Agricultural Irrigation in the United States: A Report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Introduction
According to a U.S. Geological Survey report, agriculture is a major user of ground and surface water in the United States, and irrigation accounted for 42 percent of the Nation’s total freshwater withdrawals in 2015. Water applied as irrigation allows for crop production in arid regions and supplements soil moisture in humid regions when growing season precipitation is insufficient. Irrigation has enhanced both the productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, farms with some form of irrigation accounted for more than 54 percent of the total value of U.S. crop sales, while irrigated land accounted for less than 20 percent of harvested cropland. Irrigated crop production helps to support local rural economies in many areas of the U.S., and contributes to the Nation’s livestock, food processing, transportation, and energy sectors.
Where Does U.S. Crop Irrigation Occur?
The 2017 Census of Agriculture reported total U.S. irrigated cropland at 58 million acres. Much of the irrigated land is concentrated in the western U.S. where the production of many crops requires irrigation. Irrigation is also common in the southeastern U.S., particularly along the Mississippi River Valley in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee as well as southern Georgia and central Florida. Where irrigation occurs depends on regional cropping patterns, local climatic conditions as well as the availability of surface and groundwater resources.
- Nebraska had the most irrigated land among all U.S. States, with 8.6 million acres of irrigated cropland, accounting for 14.8 percent of all irrigated cropland in the United States.
- California ranked second, with 7.8 million acres, or 13.5 percent of all U.S. irrigated cropland.
- Arkansas, Texas, and Idaho rounded out the top 5 States in total irrigated cropland acreage in 2017.
How Has Irrigation Evolved Over Time?
The importance of irrigation for U.S. agricultural production has evolved over the past century. Since 1890, irrigated acreage nationwide has grown from less than 3 million acres to over 58 million acres in 2017. Expansion in the nation’s irrigated land was attributable, in part, to federal, State and local water development projects as well as innovations in groundwater pumping technologies. More recently, the intensity of irrigation (measured as the nationwide average of water use per acre irrigated) has declined in response to regional shifts in area irrigated, changing cropping patterns, and improved efficiency in water application technologies. Between 1969 and 2017, the average irrigation application rate declined from more than 2 acre feet per acre irrigated to just under 1.5 acre feet per acre irrigated (1 acre-foot = 325,851 gallons).
Which Crops Are Irrigated?
Irrigation water allocations by crop reflect climate and crop-water consumptive requirements as well as shifting market conditions. Irrigated acres planted in corn and soybeans have expanded in the past 50 years. In 1964, cotton and hay, alfalfa were the leading irrigated crops, with corn and soybeans together accounting for less than 2.5 million irrigated acres. In 2017, corn grown for grain accounted for the most irrigated acreage in the U.S. with more than 12 million irrigated acres harvested. Soybeans accounted for the second most irrigated acreage in 2017 with more than 9 million irrigated acres harvested. The shift reflects expanding market demand for corn and soybeans as livestock feed and source for biofuel, as well as the broader eastern shift of irrigated agriculture where variable growing season rainfall promotes irrigating corn and soybean crops.
What Sources of Water Does Irrigated Agriculture Use?
Irrigated agriculture relies on both surface water and groundwater to support crop production. According to the 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Survey, more than half of all water applied as irrigation came from surface water with the remaining water obtained from groundwater sources. Surface water-fed irrigation is most common in the western U.S. where federal reclamation policy and State investments in irrigation infrastructure have harnessed the region’s surface water resources.
In many of the most prominent irrigated agricultural regions of the U.S, on-farm water withdrawals are generally supplied or managed by a local irrigation organization. Water delivery organizations operate water storage and conveyance systems used to supply water to irrigated farms. Groundwater organizations help to manage irrigation pumping from local groundwater resources. The USDA’s 2019 Survey of Irrigation Organizations provides a nationally representative look at these irrigation water supply organizations. The majority of irrigation organizations deliver water to farms as their primary function. More than one quarter of all organizations manage on-farm groundwater withdrawals for irrigation. Many organizations provide the dual functions of water supply delivery and groundwater management. Irrigation organizations may also provide important secondary functions such as electricity generation and water management for recreation purposes or wildlife habitat.
How Are Crops Irrigated?
Various methods are used to apply irrigation water to crops, which can be broadly categorized as gravity or pressurized systems. Gravity irrigation systems use on-field furrows or basins to advance water across the field surface through gravity-means only. Pressurized systems apply water under pressure through pipes or other tubing directly to crops. Pressurized irrigation includes acres irrigated by sprinkler and micro/drip irrigation systems. Under many field conditions, pressurized irrigation systems are generally more water-use efficient than gravity systems as less water is lost to evaporation, deep percolation and field runoff. Over the last 30 years the conversion of gravity to pressurized irrigation systems has increased. In 1984, 37 percent of all irrigated cropland acres in the western U.S. used pressurized irrigation systems, as compared with 72 percent in 2018.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Relevant to the Article
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the use of water for irrigation in the agricultural sector, which is connected to SDG 6 as it focuses on clean water and sanitation. It also mentions the role of irrigation in enhancing agricultural productivity and profitability, which relates to SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of responsible consumption and production in the agricultural sector, aligning with SDG 12. Lastly, the article mentions the impact of irrigation on land use and crop production, which is relevant to SDG 15 on life on land.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
- SDG 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
Based on the article’s content, the following targets can be identified:
– SDG 6.4: The article discusses the importance of water-use efficiency in irrigation and the need for sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater.
– SDG 9.4: The article mentions innovations in groundwater pumping technologies and the need for sustainable infrastructure in irrigation.
– SDG 12.4: The article emphasizes the importance of responsible water management in irrigation to minimize adverse impacts on the environment.
– SDG 15.3: The article highlights the impact of irrigation on land use and the need to combat desertification and restore degraded land.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:
- Water-use efficiency: The article mentions the average irrigation application rate, which can be used as an indicator of water-use efficiency.
- Infrastructure upgrades: The article discusses innovations in groundwater pumping technologies, which can be an indicator of infrastructure upgrades in irrigation.
- Environmentally sound management: The article emphasizes the need for responsible water management in irrigation to minimize adverse impacts on the environment.
- Land restoration: The article mentions the impact of irrigation on land use and the need to combat desertification and restore degraded land.
These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets under the relevant SDGs.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. | – Average irrigation application rate – Sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. | – Innovations in groundwater pumping technologies – Sustainable infrastructure in irrigation |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | – Responsible water management in irrigation – Minimization of adverse impacts on the environment |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. | – Impact of irrigation on land use – Combatting desertification and restoring degraded land |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: ers.usda.gov
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
