Identifying efficient agricultural irrigation strategies in Crete

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Water Management
• Environmental Science
• Optimization Techniques

Background:

• Mediterranean countries face severe water scarcity and drought.
• Agriculture is a primary water consumer, impacting surface and groundwater resources.
• Sustainable water resource management is crucial for agricultural viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and locate optimal irrigation strategies for dominant crops in Crete, Greece.
• To assess the impact of different spatial scales on water use efficiency and agricultural benefits.
• To develop a decision support tool for optimizing irrigation practices.

Main Methods:

• Integrated modeling approach combining the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) watershed model and an economic model.
• Multi-objective optimization routines to analyze crop water requirements, productivity, costs, and market prices.
• Evaluation of irrigation strategies at crop type, field, and administrative region scales.

Main Results:

• Water irrigation volumes can be reduced by 32%-70% while maintaining agricultural benefits.
• Optimal reallocation of water between administrative regions can decrease irrigation by 52% (148 Mm³/y).
• This reallocation results in a 7% (48 M€) loss of agricultural income but preserves overall benefits.

Conclusions:

• Optimal, cost-effective irrigation management strategies are essential for addressing water scarcity in Mediterranean agriculture.
• Spatial optimization and water reallocation offer significant potential for water savings.
• The developed decision support tool can guide sustainable agricultural water management practices.