Integrating Irrigation Decision Support Systems for Efficient Water Use: A Case Study on Mediterranean Agriculture

Raffaella Zucaro, Silvia Baralla (), Andrea Arzeni, Antonella Bodini, Roberta Ciaravino, Nadia Salato, Pietro Chinnici, Nunzia Gabriella Fasolino, Emilia Pellegrini, Emanuela Sarzotti, Elisa Ascione, Antonio Coppola and Myriam Ruberto
Additional contact information
Raffaella Zucaro: Canale Emiliano Romagnolo, 40137 Bologna, Italy
Silvia Baralla: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00187 Rome, Italy
Andrea Arzeni: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 60027 Osimo, Italy
Antonella Bodini: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 60027 Osimo, Italy
Roberta Ciaravino: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 80143 Napoli, Italy
Nadia Salato: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 80143 Napoli, Italy
Pietro Chinnici: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Nunzia Gabriella Fasolino: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Emilia Pellegrini: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Emanuela Sarzotti: Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette del Ticino e del Lago Maggiore, 28062 Cameri, Italy
Elisa Ascione: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 80143 Napoli, Italy
Antonio Coppola: Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences (DCGS), University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy
Myriam Ruberto: Canale Emiliano Romagnolo, 40137 Bologna, Italy

Land, 2024, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Irrigation plays a pivotal role in Southern Europe, and its importance is expected to further increase due to rising climatic variability. Concurrently, the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) mandates the safeguarding of water bodies and the implementation of incentive pricing strategies to promote efficient water management. Within this context, Irrigation Scheduling Decision Support Systems (IS-DSS) could contribute to the achievement of these objectives, although there are still obstacles to their adoption due to uncertainties regarding their potential benefits. This paper aims to derive a pricing model that reflects actual water use through the adoption of an IS-DSS. The innovation of this study lies in showing that adopting an IS-DSS to reduce irrigation volumes can potentially lower concession fees in collective irrigation systems. Thus, it contributes to the fulfilment of the WFD’s objectives regarding incentive water pricing. Notably, the tool is evaluated using the case study of a farm located in the Mediterranean region. The results demonstrate the dual benefits of IS-DSS adoption: on the one hand, it helps preserve water resources with a 24% reduction in irrigation volumes; on the other, it decreases irrigation costs by 20% at the farm level and by 9.4% at the irrigation district level. Therefore, the presented study provides insights into the potential of IS-DSS to enhance water pricing policies to promote efficient water management in Southern European agriculture in alignment with the WFD requirements.

Keywords: water pricing; irrigation efficiency; water management; water metering; volumetric tariffs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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