Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability
Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater resources, accounting for approximately 70% of total water withdrawals. In semi-arid regions like Zacatecas, Mexico, water scarcity and climate variability pose critical challenges to small-scale farmers. This study evaluates the effectiveness of int...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/800 |
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| author | Carlos Bautista-Capetillo Hugo Pineda-Martínez Luis Alberto Flores-Chaires Luis Felipe Pineda-Martínez |
| author_facet | Carlos Bautista-Capetillo Hugo Pineda-Martínez Luis Alberto Flores-Chaires Luis Felipe Pineda-Martínez |
| author_sort | Carlos Bautista-Capetillo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater resources, accounting for approximately 70% of total water withdrawals. In semi-arid regions like Zacatecas, Mexico, water scarcity and climate variability pose critical challenges to small-scale farmers. This study evaluates the effectiveness of integrating modern irrigation technologies with traditional water management practices to enhance agricultural resilience. Analysis of climatic data (1961–2020) revealed a statistically significant increase in annual precipitation of 2.01 mm year<sup>−1</sup> in the Leobardo Reynoso module (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while the Miguel Alemán module exhibited a decline ranging from −0.54 mm year<sup>−1</sup> to −2.22 mm year<sup>−1</sup>, exacerbating water scarcity. Pressurized irrigation systems in Leobardo Reynoso improved application efficiency to 87.5%, compared to 50% in traditional furrow irrigation. Despite these advancements, conveyance efficiency remains low (60%) due to extensive open canal networks. Climate projections indicate a 6–11% increase in irrigation water demand for staple crops by 2065, driven by rising evapotranspiration rates. Findings underscore the need for policy interventions, infrastructure upgrades, and financial support to sustain agricultural productivity in water-stressed environments. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-622e0f0b947a4d80913d1e6d44f7421c2025-08-20T02:17:25ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115480010.3390/agronomy15040800Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate VariabilityCarlos Bautista-Capetillo0Hugo Pineda-Martínez1Luis Alberto Flores-Chaires2Luis Felipe Pineda-Martínez3Educational Program of Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas “Francisco García Salinas”, Campus UAZ Siglo XXI, Carretera, Zacatecas-Guadalajara Km. 6, La Escondida, Zacatecas 98160, MexicoEducational Program of Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas “Francisco García Salinas”, Campus UAZ Siglo XXI, Carretera, Zacatecas-Guadalajara Km. 6, La Escondida, Zacatecas 98160, MexicoEducational Program of Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas “Francisco García Salinas”, Campus UAZ Siglo XXI, Carretera, Zacatecas-Guadalajara Km. 6, La Escondida, Zacatecas 98160, MexicoEducational Program of Doctorado en Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas “Francisco García Salinas”, Campus Universitario II, Avenida Preparatoria s/n, Fraccionamiento Progreso, Zacatecas 98065, MexicoAgriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater resources, accounting for approximately 70% of total water withdrawals. In semi-arid regions like Zacatecas, Mexico, water scarcity and climate variability pose critical challenges to small-scale farmers. This study evaluates the effectiveness of integrating modern irrigation technologies with traditional water management practices to enhance agricultural resilience. Analysis of climatic data (1961–2020) revealed a statistically significant increase in annual precipitation of 2.01 mm year<sup>−1</sup> in the Leobardo Reynoso module (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while the Miguel Alemán module exhibited a decline ranging from −0.54 mm year<sup>−1</sup> to −2.22 mm year<sup>−1</sup>, exacerbating water scarcity. Pressurized irrigation systems in Leobardo Reynoso improved application efficiency to 87.5%, compared to 50% in traditional furrow irrigation. Despite these advancements, conveyance efficiency remains low (60%) due to extensive open canal networks. Climate projections indicate a 6–11% increase in irrigation water demand for staple crops by 2065, driven by rising evapotranspiration rates. Findings underscore the need for policy interventions, infrastructure upgrades, and financial support to sustain agricultural productivity in water-stressed environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/800agriculturewater use efficiencytraditional plus modern irrigation strategiesclimate resilience |
| spellingShingle | Carlos Bautista-Capetillo Hugo Pineda-Martínez Luis Alberto Flores-Chaires Luis Felipe Pineda-Martínez Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability Agronomy agriculture water use efficiency traditional plus modern irrigation strategies climate resilience |
| title | Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability |
| title_full | Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability |
| title_fullStr | Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability |
| title_short | Agriculture Resilient at Three Irrigation Modules of Zacatecas, Mexico: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability |
| title_sort | agriculture resilient at three irrigation modules of zacatecas mexico water scarcity and climate variability |
| topic | agriculture water use efficiency traditional plus modern irrigation strategies climate resilience |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/800 |
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