Water regulation, crop production, and agricultural water management—Understanding farmer perspectives on irrigation efficiency

Knox, Jerry W.; Kay, Melvyn

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2011.06.007

Cited by 150 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Globally, 70% of water use is applied in irrigation of crops, making irrigation the largest consumptive user of fresh water [1]. Over 80% of freshwater withdrawals in developing countries is applied in irrigation [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Monitoring and Management Systems for Improving Sustainability in Precision Irrigation

et al. 2017

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Globally, the irrigation of crops is the largest consumptive user of fresh water. Water scarcity is increasing worldwide, resulting in tighter regulation of its use for agriculture. This necessitates the development of irrigation practices that are more efficient in the use of water but do not compromise crop quality and yield. Precision irrigation already achieves this goal, in part. The goal of precision irrigation is to accurately supply the crop water need in a timely manner and as spatially uniformly as possible. However, to maximize the benefits of precision irrigation, additional technologies need to be enabled and incorporated into agriculture. This paper discusses how incorporating adaptive decision support systems into precision irrigation management will enable significant advances in increasing the efficiency of current irrigation approaches. From the literature review, it is found that precision irrigation can be applied in achieving the environmental goals related to sustainability. The demonstrated economic benefits of precision irrigation in field-scale crop production is however minimal. It is argued that a proper combination of soil, plant and weather sensors providing real-time data to an adaptive decision support system provides an innovative platform for improving sustainability in irrigated agriculture. The review also shows that adaptive decision support systems based on model predictive control are able to adequately account for the time-varying nature of the soil-plant-atmosphere system while considering operational limitations and agronomic objectives in arriving at optimal irrigation decisions. It is concluded that significant improvements in crop yield and water savings can be achieved by incorporating model predictive control into precision irrigation decision support tools. Further improvements in water savings can also be realized by including deficit irrigation as part of the overall irrigation management strategy. Nevertheless, future research is needed for identifying crop response to regulated water deficits, developing improved soil moisture and plant sensors, and developing self-learning crop simulation frameworks that can be applied to evaluate adaptive decision support strategies related to irrigation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Monitoring and Management Systems for Improving Sustainability in Precision Irrigation

et al. 2017

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“…Also low pressure irrigation application systems are in widespread use nowadays so many can work with less than 10 m pressure. However, it is important to remember that for most farmers' the concept of water efficiency is linked to maximizing their farms' economic productivity rather than saving water per se, except perhaps when their own allocated resources may be inadequate (Knox et al, 2011). Jackson et al (2010) explored the links between irrigation water use and energy consumption in Australia, and the influence of water source and irrigation method on these relationships.…”

Section: Irrigation Systems At Farm Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The paradox of irrigation scheme modernization: more efficient water use linked to higher energy demand

Díaz

Pérez-Urrestarazu

Poyato

et al. 2011

Span. j. agric. res.

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In recent years, many modernization processes have been undertaken in irrigation districts with the main objective to improve water use efficiency. In southern Spain, many irrigation districts have either been modernized or are currently being improved. However, as part of the modernization process some unexpected side effects have been observed. This paper analyzes the relative advantages and limitations of modernization based on field data collected in a typical Andalusian irrigation district. Although the amount of water diverted for irrigation to farms has been considerably reduced, consumptive use has increased, mainly due to a change in crop rotations. The costs for operation and system maintenance have dramatically risen (400%) as the energy for pumping pressurized systems is much higher now compared to gravity fed systems used previously. Then a regional analysis in ten Southern Spain irrigation districts of the relationship between energy requirements and irrigation water applied has been carried out. Results show that to apply an average depth of 2590 m 3 ha, the energy required was estimated to be 1000 kWh ha -1 . A new approach is needed that involves efficient management of both water and energy resources in these modernized systems. Finally, some energy saving options are identified and discussed.Additional key words: energy use; performance indicators; pressurized irrigation networks; Spain. ResumenLa paradoja de la modernización de zonas regables: uso más eficiente del agua vinculado al aumento de la demanda energética En los últimos años se han llevado a cabo numerosos procesos de modernización en comunidades de regantes con el principal objetivo de mejorar la eficiencia en el uso del agua. En el sur de España se han modernizado, o están en proceso, muchas comunidades de regantes, pero se han observado efectos diferentes a los previstos. En este trabajo se analizan las ventajas e inconvenientes de la modernización usando datos de campo obtenidos en una comunidad de regantes típica de Andalucía. Aunque la cantidad de agua destinada para el riego de las parcelas se redujo, el uso consuntivo de agua se incrementó, fundamentalmente debido al cambio de cultivos. Los costes de operación y mantenimiento del sistema aumentaron considerablemente (400%) ya que la energía requerida para bombear el agua a la red de presión es muy superior en comparación con la situación anterior. Posteriormente se analiza la relación entre el uso del agua y el consumo energético en diez comunidades de regantes del sur de España. Los resultados muestran que para aplicar una lámina media de 2590 m 3 ha -1 , la energía requerida es de 1000 kWh ha -1 . Por ello, en este tipo de redes, cada vez es más necesario manejar los recursos agua y energía de una manera eficiente. Finalmente se discuten diversas medidas de ahorro energético.Palabras clave adicionales: eficiencia energética; España; indicadores de gestión; redes de riego a presión.

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“…De même, en adoptant une technologie d'irrigation, les producteurs cherchent à maximiser les bénéfices et à économiser l'eau (Knox et al, 2012). Par conséquent, des efforts de recherche sur trois axes majeures sont indispensables pour comprendre les facteurs d'adoption des technologies d'irrigation à savoir : (i) les perceptions de communautés locales sur les besoins en eau des cultures et les réponses de différentes technologies des cultures sur les rendements des cultures (Hsiao et al, 2007) ; (ii) les interactions entre les perspectives des agricultures, les pratiques innovantes de maitrise de l'eau et les bénéfices économiques de ces technologies (Miller, 2007) .…”

Section: Perspectives De Recherches Futuresunclassified

Synthese Bibliographique Sur Les Technologies De Maitrise De L’eau Pour Les Cultures Dans Les Zones Humides Tropicales

Sohou¹,

Kénou²,

Sogbedji³

et al. 2017

ESJ

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Water management for agriculture is a worry in the world. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on water control's technologies for the crops in wetlands. Comparison research work carried out on different irrigation systems revealed that drip irrigation can lead to 28-35% of water saving in relation to irrigation surface technic. Surface irrigation offers higher yield in relation to drip irrigation. It's necessary to improve knowledge and local communities' technics on different water control technologies in order to provide irrigation's functions in developing countries. Research efforts on three important concepts are necessary such as : (i) local communities perceptions on crops water need and the responses of differents crops technologies on crops yield ; (ii) interactions between agricultures prospects, water controls innvations and economics benefits of theses technologies.

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Water regulation, crop production, and agricultural water management—Understanding farmer perspectives on irrigation efficiency

Cited by 150 publications

References 16 publications

Advanced Monitoring and Management Systems for Improving Sustainability in Precision Irrigation

Advanced Monitoring and Management Systems for Improving Sustainability in Precision Irrigation

The paradox of irrigation scheme modernization: more efficient water use linked to higher energy demand

Synthese Bibliographique Sur Les Technologies De Maitrise De L’eau Pour Les Cultures Dans Les Zones Humides Tropicales

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