Water Wheel July/Aug 2026: Water-Smart Agriculture

Abstract

Blueberries that sip, not gulp: New research offers hope for water-smart farming of ‘superfood’ The study, titled ‘Effect of different growth media on water use, yield and soil properties of blueberry cultivated under shade net’ and published in May, was led by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) together with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC). Researchers explored how different growing media influence water use, plant growth, fruit quality, and soil health in blueberry production. The results could help reshape how blueberries are cultivated in water-scarce regions of South Africa. The findings come at a crucial time. South Africa’s agricultural sector continues to feel the effects of climate change, rising temperatures, recurring droughts, and increasing competition for limited water resources. “Water demand is expected to increase in South Africa in the future, driven by an increase in temperature and evaporation due to climate change effects.

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