WATER management systems for sustainable FRUIT PRoduction under INTense drought conditions (WATER-FRUITPRINT)
ProjectPerennial woody crops are highly threatened by long drought periods, which are becoming more frequent in the Mediterranean area due to the changing climate conditions. In this area, the water used for fruit-growing can compete with other uses when water scarcity occurs.
Objectives of the project are:
i) to reduce water consumes in orchards and vineyards adopting sustainable practices, including evapotranspiration-limiting practices, precision irrigation, cover crops and water use efficient cultivars;
ii) to increase water productivity, yield and fruit quality by optimizing the use of water and regulating the plant water status;
iii) to provide a support system to drive water management for woody crops under water scarcity conditions;
iv) to improve the sustainability of water management in fruit-growing regions at socio- economic and environmental levels.
Proposal objectives will be achieved adopting a multi-scale approach: fruit-growing regions in different Mediterranean Countries will be characterized combining real-time monitoring with remote sensing data to model water dynamic and soil water balance; piloting activities will be performed in each fruit-growing region to assess the performance of several sustainable practices to reduce water consumption and to enhance yield and fruit quality; socio-economic and environmental impact of woody crop systems will be quantified considering both the current management and adopting sustainable practices. All these analyses will concur to develop a support system for water management under water scarcity, able to assist farmers and other stakeholders, which will be engaged during the project through several dissemination activities.
This proposal fits call and topic scopes, combining water accounting through new technologies with piloting and demonstration activities, involving a large network of researchers and users to optimize water management and water footprint under water scarcity in a relevant sector of Mediterranean rural economy
Objectives of the project are:
i) to reduce water consumes in orchards and vineyards adopting sustainable practices, including evapotranspiration-limiting practices, precision irrigation, cover crops and water use efficient cultivars;
ii) to increase water productivity, yield and fruit quality by optimizing the use of water and regulating the plant water status;
iii) to provide a support system to drive water management for woody crops under water scarcity conditions;
iv) to improve the sustainability of water management in fruit-growing regions at socio- economic and environmental levels.
Proposal objectives will be achieved adopting a multi-scale approach: fruit-growing regions in different Mediterranean Countries will be characterized combining real-time monitoring with remote sensing data to model water dynamic and soil water balance; piloting activities will be performed in each fruit-growing region to assess the performance of several sustainable practices to reduce water consumption and to enhance yield and fruit quality; socio-economic and environmental impact of woody crop systems will be quantified considering both the current management and adopting sustainable practices. All these analyses will concur to develop a support system for water management under water scarcity, able to assist farmers and other stakeholders, which will be engaged during the project through several dissemination activities.
This proposal fits call and topic scopes, combining water accounting through new technologies with piloting and demonstration activities, involving a large network of researchers and users to optimize water management and water footprint under water scarcity in a relevant sector of Mediterranean rural economy