scholarly journals Water savings potentials of irrigation systems: global simulation of processes and linkages

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 3073-3091 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jägermeyr ◽  
D. Gerten ◽  
J. Heinke ◽  
S. Schaphoff ◽  
M. Kummu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Efficiency ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Water Withdrawal ◽  
Indus Basin ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Regional Patterns

Abstract. Global agricultural production is heavily sustained by irrigation, but irrigation system efficiencies are often surprisingly low. However, our knowledge of irrigation efficiencies is mostly confined to rough indicative estimates for countries or regions that do not account for spatiotemporal heterogeneity due to climate and other biophysical dependencies. To allow for refined estimates of global agricultural water use, and of water saving and water productivity potentials constrained by biophysical processes and also non-trivial downstream effects, we incorporated a process-based representation of the three major irrigation systems (surface, sprinkler, and drip) into a bio- and agrosphere model, LPJmL. Based on this enhanced model we provide a gridded world map of irrigation efficiencies that are calculated in direct linkage to differences in system types, crop types, climatic and hydrologic conditions, and overall crop management. We find pronounced regional patterns in beneficial irrigation efficiency (a refined irrigation efficiency indicator accounting for crop-productive water consumption only), due to differences in these features, with the lowest values (< 30 %) in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and the highest values (> 60 %) in Europe and North America. We arrive at an estimate of global irrigation water withdrawal of 2469 km3 (2004–2009 average); irrigation water consumption is calculated to be 1257 km3, of which 608 km3 are non-beneficially consumed, i.e., lost through evaporation, interception, and conveyance. Replacing surface systems by sprinkler or drip systems could, on average across the world's river basins, reduce the non-beneficial consumption at river basin level by 54 and 76 %, respectively, while maintaining the current level of crop yields. Accordingly, crop water productivity would increase by 9 and 15 %, respectively, and by much more in specific regions such as in the Indus basin. This study significantly advances the global quantification of irrigation systems while providing a framework for assessing potential future transitions in these systems. In this paper, presented opportunities associated with irrigation improvements are significant and suggest that they should be considered an important means on the way to sustainable food security.

scholarly journals Water savings potentials of irrigation systems: dynamic global simulation

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 3593-3644 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jägermeyr ◽  
D. Gerten ◽  
J. Heinke ◽  
S. Schaphoff ◽  
M. Kummu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Efficiency ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Water Withdrawal ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Dynamic Representation

Abstract. Global agricultural production is heavily sustained by irrigation, but irrigation system efficiencies are often surprisingly low. However, our knowledge of irrigation efficiencies is mostly confined to rough indicative estimates for countries or regions that do not account for spatio-temporal heterogeneity due to climate and other biophysical dependencies. To allow for refined estimates of global agricultural water use, and of water saving and water productivity potentials constrained by biophysical processes and also non-trivial downstream effects, we incorporated a dynamic representation of the three major irrigation systems (surface, sprinkler, and drip) into a process-based bio- and agrosphere model, LPJmL. Based on this enhanced model we provide a gridded worldmap of dynamically retrieved irrigation efficiencies reflecting differences in system types, crop types, climatic and hydrologic conditions, and overall crop management. We find pronounced regional patterns in beneficial irrigation efficiency (a refined irrigation efficiency indicator accounting for crop-productive water consumption only), due to differences in these features, with lowest values (< 30%) in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and highest values (> 60%) in Europe and North America. We arrive at an estimate of global irrigation water withdrawal of 2396 km3 (2004–2009 average); irrigation water consumption is calculated to be 1212 km3, of which 511 km3 are non-beneficially consumed, i.e. lost through evaporation, interception, and conveyance. Replacing surface systems by sprinkler or drip systems could, on average across the world's river basins, reduce the non-beneficial consumption at river basin level by 54 and 76%, respectively, while maintaining the current level of crop yields. Accordingly, crop water productivity would increase by 9 and 15%, respectively, and by much more in specific regions such as in the Indus basin. This study significantly advances the global quantification of irrigation systems while providing a framework for assessing potential future transitions in these systems. Here presented opportunities associated with irrigation improvements are significant and suggest that they should be considered an important means on the way to sustainable food security.

scholarly journals Experimental Evaluation of Conservation Agriculture with Drip Irrigation for Water Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tewodros Assefa ◽  
Manoj Jha ◽  
Manuel Reyes ◽  
Seifu Tilahun ◽  
Abeyou Worqlul
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Drip Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Water Use

A field-scale experimental study was conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia and Ghana) to examine the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) with drip irrigation system on water productivity in vegetable home gardens. CA here refers to minimum soil disturbance (no-till), year-round organic mulch cover, and diverse cropping in the rotation. A total of 28 farmers (13 farmers in Ethiopia and 15 farmers in Ghana) participated in this experiment. The experimental setup was a paired ‘t’ design on a 100 m2 plot; where half of the plot was assigned to CA and the other half to conventional tillage (CT), both under drip irrigation system. Irrigation water use and crop yield were monitored for three seasons in Ethiopia and one season in Ghana for vegetable production including garlic, onion, cabbage, tomato, and sweet potato. Irrigation water use was substantially lower under CA, 18% to 45.6%, with a substantial increase in crop yields, 9% to about two-fold, when compared with CT practice for the various vegetables. Crop yields and irrigation water uses were combined into one metric, water productivity, for the statistical analysis on the effect of CA with drip irrigation system. One-tailed paired ‘t’ test statistical analysis was used to examine if the mean water productivity in CA is higher than that of CT. Water productivity was found to be significantly improved (α = 0.05) under the CA practice; 100%, 120%, 222%, 33%, and 49% for garlic, onion, tomato, cabbage, and sweet potato respectively. This could be due to the improvement of soil quality and structure due to CA practice, adding nutrients to the soil and sticking soil particles together (increase soil aggregates). Irrigation water productivity for tomato under CA (5.17 kg m−3 in CA as compared to 1.61 kg m−3 in CT) is found to be highest when compared to water productivity for the other vegetables. The mulch cover provided protection for the tomatoes from direct contact with the soil and minimized the chances of soil-borne diseases. Adapting to CA practices with drip irrigation in vegetable home gardens is, therefore, a feasible strategy to improve water use efficiency, and to intensify crop yield, which directly contributes towards the sustainability of livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the region.

ОЦЕНКА ТЕХНИЧЕСКОГО СОСТОЯНИЯ ОРОСИТЕЛЬНЫХ СИСТЕМ НА СОВРЕМЕННОМ УРОВНЕ И СИТУАЦИОННЫЙ ПРОГНОЗ ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ ВОДОПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ В ДОЛГОСРОЧНОЙ ПЕРСПЕКТИВЕ (2021 - 2030 гг.)

2020 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
S.D. Isaeva ◽  
A.L. Buber
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Systems Analysis ◽  
Irrigation Efficiency ◽  
Water Withdrawal ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Irrigation Methods ◽  
Irrigated Area

В статье проведен анализ состояния оросительных, в том числе рисовых, систем Краснодарского края за 20 лет. Рассмотрены основные способы полива, динамика орошаемой площади, суммарной водоподачи, оросительные нормы, объем коллекторно-дренажного стока и др. Выявлено сокращение поливаемых земель в Краснодарском крае, снижение суммарного водозабора и оросительных норм. Выполнен аналитический прогноз рассмотренных показателей на перспективу до 2030 г. и предложены меры по развитию и повышению эффективности орошения в Краснодарском крае, прежде всего за счет строгого планирования водопользования на основе цифровых технологий и математического моделирования.Сondition of irrigation systems analysis was carried out in the Krasnodar Territory. Irrigation methods, dynamics of irrigated area, total water supply, irrigation norms are considered. Reduction of irrigated land, total water withdrawal and irrigation norms has been established in the Krasnodar Territory. An analytical forecast of the considered indicators for the future until 2030 has been completed. Measures to develop and improve irrigation efficiency are proposed. Above all, this is rigorous water use planning based on digital technology and mathematical modeling.

Calculation framework for agricultural irrigation water consumption in multi-source irrigation systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 244 ◽  
pp. 106603
Author(s):  
Di Wu ◽  
Yuanlai Cui ◽  
Dacheng Li ◽  
Manyu Chen ◽  
Xugang Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Agricultural Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Systems

scholarly journals Impacts of irrigation and nitrate fertilization scenarios on groundwater resources quantity and quality of Almyros Basin, Greece

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Lyra ◽  
Athanasios Loukas ◽  
Pantelis Sidiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Seawater Intrusion ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Nitrate Contamination ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Nitrate Fertilization

Abstract Irrigation and nitrate fertilization scenarios were combined and simulated for the crop water irrigation demands and nitrogen applications based on experiments on crop cultivation practices. Two irrigation practices of deficit irrigation and rainfed conditions were applied in the main crop types of the Almyros Basin, a coastal basin located in Thessaly, Greece. The groundwater system of Almyros suffers from progressive water balance deficit, nitrate contamination and seawater intrusion due to the groundwater abstractions for agricultural irrigation to cover crop water demands in the dry season. The impacts of the irrigation and nitrate fertilization scenarios on groundwater resources quantity and quality were simulated with the Integrated Modelling System consisting of models of surface hydrology (UTHBAL), groundwater hydrology (MODFLOW), crop growth/nitrates leaching (REPIC), contaminant transport (MT3DMS), and seawater intrusion (SEAWAT), for the historical period of 1991–2018. The results of the scenarios were evaluated with the indicators of Crop Water Productivity (CWP) for crop yields and irrigation water, Partial Factor Productivity (PFP) for Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Economic Water Productivity (EWP) for the gross profits of irrigation water.

scholarly journals Low-Energy Precision Application (LEPA) Irrigation: A Forty-Year Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1343-1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Bordovsky
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Irrigation Methods

Abstract. The low-energy precision application (LEPA) irrigation concept was developed 40 years ago (ca. 1978) to address the depletion of irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer and the sharp increase in pumping costs caused by the 1970s fuel crisis occurring at that time in the Texas High Plains. The LEPA method applies water to the soil surface at low pressure using a tower-truss irrigation system that continually moves through the field. This method brought changes in irrigation equipment and management that resulted in improvements in water productivity, particularly in semi-arid locations with diminishing water supplies. A review of published information pertaining to LEPA history, evaluation, and usage was performed. On landscapes of less than 1% slope, negative crop yield effects caused by irrigation runoff and start-stop system alignment were overcome with appropriately spaced basins, or furrow checks, and multiple irrigations over the course of the growing season. No consistent yield advantage at any level of irrigation was documented by placing water in every furrow (1 m spacing) compared to alternate furrows (2 m spacing). In irrigation treatments having =50% of the estimated full irrigation quantity, LEPA resulted in a 16% yield increase over sprinkler methods, although subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) resulted in a 14% yield increase over LEPA. At irrigation levels &gt;50% of full irrigation, crop yields of sprinkler treatments were only slightly less than those of LEPA, and SDI yields were 7% greater than LEPA. The LEPA irrigation method was the catalyst for innovations in chemigation, no-till planting, and site-specific irrigation. As irrigation water becomes more limited, use and proper management of optimum irrigation methods will be critical. Keywords: Basin tillage, Chemigation, Evapotranspiration, Irrigation methods, LEPA, Low-energy precision application, Runoff, Spray irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation, Uniformity, Water use efficiency.

scholarly journals Sustainable irrigation based on co-regulation of soil water supply and atmospheric evaporative demand

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingwen Zhang ◽  
Kaiyu Guan ◽  
Bin Peng ◽  
Ming Pan ◽  
Wang Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Soil Water Deficit ◽  
Irrigation Scheme ◽  
Irrigation Water Use

AbstractIrrigation is an important adaptation to reduce crop yield loss due to water stress from both soil water deficit (low soil moisture) and atmospheric aridity (high vapor pressure deficit, VPD). Traditionally, irrigation has primarily focused on soil water deficit. Observational evidence demonstrates that stomatal conductance is co-regulated by soil moisture and VPD from water supply and demand aspects. Here we use a validated hydraulically-driven ecosystem model to reproduce the co-regulation pattern. Specifically, we propose a plant-centric irrigation scheme considering water supply-demand dynamics (SDD), and compare it with soil-moisture-based irrigation scheme (management allowable depletion, MAD) for continuous maize cropping systems in Nebraska, United States. We find that, under current climate conditions, the plant-centric SDD irrigation scheme combining soil moisture and VPD, could significantly reduce irrigation water use (−24.0%) while maintaining crop yields, and increase economic profits (+11.2%) and irrigation water productivity (+25.2%) compared with MAD, thus SDD could significantly improve water sustainability.

scholarly journals Basin-wide water accounting using remote sensing data: the case of transboundary Indus Basin

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 12921-12958 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Karimi ◽  
W. G. M. Bastiaanssen ◽  
D. Molden ◽  
M. J. M. Cheema
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Information ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Soil Evaporation ◽  
Indus Basin ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Total Consumption ◽  
Water Depletion ◽  
Water Accounting

Abstract. The paper describes the application of a new Water Accounting Plus (WA+) framework to produce spatial information on water flows, sinks, uses, storages and assets, in the Indus Basin, South Asia. It demonstrates how satellite-derived estimates of land use, land cover, rainfall, evaporation (E), transpiration (T), interception (I) and biomass production can be used in the context of WA+. The results for one selected year showed that total annual water depletion in the basin (502 km3) plus outflows (21 km3) exceeded total precipitation (482 km3). The deficit in supply was augmented through abstractions beyond actual capacity, mainly from groundwater storage (30 km3). The "landscape ET" (depletion directly from rainfall) was 344 km3 (69% of total consumption). "Blue water" depletion ("utilized flow") was 158 km3 (31%). Agriculture was the biggest water consumer and accounted for 59% of the total depletion (297 km3), of which 85% (254 km3) was through irrigated agriculture and the remaining 15% (44 km3) through rainfed systems. While the estimated basin irrigation efficiency was 0.84, due to excessive evaporative losses in agricultural areas, half of all water consumption in the basin was non-beneficial. Average rainfed crop yields were 0.9 t ha−1 and 7.8 t ha−1 for two irrigated crop growing seasons combined. Water productivity was low due to a lack of proper agronomical practices and poor farm water management. The paper concludes that the opportunity for a food-secured and sustainable future for the Indus Basin lies in focusing on reducing soil evaporation. Results of future scenario analyses suggest that by implementing techniques to convert soil evaporation to crop transpiration will not only increase production but can also result in significant water savings that would ease the pressure on the fast declining storage.

Maize productivity in southern New South Wales under furrow and pressurised irrigation

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. O'Neill ◽  
E. Humphreys ◽  
J. Louis ◽  
A. Katupitiya
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Soil Variability ◽  
Water Deficit Stress ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Subsurface Drip

Irrigation farmers in the Murray–Darling Basin of Australia are under considerable pressure to reduce the amount of water they use for irrigation, while sustaining production and profitability. Changing from surface to pressurised irrigation systems may provide some or all of these outcomes; however, little is known about the performance of alternative irrigation methods for broadacre annual crops in this region. Therefore, a demonstration site for comparing furrow, subsurface drip and sprinkler irrigation was established on a representative clay soil in the Coleambally Irrigation Area, NSW. The performance of maize (Zea mays L.) under the three irrigation systems was compared during the 2004–05 season. Subsurface drip irrigated maize out-performed sprinkler and furrow irrigated maize in terms of grain yield (drip 11.8 t/ha, sprinkler 10.5 t/ha, furrow 10.1 t/ha at 14% moisture), net irrigation water application (drip 5.1 ML/ha, sprinkler 6.2 ML/ha, furrow 5.3 ML/ha), net irrigation water productivity (drip 2.3 t/ML, sprinkler 1.7 t/ML, furrow 1.9 t/ML) and total water productivity (drip 1.7 t/ML, sprinkler 1.4 t/ML, furrow 1.3 t/ML). Thus, subsurface drip irrigation saved ~30% of the total amount of water (irrigation, rain, soil water) needed to produce the same quantity of grain using furrow irrigation, while sprinkler irrigation saved ~8% of the water used. The higher net irrigation with sprinkler irrigation was largely due to the lower soil water content in the sprinkler block at the time of sowing. An EM31 survey indicated considerable spatial soil variability within each irrigation block, and all irrigation systems had spatially variable water distribution. Yield variability was very high within all irrigation systems, and appeared to be more strongly associated with irrigation variability than soil variability. All irrigation blocks had large patches of early senescence and poor cob fill, which appeared to be due to nitrogen and/or water deficit stress. We expect that crop performance under all irrigation systems can be improved by improving irrigation, soil and N management.

scholarly journals Adaptation of the technology of cultivation of different varieties of rice for ripeness when watering with sprinkling

2020 ◽  
pp. 56-58
Author(s):  
Konstantin Anatolyevich Rodin ◽  
Ainagul Berkbaevna Nevezhina ◽  
Viktor Bisengalievich Narushev
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
The Cost

The results of long-term scientific and industrial research are presented, which shows that the cultivation of rice during sprinkling on the lands of LLC Agrocomplex "Prikubansky" of the Krasnodar territory is possible and economically feasible. The proposed technology of irrigation of rice by sprinkling reduces the cost of irrigation water by 5-10 times compared to the traditional one, removes problems related to the environment, which depend on the continuous flooding of the cheques with a layer of water, provides high productivity and economic effect, and allows you to cultivate rice on General-purpose irrigation systems. When evaluating the varieties Volgogradskya, sonet and Novator, belonging to the early-ripe group, watered by sprinkling, the low-water-consumption variety Volgogradskya proved to be the most preferable in the experimental zone. It took 116 days to complete its life cycle with the lowest sum of average air temperatures of 2489.3 0C. It formed a yield of 5.50 t / ha of grain over the years of experiments, this is 1.50 t / ha more than the Sonet variety and 1.90 t/ha novator.

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