Water management and soil solutions for climate-smart agriculture in SIDS

Abstract

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face critical challenges in sustainable agriculture, including water scarcity, declining water quality, and soil degradation. This presentation explores innovative, climate-smart solutions for water and soil management, with a focus on isotope techniques. Tools such as neutron probes and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) are used to monitor soil moisture, while stable isotopes like carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 enable precise assessment of crop water-use efficiency and nitrogen cycling. These approaches support more efficient irrigation, reduced fertilizer inputs, and enhanced crop resilience—vital strategies for food security and sustainability in the face of climate variability in SIDS.