Project title: Save Water for Agriculrture in Provins

Team: SWAP

Lycée Les Pannevelles   Provins   France   17 Student’s age: 14-15 years old

In times of climate change, how can we help farmers around Provins use water more accurately?

Our high school is located in Provins, at the heart of one of the most important agricultural areas of France. In this area, climate change is a reality: annual mean temperatures are increasingly high, and drought is more and more frequent. In this context, water used for agricultural purposes is becoming a crucial resource.
We have decided to investigate the nature of the soil around Provins, as well as its water content evolution. We want to know how climate change is impacting agricultural activities, with a particular focus on the use of water.
We realized an experiment to analyse the water absorption rate of water and how to improve it. Adding organic matter (e.g. woodchips or crushed leaves) to soil, the water absorption rate increases from 24% to 60% – 70%.
A case study on lentils was realized. Its aim was to investigate if soil enriched in organic matter favours the growth of these plants.

1) Satellite images and data are useful to monitor the health state of crops and the water content of soil. Digital applications based on these data can help farmers to manage irrigation. 2) Organic matter (such as woodchips and crushed leaves) improves the water absorption rate of soil. Such an organic matter can be provided by fences and trees around fields. 3) Tests on lentils grown in different soils show that best results are given by soil enriched in crushed leaves.

We planned to work with other students from our high school to create a digital app for smartphones. This is intended to help farmers in the Provins region to better know the state of their fields and to improve irrigation efficiency.

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