Abstract:

High-efficient and green water-saving in agriculture is an important measure to ensure food security, effective supply of agricultural products and sustainable agricultural development in our country. In the paper, we analyzed the current issues with the modern agricultural development in China and worldwide research trends in high-efficient water saving in agriculture. We also presented the bottlenecks and problems that need to be taken into consideration in developing high-efficient water-saving agriculture in China. “Four transformations” were proposed: from water-saving irrigation techniques alone to integrated irrigation techniques with agronomy measures, from high-efficient water saving alone to integrated water-saving, fertilizer-saving and pesticide-saving, from less water- high yield to less water-better quality- high efficiency; from promoting water-saving acreage alone to valuing quality and benefits of a project. We also proposed “four improvements”, i.e. improving water-saving technology promotion and service systems, improving experimental and monitoring networks on water-saving in agriculture, improving compensation mechanisms on water-saving in agriculture, and improving market entry mechanisms of water-saving products. More research on high-efficiency and water-saving agriculture under climate change was suggested. In the paper, we also put forward key science questions on future studies of water-saving and high-efficient agriculture in our country, including crop’s water demand and its responses to climate change, multiple-processes integrative regulation on crop’s precise and high-efficient water consumption, and feedback mechanisms of crop production- water resources- ecosystem nexus.

Key words: High-efficiency and Water-saving Agriculture, Crop Healthy-growing Water Demand, Ecology Health, Green Development