IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v124y2013icp52-57.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating on-farm irrigation efficiency across the watershed: A case study of New Mexico's Lower Rio Grande Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Ahadi, Rasool
  • Samani, Zohrab
  • Skaggs, Rhonda

Abstract

Irrigation efficiency is a critical factor in irrigation water management. Irrigation efficiency is used in economic analysis when selecting an irrigation system design, and in irrigation management. It is also used in water rights adjudication and administration. On-farm irrigation efficiency is spatially and temporally variable and measuring irrigation efficiency is time consuming and costly. This paper describes a process to evaluate on-farm irrigation efficiency across the watershed using a combination of remote sensing and ground level measurements. On-farm irrigation efficiency was evaluated for three major crops in New Mexico's Lower Rio Grande Basin (LRG). The results of on-farm irrigation efficiency evaluation of 152 alfalfa fields, 189 pecan fields and 38 cotton fields showed that the average on-farm irrigation efficiency was 64%. However, on-farm irrigation efficiency values ranged from 11% to 95%. Accounting for delivery efficiency of 54%, the overall district efficiency was calculated as 35%. The study shows significant potential for improving irrigation efficiency in the LRG watershed; however, the inefficiency of the system is a major factor in recharging and sustaining the local aquifer. Significant improvement in on-farm and delivery efficiency can potentially change the hydrologic balance and result in depletion of the historically stable groundwater of the Mesilla Bolson.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahadi, Rasool & Samani, Zohrab & Skaggs, Rhonda, 2013. "Evaluating on-farm irrigation efficiency across the watershed: A case study of New Mexico's Lower Rio Grande Basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 52-57.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:124:y:2013:i:c:p:52-57
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2013.03.010
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377413000711
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2013.03.010?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sammis, T. W. & Mexal, J. G. & Miller, D., 2004. "Evapotranspiration of flood-irrigated pecans," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 179-190, October.
    2. Seckler, D. & Molden, D. & Sakthivadivel, R., 2003. "The concept of efficiency in water resources management and policy," IWMI Books, Reports H032634, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Al-Jamal, M. Salameh & Sammis, T. W. & Jones, T., 1997. "Nitrogen and chloride concentration in deep soil cores related to fertilization," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Kijne, Jacob W. & Barker, Randolph & Molden, David J. (ed.), 2003. "Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement," IWMI Books, International Water Management Institute, number 138054.
    5. Kijne, J. W. & Barker, R. & Molden. D., 2003. "Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement," IWMI Books, Reports H032631, International Water Management Institute.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Emile H. Elias & Robert Flynn & Omololu John Idowu & Julian Reyes & Soumaila Sanogo & Brian J. Schutte & Ryann Smith & Caitriana Steele & Carol Sutherland, 2019. "Crop Vulnerability to Weather and Climate Risk: Analysis of Interacting Systems and Adaptation Efficacy for Sustainable Crop Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Garcia-Vasquez, Ana Cristina & Mokari, Esmaiil & Samani, Zohrab & Fernald, Alexander, 2022. "Using UAV-thermal imaging to calculate crop water use and irrigation efficiency in a flood-irrigated pecan orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    3. Funk, Bryana & Amer, Saud A. & Ward, Frank A., 2023. "Sustainable aquifer management for food security," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    4. Merchán, D. & Causapé, J. & Abrahão, R. & García-Garizábal, I., 2015. "Assessment of a newly implemented irrigated area (Lerma Basin, Spain) over a 10-year period. I: Water balances and irrigation performance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 277-287.
    5. Jiang, Yao & Xu, Xu & Huang, Quanzhong & Huo, Zailin & Huang, Guanhua, 2015. "Assessment of irrigation performance and water productivity in irrigated areas of the middle Heihe River basin using a distributed agro-hydrological model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 67-81.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Xiaolin & Tong, Ling & Niu, Jun & Kang, Shaozhong & Du, Taisheng & Li, Sien & Ding, Risheng, 2017. "Spatio-temporal distribution of irrigation water productivity and its driving factors for cereal crops in Hexi Corridor, Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 55-63.
    2. Ghahroodi, E. Mokari & Noory, H. & Liaghat, A.M., 2015. "Performance evaluation study and hydrologic and productive analysis of irrigation systems at the Qazvin irrigation network (Iran)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 189-195.
    3. Trivedi, Kairav & Singh, O. P., 2008. "Impact of quality and reliability of irrigation on field and farm level water productivity of crops," Conference Papers h041877, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Trivedi, Kairav & Singh, O. P., 2008. "Impact of quality and reliability of irrigation on field and farm level water productivity of crops," IWMI Conference Proceedings 245275, International Water Management Institute.
    5. María Blanco & Benjamin Van Doorslaer & Wolfgang Britz & Heinz-Peter Witzke, 2012. "Exploring the feasibility of integrating water issues into the CAPRI model," JRC Research Reports JRC77058, Joint Research Centre.
    6. Playan, Enrique & Mateos, Luciano, 2006. "Modernization and optimization of irrigation systems to increase water productivity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 80(1-3), pages 100-116, February.
    7. Md Ali & K. Klein, 2014. "Water Use Efficiency and Productivity of the Irrigation Districts in Southern Alberta," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(10), pages 2751-2766, August.
    8. Molden, David & Oweis, Theib & Steduto, Pasquale & Bindraban, Prem & Hanjra, Munir A. & Kijne, Jacob, 2010. "Improving agricultural water productivity: Between optimism and caution," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 528-535, April.
    9. Lecina, S. & Isidoro, D. & Playán, E. & Aragüés, R., 2010. "Irrigation modernization and water conservation in Spain: The case of Riegos del Alto Aragón," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(10), pages 1663-1675, October.
    10. Rijsberman, Frank R., 2006. "Water scarcity: Fact or fiction?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 80(1-3), pages 5-22, February.
    11. Barros, R. & Isidoro, D. & Aragüés, R., 2011. "Long-term water balances in La Violada Irrigation District (Spain): II. Analysis of irrigation performance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(10), pages 1569-1576, August.
    12. Ahmadzadeh, Hojat & Morid, Saeed & Delavar, Majid & Srinivasan, Raghavan, 2016. "Using the SWAT model to assess the impacts of changing irrigation from surface to pressurized systems on water productivity and water saving in the Zarrineh Rud catchment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 15-28.
    13. Karimi, Poolad & Qureshi, Asad Sarwar & Bahramloo, Reza & Molden, David, 2012. "Reducing carbon emissions through improved irrigation and groundwater management: A case study from Iran," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 52-60.
    14. Monaco, Federica & Sali, Guido, 2018. "How water amounts and management options drive Irrigation Water Productivity of rice. A multivariate analysis based on field experiment data," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 47-57.
    15. Njuki, Eric & Bravo-Ureta, Boris E., 2016. "Climatic Variability and Irrigation Water Efficiency in the United States: An Empirical Assessment of the 1987-2012 Period," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235555, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    16. Lopez-Gunn, E. & Zorrilla, P. & Prieto, F. & Llamas, M.R., 2012. "Lost in translation? Water efficiency in Spanish agriculture," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 83-95.
    17. Giordano, Meredith & Turral, H. & Scheierling, S. M. & Treguer, D. O. & McCornick, Peter G, 2017. "Beyond “More Crop per Drop”: evolving thinking on agricultural water productivity," IWMI Research Reports 257962, International Water Management Institute.
    18. Palanisami, Kuppannan & Senthilvel, S. & Ramesh, T., 2009. "Water productivity at different scales under canal, tank and well irrigation systems," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    19. Lecina, S. & Neale, C.M.U. & Merkley, G.P. & Dos Santos, C.A.C., 2011. "Irrigation evaluation based on performance analysis and water accounting at the Bear River Irrigation Project (U.S.A.)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(9), pages 1349-1363, July.
    20. van der Kooij, Saskia & Zwarteveen, Margreet & Boesveld, Harm & Kuper, Marcel, 2013. "The efficiency of drip irrigation unpacked," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 103-110.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:124:y:2013:i:c:p:52-57. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.