Agricultural Water Management under Water Scarcity in Algeria: Practices and Future Perspectives

A growing body of literature on "threshold" adoption models argues that adoption and diffusion patterns of a new technology are the result of explicit maximizing behavior of a heterogeneous population. Unlike the views of "epidemic" models of Z. Griliches and E. Mansfield, where diffusion is considered as a process of imitation and its speed is affected by profitability and other economic considerations alone,1 the threshold approach requires identification of the various dimensions of heterogeneity in the population that are relevant for the adoption of specific technology and incorporates them in the analytical study.2 M. Caswell and D. Zilberman have identified land quality and well depth as important factors in the choice of irrigation technology.3 Therefore, economic analyses of adoption and diffusion of irrigation technology choices should explicitly incorporate physical (engineering and agronomic) and irrigation-specific features of the new technology, such as irrigation efficiency and capital and equipment costs, as well as locational characteristics such as land quality, water quality, and so on, in addition to economic factors. It is important for farmers, manufacturers of irrigation equipment, and policymakers to understand the conditions under which a specific technology, such as drip, is .desirable and is likely to be adopted, as well as the forces that affect the diffusion. Understanding the adoption patterns of drip irrigation technology is required for the formulation of water, energy, and land management policies. Furthermore, it is not sufficient to know whether drip irrigation is likely to be adopted in a particular field; it is equally important to determine to what extent it will be used.

Efficient water management in irrigated agriculture is crucial for sustaining food production and addressing water scarcity in semi-arid basins. In the Tapi basin, India, an imbalance between water withdrawals and agricultural water demand (AWD) has led to constant deficits and severe water scarcity. Using the SPHY-WA framework, this study quantified water withdrawals, consumed water, and water scarcity for irrigated croplands from 2003 to 2020. Average agricultural withdrawals were 12.0 BCM/year, primarily sourced from groundwater (83%), while AWD was estimated at 39.0 BCM/year, resulting in an average water deficit of 26.0 BCM/year. Consumed water averaged 8.0 BCM/year, with 4.0 BCM/year contributing to return flows. The Water Scarcity Index (WSI) analysis revealed severe to extreme water scarcity (WSI > 1) across the basin, with critical hotspots in Nashik, Jalgaon, Buldana, Aurangabad, and Dhule districts. Temporal trends showed declining withdrawals and stable demand, widening the supply-demand gap, particularly during dry years. Inefficient irrigation, excessive blue water evapotranspiration, and extensive cropland acreage were identified as key contributors to water scarcity. This study underscores the need for improving irrigation efficiency and optimizing water use in agriculture. The integration of WSI into the SPHY-WA framework enhances spatiotemporal analysis, providing actionable insights for sustainable water resource management in water-stressed regions.

The recently completed Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture concluded that globally there are sufficient land and water resources to produce food for a growing population over the next 50 years. But it is probable that today’s trends, if continued, will lead to water crises in many parts of the world. Yearly some 7 100 billion cubic meters (m3) of water are evaporated by crops to meet global food demand, equivalent to more than 3 000 litres per person per day. With a growing population, rising incomes and changes in diets, food demand will increase rapidly. Demand for biomass for biofuels will further drive the demand for agricultural products and hence agricultural water. Some forecasts foresee a doubling of agricultural water demand in the coming 50 years. This is reason for concern as already 1.2 billion people live in areas where water is insufficient to meet all demands. Fortunately, there seems much scope to improve productive use of water and get more out of a unit of water. This paper explores forecasts of global agricultural water demand and scenarios to meet this. It concludes with challenges in future water supply.

Rising agricultural water scarcity in China is driven by expansion of irrigated cropland in water scarce regions

Investing in water for food, ecosystems, and livelihoods: An overview of the comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture

Background: Water is a precious resource that needs increase in its use efficiency for higher productivity of crops. The wheat crop responds more with irrigation and it is cultivated in large area after rice which requires understanding of wheat water requirements in the region for a practical guide for stakeholders involved in agricultural planning and water resource management. Methods: The present research aims to assess the irrigation water requirement of wheat crop in the specific agro-climatic conditions of South Bihar by using the FAO CROPWAT 8.0 model, a widely recognized tool for calculating crop water requirements. Result: Meteorological and crop-specific parameters of Patna were used in the model to estimate water requirement of wheat. The total crop water requirement for wheat crop in South Bihar was 267.2 mm with 70% irrigation efficiency. The gross and net irrigation requirement was 299.6 mm and 209.7 mm respectively scheduled in four irrigations. The actual irrigation requirement by the crop was 230.9 mm and the actual water use by the crop was 267.2 mm. The moisture deficit in the soil at the time of harvest was 93.25 mm.

This paper investigates the multifaceted challenges of water scarcity and sustainable agricultural development in arid and semi-arid regions, using the Absheron Peninsula as a case study. Emphasizing the critical role of renewable energy integration, the research explores how solar-powered technologies—ranging from solar treatment systems to photovoltaic-driven irrigation—can revolutionize water resource management for agricultural purposes. A 12-month empirical study, employing high-precision solar radiation measurements and advanced statistical analyses, reveals significant seasonal variability in solar energy availability and its synchronicity with agricultural water demands. The study synthesizes data on solar energy yields, system efficiencies, and temperature correlations to evaluate the feasibility of solar-powered solutions. By correlating solar energy availability with regional irrigation requirements, the research underscores the operational viability of technologies such as desalination, filtration, and UV disinfection in addressing seasonal water scarcity. Furthermore, the integration of sustainability metrics, including energy return on investment (EROI) and carbon offset potential, highlights the broader environmental and economic benefits of adopting solar-powered systems. This work also delves into the intersection of policy and technology, arguing for the alignment of innovative water policies with renewable energy frameworks to ensure long-term sustainability. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, engineers, and agricultural practitioners, advocating for scalable, adaptable solutions that enhance food security, minimize dependency on non-renewable resources, and foster climate resilience. By situating these innovations within the context of global sustainability goals, the study offers a replicable model for integrating renewable energy into agricultural water management, with implications for similarly resource-constrained regions worldwide. Keywords: Solar-powered technologies, water scarcity, solar irrigation systems, photovoltaic energy, agricultural sustainability

Quantifying the impacts of agricultural alteration and climate change on the water cycle dynamics in a headwater catchment of Lake Urmia Basin

HighlightsAWMN had a significant impact on enhancing agricultural production efficiency. Irrigated land area represented by the Network partners reached 1.20 million ha.On a 16-yr average, the reduction in water withdrawal was 144 mm/ha per growing season.AWMN reduced irrigation water withdrawal by 5 billion m3 from 2005 to 2020.$304 million was saved due to consuming less diesel fuel for pumping irrigation water.A total reduction of 900,000 tons in CO2 emissions was achieved from 2005 to 2020.Abstract. To achieve impact for water resources conservation enhancement and agricultural crop water productivity (CWP) per unit of input for meeting the food, fiber, feed, fuel, finance, and farmstead (6Fs) needs of the rapidly increasing global population, societies must find innovative ways to enable the transfer of research- and science-based data, knowledge, information, technology, and strategies for adoption in agricultural production fields. The objective of this study is to present historical perspectives on the evolution of agriculture and agricultural water management in different parts of the world and present a modern-era agricultural water management network, its objectives, and functions in achieving large-scale impacts to enhance water resource management. The Agricultural Water Management Network (AWMN) was established in 2005 to integrate science, research, and education/outreach principles into producers’ practices to help them make better-informed decisions, conserve water and energy resources, reduce CO2 emissions, and enhance CWP. Through coordinated research, demonstration, and education programs, the AWMN significantly enhanced water resource management and the protection of the environment. It contributed to the sustainability of natural resources and the agricultural economy through the adoption of innovative methodologies and strategies. Since the beginning of the AWMN, over 18,000 producers, crop consultants, state and federal agency personnel, irrigation district personnel, agricultural industry personnel, and other professionals have participated as learners and adopters in over 800 Extension, education, and/or outreach programs conducted by the AWMN team between 2005 and 2020. The irrigated land area represented by the Network partners and collaborators reached over 1.20 million ha in 2020. Water withdrawal for irrigation was reduced from 119 mm/ha per growing season in 2006 to 163 mm/ha per growing season in 2020, with a 16-year average of 144 mm/ha, due to the adoption of technologies and management strategies demonstrated and taught in the Network. Between 2005 and 2020, the AWMN is estimated to have reduced water withdrawal for irrigation by over 5 billion m3 (5 km3; 4.1 million acre-ft). Due to the reduction in irrigation water withdrawals, conservatively, over $304 million was saved by consuming less diesel fuel for pumping irrigation water. The AWMN has effectively reduced CO2 emissions due to a reduction in diesel fuel use, which was over 125,000 tons in 2020 alone with a total reduction of about 900,000 tons from 2005 to 2020. Due to the AWMN’s efforts, tools and technologies introduced in the AWMN are being cost-shared by the Natural Resources Districts for the producers, up to 50% to 70% of the total cost. The AWMN has become the largest and most impactful research-based water management program in the United States that has accomplished substantial adoption of technology and information/knowledge transfer in agriculture through the strong and dedicated partnership of universities, private industry, state and federal agencies, producers, irrigation districts, and crop consultants. The Network is an excellent example of a large-scale program that successfully integrated science, research, and Extension/outreach/education to have significant positive impacts on irrigation agriculture. Keywords: Agricultural education, Agriculture, Crop water productivity, Irrigation, Irrigators network, Technology adoption, Water conservation, Water management.

Water scarcity is one of the key problems in northern China. Efficient use and management of agricultural water resources is an important challenge in China's agricultural food production under a background of climate change. This chapter addresses issues of impacts of climate change and adaptation in agricultural water management in North China. The goal is to understand better the impacts of climate change on agricultural water resources and what measures should be taken to deal with the adverse effects in the North China Plain (NCP). First, the status of agricultural water resources in NCP was analysed. Second, considering that climate change is likely to exacerbate water stress in this area, and exploring the regional crop response to climate change, this study analysed the spatial variability and evolution of crop yield, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) with a process-based crop model in the NCP and identified the contribution of climate change to their enhancement. Third, the impacts of future climate changes under A2 and B1 scenarios (described later in this chapter) on the wheat-maize double-cropping system are assessed. The results show that under IPCC SRES A2 and B1 scenarios, production of winter wheat will increase with slightly intensified ET; in contrast, summer maize production will slightly decline with a significant increase of ET. Also, with agricultural management, maize is more productive than wheat, in that wheat relies more on irrigation than maize, yield level of maize is higher than that of wheat, the water consumption of maize is lower, and the response of maize yield is larger than that of wheat yield to agricultural management. However, the simulation also suggests that wheat is more resilient to climate change than maize. Therefore to say if wheat or maize is more favourable in the NCP depends on the conditions in the future. Finally, in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agricultural water use and realize its sustainable utilization, the key adaptive water management strategies in the agriculture sector and how to improve efficiency of agricultural water use through reforming agricultural water management and policies were examined. The following measures can be implemented to reform agricultural water management and policies: improving the performance of participatory irrigation management reform, establishing a water rights system, reforming agricultural water price, and promoting the adoption of agricultural water-saving technology.

Optimizing agricultural water resource management is crucial for food production, as effective water management can significantly improve irrigation efficiency and crop yields. Currently, precise agricultural water demand forecasting and management have become key research focuses; however, existing methods often fail to capture complex spatial and temporal dependencies. To address this, we propose a novel deep learning framework that combines remote sensing technology with the UNet-ConvLSTM (UCL) model to effectively integrate spatial and temporal features from MODIS and GLDAS datasets. Our model leverages the high-resolution spatial data from UNet and the temporal dependencies captured by ConvLSTM to significantly improve prediction accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that our UCL model achieves the best R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$R^2$$\\end{document} compared to existing methods, reaching 0.927 on the MODIS dataset and 0.935 on the GLDAS dataset. This approach highlights the potential of AI and remote sensing technologies in addressing critical challenges in agricultural water management, contributing to more sustainable and efficient food production systems.

Water plays a crucial role in the agricultural field for food production and raising livestock. Given the current trends in world population growth, the urgent food demand that must be answered by agriculture highly depends on our ability to efficiently exploit the available water resources. Among critical issues, there is water management. Recently, innovative technologies have improved water management and monitoring in agriculture. Internet of Things, Wireless Sensor Networks and Cloud Computing, have been used in diverse contexts in agriculture. By focusing on the water management challenge in general, existing approaches are aiming at optimizing water usage, and improving the quality and quantity of agricultural crops, while minimizing the need for direct human intervention. This is achieved by smoothing the water monitoring process, by applying the right automation level, and allowing farmers getting connected anywhere and anytime to their farms. There are plenty of challenges in agriculture involving water: water pollution monitoring, water reuse, monitoring water pipeline distribution network for irrigation, drinking water for livestock, etc. Several studies have been devoted to these questions in the recent decade. Therefore, this paper presents a survey on recent works dealing with water management and monitoring in agriculture, supported by advanced technologies. It also discusses some open challenges based on which relevant research directions can be drawn in the future, regarding the use of modern smart concepts and tools for water management and monitoring in the agriculture domain.

Sustainable water resources management involves social, economic, environmental, water use, and resources factors. This study proposes a new framework of strategic planning with multi-criteria decision-making to develop sustainable water management alternatives for large scale water resources systems. A fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making model is developed to rank regional management alternatives for agricultural water management considering water-resources sustainability criteria. The decision-making model combines hierarchical analysis and the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The management alternatives were presented spatially in the form of zoning maps at the level of irrigation zones of the study area. The results show that the irrigation management zone No.3 (alternative A3) was ranked first based on agricultural water demand and supply management in five among seven available scenarios, in which the scenarios represents a possible combination of weights assigned to the weighing criteria. Specifically, the results show that irrigation management zone No.3 (alternative A3) achieved the best ranking values of 0.151, 0.169, 0.152, 0.174 and 0.164 with respect to scenarios 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. However, irrigation management zone No.2 (alternative A2) achieved the best values of 0.152 and 0.150 with respect to the second and third scenarios, respectively. The model results identify the best management alternatives for agricultural water management in large-scale irrigation and drainage networks.

Evaluation of agricultural water demand under future climate change scenarios in the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi, China

This chapter reviews the global literature on impacts of climate change on agriculture and prospects for adaptation. Sensitivity of agriculture to climate change varies across the globe. Developing countries, where more than 800 million people are already undernourished, will be hardest hit. We review approaches for assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture and irrigation water requirements, and present recent progress in the assessment of adaptation measures. The challenges and constraints associated with climate change impact and adaptation research are critically discussed. The review leads to the conclusion that warmer temperatures will tend to reduce the crop yields in many regions, mainly due to reduction of crop duration associated with water stress during the critical stages of crop development. Although efforts have been made to understand better the climate-crop relationships, there is still limited understanding of the interactions between and relative importance of factors such as elevated ozone and CO2 levels, extreme weather conditions, weed variety, socio-economic changes and adaptation responses. Evaluation of diverse adaptation options from farm to policy level, and covering a range of scales and issues, including availability of resources, constraints and associated uncertainties, are essential to address adequately the impacts of climate and other changes on agriculture. Most of the published studies on adaption focus on modification of existing management practices to improve crop yield, using process-based models. Trade-offs between crop production and resource availability, which influence the farmer's decision making and profitability, have not received substantial attention. More effort is required to incorporate constraints (such as social, financial, institutional, technical and resources) and adaptive responses into the model frameworks that most studies used.