A two-year experiment was conducted with a local maize hybrid under full (F) and deficit (D) drip irrigation and rainfed conditions (R) to estimate maize evapotranspiration in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Three approaches, namely, A&P, SIMDualKc (SD), and vegetation index (VI), to estimate the actual crop coefficient (Kc act), the actual basal crop coefficient (Kcb act), and the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act), were applied with the dual crop coefficient method and remote sensing (RS) data for the first time. While Kcb act from all approaches matched FAO56 tabulated values, SD showed differences in comparison to A&P of up to 0.24 in D and R conditions, especially in the initial and mid-season stages. VI demonstrated very good performance in all treatments. In F, the obtained Kc act for all approaches during the initial and end stages were higher than the tabulated values, ranging from 0.71 to 0.87 for the Kc ini act and from 0.80 to 1.06 for the Kc end act, while the mid-season period showed very good agreement with the literature. The maize crop evapotranspiration range is 769–813 mm, 480–752 mm, and 332–618 mm for F, D, and R, respectively. The results confirmed the suitability of both approaches (SD and VI) to estimate maize crop evapotranspiration under F, with the VI approach demonstrating an advantage in calculating Kcb act, Kc act, and ETc act values under water stress conditions. The higher observed yields (67.6%) under irrigation conditions emphasize the need to transition from rainfed to irrigation-dependent agriculture in BiH, even for drought-resistant crops like maize.

Aim of study: A two-year experiment (2021-2022) was conducted to assess the response of a local maize hybrid BL-43 to different water regimes (full irrigation, deficit irrigation and rainfed) at two distinguished pedo-climatic locations (Aleksandrovac and Butmir) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Area of study: The field experiment was located in Aleksandrovac (near Banja Luka) and Butmir (near Sarajevo) in BiH. Material and methods: A randomized block design was adopted at both experimental locations with three replicates. An Excel-based irrigation tool was used to manage crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling. Main results: Crop response to water was affected by site-specific agronomic management, the duration of phenological stages and their interconnection with precipitation events. At both locations, the effect of the water inputs on grain yield was statistically significant confirming the beneficial impact of irrigation. The effect of water stress on yield was particularly pronounced at Aleksandrovac, which was under water and temperature stresses during flowering time. During both seasons and for all water regimes, the total average grain yield was greater at Butmir than at Aleksandrovac for 38% and 27%, respectively. Research highlights: This is the first experimental study conducted in BiH on the effect of irrigation on maize grain production under different pedoclimatic conditions. The study emphasizes the need for knowledge regarding the impacts that climate change is having on the productivity of one of the region's most important crops.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) accumulates challenges in the areas of research and innovation (R&I), agricultural water management (AWM) and their intersection. In the decade 2012–2022, the BiH gross domestic product per capita in current US$ increased by 6.2% annually. However, improvements are slowly arriving in R&I and AWM. In this period, relevant challenges to AWM have materialized, such as climate change effects or the need to implement an interconnected vision of ecosystem services. In the R&I arena, the societal demand for knowledge goods remains low, while the reforms of higher education and R&I funding systems have become urgent. This paper set out to elaborate a realistic and feasible policy roadmap to consolidate R&I in AWM in BiH. The methodology included an assessment of policies and sector performance, the analysis of stakeholder perceptions, the development of strategic directions and the design of a strategy. Desk research and stakeholder consultations (33 interviews, six workshops, 179 persons in total) were used to take stock of the current situation and expectations for the future. Stakeholders were divided into knowledge supply and knowledge demand, with five and six subcategories, respectively. Relations were established among the key enabling factors, the needs and the capacities of the involved stakeholders. The TOWS (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths) matrix permitted to identify policy strategies. A Weaknesses – Opportunities, conservative or mini-maxi strategy was selected, owing to the relevance of system weaknesses (such as low investments, poor return of R&I to society or low R&I for AWM adaptation) and opportunities (such as the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, Smart Specialization or regional partnerships). The policy roadmap was structured along three policy goals: strengthen R&I, strengthen AWM and identify / fund local R&I priorities for AWM. Policy goals included policy instruments promoting eco-efficient use of resources and sustainable development of rural areas.

The increased need for smart management of agricultural resources resulted in the preparation and implementation of H2020 project SMARTWATER. This publication aims to present the main outcomes of SMARTWATER in three years of implementation (2021-2023), to encourage relevant target groups to participate in the action in 2024 and to promote smart management of agricultural resources. During project implementation different results were obtained. SMARTWATER team will continue with different twinning activities in 2024 aiming to promote smart agriculture practices, increase the competencies of scientists and young researchers and disseminate the project outcomes.

Agricultural practices in Bosnia and Hercegovina demand different improvements, including smart management of land and water resources. A new H2020 project started in 2021 in this regard. The objective of this publication is to spread knowledge about SMARTWATER project by describing different achievements in two years of implementation (2021-2022), to invite target groups to participate in the action and to promote smart agricultural practices. Presented results indicate that the implementation is at a satisfactory level. Project consortium will continue with efforts, including twinning, networking, research, dissemination and increasing competency and fund rising skills.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) erosion map was made in 1985, however, over a period of 35 years, there has been a substantial change in the values of most erosion factors, resulting in the change of the erosion intensity. Changes relate to demographics, urbanization and land use as well as climate. The increase in temperature and the occurrence of extremes caused significant environmental and economic consequences (May 2014 floods). This situation is more pronounced in the northern part of the country, especially in the lower parts of the larger basins. Risk assessment procedures using modern software and hardware solutions can help decision-makers to recognize sites where forest should not be cut down, certain crops should not be grown or soil conversation measures are necessary. Therefore, the aim of this research is to estimate the intensity of erosion processes in one such watershed in BiH the Brka watershed, taking into consideration current conditions and using modern hardware and software solutions. To calculate erosion intensity the Gavrilovic method supported with GIS techniques was used. The soil protection (x), soil erodibility (y) and type and extent of erosion (φ) coefficients were calculated using digital maps: CORINE 2018 (grid size 100 m x 100 m) land cover, soil map of BiH and open-source satellite images. The slope was calculated from the BiH digital elevation model (25 m x 25 m). The Brka watershed area (184.09 km 2 ) was divided into four basins: Maočka Rijeka (51.56 km 2 ), Rahička Rijeka (24.26 km 2 ), Zovičica (75.30 km 2 ) and direct basin of Brka (32.94 km 2 ). The highest average erosion intensity was determined for Zovičica basin, where Z=0.56. The calculated mean annual production of sediment per basin varies from 5,746 for Rahička Rijeka to 57,089 m 3 year -1 for Zovičica, with total Brka river watershed sediment yield of 120,754 m 3 year -1 .

The analysis of meteorological data from the period 1961–2014 show the rise in the mean annual temperature in the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The changes are more pronounced in the central – hilly part of the country. The increase in annual air temperature ranges from 0.4 to 1.0°C per decade, whereas temperature increases during vegetation period were up to 1.2°C per decade. Additionally, increases in air temperature over the last fourteen years are even more pronounced. Changed distribution of precipitation, significant variations and the increasing soil moisture deficit during vegetation period (April – September) are also evident in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The increase in air temperature combined with changes in the distribution of precipitation has resulted in a change of evapotranspiration and annual water balance. The main objective of this study was to determine and compare the severity of changes in mean annual water balance components between different regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Monthly weather data from 26 weather stations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the time period of 50 years (1967 – 2016) were used to determine and analyze impact of climate change on the following water balance components: temperature, precipitation, reference evapotranspiration, actual evapotranspiration, total runoff, soil moisture deficit and amount of snow. The results indicate that climate change has a substantial effect on the all water balance components. Air temperature (0.21 - 0.7 o C per decade), reference evapotranspiration (0.61 - 42.81 mm per decade) and soil moisture deficit (1.35 - 27.71 mm per decade) show an increasing trend over the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the strongest increase in the north-west part of the country.