEVANO Andrea;
TAMBURINI Giovanni;
CATARINO Rui;
GUERRERO Irene;
BIELZA DIAZ-CANEJA Maria;
ASSOULINE Michael;
ANGILERI Vincenzo;
DENTENER Frank;
MAKOWSKI David;
TERRES Jean-Michel;
BOSCO, S., PEREZ-SOBA AGUILAR, M., CHEN, M., MONTERO CASTAÑO, A., SCHIEVANO, A., TAMBURINI, G., CATARINO, R., GUERRERO, I., BIELZA DIAZ-CANEJA, M., ASSOULINE, M., ANGILERI, V., DENTENER, F., MAKOWSKI, D. and TERRES, J., Scientific evidence on farming practices improving sustainable water management in agriculture, European Commission, Ispra, 2024, JRC137742.
2024-07-26
European Commission
JRC137742
