Addressing challenges and opportunities in enhancing water quality for irrigation

The rapidly changing quality of irrigation water is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed in order to understand and predict the long-term effects on soils and crops in a world that is facing increasing water stress. The use of irrigation in agriculture is becoming increasingly reliant on sources of water that are poorly understood and largely unmonitored. This trend has led to a decline in water and soil quality in many areas. While soil salinization and reduced crop productivity have traditionally been the main concerns when it comes to the quality of irrigation water, there is now evidence that geogenic contaminants, such as trace elements and an increase in the use of wastewater, are also affecting irrigation water quality. The ability to measure extremely small concentrations of biologically-active organic contaminants, including plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and steroid hormones, in various irrigation water sources allows us to evaluate their uptake and occurrence in crops. However, it does not address questions related to food safety or the potential health effects on humans. Additionally, natural and synthetic nanoparticles are now known to be present in many water sources, which may alter plant growth and impact food standards.