Impacts of Climate Change on Irrigation Water Resources in the Plain of Reeds, Vietnam | Chapter 2 | Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 4

 

The Plain of Reeds, a critical agricultural heartland within Vietnam's Mekong Delta, faces profound challenges from anthropogenic climate change. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of climate change on the water resources essential for its intensive rice cultivation system. By integrating historical hydro-meteorological data (1984–2022) with future projections from an ensemble of Global Circulation Models (GCMs) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, this study utilises the FAO-AquaCrop model to quantify shifts in irrigation water dynamics. Historical analysis reveals a discernible warming trend of approximately 0.2°C per decade and complex alterations in rainfall patterns, including an increase in dry-season precipitation and a strengthening of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal. Crucially, future projections indicate that despite a potential increase in total precipitation, the concurrent and more pronounced rise in air temperature will significantly elevate crop evapotranspiration rates. This leads to a projected increase in net Irrigation Water Demand (IWD) across all rice-growing seasons and emission scenarios. The Winter-Spring crop, cultivated during the driest period, is identified as the most vulnerable, with a substantial projected increase in water requirements. In response, this chapter evaluates adaptation strategies, demonstrating through model simulations that adjusting sowing calendars is a highly effective, low-cost measure. Advancing the sowing date of the Winter-Spring crop, for instance, can reduce IWD by up to 15.6% by better aligning crop growth with cooler temperatures and residual late-season rainfall. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for developing climate-resilient agricultural policies and water management strategies to safeguard the productivity and sustainability of the Plain of Reeds.

 

 

Author(s) Details

 

Thai Duong, PHUNG
Dong Thap University, Dong Thap Province, Vietnam.

 

Kieu Tram Thi, HUYNH
Dong Thap University, Dong Thap Province, Vietnam.

 

Van Tuan, PHAN
Dong Thap University, Dong Thap Province, Vietnam.

 

Truong An, DANG
University of Science, HCM City, Vietnam and Vietnam National University, HCM City, Vietnam.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v4/6106