By Harshanee Jayasekera and Jude Cobbing et.al
When it comes to irrigation, we often focus on water alone: how much is used, where it comes from and how best to use it. An equally important and often overlooked component is energy (Sowby and Dicataldo, 2022). Every gallon of water that is pumped, transported and applied to crops requires energy, and the efficiency of that energy use has significant implications for both farm profitability and long-term resource management.
Where energy is used in irrigation
The largest share of energy in irrigation systems is devoted to groundwater pumping. In major agricultural regions such as the High Plains Aquifer, groundwater supports a substantial portion of crop production and relies heavily on electricity-powered systems (Hrozencik et al., 2022).
The amount of energy required depends largely on how far water must be lifted. As groundwater levels decline over time, either seasonally or across years, more energy is needed to bring water to the surface. This means that producers face increasing energy costs as water becomes more difficult to access (Martin et al. 2017).
Energy is also used beyond extraction. Pressurizing irrigation systems, overcoming friction in pipes and operating equipment such as center pivot systems all contribute to total energy demand. System design plays an important role as well, since high-pressure sprinklers typically require more energy than low-pressure alternatives (Camargo et al., 2013).
Source : nebraska.edu