Agricultural water management

Last changed: 20 June 2024
Close-up of wheat, photo.

Water is fundamental to all life and for all the processes on and in the soil. The management of water is one of the biggest challenges in agriculture, especially in a world of changing climate that affects the conditions.

We study soil structure and physical properties and develop and evaluate methods for optimized utilization and management of water in crop production. Both secured food production and enhanced soil and water environment are in focus.

To develop efficient cultivation strategies

We also investigate waterborne transport of plant nutrients, pesticides and other substances from agricultural land. Knowledge is gathered on the impact of land use and climate on surface and ground water quality. Such knowledge is the basis for development of appropriate mitigation strategies that optimize conditions for crop growth and simultaneously minimize the environmental impact such as eutrophication of rivers and lakes.

Our activities are based on an interaction between basic and applied research and also collaboration with activities in society within the framework of environmental assessment programs for soil and water.

Facts:

Examples of research areas:

  • Land drainage and irrigation for optimized water use
  • Soil erosion and slope stability in open ditches
  • Salinization management
  • Soil conservation and improvement
  • Cultivated organic soils
  • Peri-urban soil and water environment
  • Processes that affect flows and physical exposure of plant nutrients and pesticides in soil.
  • Influence of mitigation and cropping activities on leaching of plant nutrients.
  • Transport processes at different scales – soil profile, field and watershed.
  • Contributions of diffuse and point sources to total losses of nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural landscapes.