Irrigation variability and climate change affect derived distributions of simulated water recharge and nitrate leaching. Issue 6 (18th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Green, Timothy R.; Anapalli, Saseendran S.
• Is Part Of: Water international. Volume 43:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 829
• Page End: 845
• Publication Date: 2018-08-18
• Subjects: Irrigation efficiency -- spatial variability -- groundwater -- Colorado; Water -- Periodicals; Water-supply -- Periodicals; 333.9105
• DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2018.1515568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0250-8060

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Irrigation ('blue') water has high value as municipalities seek water security under growing populations and projected climates, but spatial variability makes estimating return flows to groundwater challenging. We demonstrate a framework for simulating spatially variable infiltration and derived distributions of return flows using an agricultural and vadose zone model to simulate recharge and nitrate leaching under irrigated corn in semi-arid northeastern Colorado, USA. Derived distributions indicated increased historical recharge (2–42%) as the spatial variability of applied irrigation increased. Projected climate in 2050 increased recharge above historical rates by up to 58%, but climatic effects decreased with increasing irrigation variability.