Keywords
Abstract
This study investigates synergistic optimization of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in smart irrigation systems with a special focus on carbon footprint analysis. Through the application of field experiments and system dynamics modeling, we tested the effect of precision irrigation technologies on water use efficiency, energy consumption, and crop yields.Impacts suggest that more intelligent irrigation systems can save 16-25% water and 30-40% energy compared to conventional systems with the same or even greater level of crop productivity. The nexus system dynamics model showed complex interactions among nexus elements, where improvement in irrigation efficiency had multiplier positive effects on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon footprint analysis revealed that smart irrigation systems powered by solar energy could attain as much as 57% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional pumped irrigation systems. The research provides an integrated resource management system in agriculture, which optimizes water and energy usage and enables food security and climate change mitigation activities.