IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i12p5281-d1674054.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Implementation and Validation of an Electricity-Driven Water Conservation Method for Plain-Region Irrigation: A Control Method Based on Power-Consumption Feedback

Author

Listed:
  • Xuan Fang

    (School of Urban Construction, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China)

  • Jie Yang

    (School of Transportation and Civil Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China)

Abstract

In response to the challenges of water scarcity in agricultural irrigation in plain areas, especially in the context of the urgent need to improve water resource management efficiency, this study introduces an innovative “electricity-driven water conservation” management concept. The core idea is to accurately calculate water usage by analyzing irrigation electricity consumption data and formulate water pricing strategies based on this to effectively control the total irrigation water usage. This approach is of significant importance for promoting agricultural water conservation and enhancing water resource utilization efficiency. To achieve this goal, we propose an “electricity-driven water conservation” control method based on an agricultural irrigation coordination management system. This method is simple to operate, has low labor costs, and provides grassroots managers with transparent water usage information through an intelligent platform, enabling real-time remote control of irrigation facilities. In 2022, this control method was tested in a specific area of Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, China. The results demonstrated that the annual water-saving rate in the region improved from −1.71% before implementation of the control method to 0.09%, proving the effectiveness of this approach in enhancing irrigation water conservation in plain areas. This study provides valuable insights for promoting the efficient utilization and sustainable development of agricultural water resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuan Fang & Jie Yang, 2025. "Implementation and Validation of an Electricity-Driven Water Conservation Method for Plain-Region Irrigation: A Control Method Based on Power-Consumption Feedback," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5281-:d:1674054
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5281/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5281/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Muhammad Waseem Rasheed & Jialiang Tang & Abid Sarwar & Suraj Shah & Naeem Saddique & Muhammad Usman Khan & Muhammad Imran Khan & Shah Nawaz & Redmond R. Shamshiri & Marjan Aziz & Muhammad Sultan, 2022. "Soil Moisture Measuring Techniques and Factors Affecting the Moisture Dynamics: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Pronti, Andrea & Auci, Sabrina & Berbel, Julio, 2024. "Water conservation and saving technologies for irrigation. A structured literature review of econometric studies on the determinants of adoption," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    3. Mai, Zijun & He, Yupu & Feng, Chen & Han, Congying & Shi, Yuanzhi & Qi, Wei, 2024. "Multi-objective modeling and optimization of water distribution for canal system considering irrigation coverage in artesian irrigation district," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    4. Fishman, Ram & Giné, Xavier & Jacoby, Hanan G., 2023. "Efficient irrigation and water conservation: Evidence from South India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Li, Mengna & Zhou, Shiwei & Shen, Shuaijie & Wang, Jiale & Yang, Yuhao & Wu, Yangzhong & Chen, Fu & Lei, Yongdeng, 2024. "Climate-smart irrigation strategy can mitigate agricultural water consumption while ensuring food security under a changing climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    6. Soumya R. Sahoo & Bernard T. Agyeman & Sarupa Debnath & Jinfeng Liu, 2022. "Knowledge-Based Optimal Irrigation Scheduling of Agro-Hydrological Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, January.
    7. Archisman Mitra & Soumya Balasubramanya & Roy Brouwer, 2023. "Can cash incentives modify groundwater pumping behaviors? Evidence from an experiment in Punjab," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(3), pages 861-887, May.
    8. Mishari A. Alnaim & Magdy S. Mohamed & Maged Mohammed & Muhammad Munir, 2022. "Effects of Automated Irrigation Systems and Water Regimes on Soil Properties, Water Productivity, Yield and Fruit Quality of Date Palm," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Knox, J.W. & Kay, M.G. & Weatherhead, E.K., 2012. "Water regulation, crop production, and agricultural water management—Understanding farmer perspectives on irrigation efficiency," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 3-8.
    10. Liu, Xiuxia & Ma, Shimeng & Fang, Yu & Wang, Sufen & Guo, Ping, 2023. "A novel approach to identify crop irrigation priority," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    11. Xu, Hang & Song, Jianfeng, 2022. "Drivers of the irrigation water rebound effect: A case study of Hetao irrigation district in Yellow River basin, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    12. Zappa, Luca & Dari, Jacopo & Modanesi, Sara & Quast, Raphael & Brocca, Luca & De Lannoy, Gabrielle & Massari, Christian & Quintana-Seguí, Pere & Barella-Ortiz, Anais & Dorigo, Wouter, 2024. "Benefits and pitfalls of irrigation timing and water amounts derived from satellite soil moisture," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    13. Zhu, Hongyan & Zheng, Bingyan & Nie, Weibo & Fei, Liangjun & Shan, Yuyang & Li, Ge & Liang, Fei, 2024. "Optimization of maize irrigation strategy in Xinjiang, China by AquaCrop based on a four-year study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    14. Feng, Xudong & Bi, Shaojie & Li, Hongjun & Qi, Yongqing & Chen, Suying & Shao, Liwei, 2024. "Soil moisture forecasting for precision irrigation management using real-time electricity consumption records," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    15. Vuolo, Francesco & D’Urso, Guido & De Michele, Carlo & Bianchi, Biagio & Cutting, Michael, 2015. "Satellite-based irrigation advisory services: A common tool for different experiences from Europe to Australia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 82-95.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cao, Zhaodan & Zhu, Tingju & Cai, Ximing, 2023. "Hydro-agro-economic optimization for irrigated farming in an arid region: The Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    2. Ephrem Habyarimana & Faheem S Baloch, 2021. "Machine learning models based on remote and proximal sensing as potential methods for in-season biomass yields prediction in commercial sorghum fields," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Drew, Mark & Crase, Lin, 2023. "‘More Crop per Drop’ and water use efficiency in the National Water Policy of Pakistan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    4. Imran Ali Lakhiar & Haofang Yan & Chuan Zhang & Guoqing Wang & Bin He & Beibei Hao & Yujing Han & Biyu Wang & Rongxuan Bao & Tabinda Naz Syed & Junaid Nawaz Chauhdary & Md. Rakibuzzaman, 2024. "A Review of Precision Irrigation Water-Saving Technology under Changing Climate for Enhancing Water Use Efficiency, Crop Yield, and Environmental Footprints," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-40, July.
    5. Mattoussi, Wided & Mattoussi, Foued & Larnaout, Afrah, 2023. "Optimal subsidization for the adoption of new irrigation technologies," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1126-1141.
    6. Corbari, Chiara & Paciolla, Nicola & Rossi, Greta & Mancini, Marco, 2023. "A double two-sources energy-water balance model for improving evapotranspiration estimates and irrigation management in fruit trees fields," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    7. Sun, Xuguang & Zhang, Baoyuan & Dai, Menglei & Jing, Cuijiao & Ma, Kai & Tang, Boyi & Li, Kejiang & Dang, Hongkai & Gu, Limin & Zhen, Wenchao & Gu, Xiaohe, 2024. "Accurate irrigation decision-making of winter wheat at the filling stage based on UAV hyperspectral inversion of leaf water content," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    8. Luis Santos Pereira, 2017. "Water, Agriculture and Food: Challenges and Issues," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 2985-2999, August.
    9. Yaoyu Li & Kaixuan Li & Xifeng Liu & Zhimin Zhang & Zihao Gao & Qiang Wang & Guofang Wang & Wuping Zhang, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Evaluation of Soil Water Resources and Coupling of Crop Water Demand Under Dryland Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, July.
    10. Fatima-Zahra Akensous & Mohamed Anli & Abdelilah Meddich, 2022. "Biostimulants as Innovative Tools to Boost Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) Performance under Drought, Salinity, and Heavy Metal(Oid)s’ Stresses: A Concise Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-30, November.
    11. Alessandra Santini & Antonella Di Fonzo & Elisa Giampietri & Andrea Martelli & Orlando Cimino & Anna Dalla Marta & Maria Carmela Annosi & Francisco José Blanco-Velázquez & Teresa Del Giudice & Filiber, 2023. "A Step toward Water Use Sustainability: Implementing a Business Model Canvas for Irrigation Advisory Services," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, May.
    12. 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).
    13. Pelosi, A. & Medina, H. & Villani, P. & D’Urso, G. & Chirico, G.B., 2016. "Probabilistic forecasting of reference evapotranspiration with a limited area ensemble prediction system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 106-118.
    14. Daccache, A. & Knox, J.W. & Weatherhead, E.K. & Daneshkhah, A. & Hess, T.M., 2015. "Implementing precision irrigation in a humid climate – Recent experiences and on-going challenges," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 135-143.
    15. Morillo, J. García & Martín, M. & Camacho, E. & Díaz, J.A. Rodríguez & Montesinos, P., 2015. "Toward precision irrigation for intensive strawberry cultivation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 43-51.
    16. Rodrigues, Gonçalo C. & Paredes, Paula & Gonçalves, José M. & Alves, Isabel & Pereira, Luis S., 2013. "Comparing sprinkler and drip irrigation systems for full and deficit irrigated maize using multicriteria analysis and simulation modelling: Ranking for water saving vs. farm economic returns," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 85-96.
    17. Ozturk, Munir & Saba, Naheed & Altay, Volkan & Iqbal, Rizwan & Hakeem, Khalid Rehman & Jawaid, Mohammad & Ibrahim, Faridah Hanum, 2017. "Biomass and bioenergy: An overview of the development potential in Turkey and Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1285-1302.
    18. Ward, Frank A. & Potter, Nicholas A. & Hrozencik, R. Aaron, 2025. "Managing agricultural water use in the Western United States: A search for efficient climate adaptation institutions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    19. Itzel Inti Maria Donati & Davide Viaggi & Zorica Srdjevic & Bojan Srdjevic & Antonella Di Fonzo & Teresa Del Giudice & Orlando Cimino & Andrea Martelli & Anna Dalla Marta & Roberto Henke & Filiberto A, 2023. "An Analysis of Preference Weights and Setting Priorities by Irrigation Advisory Services Users Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, August.
    20. Mao, Hui & Sun, Zhenkai & Chai, Anyuan & Fang, Lan & Shi, Chaoqian, 2025. "Extreme Weather, agricultural insurance and farmer's climate adaptation technologies adoption in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5281-:d:1674054. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.