Periodic Reporting for period 2 - WATERAGRI (WATER RETENTION AND NUTRIENT RECYCLING IN SOILS AND STREAMS FOR IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-11-01 bis 2023-04-30
Water quantity and quality in small agricultural catchments have been overlooked in Europe. Hydrological processes and interactions have not been analysed in detail. Natural water retention at a small scale has not been appropriately addressed. Equally, the local impact of climate change or/and changes in local micro-climate has not been analysed in an integrated way with other challenges of small scale catchments. A sufficient supply of water for sustainable crop production might become more important in the coming years. At the same time, a number of underutilised new water management techniques (natural/small water retention, nutrients recovery from streams, etc.) should be re-introduced after sufficient testing into agricultural management for the benefit of farmers, local communities and the environment.
WATERAGRI aims to re-introduce and enhance sustainable water retention and nutrient recycling solutions to enable agricultural production that can sustain growing populations and cope with present and future climate change challenges. The project will generate a deeper, more detailed and integrated understanding of the hydrological processes shaping water resources in Europe. To achieve these ambitious aims, the project will develop traditional drainage and irrigation solutions and re-introduce nature-based solutions such as integrated constructed wetlands, bio-inspired drainage systems, and sustainable flood retention basins in the agricultural landscape to better retention of both water and nutrients. WATERAGRI will evaluate specific water and nutrient retention needs with the farming community, develop a set of affordable and easy-to-implement technologies, test them in the field and deploy a sound business framework for their effective use by the farming community.
The WATERAGRI project objectives are to O1: co-develop alongside farmers, farm managers, agricultural extension officers and EIP AGRI and WATER Groups, the links between agricultural land and soil-sediment-water management for improved management of water excess and shortage, maximising crop production and improving water quality and nutrient uptake by crops; O2: Undertake both technical and sustainability assessments of proposed measures considering tested and reviewed management options; O3: Develop a cloud-based simulation and data assimilation system based on a physically-based terrestrial system model, which is able to assimilate in situ and remotely sensed observations of hydrological and plant variables and meteorological data in near-real time to analyse effects of structures such as drains and dams for improved farm-scale water management and retention; O4: Identify, develop and test affordable and easy-to-implement long-term technical and operational farm solutions such as controlled drainage, regulated deficit irrigation, subsurface irrigation, groundwater recharge, farm constructed wetlands, soil management and nutrient recovery options; O5: Assess the proposed techniques for their potential regarding adaptation to climate change and their impact on ecosystem services for different biogeographic regions using case studies; and O6: Disseminate the implemented innovations to farmers, advisory services and decision-makers as part of a multi-actor approach.
WATERAGRI aims to re-introduce and enhance sustainable water retention and nutrient recycling solutions to enable agricultural production that can sustain growing populations and cope with present and future climate change challenges. The project will generate a deeper, more detailed and integrated understanding of the hydrological processes shaping water resources in Europe. To achieve these ambitious aims, the project will develop traditional drainage and irrigation solutions and re-introduce nature-based solutions such as integrated constructed wetlands, bio-inspired drainage systems, and sustainable flood retention basins in the agricultural landscape to better retention of both water and nutrients. WATERAGRI will evaluate specific water and nutrient retention needs with the farming community, develop a set of affordable and easy-to-implement technologies, test them in the field and deploy a sound business framework for their effective use by the farming community.
The WATERAGRI project objectives are to O1: co-develop alongside farmers, farm managers, agricultural extension officers and EIP AGRI and WATER Groups, the links between agricultural land and soil-sediment-water management for improved management of water excess and shortage, maximising crop production and improving water quality and nutrient uptake by crops; O2: Undertake both technical and sustainability assessments of proposed measures considering tested and reviewed management options; O3: Develop a cloud-based simulation and data assimilation system based on a physically-based terrestrial system model, which is able to assimilate in situ and remotely sensed observations of hydrological and plant variables and meteorological data in near-real time to analyse effects of structures such as drains and dams for improved farm-scale water management and retention; O4: Identify, develop and test affordable and easy-to-implement long-term technical and operational farm solutions such as controlled drainage, regulated deficit irrigation, subsurface irrigation, groundwater recharge, farm constructed wetlands, soil management and nutrient recovery options; O5: Assess the proposed techniques for their potential regarding adaptation to climate change and their impact on ecosystem services for different biogeographic regions using case studies; and O6: Disseminate the implemented innovations to farmers, advisory services and decision-makers as part of a multi-actor approach.
WP1 identified stakeholders, conducting workshops for project introductions and feedback collection regarding WATERAGRI solutions. An 18-month evaluation and gender distribution analysis were undertaken. Two workshops in RP2 focused on cloud-based simulation systems and the serious game. Stakeholder engagement training materials and the serious game, AgriLemma, were successfully developed and presented.
WP2 created tools for farm-scale water and nutrient management, including geodatabase, FMIS, models estimating water and nutrient requirements, data on soil organic matter, and a remote sensing pipeline. The remotely sensed data processing was finalised.
WP3 developed sustainable water retention solutions, including optimal irrigation scheduling methods. LIDAR and Landsat data, combined with various models, were tested. Water retention methods and products were evaluated. RP2 employed a quasi-operational approach for near real-time physically based hydrological modelling combined with data assimilation.
WP4 developed nutrient retention solutions, gathering data for solution demonstrations and assessments. RP2 assessed the use of wetland biomass for composting, developing nature-based solutions, bio-inspired filters, and chemically modified nanocellulose membranes. A microfluidic nutrient recovery system was prototyped.
WP5 implemented WATERAGRI solutions at ten case study sites. RP2 continued this implementation, providing key findings. WP6 advanced assessments of solution effectiveness. Solution owners developed video descriptions. A document summarising all WATERAGRI solutions was prepared.
The WP7 framework integrated technologies for improved efficiency and sustainability in catchment management, water retention, and nutrient recovery. In RP2, simplified models and the data assimilation framework were developed.
WP8 produced a strategic communication and dissemination plan and appointed the WATERAGRI’s Enablers Advisory Board. RP2 updated this plan, focusing on achieving post-project uptake of the results.
In WP9, ULUND ensured efficient project coordination and task management. RP2 saw a smooth transition in the WATERAGRI coordinator role. General Assemblies collaborated with local partners and stakeholders. Continuous cooperation with OPTAIN resulted in regular information exchange.
WP2 created tools for farm-scale water and nutrient management, including geodatabase, FMIS, models estimating water and nutrient requirements, data on soil organic matter, and a remote sensing pipeline. The remotely sensed data processing was finalised.
WP3 developed sustainable water retention solutions, including optimal irrigation scheduling methods. LIDAR and Landsat data, combined with various models, were tested. Water retention methods and products were evaluated. RP2 employed a quasi-operational approach for near real-time physically based hydrological modelling combined with data assimilation.
WP4 developed nutrient retention solutions, gathering data for solution demonstrations and assessments. RP2 assessed the use of wetland biomass for composting, developing nature-based solutions, bio-inspired filters, and chemically modified nanocellulose membranes. A microfluidic nutrient recovery system was prototyped.
WP5 implemented WATERAGRI solutions at ten case study sites. RP2 continued this implementation, providing key findings. WP6 advanced assessments of solution effectiveness. Solution owners developed video descriptions. A document summarising all WATERAGRI solutions was prepared.
The WP7 framework integrated technologies for improved efficiency and sustainability in catchment management, water retention, and nutrient recovery. In RP2, simplified models and the data assimilation framework were developed.
WP8 produced a strategic communication and dissemination plan and appointed the WATERAGRI’s Enablers Advisory Board. RP2 updated this plan, focusing on achieving post-project uptake of the results.
In WP9, ULUND ensured efficient project coordination and task management. RP2 saw a smooth transition in the WATERAGRI coordinator role. General Assemblies collaborated with local partners and stakeholders. Continuous cooperation with OPTAIN resulted in regular information exchange.
WATERAGRI has produced large amounts of results based on data from lab and field as well as theoretical and numerical models. Further development and evaluation of all the solutions for water and nutrient retention in the project framework were reported in RP2. Especially far advanced, beyond state of the art, results were made within the field of near real-time physically based hydrological modelling combined with data assimilation. In the final stages of the project, the hydrological models will be further fine-tuned, and more results related to soil water retention will be presented. A strong impact from WATERAGRI was already achieved for stakeholder groups like researchers, farmers, and advisory services via targeted dissemination paths. The socio-economic impact was made through workshops, participation at agricultural fairs and short courses. The societal implications were present via exposure in public media and will be even more emphasized in the remaining time of the project when decision-makers will be targeted by means of policy briefs and briefing notes.