Water Stress Management in Agricultural Systems

Water stress poses a growing threat to global food security as climate variability intensifies drought frequency and alters precipitation patterns. Effective management in agricultural systems hinges on optimising water supply relative to crop demand, integrating precise irrigation scheduling, soil amendments and crop selection. Techniques such as regulated deficit irrigation, mulching and soil organic amendments reduce evaporative losses and enhance soil moisture retention. Advances in remote sensing and soil‐moisture sensors enable real-time monitoring, while plant breeding and biostimulants promote drought resilience by improving root architecture, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity. Central to these approaches is the concept of water-use efficiency, which seeks to maximise yield per unit of water consumed. A multidisciplinary framework—combining agronomy, plant physiology and climatology—supports tailored solutions across arid, semi-arid and humid regions. Practical applications range from drip irrigation and subsurface piping to the deployment of drought-tolerant cultivars and microbial inoculants. By uniting technological innovation with nature-based practices, agricultural systems can sustain productivity under limited water resources and contribute to long-term environmental stewardship.

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Water Stress Management in Agricultural Systems publication trend

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Technical terms

Water stress: A condition in which water availability is insufficient to meet a plant’s evaporative demand, resulting in reduced growth or yield.

Deficit irrigation: An irrigation approach in which water is applied below full crop requirements to conserve resources while minimising yield penalties.

Evapotranspiration: The combined process of water evaporation from soil surfaces and transpiration through plant stomata, representing total crop water use.

Water-use efficiency: The ratio of crop yield (biomass or grain) to the volume of water consumed via evapotranspiration, indicating the effectiveness of water utilisation.

Vermicompost: Organic matter processed by earthworms, rich in nutrients and beneficial microbes, used to improve soil structure, fertility and moisture retention.

References

1. Transforming agriculture with vermicompost: 7-year empirical evidence from drought-prone and salinization-affected regions of Bangladesh. Journal of Cleaner Production (2025).
2. Effect of Irrigation Water and Organic Fertilizer on Reducing Nitrate Accumulation and Boosting Lettuce Productivity. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2022).
3. The Changes in Various Physio-Biochemical Parameters and Yield Traits of Faba Bean Due to Humic Acid Plus 6-Benzylaminopurine Application under Deficit Irrigation. Agronomy (2023).