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Water desalination for agricultural applications

Year of publication 2006

Author Land and Water Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Category Technical study

Series title FAO Land and Water Discussion Papers

Series number 1020-7376|1729-0554

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) With worldwide concerns about water scarcity, agriculture is under pressure to improve water management and explore available options to match supply and demand. Desalination is a technical option to increase the availability of freshwater both in coastal areas with limited resources and in areas where brackish waters are available. Water desalination is the main source of potable water in some countries and in many islands around the world and it is also being used in certain coun tries to irrigate high-value crops. However, it has proven much less economic for agricultural application than the reuse of treated wastewater, even where the capital costs of the desalination plants are subsidized.

Language English

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