IMPACT OF GROUNDWATER SALINITY ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

IMPACT OF GROUNDWATER SALINITY ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

MUTASEM EL-FADEL TANYA DEEB IBRAHIM ALAMEDDINE RAMI ZURAYK JAD CHAABAN 

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Landscape and Ecosystem Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Page: 
445-456
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.2495/SDP-V13-N3-445-456
Received: 
N/A
| |
Accepted: 
N/A
| | Citation

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

This study examines the impacts of increased salinity on agricultural productivity and groundwater use for irrigation with the aim to cope with overexploitation associated with potential climate change impacts. For this purpose, a farmers’ field survey was conducted at a pilot plain with banana plantations partially irrigated with saline groundwater. The economic burden of increased salinity was examined using a crop-water production function relating water salinity and yield with production cost and selling prices. Current production rates in low salinity plots were greater than those in high salinity plots by an average of 25%, representing the salinity burden incurred by farmers. We close with highlighting mitigation measures and adaptation strategies under potential future climatic changes that are expected to exacerbate irrigation with high salinity groundwater.

Keywords: 

adaptation, agricultural yield, economic burden, Saltwater intrusion

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