Sustainable irrigation technologies: a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus perspective towards achieving more crop per drop per joule per hectare

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural intensification requires irrigation methods and strategies to minimise yield penalties while optimising water, land and energy use efficiencies. We assessed, from a silo-based and integrated water-energy-food (WEF) nexus perspective, the performance of irrigation technologies in different agro-climatic regions. Secondary to this, we assessed the impact of adopting systematic approaches such as the WEF nexus on improving efficiency in irrigated agriculture through irrigation modernization. The evidence-based perspectives of silo-based performances individually considered the metrics of yield (Y), water use efficiency (WUE), and energy productivity (EP). The WEF nexus approach applied sustainability polygons to integrate the three metrics into a nexus index representing the holistic performance of the irrigation technologies. Silo-based performance in temperate regions suggests net gains for WUE (+1.10 kg.m-3) and Y (+6.29 ton.ha-1) when transitioning from furrow to sprinkler irrigation, with a net loss in EP (-3.82 ton.MJ-1). There is potential for net loss on EP (-3.33 ton.MJ-1) when transitioning from furrow to drip system in temperate regions. The best performance of irrigation technologies in dry regions in water, energy and food silos was achieved by sprinkler, drip and furrow irrigation systems, respectively. Thus, appraising irrigation technologies from a silos perspective promotes individual silos, which renders an unsustainable picture of the performance of irrigation systems. The integrative WEF nexus approach successfully highlighted the trade-offs and synergies in the nexus of water, energy and food in irrigated agriculture. Drip irrigation led all irrigation technologies in WEF nexus performance in dry (21.44 unit2), tropical (23.98 unit2), and temperate regions (47.28 unit2). Overall, the irrigation modernisation pathway to drip technology from either furrow or sprinkler systems improves irrigated agriculture's WEF nexus performance in all three regions for more crop per drop per joule per hectare under climate change. This has positive potential to influence the sustainability of planetary boundaries.

Research and innovation in agricultural water management for a water‐secure world

“…For example, a need exists to systematically appraise irrigation technologies and assess their performance at the field, farm and irrigation command scales, not just from a water perspective, but including energy, environment and economic considerations to inform sustainable transitions. For example, a study by Taguta, Dirwai, et al (2022) used an integrated WEF nexus approach to assess the potential benefits of transitioning among furrow, sprinkler and trickle irrigation technologies in different agro‐climatic zones. The results showed that shifting from flood irrigation to sprinkler and drip systems improved water productivity (WP).…”

“…Approaches to AWM research and innovation have traditionally been water-centric and focused at the field and scheme scales (Scheierling et al, 2014(Scheierling et al, , 2016Scheierling & Treguer, 2018;Taguta, Dirwai, et al, 2022). While this proved essential for producing 'more crop per drop' at a local scale, there is potential for trade-offs at larger scales such as landscapes and river basins due to the efficiency paradox (Grafton et al, 2018) or the rebound effect as farmers are tempted to expand their area or by switching to high-value water-intensive crops using the saved water (Hamidov, Kasymov, et al, 2022).…”

“…Thus, planning, appraisal and implementation of AWM initiatives, technical and management, should be informed by the local context of challenges and priorities from a nexus planning perspective. As we wait for or work on the development of better tools to plan and appraise agriculture from a nexus perspective, existing tools for integrative analysis and visualization include indices and sustainability polygons/radar charts/spider diagrams (FAO, 2021a(FAO, , 2021bTaguta, Dirwai, et al, 2022).…”

Integrated assessment of irrigation and agriculture management challenges in Nepal: An interdisciplinary perspective

“…The second constraint is the challenges around agricultural water management including issues like year-round availability of irrigation water, irrigation technologies, technical support to farmers, fertilizer, and seeds [ [16] , [21] , [22] ]. In Nepal, during the dry season, the mid and tail sections of the canal system experience water shortage particularly within the surface irrigation network.…”

Irrigation development as a booster of the multifunctional roles of paddy rice

“…Under this framework, it is reasonable to think that a possible way to increase rice production could be to increase the area devoted to paddy rice linked to increasing the irrigated land. Nevertheless, new irrigation developments must align with the current metanarratives, such as the sustainability principles, the ecosystem services and the nexus of water-food-marketenergy-security (Fonteh, 2017;Ofosu et al, 2014;Taguta et al, 2022). With this in mind, sustainable water management should be promoted, to enhance the multifunctional roles of paddy rice (food and straw provision, flood control, biodiversity, etc.).…”