Sino-US Cooperation in Water Saving Technologies.

Both China and the United States face water availability problems that limit agricultural production and that are exacerbated by climate variability. Water availability is limited both in terms of quantity and quality with the impacts of drought and declining aquifers resulting in water restrictions and salinity problems. Irrigation is important for agricultural production in both countries, and improvements in irrigation technologies and management methods can improve outcomes by increasing water use efficiency through reductions in unnecessary losses due to evaporation, runoff and deep percolation. A joint Flagship Program in Water Saving Technologies has been established between the China Ministry of Science and Technology and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cooperate on research to improve irrigation methods and technologies. Several laboratories of the USDA Agricultural Research Service are involved in cooperative efforts with colleagues in China, with results presented at several past and upcoming conferences. A summary of collaborative efforts and results to date will be presented.