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Research Project: Towards Resilient Agricultural Systems to Enhance Water Availability, Quality, and Other Ecosystem Services under Changing Climate and Land Use

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Title: Adaptive agricultural water management to cope with warm-dry future in the Southwest US desert

Author
item SAMIMI, MARYAM - Oklahoma State University
item MIRCHI, ALI - Oklahoma State University
item TAGHVAEIAN, SALEH - Oklahoma State University
item Moriasi, Daniel
item SHENG, ZHUPING - Texas A&M Agrilife
item GUTZLER, DAVID - University Of New Mexico

Submitted to: American Geophysical Union
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2020
Publication Date: 12/17/2020
Citation: Samimi, M., Mirchi, A., Taghvaeian, S., Moriasi, D.N., Sheng, Z., Gutzler, D. 2020. Adaptive agricultural water management to cope with warm-dry future in the Southwest US desert. American Geophysical Union. Available: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm20/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/716387.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only

Technical Abstract: Adaptive water resources management is necessary to sustain agricultural activities and food security in arid and semi-arid regions dealing with water scarcity exacerbated by climate variability, groundwater depletion, and intensified non-agricultural competition for water. We examine the middle section of the Rio Grande basin as an example of an arid watershed with heavily irrigated agriculture to support cultivation of water-intensive crops like pecan and alfalfa. Water availability analysis taking into account plausible surface water projections in this region indicates growing risk of decline of water resources below the supply needed to sustain present-day agricultural production by mid-twenty first century. Diminished projected flow of the Rio Grande into Elephant Butte Reservoir, the main surface water supply in the region, increases the pressure on limited fresh to slightly saline groundwater storage. This means that farmers should prepare to adapt to the unfolding water availability challenges. We applied soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) and SWAT+ to determine the long-term impacts of potential options for land and water management adaptation, such as crop pattern change, deficit irrigation, and drip irrigation, and to identify opportunities for agricultural water conservation while maintaining the current production levels of high-value crops. Results inform adaptation pathways that can be considered by agricultural producers as they prepare to operate under conditions of increased renewable water variability and groundwater depletion.