Soil, Water, and Agricultural Adaptations

Abstract

Threats to the Caribbean's diminishing soil and water resources will be heightened under predicted climate change scenarios for the Caribbean. Changes in climate change drivers, temperature, and precipitation present the greatest impact on soil and water resources. Predicted increases in air surface temperature would affect sea-level rise. Low total precipitation across both wet and dry seasons with increased incidence of drought and extreme storm events will pose challenges to agriculture. Erosion and land degradation are expected to increase, thereby reducing arable land acreage, and elevated temperatures will further reduce soil organic carbon contents. In this chapter, strategies to sustainably manage soil resources in the Caribbean are discussed and focus on (1) reducing the incidence of erosion and degradation and (2) increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) contents. The authors also present some appropriate water conservation techniques including micro-irrigation and water harvesting, which are necessary to maintain consistency of food supply.