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Greenhouse gas emissions from US irrigation pumping and implications for climate-smart irrigation policy

Author

Listed:
  • Avery W. Driscoll

    (Colorado State University)

  • Richard T. Conant

    (Colorado State University)

  • Landon T. Marston

    (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)

  • Eunkyoung Choi

    (Colorado State University)

  • Nathaniel D. Mueller

    (Colorado State University
    Colorado State University)

Abstract

Irrigation reduces crop vulnerability to drought and heat stress and thus is a promising climate change adaptation strategy. However, irrigation also produces greenhouse gas emissions through pump energy use. To assess potential conflicts between adaptive irrigation expansion and agricultural emissions mitigation efforts, we calculated county-level emissions from irrigation energy use in the US using fuel expenditures, prices, and emissions factors. Irrigation pump energy use produced 12.6 million metric tonnes CO2e in the US in 2018 (90% CI: 10.4, 15.0), predominantly attributable to groundwater pumping. Groundwater reliance, irrigated area extent, water demand, fuel choice, and electrical grid emissions intensity drove spatial heterogeneity in emissions. Due to heavy reliance on electrical pumps, projected reductions in electrical grid emissions intensity are estimated to reduce pumping emissions by 46% by 2050, with further reductions possible through pump electrification. Quantification of irrigation-related emissions will enable targeted emissions reduction efforts and climate-smart irrigation expansion.

Suggested Citation

  • Avery W. Driscoll & Richard T. Conant & Landon T. Marston & Eunkyoung Choi & Nathaniel D. Mueller, 2024. "Greenhouse gas emissions from US irrigation pumping and implications for climate-smart irrigation policy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44920-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44920-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hrozencik, Aaron & Aillery, Marcel, 2021. "Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity," Economic Information Bulletin 327359, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Aliyu, Mansur & Hassan, Ghassan & Said, Syed A. & Siddiqui, Muhammad U. & Alawami, Ali T. & Elamin, Ibrahim M., 2018. "A review of solar-powered water pumping systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 61-76.
    3. Hrozencik, Aaron & Aillery, Marcel, 2021. "Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity," USDA Miscellaneous 316792, United States Department of Agriculture.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jingxiu Qin & Weili Duan & Shan Zou & Yaning Chen & Wenjing Huang & Lorenzo Rosa, 2024. "Global energy use and carbon emissions from irrigated agriculture," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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