Impact of groundwater salinity on agricultural productivity with climate change implications

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. © 2018 WIT Press