Transition Pathways to Sustainable Agricultural Water Management: A Review of Integrated Modeling Approaches

Authors

Erin M.K. Haacker, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Vaishali Sharda, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Amanda M. Cano, Texas Tech University
R. Aaron Hrozencik, Colorado State University
Agustin Nunez, National Agricultural Research Institute of Uruguay
Zachary Zambreski, Kansas State University
Soheil Nozari, Colorado State University
Garvey Engulu B, Smith, Oklahoma State University
Lacey Moore, Colorado State University
Sumit Sharma, Colorado State University
Prasanna Gowda, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Chittaranjan Ray, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Meagan Schipanski, Colorado State University
Reagan Waskom, Colorado State University

ORCID IDs

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4836-4113

Date of this Version

12-5-2018

Citation

2019 American Water Resources Association

Comments

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION (1): 6–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12722

Abstract

Agricultural water management (AWM) is an interdisciplinary concern, cutting across traditional domains such as agronomy, climatology, geology, economics, and sociology. Each of these disciplines has developed numerous process-based and empirical models for AWM. However, models that simulate all major hydrologic, water quality, and crop growth processes in agricultural systems are still lacking. As computers become more powerful, more researchers are choosing to integrate existing models to account for these major processes rather than building new cross-disciplinary models. Model integration carries the hope that, as in a real system, the sum of the model will be greater than the parts. However, models based upon simplified and unrealistic assumptions of physical or empirical processes can generate misleading results which are not useful for informing policy. In this article, we use literature and case studies from the High Plains Aquifer and Southeastern United States regions to elucidate the challenges and opportunities associated with integrated modeling for AWM and recommend conditions in which to use integrated models. Additionally, we examine the potential contributions of integrated modeling to AWM — the actual practice of conserving water while maximizing productivity.