Potential for sustainable irrigation expansion in a 3 °C warmer climate.

ABSTRACT: Climate change is expected to affect crop production worldwide, particularly in rain-fed agricultural regions. It is still unknown how irrigation water needs will change in a warmer planet and where freshwater will be locally available to expand irrigation without depleting freshwater resources. Here, we identify the rain-fed cropping systems that hold the greatest potential for investment in irrigation expansion because water will likely be available to suffice irrigation water demand. Using projections of renewable water availability and irrigation water demand under warming scenarios, we identify target regions where irrigation expansion may sustain crop production under climate change. Our results also show that global rain-fed croplands hold significant potential for sustainable irrig

SUBMITTER: Rosa L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7703655 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature