Environmental Science · Literature

Research papers on Water scarcity and agriculture

Recent and highly-cited academic work on water scarcity and agriculture, gathered from Semantic Scholar, CrossRef and OpenAlex.

1. Four billion people facing severe water scarcity

   Mesfin M. Mekonnen, Arjen Y. Hoekstra · 2016 · Science Advances · 5,410 citations

   Freshwater scarcity is increasingly perceived as a global systemic risk. Previous global water scarcity assessments, measuring water scarcity annually, have underestimated experienced water scarcity by failing to capture the seasonal fluctuations in water consumption and availability. We assess blue water scarcity globally at a high spatial resolution on a monthly basis. We find that two-thirds of the global population (4.0 billion people) live under conditions of severe water scarcity at least 1 month of the year. Nearly half of those people live in India and China. Half a billion people in the world face severe water scarcity all year round. Putting caps to water consumption by river basin

2. Multimodel assessment of water scarcity under climate change

   Jacob Schewe, Jens Heinke, Dieter Gerten, et al. · 2013 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 1,885 citations

   Water scarcity severely impairs food security and economic prosperity in many countries today. Expected future population changes will, in many countries as well as globally, increase the pressure on available water resources. On the supply side, renewable water resources will be affected by projected changes in precipitation patterns, temperature, and other climate variables. Here we use a large ensemble of global hydrological models (GHMs) forced by five global climate models and the latest greenhouse-gas concentration scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways) to synthesize the current knowledge about climate change impacts on water resources. We show that climate change is likely

3. Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions

   Chunyang He, Zhifeng Liu, Jianguo Wu, et al. · 2021 · Nature Communications · 1,802 citations

   Urbanization and climate change are together exacerbating water scarcity-where water demand exceeds availability-for the world's cities. We quantify global urban water scarcity in 2016 and 2050 under four socioeconomic and climate change scenarios, and explored potential solutions. Here we show the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million (one third of global urban population) in 2016 to 1.693-2.373 billion people (one third to nearly half of global urban population) in 2050, with India projected to be most severely affected in terms of growth in water-scarce urban population (increase of 153-422 million people). The number of large cities expos

4. Constraints and potentials of future irrigation water availability on agricultural production under climate change

   Joshua Elliott, Delphine Deryng, Christoph Müller, et al. · 2013 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 1,178 citations

   We compare ensembles of water supply and demand projections from 10 global hydrological models and six global gridded crop models. These are produced as part of the Inter-Sectoral Impacts Model Intercomparison Project, with coordination from the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project, and driven by outputs of general circulation models run under representative concentration pathway 8.5 as part of the Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. Models project that direct climate impacts to maize, soybean, wheat, and rice involve losses of 400-1,400 Pcal (8-24% of present-day total) when CO2 fertilization effects are accounted for or 1,400-2,600 Pcal (24-43%) otherwise. Fr

5. Global Monthly Water Scarcity: Blue Water Footprints versus Blue Water Availability

   Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Mesfin M. Mekonnen, Ashok K. Chapagain, et al. · 2012 · PLoS ONE · 1,047 citations

   Freshwater scarcity is a growing concern, placing considerable importance on the accuracy of indicators used to characterize and map water scarcity worldwide. We improve upon past efforts by using estimates of blue water footprints (consumptive use of ground- and surface water flows) rather than water withdrawals, accounting for the flows needed to sustain critical ecological functions and by considering monthly rather than annual values. We analyzed 405 river basins for the period 1996-2005. In 201 basins with 2.67 billion inhabitants there was severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year. The ecological and economic consequences of increasing degrees of water scarcity--as ev

6. Increasing agricultural water use efficiency to meet future food production

   Jim Wallace · 2000 · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · 706 citations

7. Water scarcity in agriculture: An overview of causes, impacts and approaches for reducing the risks

   Carlo Ingrao, Rossana Strippoli, Giovanni Lagioia, et al. · 2023 · Heliyon · 683 citations

   Freshwater is a vital resource for both ecosystem health and human survival, and it is the natural resource that is the most extracted at the global level. Excessive freshwater consumption can be responsible for a scarcity in the circulation rate, which occurs when the freshwater demand exceeds its availability. Hence, water consumption needs to be optimised in all human activities, given the increasing freshwater scarcity due to climate changes and to the annual net increase in the human population of 81,000,000. Freshwater plays many important roles in daily life for example, agriculture is responsible for nearly 70% of that withdrawal volume, and it is therefore, the most water-intensive

8. Water Scarcity and Wastewater Reuse in Crop Irrigation

   N. Ungureanu, V. Vlăduţ, Gheorghe Voicu · 2020 · Sustainability · 399 citations

   Due to climate change, two-thirds of mankind will face water scarcity by 2025, while by 2050, global food production must increase by at least 50% to feed 9 billion people. To overcome water scarcity, 15 million m3/day of untreated wastewater is used globally for crop irrigation, polluting the soil with pathogens, heavy metals and excess salts. Since 10% of the global population consumes food from crops irrigated with wastewater, pathogens transmitted through the food chain cause diseases especially in young children and women. In this paper, we discuss the status of water scarcity and the challenges to food security, the reuse of wastewater in agriculture and the possible risks to human and

9. A Review of Precision Irrigation Water-Saving Technology under Changing Climate for Enhancing Water Use Efficiency, Crop Yield, and Environmental Footprints

   Imran Ali Lakhiar, Haofang Yan, Chuan Zhang, et al. · 2024 · Agriculture · 357 citations

   Water is considered one of the vital natural resources and factors for performing short- and long-term agricultural practices on Earth. Meanwhile, globally, most of the available freshwater resources are utilized for irrigation purposes in agriculture. Currently, many world regions are facing extreme water shortage problems, which can worsen if not managed properly. In the literature, numerous methods and remedies are used to cope with the increasing global water crises. The use of precision irrigation water-saving systems (PISs) for efficient water management under climate change is one of them and is a highly recommended approach by researchers. It can mitigate the adverse effects of chang

10. Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture under Climate Change

    Konstantinos Chartzoulakis, Maria Bertaki · 2015 · Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia · 354 citations

    Water is considered as the most critical resource for sustainable agricultural development worldwide. Irrigated areas will increase in forthcoming years, while fresh water supplies will be diverted from agriculture to meet the increasing demand of domestic use and industry. Furthermore, the efficiency of irrigation is very low, since less than 65% of the applied water is actually used by the crops. The sustainable use of irrigation water is a priority for agriculture in arid areas. So, under scarcity conditions and climate change considerable effort has been devoted over time to introduce policies aiming to increase water efficiency based on the assertion that more can be achieved with less

11. Coping with water scarcity: water saving and increasing water productivity

    A. Hamdy, R. Ragab, Elisa Scarascia‐Mugnozza · 2003 · Irrigation and Drainage · 326 citations

    Abstract The increasing scarcity of water in dry areas is now a well‐recognized problem. According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, approximately 80 countries with 40% of the world population already suffer from serious water shortages. At present, water shortages have led most of arid and semi‐arid countries to increase food imports because the local agricultural sector is not able to produce sufficient food to fill the existing food gaps. The increasing food gaps are posing serious challenges beyond the economic and political capacity required for the necessary adjustments concerning the allocation and use of water in all sectors, particularly agriculture. The agricu

12. Water scarcity, pricing mechanism and institutional reform in northern China irrigated agriculture

    Hong Yang, Xiaohe Zhang, Alexander J. B. Zehnder · 2003 · Agricultural Water Management · 232 citations

13. Water Scarcity and Irrigation Efficiency in Egypt

    Rehab Osman, Emanuele Ferrari, Scott McDonald · 2016 · Water Economics and Policy · 43 citations

    This study provides quantitative assessments of the impacts of efficiency enhancement for different types of irrigation water under water scarcity conditions. It employs a single country CGE (STAGE 2) model calibrated to an extended version of a recently constructed SAM for Egypt 2008/09. The SAM segments the agricultural accounts by season and by irrigation scheme, including Nile- and groundwater-dependent as well as rain-fed agricultural activities. The simulations show that Egypt should manage potential reductions in the supply of Nile water with more efficient irrigation practices which increase the productivity of Nile water, groundwater and irrigated land. The results suggest a more am

14. Addressing water scarcity in agricultural irrigation: By exploring alternative water resources for sustainable irrigated agriculture

    A. Elmahdi · 2024 · Irrigation and Drainage · 37 citations

    This review paper addresses challenges in the water sector, particularly in irrigated agriculture, aiming to propose solutions for meeting irrigation demands while promoting global food security and sustainable development, notably SDG 6. Structured around three facets: empowering farmers, strengthening conventional sources of irrigation water and harnessing non‐conventional water resources, it emphasizes the significance of exploring blue water resources due to precipitation variability. Many irrigation systems operate below efficiency, offering productivity enhancement opportunities. Water management in agriculture spans various levels, involving farmers as key stakeholders. In addition to

15. Water and Energy Scarcity for Agriculture: Is Irrigation Modernization the Answer?

    Aftab Ahmad, Shahbaz Khan · 2017 · Irrigation and Drainage · 33 citations

16. Energy-Efficient Smart Irrigation Technologies: A Pathway to Water and Energy Sustainability in Agriculture

    U. Daraz, Štefan Bojnec, Younas Khan · 2025 · Agriculture · 27 citations

    The agricultural sector faces challenges such as water scarcity, energy inefficiency, and declining productivity, particularly in arid regions. Traditional irrigation methods contribute to resource depletion and environmental impacts. Solar-powered smart irrigation systems integrate precision irrigation with renewable energy, improving water use and productivity. In Pakistan, where agriculture contributes 19% of gross domestic product and employs 40% of the workforce, these challenges are severe, especially in water-scarce areas like the Cholistan Desert. This study examines the impact of solar-powered smart irrigation on agricultural productivity, water conservation, and energy efficiency i

17. Evaluating the Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Drip Irrigation Cotton under Film in Xinjiang Based on Meta-Analysis

    Qi Xu, Xiaomei Dong, Weixiong Huang, et al. · 2024 · Plants · 20 citations

    Water scarcity constrains the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture, and deficit irrigation as a new irrigation technology can effectively alleviate the problems of water scarcity and water use inefficiency in agriculture. In this study, the drip irrigation cotton field under film in Xinjiang was taken as the research object. Meta-analysis and machine learning were used to quantitatively analyze the effects of different farm management practices, climate, and soil conditions on cotton yield and water use efficiency under deficit irrigation, to investigate the importance of the effects of different factors on cotton yield and water use efficiency, and to formulate appropriate optimiz

18. Irrigation efficiency and water withdrawal in US agriculture

    Haoying Wang · 2019 · Water Policy · 14 citations

    AbstractTo meet future food demand and sustainability requirements of society, the agriculture sector faces challenges in both the institutional dimension and the technological dimension. One of the main concerns regarding the current agricultural production pattern is the tremendous amount of water it requires to maintain and boost output. With a changing climate and increasing demand from civil uses, promoting both water allocation efficiency and water application efficiency becomes the focus of policy design. The unintended consequences of water policies, however, have led to extensive debates. This study addresses the key question of whether irrigation efficiency improvement leads to red

19. A Review on Optimizing Water Management in Agriculture through Smart Irrigation Systems and Machine Learning

    Zaid Belarbi, Yacine El Younoussi · 2025 · E3S Web of Conferences · 8 citations

    Optimizing irrigation water usage is crucial for sustainable agriculture, especially in the context of increasing water scarcity and climate variability. Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration (ET), a key component in determining water requirements for crops, is essential for effective irrigation management. Traditional methods of measuring and estimating ET, such as eddy-covariance systems and lysimeters, provide valuable data but often face limitations in scalability, cost, and complexity. Recent advancements in machine learning (ML) offer promising alternatives to enhance the precision and efficiency of ET estimation and smart irrigation systems. This review explores the integration of

20. Optimizing Water Resource Management in Agriculture Using AI-Powered Solar Irrigation Systems

    M. B. Akanbi, K. J. Adedotun, A. K. Raji, et al. · 2025 · Journal of Science Innovation and Technology Research · 7 citations

    Water resource management is a critical challenge in modern agriculture, particularly in regions with erratic rainfall and increasing water scarcity. This study explores the implementation of AI-powered solar irrigation systems as a sustainable solution for optimizing water usage while enhancing agricultural productivity. The system integrates machine learning algorithms, IoT-based soil moisture sensors, and real-time weather forecasting to automate irrigation processes and ensure efficient water distribution. By continuously analyzing soil moisture levels, weather conditions, and crop water requirements, the AI model dynamically adjusts irrigation schedules, minimizing water wastage and max

21. DESIGN OF AN IOT-BASED SMART IRRIGATION SYSTEM USING SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS FOR WATER EFFICIENCY

    N. Aisyah, Early Dia Ulhaq, Aldi Dharmawan, et al. · 2025 · JOURNAL ONLINE OF PHYSICS · 6 citations

    Water scarcity and inefficient irrigation practices remain key challenges in agriculture. This study aims to design and evaluate an IoT-based smart drip irrigation system controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller for optimizing water use. The system integrates a calibrated YL-69 soil moisture sensor and DHT21 temperature-humidity sensor for real-time environmental monitoring, with control and data visualization provided via the Blynk platform. Experimental results demonstrated that the system effectively maintained soil moisture within the optimal range of 30 – 50%. The developed system achieved irrigation efficiency between 90 – 95% and reduced total water consumption by approximately 40% comp

22. Effects of Water Application Frequency and Water Use Efficiency Under Deficit Irrigation on Maize Yield in Xinjiang

    Tianjiang Duan, Licun Zhang, Guodong Wang, et al. · 2025 · Agronomy · 6 citations

    Water conservation is critical for global maize production, particularly in arid regions where water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, threatens conventional irrigation sustainability. Optimizing irrigation strategies to reconcile water productivity and yield remains a key scientific challenge in water-limited agriculture. This four-year study (2018–2021) evaluated integrated irrigation management that combined frequency and volume adjustments. A field experiment compared three strategies: high-frequency limited irrigation (HL: 2400 m3·hm−2), low-frequency conventional irrigation (LC: 2400 m3·hm−2), and high-frequency conventional irrigation (HC: 4800 m3·hm−2). The four-year mean yiel

23. Optimizing Drip Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization for Sustainable Wheat Production in Arid Soils: Water–Nitrogen Use Efficiency

    A. A. Abdelrhman, I. Abdel-Fattah, Mostafa O. Mostafa, et al. · 2025 · Water · 5 citations

    Water scarcity and inefficient nitrogen (N) use are major constraints on wheat production in arid regions. Drip irrigation offers a precise method for optimizing water and nutrient delivery, but integrated management strategies are needed to maximize yield and resource use efficiency. In Egypt, water shortages and inadequate fertilizer necessitate effective resource management for sustainable agriculture and crop productivity. This study investigates the effects of integrated water and nitrogen fertilizer management under drip irrigation on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) performance in arid zones of Egypt. A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate wheat yield, productivity of appli

24. A decision support model to improve water resources management in agriculture: evaluation of the drip irrigation efficiency in the Ait Ben Yacoub region, East of Morocco

    Ihssan Elouadi, D. Ouazar, L. E. Youssfi · 2020 · E3S Web of Conferences · 5 citations

    Globally, climate change is projected to exacerbate water scarcity and increase the recurrence and intensity of droughts. These circumstances call for methodologies that can support the design of sustainable water management policies. Improved irrigation efficiency has been cited as an important way to adapt to climate change. This paper illustrates the potential of hydro-economic modeling for integrating the multiple dimensions of water resources, becoming a valuable tool in the empowerment of sustainable water management policies. The modelling framework is used also to analyze the impacts of climate change-induced drought on water uses in the Ait Ben Yacoub region (the East of Morocco). T