2025/12/10 by Suresh Aluvihara, Aluvihara, Suresh, Abhijeet Ghatak +5
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity #Irrigation Practices and Water Management #Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies
paper · doi:10.20372/afnr.v3i3.1904
Water is an indispensable resource for agriculture, fundamental to global food security. However, its quality and management are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of crop health, directly influencing the incidence and severity of plant diseases. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge regarding the interplay between various agricultural water resources, crucial water quality parameters, and advanced management techniques for effective crop disease prevention and control. The paper systematically examines major water sources: surface water, groundwater, reclaimed wastewater, rainwater, and desalinated water, highlighting their respective advantages, disadvantages, and specific pathogen risks. It examines the physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters that significantly influence plant susceptibility and pathogen survival and dissemination. Furthermore, the review provides an in-depth analysis of diverse water quality management strategies, including source water protection, advanced on-farm treatment technologies (physical, chemical, biological), and optimized irrigation system designs, emphasizing their roles within an Integrated Pest and Disease Management framework. The pervasive challenges associated with water quality and its impact on crop health, such as emerging pathogens, regulatory gaps, and the effects of climate change, are discussed. Finally, the article explores the challenges, future directions in research and technology, advocating for rapid pathogen detection, precision water management, novel treatment solutions, and integrated policy approaches to enhance agricultural resilience and secure food production in a changing world.