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How Surface Irrigation Contributes to Climate Change Resilience—A Case Study of Practices in Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos Chávez

    (Water Research Center, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas SN, Col. Las Campanas, Queretaro 76010, Mexico)

  • Sebastián Fuentes

    (Water Research Center, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas SN, Col. Las Campanas, Queretaro 76010, Mexico)

  • Carlos Fuentes

    (Mexican Institute of Water Technology, Paseo Cuauhnahuac Num. 8532, Jiutepec 62550, Mexico)

  • Fernando Brambila-Paz

    (Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Av. Universidad 3000, Circuito Exterior SN, Delegacion Coyoacan, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Josué Trejo-Alonso

    (Water Research Center, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Cerro de las Campanas SN, Col. Las Campanas, Queretaro 76010, Mexico)

Abstract

Climate change has brought increased temperatures and decreased rainfall on a global scale; however, population growth requires greater volumes of water and food each year that must be supplied in one way or another. In Mexico, application efficiencies in gravity irrigation are below 50%. Although in recent years the decision has been made to change to pressurized irrigation systems to increase the efficiency of water use, border or furrow irrigation is still the most widely used in agriculture. In this work, we show that with a methodology developed and applied in these systems, application efficiencies greater than 90% were obtained, while the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) increased by 27, 38 and 47% for the three crops where it was applied: sorghum, barley, and corn, respectively. Irrigation times per hectare and applied irrigation depths decreased by more than 30%, representing increased irrigation efficiencies and WUE. Finally, the water savings obtained can mitigate water scarcity in cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Chávez & Sebastián Fuentes & Carlos Fuentes & Fernando Brambila-Paz & Josué Trejo-Alonso, 2022. "How Surface Irrigation Contributes to Climate Change Resilience—A Case Study of Practices in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7689-:d:846373
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sebastián Fuentes & Carlos Chávez, 2022. "Modeling of Border Irrigation in Soils with the Presence of a Shallow Water Table. I: The Advance Phase," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Rio, M. & Rey, D. & Prudhomme, C. & Holman, I.P., 2018. "Evaluation of changing surface water abstraction reliability for supplemental irrigation under climate change," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 200-208.
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