Assessment of Agricultural Drought Vulnerability with Focus on Upland Fields and Identification of Primary Management Areas

Abstract

Robust water management systems are crucial for sustainable water use, particularly considering rapidly changing, ever-improving water supply system technologies. However, the establishment of specific management standards in upland fields is challenging, as several types of crops are cultivated in upland fields. Hence, the timing and required amount of water vary greatly, further rendering drought response challenging. In this study, we evaluated the agricultural drought vulnerability of South Korean upland fields, considering the lack of water resources, to establish preliminary drought damage prevention measures. The Technique for Order of Preference method was used for the drought vulnerability assessment, and the assessment indicators used were annual rainfall, number of dry days, upland field area, available soil water capacity, and groundwater usage. The 20 areas of highest vulnerability comprised large cultivation areas with minimal subsurface-water usage, except for areas where the number of dry days appeared to be the major factor for drought vulnerability. Damage caused by recurring droughts accumulated over time; thus, upland-field-oriented management may be required and can even be used in cases where insufficient drought information is available. Future studies can use the proposed method while considering assessment factors that describe upland field conditions.