GrowingMoreFoodWithLessWaterHimanshu Mishra

WaterDesalina5onandReuseCenterKingAbdullahUniversityofScienceandTechnology

December5,2018

Interfacial Lab – iLab (Nine nationalities)

Research focus: Water-hydrophobe interfaces. E.g. air, oils, perfluorinated coatings..

iLab’s Nature-inspired Translational Research

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Collaborators:CarlosDuarte,SiggiThoroddsen(underreview,ScienceAdvances)

ü  Three patent applications – designs & applications ü  Nature Communications 2018, 9, Article Number: 3606 ü  Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2019, 534, 156 ü  Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2019, 533(1), 723 ü  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017, 9, 21532-38

Imagecredits:XavierPita(KAUST) Imagecredits:AnastasiaKhrenova(KAUST)

Population rise = more food = more water (?) = more energy = climate change

AreweoperaEngatthehighestwater-useefficiencyforfoodproducEonindrylands?

CouldweincreasethefoodproducEonfrom(irrigated)drylandagriculture?

Yes,wecandoublefoodproduc5onindrylands!!

Drylandagriculturecouldcontributetowardsfeedingtheworld.

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To ensure we can continue to enhance the quality of life for all and meet the needs and requirements of our citizens, we will continue to ensure high quality services such as water,…

We will also promote the optimal use of our water resources by reducing consumption and utilizing treated and renewable water.

…preserving our environment and natural resources…

Slidecourtesy:PaulusBuijs(WDRC)

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Challenges in Dryland Agriculture: Evaporation

Agron.Sustain.Dev.(2012)32:501-529

Limitations of plasticulture: -  Waste disposal; 3 Mt/yr landfill -  Cost, infrastructure, processing time

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5

Irrigation level

Capillarity

Super Sand

Water

1 cm

2 mm

t = 1 ms t = 3 ms t = 20 ms t = 50 ms

H. Mishra, J. Reihmer, A. Gallo, Jr., “Compositions and Methods Relating to Functionalized Sands” (USPTO Application #62/404,958)

Super Sand: Sand + Paraffin Wax + Nanotech Mulches

Super Sand – Demonstration

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Simulating Evaporative Loss

tt

Superhydrophobic sand mulches reduce evaporation (Case-I: Saturation to depletion)

50-80%lessevapora5on!

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Feb 28 Mar 5 Mar 10 Mar 15 Mar 20 Mar 25 Mar 300.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0Average of 4 sensors at 5, 15, 25, and 35 cm deep.

Average Moisture (With Superhydrophobic Sand) Average Moisture (NO SAND) Average Temperature (With Superhydrophobic Sand) Average Temperature (NO SAND)

Time

Soi

l Moi

stur

e (W

ater

Fra

ctio

n of

Vol

ume)

25

30

35

40

45

50

Soi

l Tem

pera

ture

(°C

)

RelaEveam

ount

ü  30%highersoil-moistureü  2-3oClowersurfacetemperatures

Loca5on:HadaAlSham(WesternSaudiArabia)

SuperSand Nosand

Super Sand Boosts Soil Moisture in Hot and Dry Climates (Case-II: Daily irrigation)

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Field-scale Experiments: Barley

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Field-scale Experiments: Tomato

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Mulching with Super Sand Increase Crop Yields To

mat

o Ba

rley

72%higheryields&

Reducedsalt

stress!!

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Pilot-scale Manufacturing

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Conclusion and Outlook

•  Simple ingredients: sand/soil and paraffin wax

•  Higher produc>vity for tomatoes and barley •  Combats salt stress too

•  Applica>ons: dryland agriculture, city greening, orchards, water-proofing

•  NEXT STAGE: large-scale manufacturing

•  Collabora>ons welcome!!

Drylands

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Acknowledgements

Prof. Mark Tester

Prof. Magdi Mousa Joel Reihmer Adair Gallo Jr.

Prof. MaQhew McCabe Samir Mashharawi Kennedy Odokonyero

H. Mishra, J. Reihmer, A. Gallo, Jr., “Compositions and Methods Relating to Functionalized Sands” (USPTO Application #62/404,958) Oct 6, 2016 Gallo Jr., A., Reihmer, J., Mousa, M. A. A., Morton, M. J. L., Al-Mashharawi, S., McCabe, M. F., R. Marasco, Daffonchio, D., Tester, M., Mishra, H*, “Superhydrophobic Sand Mulches Increase Productivity and Reduce Water Demand in Dryland Agriculture” (Under Preparation)

Edelberto Manalastas