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Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water, Agriculture and Aquaculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 8141

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dat Q Tran

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Guest Editor

1. Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Tallahassee, FL, USA
2. Previously School of Public Policy, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
Interests: technology adoption; resource management policies; interactions between hydro-biophysical and economic system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Irrigated agriculture dominates freshwater consumption globally, but crop production and farm revenues suffer when water supplies are insufficient to meet irrigation needs. Global freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce due to its mismanagement, overuse, and long-term exposure to drought—exacerbated by global climate change. Demand for scarce water continues to increase as the population grows and irrigated agriculture expands in some parts of the world. This Special Issue, entitled "Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation", focuses on water scarcity solutions for irrigated agriculture in a warming climate.

The issue has three main goals. First, it aims to increase our understanding of how and to what extent shifts in cropping patterns and irrigation technologies have contributed to the water supply and demand imbalance. Second, it aims to feature research exploring solutions to more effectively manage agricultural water use and increased water supply (e.g., managed aquifer recharge). Third, it highlights the role of non-traditional water sources, e.g., re-claimed/treated water, in enhancing water security, sustainability, and resiliency.

Submissions should address the viability, limitations, obstacles to adoption, drawbacks, and unintended consequences of solutions. While we welcome case studies, we especially encourage submitting papers that synthesize research and practice on a particular topic. We also welcome studies providing social science perspectives on the ways water policy and management, including water accessibility and quality, shape and are shaped by the protection of ecosystem services, transboundary conflict and cooperation, the water–energy–food nexus, coastal zone vulnerability, sustainable development, and water rights and justice at local, regional, and global scales.

Dr. Dat Q Tran
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

irrigated agriculture
cropping patterns
irrigation technologies
managed aquifer recharge (MAR)
re-claimed/treated water
water–energy–food nexus
transboundary conflict and cooperation
water institutions

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2097 KB

Open AccessArticle

Water Availability Without Reliability: Groundwater-Dependent Irrigation and Governance Challenges in the Arta Plain, Greece

by Dimitra Pappa, Andreas Kallioras and Dimitris Kaliampakos

Water 2026, 18(5), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18050623 - 5 Mar 2026

Viewed by 462

Abstract

Despite the relative hydrological abundance of northwestern Greece, the Arta Plain exhibits persistent spatial and seasonal mismatches between irrigation demand and the effective capacity of the public network. To clarify the factors mediating between available water resources and actual irrigation coverage, this study applies an integrated framework combining quantitative irrigation modelling (FAO CROPWAT 8.0) with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with farmers and institutional stakeholders. Annual irrigation demand was estimated at approximately 49.1 hm³. Although this volume could theoretically be met through available surface water, in practice, it is constrained by conveyance losses and infrastructure degradation. Under these conditions, meeting irrigation needs shifts toward private abstractions. The interviews indicate systematic groundwater use for the four dominant crops; as a share of modelled demand, groundwater use corresponds to approximately 41% of irrigation requirements, with higher reliance in perennial and water-intensive crops such as kiwifruit and citrus, where supply stability is critical. These findings indicate that irrigation dysfunctions in the Arta Plain do not stem from hydrological insufficiency but from structural misalignments between infrastructure, institutional organization, and prevailing practices. Addressing these inefficiencies requires coordinated interventions, including targeted infrastructure rehabilitation, adoption of precision irrigation technologies, transparent volumetric monitoring, and participatory management processes. Overall, the study provides a transparent logic for interpreting irrigation performance when monitoring data are incomplete by linking modelled demand with operational delivery constraints and evidence from primary water users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation)

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15 pages, 883 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Economic Impact of Irrigation Modernization Projects: A Case Study from Türkiye

by Gokmen Dedemen and Salih Kocak

Water 2026, 18(4), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18040497 - 16 Feb 2026

Viewed by 945

Abstract

In Türkiye, where agriculture consumes 75% of available water and national irrigation efficiency is only 51.3%, irrigation modernization—the conversion of classical open-channel irrigation systems to pressurized pipe systems—presents a primary strategy to achieve significant water savings. This study provides a comprehensive economic assessment of the potential of this strategy. A twofold methodology was employed: first, a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of the 36,108 ha Ivriz irrigation project, and second, a national model to simulate the economic impact of modernizing nation’s 4.9 million hectares currently irrigated by such classical systems. This approach directly addresses two gaps identified in the literature: the lack of comprehensive project-level economic assessments of full irrigation modernization in large-scale open-channel systems, and the absence of simulations quantifying the national-level economic potential of modernizing Türkiye’s classical irrigation infrastructure. The Ivriz case study reveals that project viability is entirely contingent on the on-farm efficiency achieved post-modernization. At 60% efficiency, water savings are insufficient to make the project economically feasible, whereas at 90% efficiency, substantial water savings render the project highly profitable. At the national level, the analysis indicates that the conserved water could be used to expand Türkiye’s irrigated area by 1.77–2.98 million hectares, generating an additional $3.47–$5.84 billion in annual agricultural income. The findings conclude that while modernization represents a powerful investment, its success requires a comprehensive policy framework that not only funds infrastructure conversion but also mandates integrated support programs to ensure farmers adopt the high-efficiency technologies needed to achieve these savings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation)

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25 pages, 4341 KB

Open AccessArticle

Coordinated Development of Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem Nexus in the Yellow River Basin: A Comprehensive Assessment Based on Multi-Method Integration

by Jingwei Yao, Kiril Manevski, Finn Plauborg, Yangbo Sun, Lingling Wang, Wenmin Zhang and Julio Berbel

Water 2025, 17(22), 3331; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223331 - 20 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1136

Abstract

The Yellow River Basin serves as a critical ecological barrier and economic corridor in China, playing a pivotal role in national ecological security and sustainable development. This study develops a comprehensive evaluation framework grounded in the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus, employing 25 indicators across nine provinces and autonomous regions over the period 2000–2023. Utilizing a multi-method approach—including the entropy weight method, coupling coordination degree model, center of gravity migration analysis, principal component analysis, and obstacle factor diagnosis—the research investigates the coordinated development and dynamic interactions among the WEFE subsystems. Key findings include: (1) the calculated weights of the water, energy, food, and ecological subsystems were 0.3126, 0.1957, 0.1692, and 0.3225, respectively, indicating that ecological and water subsystems exert the greatest influence; (2) distinct growth patterns among subsystems, with the energy subsystem exhibiting the fastest growth rate (212%) and the water subsystem the slowest (4%); (3) a steady improvement in the overall coordination degree of the WEFE system, rising from 0.417 in 2000 to 0.583 in 2023—a 39.8% increase—with Henan (0.739) and Inner Mongolia (0.715) achieving the highest coordination levels in 2023, while Qinghai (0.434) and Ningxia (0.417) remained near imbalance thresholds; (4) complex spatial dynamics reflected by cumulative center of gravity migration distances of 678.2 km (water), 204.9 km (energy), 143.3 km (food), and 310.9 km (ecology) over the study period; and (5) identification of per capita water resources as the principal limiting factor to coordinated WEFE development, with an obstacle degree of 0.1205 in 2023, underscoring persistent water scarcity challenges. This integrated framework advances WEFE nexus analysis and provides robust, evidence-based insights to inform regional policy and resource management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation)

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18 pages, 4531 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Scenario Analysis of Brackish Water Irrigation Efficiency Based on the SBM Model

by Jie Wu, Zilong Feng, Xiangbin Kong, Shiwei Zhang, Miao Liu, Xiaojing Zhao, Kuo Liu, Zhongyu Ren and Jin Wu

Water 2025, 17(19), 2860; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17192860 - 30 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 739

Abstract

The North China Plain faces severe water scarcity, and the efficient use of brackish water has become a crucial pathway for sustaining agricultural development. In this study, we combine scenario analysis with Data Envelopment Analysis to establish a multi-scenario efficiency evaluation framework. Focusing on six counties in Handan, Hebei Province, we employ an input-oriented Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis (SBM-DEA) model to systematically evaluate brackish water irrigation efficiency (BWIE) across a baseline year (2020) and eight projected scenarios for 2030. The results show that the mean efficiency values across scenarios range from 0.646 to 0.909. Scenarios combining universal adoption of water-saving irrigation with normal hydrological conditions achieve the highest mean efficiency (>0.9), with minimal regional disparities and optimal system stability. The promotion of water-saving irrigation technologies is the primary driver of improved BWIE, whereas simply increasing brackish water application yields only limited marginal benefits. Redundancy analysis further indicates that water resource inputs are the main source of efficiency loss, with brackish water redundancy (42.3%) far exceeding that of land inputs (10.5%). These findings provide quantitative evidence and methodological support for optimizing regional water allocation and advancing sustainable agricultural development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation)

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23 pages, 3457 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrological Implications of Supplemental Irrigation in Cocoa Production Using SWAT Model: Insights from the Upper Offin Sub-Basin, Ghana

by Tewodros T. Assefa, Kekeli K. Gbodji, Gerald Atampugre, Yvonne S. A. Loh, Yared Bayissa and Seifu A. Tilahun

Water 2025, 17(13), 1841; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17131841 - 20 Jun 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2531

Abstract

The cocoa production in Ghana, largely reliant on rainfall and undertaken by smallholder farmers, is increasingly endangered by climate change-induced water scarcity. Although supplemental irrigation has been posited as an adaptive measure, its hydrological impacts remain understudied. This current study seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by employing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to evaluate the hydrological and water resource implications of supplemental irrigation within the Upper Offin sub-basin of Ghana. High-resolution spatial data and field survey inputs were used to model dry period baseline and irrigation scenarios for cocoa farms with gentle slopes (2%). The results reveal that supplemental irrigation from the shallow aquifer can sustainably support irrigation for up to 5% of the cocoa area (4760 ha) without adversely affecting groundwater flow. Extending irrigation to 30% of the cocoa area (28,540 ha) is feasible with minimal reduction in catchment water yield. This study’s novelty lies in integrating high-resolution data with localized management practices to provide actionable insights for balancing cocoa productivity and water sustainability. The findings offer practical recommendations for policymakers, emphasizing that through solar-powered irrigation the shallow groundwater is a pathway to enhance climate resilience of cocoa productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation)

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22 pages, 1076 KB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience Assessment of Irrigation District Infrastructure: Indicators, Modeling, and Empirical Application

by Shuqing Wei, Laizheng Zhai, Chunlu Liu, Keke Wang and Junjie Li

Water 2025, 17(8), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081214 - 18 Apr 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1401

Abstract

In the context of intensifying climate and environmental changes, the high resilience of irrigation district infrastructure is of crucial importance for sustainable agriculture and water security. This paper proposes a resilience assessment indicator system for irrigation district infrastructure, comprising 23 indicators from the four dimensions of foresight capacity, absorption capacity, restoration capacity, and adaptive and learning capacity. This system is constructed by combining the research status quo at home and abroad with the change process of the resilience function. The model was constructed using the DEMATEL-ANP-Cloud method, and the Zhaokou Irrigation District in China was used as a case study to demonstrate the model’s application. The resilience analysis was conducted, and targeted strategies for enhancing resilience were proposed. The resilience assessment model constructed in this study provides a scientific basis for the resilience assessment of irrigation district infrastructure and a reference point for similar projects in terms of risk reduction and system resilience improvement. This is of great significance for guaranteeing sustainable agriculture and water security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Agricultural Irrigation)

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