Energy Consumption of Irrigation Systems: A Functional Perspective
Résumé
Today, most irrigation systems consume energy and a large part use groundwater at rates higher than the aquifer recharge, thus forcing farmers to pump at ever lower levels (more energy consumption, and thus higher cost). The energy consumption of irrigation systems is mainly considered as a technical challenge with the objective to improve its performance. In this work, we proposed to evaluate the energy requirement of irrigation systems and analyze the results through a functional perspective. A bibliographical review was sorted based on the successive evaluation of environmental impacts of irrigation infrastructures and the direct energy demand in relation to water paths. As food, water, and energy issues are interdependent, a new conceptual framework was proposed to discuss the results and support the decision-making process. Adding a social-ecological dimension to the engineering issue of maximizing water productivity balanced with energy efficiency offers many perspectives toward the consideration of agriculture as a provider of public goods.