Modified irrigation sustainability index for the assessment of irrigation systems in low impact agricultural schemes

Abstract

Water is vital for sustainability, supporting life, agriculture, and ecosystem balance. Sustainable irrigation is crucial for conserving environmental resources such as soil and water. Thus, accurately measuring irrigation sustainability is imperative. The Irrigation Sustainability Index (ISI) is a method designed to quantify this effectiveness, enabling comparisons and adaptability across various systems. However, it overlooks a critical aspect of sustainability: irrigation technology. To address this gap, the Modified Irrigation Sustainability Index (MISI) has been developed. MISI incorporates four components: i) Biogeographic Data: Includes information on catchment areas, slope, land use, and irrigation zones, ii) Socio-Demographic Data: Covers potential and existing water-related social conflicts, social organization issues, irrigation shifts, payments, and water rights, iii) Institutional Data: Encompasses administrative support, financing, and related projects, and iv) Technological Data: Details the system type, irrigation methods, reservoir infrastructure, and network materials. The MISI calculation customizes the weights of factors and components for specific systems, enhancing accuracy and adaptability. This index offers a more precise evaluation for different systems, particularly in the realm of low-impact agriculture, which has been underexplored. The results showed that most MISI values fell into the low to medium range. Comparisons with the adapted ISI revealed significant differences, highlighting MISI's value in identifying irrigation system deficiencies. By reflecting the true state of irrigation sustainability and considering intermediate factors, MISI offers crucial insights for decision-making. Its inclusion of the technological component proved instrumental in refining the evaluation. MISI is thus a valuable for monitoring and addressing irrigation challenges, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).