ISHS Acta Horticulturae 449: II International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
IRRIGATION OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS IN THE ISLAND OF CRETE, GREECE |
| Authors: | K. Chartzoulakis, A.N. Angelakis, P. Skylourakis |
| Keywords: | Climate change, irrigation, crop water requirements, water resources management, water availability |
| Abstract:
Historically from Minoan Crete to recent times, the non-shortage of available water was due to either cold periods with high precipitation which alternate with dry and warm periods with limited water demand. Cretan hydrologists and engineers are considered pioneers in the development of water resources. However, substantial evidence indicates that significant oscillations of climate conditions, through Crete's long history occurred, although the chronological duration of those periods have not been defined exactly. Water demand has increased tremendously over the last 50 years. Despite adequate precipitation, water imbalance is often experienced, due to temporal and spacial variations of the precipitation, the increased water demand during the summer months and the difficulty of transporting water due to the mountainous terrain. A historical development of the irrigation practices including the present day developments are presented. Emphasis is also given to the climate change, the water availability, the irrigated areas, the crop water requirements, the potential for treated wastewater reclamation and reuse, the possibility for improvement of water use efficiency and the necessity of high priority in water resources policy making. | |
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