Micro-irrigation

Irrigation is an essential practice in many agricultural production systems. It is also one of the oldest interventions to nature implemented by humankind, since its origins trace back to almost 6000 BC [1]. Currently, agriculture accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawals globally, with irrigat...

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Main Authors: Paparella, Antonio, Petsakos, Athanasios, Davis, Kristin E., Song, Chun
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177481
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author Paparella, Antonio
Petsakos, Athanasios
Davis, Kristin E.
Song, Chun
author_browse Davis, Kristin E.
Paparella, Antonio
Petsakos, Athanasios
Song, Chun
author_facet Paparella, Antonio
Petsakos, Athanasios
Davis, Kristin E.
Song, Chun
author_sort Paparella, Antonio
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Irrigation is an essential practice in many agricultural production systems. It is also one of the oldest interventions to nature implemented by humankind, since its origins trace back to almost 6000 BC [1]. Currently, agriculture accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawals globally, with irrigation being the primary driver. As shown in Figure 1, irrigation is closely linked to an increase in crop yields. On average at the global level, yields achieved under irrigation are almost double relative to rainfed yields, with potential for even greater yield increase in arid areas. Since water is a scarce resource, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, satisfying the increased demand for irrigation water in agriculture has become a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by climate and demographic change, which will require an increased supply of food for a growing human population [2]. The high demand for irrigation water to support food production is linked to several types of nature losses, the most important of which is the risk of water resources depletion [3] and the subsequent negative impacts on water-related biodiversity and ecosystem services. Figure 2 illustrates the consumption rate of renewable water resources, highlighting how arid and semi-arid regions frequently surpass the natural replenishment rate of their water resources. Furthermore, irrigation can cause soil degradation by inducing changes in soil structure and increasing the risk of erosion [4]. Flood irrigation, in particular, can contribute to soil erosion by physically moving the soil parts. In arid and semi-arid regions, high evaporation rates of irrigation water from the soil surface can cause problems of salinization over time. In regions where irrigated agriculture is prevalent, these environmental risks significantly increase with water overconsumption or inefficient water use.
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spelling CGSpace1774812025-12-08T10:29:22Z Micro-irrigation Paparella, Antonio Petsakos, Athanasios Davis, Kristin E. Song, Chun irrigation small-scale irrigation natural resources nature conservation Irrigation is an essential practice in many agricultural production systems. It is also one of the oldest interventions to nature implemented by humankind, since its origins trace back to almost 6000 BC [1]. Currently, agriculture accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawals globally, with irrigation being the primary driver. As shown in Figure 1, irrigation is closely linked to an increase in crop yields. On average at the global level, yields achieved under irrigation are almost double relative to rainfed yields, with potential for even greater yield increase in arid areas. Since water is a scarce resource, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, satisfying the increased demand for irrigation water in agriculture has become a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by climate and demographic change, which will require an increased supply of food for a growing human population [2]. The high demand for irrigation water to support food production is linked to several types of nature losses, the most important of which is the risk of water resources depletion [3] and the subsequent negative impacts on water-related biodiversity and ecosystem services. Figure 2 illustrates the consumption rate of renewable water resources, highlighting how arid and semi-arid regions frequently surpass the natural replenishment rate of their water resources. Furthermore, irrigation can cause soil degradation by inducing changes in soil structure and increasing the risk of erosion [4]. Flood irrigation, in particular, can contribute to soil erosion by physically moving the soil parts. In arid and semi-arid regions, high evaporation rates of irrigation water from the soil surface can cause problems of salinization over time. In regions where irrigated agriculture is prevalent, these environmental risks significantly increase with water overconsumption or inefficient water use. 2025-10-31 2025-10-31T17:30:08Z 2025-10-31T17:30:08Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177481 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture Paparella, Antonio; Petsakos, Athanasios; Davis, Kristin E.; and Song, Chun. 2025. Micro-irrigation. Agricultural Management Practices to Mitigate Nature Loss Brief 5. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177481
spellingShingle irrigation
small-scale irrigation
natural resources
nature conservation
Paparella, Antonio
Petsakos, Athanasios
Davis, Kristin E.
Song, Chun
Micro-irrigation
title Micro-irrigation
title_full Micro-irrigation
title_fullStr Micro-irrigation
title_full_unstemmed Micro-irrigation
title_short Micro-irrigation
title_sort micro irrigation
topic irrigation
small-scale irrigation
natural resources
nature conservation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177481
work_keys_str_mv AT paparellaantonio microirrigation
AT petsakosathanasios microirrigation
AT daviskristine microirrigation
AT songchun microirrigation