Grant: Engage Grants Program

This project will evaluate the fluctuations in surface and groundwater balance of Prince Edward Island (PEI) in relation to climate change to testify the potential for supplement irrigation. Currently there is a government imposed moratorium in place which prohibits additional permits being issued for agricultural irrigation supply by high capacity wells. It is in the interest of Cavendish Farms, and indeed the province as a whole to generate credible data that could be used to guide government as it considers how to manage irrigation under the new Water Act. PEI is affected by the climate change in term of precipitation amounts, time, intensity, and spatial distribution. Changes in the rainfall scenarios especially during growing season are adversely affecting the potato yield and quality, as required amounts of water is not available for plant uptake at right time. This studyis designed to investigate the water balance of PEI under the changing climate to evaluate the feasibility of using supplemental irrigation to cope with the changes caused by climate change. The objectives of this research are to: 1) study the impact of climate change on the water balance and availability, 2) testify the potential for supplemental irrigation to meet the crop water requirements, 3) evaluate the recharge and discharge patterns, and 4) examine the groundwater development potential for sustainable management of water for agriculture resources. This research will provide a new knowledge base for sustainable water management. Wise use of water based on crop need, at right time, has a strong potential to improve farm profitability by ensuring sustainability of water resources.