Sustainable irrigation and climate feedbacks.
Yi YangZhenong JinNathaniel D MuellerAvery W DriscollRebecca R HernandezSteven M GrodskyLindsey L SloatMikhail V ChesterYong-Guan ZhuDavid B LobellPublished in: Nature food (2023)
Agricultural irrigation induces greenhouse gas emissions directly from soils or indirectly through the use of energy or construction of dams and irrigation infrastructure, while climate change affects irrigation demand, water availability and the greenhouse gas intensity of irrigation energy. Here, we present a scoping review to elaborate on these irrigation-climate linkages by synthesizing knowledge across different fields, emphasizing the growing role climate change may have in driving future irrigation expansion and reinforcing some of the positive feedbacks. This Review underscores the urgent need to promote and adopt sustainable irrigation, especially in regions dominated by strong, positive feedbacks.