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Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture: A Review of Worldwide Research

Author

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  • Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz

    (Department of Economics and Business, Research Centre CIAIMBITAL and CAESCG, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • José A. Aznar-Sánchez

    (Department of Economics and Business, Research Centre CIAIMBITAL and CAESCG, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Luis J. Belmonte-Ureña

    (Department of Economics and Business, Research Centre CIAIMBITAL and CAESCG, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Isabel M. Román-Sánchez

    (Department of Economics and Business, Research Centre CIAIMBITAL and CAESCG, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
    Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120 Almería, Spain)

Abstract

Sustainability of water use in agriculture is a line of research that has gained in importance worldwide. The present study reviewed 25 years of international research on sustainable water use in agriculture. A bibliometric analysis was developed to sample 2084 articles. Results indicate exponential growth in the number of articles published per year, with research in this field having acquired a global scale. Environmental Science and Agricultural and Biological Sciences are the main categories. Three journals—Agricultural Water Management, Water Resources Management and Nongye Gongcheng Xuebao Agricultural Engineering—published the most of the articles. China, the U.S., Australia, India and Germany produced the most research. The three institutions that published the most articles were all Chinese (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Agricultural University and Northwest A&F University). The most cited authors were Ridoutt, Hoekstra and Zhang. The keywords most frequently used include: water-use, irrigation, water-management, water-supply, and sustainability. A network map shows three clusters that focus on the environmental, agronomic and management aspects. The findings of this study can assist researchers in this field by providing an overview of research on the sustainability of hydric resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Luis J. Belmonte-Ureña & Isabel M. Román-Sánchez, 2018. "Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture: A Review of Worldwide Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1084-:d:139663
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    Cited by:

    1. Belén López-Felices & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz & María Piquer-Rodríguez, 2020. "Contribution of Irrigation Ponds to the Sustainability of Agriculture. A Review of Worldwide Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Juan D. Gil & Jerónimo Ramos-Teodoro & José A. Romero-Ramos & Rodrigo Escobar & José M. Cardemil & Cynthia Giagnocavo & Manuel Pérez, 2021. "Demand-Side Optimal Sizing of a Solar Energy–Biomass Hybrid System for Isolated Greenhouse Environments: Methodology and Application Example," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-22, June.
    3. Lioutas, Evagelos D. & Charatsari, Chrysanthi & De Rosa, Marcello, 2021. "Digitalization of agriculture: A way to solve the food problem or a trolley dilemma?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    4. Claudia A. Ochoa-Noriega & Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Ernesto Mesa-Vázquez, 2021. "Overview of Research on Sustainable Agriculture in Developing Countries. The Case of Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Fernández, J.E. & Alcon, F. & Diaz-Espejo, A. & Hernandez-Santana, V. & Cuevas, M.V., 2020. "Water use indicators and economic analysis for on-farm irrigation decision: A case study of a super high density olive tree orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    6. Aldo Barrueto Guzmán & Rodrigo Barraza Vicencio & Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey & Eduardo Núñez Ahumada & Arturo González Araya & Gerardo Arancibia Moreno, 2018. "A Cost-Effective Methodology for Sizing Solar PV Systems for Existing Irrigation Facilities in Chile," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Roberto Pico-Saltos & Paúl Carrión-Mero & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Javier Garzás & Andrés Redchuk, 2021. "Research Trends in Career Success: A Bibliometric Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.
    8. María J. López-Serrano & Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Isabel M. Román-Sánchez, 2020. "Sustainable Use of Wastewater in Agriculture: A Bibliometric Analysis of Worldwide Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, October.

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