Work

Global crop-specific energy demand for irrigation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Global irrigation expansion is expected to enhance agricultural productivity in underperforming cultivated areas, yet its associated crop-specific energy requirements remain insufficiently quantified. Here, we present a spatially distributed, physically based framework that estimates crop-specific irrigation energy consumption at 10 km resolution worldwide. Currently, irrigation consumes about 1.38 × 10⁹ gigajoules per year, of which three-quarters are used by surface irrigation systems and one-quarter by pressurized systems. Six crops—wheat, rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, and vegetables—account for 60% of the total irrigated area and energy use. A sustainable expansion of irrigation in rainfed areas would increase irrigation energy consumption by approximately 17%, mostly in the Global South. These findings highlight that the magnitude of irrigation energy demand depends on system type, pumping depth, and climatic aridity. This study links crop-specific irrigation energy costs with productivity gains, guiding integrated planning for sustainable, climate-resilient food production. Crop choice strongly influences irrigation energy needs. Chiarelli et al. provides crop specific irrigation energy data, showing that irrigation under the current scenario uses 1.38×10⁹ GJy-1 and under sustainable expansion, will use 1.62×10⁹ GJy-1.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-68902-6