Water-Use Efficiency and Productivity Improvements in Surface Irrigation Systems

In Mexico, agriculture has an allowance of 76% of the available water (surface and underground), although the average application efficiencies are below 50%. Despite the fact that in recent years modern pressurized irrigation systems have been the best option to increase the water-use efficiency (WUE), the gravity irrigation system continues to be the most used method to provide water to crops. This work was carried out during the 2014-2019 period in three crops, namely, barley, corn, and sorghum, in an irrigation district, showing the results of a methodology applied to gravity irrigation systems to increase the WUE. The results show that, with an efficient design, by means of irrigation tests, characterization of the plot, and the calculation of the optimal flow through an analytical formula, it was possible to reduce the irrigation times per hectare and the irrigation depth applied. Application efficiencies increased from 43% to 95%, while the WUE increased by 27, 38, and 47% for sorghum, barley, and corn, respectively. With this methodology, farmers are more attentive in irrigation because the optimal flow in each furrow or border is, in general, higher than that applied in the traditional way and they take less time to irrigate their plots. For farmers to adopt this methodology, the following actions are required: (a) be aware that the water that comes from dams is as valuable as the water from wells; (b) increase the irrigation quota; (c) seek government support to increase the WUE; and (d) show them that with less water they can have better yields.