Irrigation plays a pivotal role in agriculture by providing a consistent and controlled supply of water to crops, which is essential for their growth and productivity. In regions where rainfall is insufficient or irregular, irrigation ensures that crops receive the necessary moisture at critical stages of their development.
But where are these regions on a global level?
The recent article, Map Water Stress Around the Globe with the Global Irrigated Area Layer in Living Atlas by Piyush Mehta and Lisa Berry, highlights the critical issue of global irrigation expansion, pointing out that half of the twenty-first century's increase in irrigation has occurred in water-stressed regions. This underscores the importance of precision irrigation techniques that make efficient use of limited water resources. By utilizing spatial analysis tools and datasets available through platforms like ArcGIS, researchers and practitioners can develop more sustainable irrigation strategies that address both current and future water scarcity challenges.
Beyond just irrigation, ArcGIS provides a scalable platform for accessing and utilizing various layers for more complex analysis and modelling such as yield forecasting tools illustrated in Josh Grail’s presentation on Cotton Yield in the drought stricken west-central Texas. These layers can be seamlessly integrated into new and existing maps across multiple ArcGIS environments such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. This capability is particularly significant for precision irrigation, as it allows for the incorporation of up-to-date spatial data and analyses that can optimize water usage and enhance agricultural productivity. With advancements in evapotranspiration models derived from satellites and ancillary data sets, producers will be able to analytical optimize irrigation system to reduce overall consumption.
