Modelling and mapping the economic value of supplemental irrigation in a humid climate, Agricultural Water Management

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dc.contributor.authorRey, Dolores
dc.contributor.authorHolman, Ian P.
dc.contributor.authorDaccache, Andre
dc.contributor.authorMorris, Joe
dc.contributor.authorWeatherhead, E. K.
dc.contributor.authorKnox, Jerry W.
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-19T12:29:16Z
dc.date.available2016-05-19T12:29:16Z
dc.date.issued2016-04-23
dc.description.abstractIrrigation is an essential component of crop production to meet retailer demands for premium quality when rainfall is insufficient. Under drought conditions, irrigation can be constrained by water resources availability, with consequent impacts on yield, quality and revenue. Whilst most agriculture in Europe is rainfed, greater dependence on supplemental irrigation could become more important in humid environments due to a changing climate with greater rainfall uncertainty and higher frequency of droughts. By combining industry and farm level economic data, with geospatial information on agricultural land use, agroclimate, soils and irrigation practices within a GIS, this paper estimates the total financial benefit of outdoor irrigated production in England and Wales assuming no constraints in resource availability and optimal irrigation practices. The analysis suggests that the total net benefits of irrigation in a ‘design’ dry year are around £665 million, with an average irrigation water productivity in excess of £3.3 per m3 (close to £1.1 per m3 excluding soft fruit). Map outputs highlight significant regional differences in water productivity reflecting the composition of land use and the importance of crop mix in determining economic value. A sensitivity analysis to changes in agroclimate, market conditions (crop prices) and water supply (costs) illustrates how the benefits might change under contrasting scenario. The study highlights the importance of supplemental irrigation, even in a humid climate, and the risks that future droughts and/or constraints in water resource availability might have on agricultural systems, livelihoods and the rural economy. The implications for water resources and drought management are discussed.en_UK
dc.identifier.citationRey D, Holman I, Daccache A, et al., (2016) Modelling and mapping the economic value of supplemental irrigation in a humid climate. Agricultural Water Management, Volume 173, July 2016, pp. 13-22en_UK
dc.identifier.cris14243052
dc.identifier.issn0378-3774
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.04.017
dc.identifier.urihttp://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/9901
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherElsevieren_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectBenefiten_UK
dc.subjectCropen_UK
dc.subjectDroughten_UK
dc.subjectEngland and Walesen_UK
dc.subjectWater resourcesen_UK
dc.subjectYielden_UK
dc.titleModelling and mapping the economic value of supplemental irrigation in a humid climate, Agricultural Water Managementen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK

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