This study explores the economic costs and benefits of existing and expanded irrigation of maize and soybean throughout the United States, considering middle and end-of-century conditions under various future climates. By mid-century, the benefits of irrigation are projected to outweigh costs in an expanding area. Increased crop water demands limit sustainable maize irrigation, but sustainable soybean irrigation is likely feasible across the Midwest and Southeast. Policymakers need to consider local water demand and availability when guiding irrigation policies.
Publisher
Communications Earth & Environment
Published On
Aug 14, 2023
Authors
Trevor Partridge, Jonathan Winter, Anthony Kendall, Bruno Basso, Lisi Pei, David Hyndman
Tags
irrigation
maize
soybean
economic costs
sustainable agriculture
water demand
climate impact
Related Publications
Explore these studies to deepen your understanding of the subject.