With El Niño now declared, now is a crucial time to prepare your farm for the harsh conditions of this notorious weather phenomena. By embracing innovative water management solutions, your agricultural business can presume its regular operations with minimal strain.
From solar pumps to water recycling, there are several helpful ways you can tackle El Niño. To find a solution that aligns with your agricultural needs, explore our top suggestions below:
1. Water Storage Facilities:
Effective water storage acts as a lifeline during El Niño by ensuring you have a consistent water supply during droughts. By storing water collected during wet periods in storage facilities, such as tanks, dams, and reservoirs, you can help safeguard your agricultural business from the impacts of El Niño.
2. Smart Irrigation Systems:
Smart irrigation systems are valuable assets in agriculture, particularly during water shortages.
They use technology, data and sensors to optimise water usage which means less water wastage and better conservation of water resources. As technology evolves, it makes sense for agricultural businesses to invest in and upskill in Smart Farming practices.
They use technology, data and sensors to optimise water usage which means less water wastage and better conservation of water resources. As technology evolves, it makes sense for agricultural businesses to invest in and upskill in Smart Farming practices.
3. Solar Water Pumps:
Solar water pumps provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for irrigation, livestock and domestic applications while concurrently reducing your reliance on grid electricity, and thus, minimising running costs on your farm. This environmentally friendly method of water management comes in handy during droughts induced by El Niño as it ensures an uninterrupted automated water supply, while also reducing your dependence on grid electricity.
4. Soil Management:
By implementing soil conservation practices, you can improve your farm’s soil structure, making it more resilient to extreme weather, such as droughts. This is because soil management methods, such as conservation soil tillage and terracing, encourage moisture retention to support crop health — which is crucial during El Niño. Soil management also reduces the erosion of topsoil, ensuring essential nutrients are still available to crops, facilitating crop yield and overall integrity. Agricultural businesses should also explore the benefits of soil moisture monitoring to determine when irrigation is required.
5. Crop Selection and Rotation:
Crop selection involves mindfully selecting crops based on a variety of factors including the climate, soil conditions and market demand. In the event of El Niño, you’ll want to opt for drought-resistant crop varieties. You can also practise crop rotation in conjunction with crop selection, which involves alternating various crops in a pre-planned sequence. This helps maintain soil fertility and eliminate pest/disease cycles, which can arise because of El Niño’s hot conditions.
6. Water-Efficient Farming Practices:
Given that El Niño facilitates water shortages, it’s vital you use every drop of water wisely during these periods. Adopting water-efficient techniques, like precision agriculture, or using data and modern technology will help you fortify a drought-resistant farm. Such practices can eliminate water waste, such as evaporation or runoff, while simultaneously preventing other issues, like weed growth, ensuring your farm’s watering procedures are both efficacious.
7. Rainwater Harvesting:
Rainwater harvesting is a resourceful and sustainable strategy that can bolster your farm’s water resources during droughts. This method involves collecting and storing rainwater during wetter seasons, so you can use later on it, providing you with an additional water source for various agricultural activities, such as providing livestock with water and irrigation. This reduces the strain on ground and surface water supplies which may otherwise become unavailable during El Niño.
8. Remote Water Management and Monitoring:
8. Remote Water Management and Monitoring:
Harnessing remote water management and monitoring technologies will empower you to control your farm from any place. Systems such as the LORENTZ PS Commander, act as a gateway to real-time data regarding your farm’s water levels, system performance, flow rates, weather, soil moisture, and much more! From fine-tuning irrigation schedules to detecting leaks, this solution emerges as an unparalleled tool that can facilitate the water efficiency of your agricultural business during El Niño and other challenging periods.
9. Water Recycling and Reuse:
9. Water Recycling and Reuse:
To elevate your farm’s sustainability and resourcefulness during El Niño, you can embrace recycling and reusing water. By treating and reusing wastewater, such as runoff water, you can significantly reduce your farm’s demand for freshwater resources, enabling your agricultural business to successfully withstand water scarcity while adhering to environmentally friendly practices.
10. Drought-Resistant Crop Management:
10. Drought-Resistant Crop Management:
Drought-resistant crop management serves as an effective solution for agriculturalists during El Niño. It draws on practices including changed planting dates and planting density which enhance the resilience of crops. By reducing planting density, your crops will have more space where they can sufficiently access your water resources and grow more efficiently. In addition to this, you can modify planting dates so that specific crops are grown seasonally, allowing them to thrive during specific weather. For example, you can plant crops which do not require excessive volumes of water during El Niño, to reduce your farm’s water stress and safeguard your business’s yields.
A Final Thought…
A Final Thought…
As an agriculturalist, preparing for El Niño is not a choice but rather a necessity. While we have listed a number of innovative water management solutions throughout this article, there are many more. The best solution depends on your own set of circumstances, so consider what areas are the most important and affordable for you to strengthen your business’s lifeline during times of water scarcity and drought.
